Kiln

An absurdly fun and unique multiplayer throw down, Kiln might be somewhat light on content, but it more than makes up for it with bags of character, immediacy, and infectious gameplay.

76%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

optimization, grinding

80% User Score Based on 129 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

Kiln is a single player and multiplayer casual hack and slash game. It was developed by Double Fine Productions and was released on April 23, 2026. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

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80%Audience ScoreBased on 129 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Unique and creative concept combining pottery making with multiplayer brawler gameplay, providing an enjoyable and fresh experience.
Deep and satisfying pottery customization allowing players to shape, decorate, and personalize over 20 different pot classes with distinct abilities and animations.
Charming art style, strong Double Fine personality, fun and versatile maps, and casual but strategic multiplayer battles that appeal to both casual and creative players.

Performance and optimization issues, requiring high-end hardware for stable framerates even on modest graphics settings, along with occasional bugs such as invincibility glitches.
Limited content at launch with only one gameplay mode and few maps, leading to repetitive gameplay and concerns over the game's long-term replayability and player retention.
Frustrating online experience due to reliance on Xbox friend system instead of Steam friends, lack of private/custom matches, and matchmaking imbalances causing some matches to feel unfair or prone to AFK players.

gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The gameplay is praised for its creative pottery mechanics, satisfying customization, and accessible yet strategic team-based combat with unique and polished stage designs. However, many reviewers find it limited due to having only one game mode, which leads to repetitive and less compelling gameplay over time. While visually and thematically charming, technical issues and a lack of diverse modes hinder its long-term appeal.
- “It was fun to craft my pots and I was very impressed at how many I could make. There are 8 different pot types and each have 3 different gameplay types.”
- “The mechanics are simple enough to pick up quickly, but they create the kind of unpredictable chaos that leads to some absolutely ridiculous moments.”
- “I enjoy the gameplay and the array of different ability types along with the pot creation being very satisfying and a good amount of customization.”
- “Limited gameplay, one mode to play, level to win mechanics, not easy to control fighting, just overall low quality.”
- “It's such a shame because it's so incredibly well made, but there aren't many maps, there is one game mode and honestly the gameplay gets old very fast.”
- “It feels great to play but the gameplay is just so boring after a few matches I really can't see myself putting much time into this.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
58%
13%
The game features a charming and unique art style with beautiful visuals, animations, and creative themed maps that enhance the quirky party atmosphere. However, significant performance and optimization issues persist even on higher-end PCs, causing frustratingly low frame rates that detract from the overall experience. Despite the graphical appeal and aesthetic care, the rough physics and inconsistent gameplay smoothness lessen the impact for some players.
- “It's all wrapped up in Double Fine's charm and awesome art style.”
- “Animations, sounds, music, and visuals are all top notch goofy fun, and the quench maps, from Dionysus' dance floor to Hermes' giant conveyor belt mail-sorting facility, are as mechanically unique as they are thematically entertaining.”
- “The game is cheap, it has great visuals and a fun premise.”
- “The optimization is asinine, please fix it I beg of you. It lags so bad; the game doesn't even have AAA level graphics (which my ally is able to handle).”
- “Running a 3050ti on very low graphics settings and struggling to maintain 15fps.”
- “My only problem is the optimization; though I don't have a great PC, I know people who have tried this game with far better PCs and have really struggled getting frames on higher quality graphics settings.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game shows promise with a unique concept and charm but struggles significantly with optimization, exhibiting performance issues even on high-end PCs and handheld devices like the Steam Deck. Many users report lag, low frame rates, and bugs that hinder smooth gameplay, emphasizing the need for substantial performance improvements and bug fixes. While some improvements have been made since beta, optimization remains a major concern impacting accessibility and overall experience.
- “It wasn't great during the open beta and while it has improved with further optimization, I think a lot of people are going to be surprised at the recommended specs.”
- “Has some performance issues despite having a very beefy computer, but other than that, has lots of potential. Definitely planning to return!”
- “This is a perfect Steam Deck game; the handheld market will eat this game up once the performance issue is fixed.”
- “Performance is absolutely abysmal and really needs to be fixed.”
- “The optimization is asinine, please fix it, I beg of you. It lags so bad the game doesn't even have AAA level graphics (which my Ally is able to handle).”
- “-Again, horrific performance, on very low with all the AI stuff on still never above 50 fps.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Users express interest in a potential story mode, hoping for a campaign or PvE experience that explores the game's concept and themes. While there's currently no detailed narrative, some appreciate the underlying thematic tension between destruction and creation. Overall, there is a strong desire for a more developed story.
- “And there’s even some story insofar as there are themes of the tension between destruction and creation.”
- “I really would like to hear the story of how these guys came up with this concept.”
- “I would really love a PvE or campaign/story please.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The music is widely praised for its quality and how it complements the game's unique and entertaining thematic design. It contributes to the overall fun and fresh vibe, standing out alongside top-notch animations and visuals. However, some users feel that despite good music and presentation, the gameplay itself may not be enjoyable.
- “The music score is a nice touch as well.”
- “Such a breath of fresh air from the ideas, music, gameplay, and just overall vibe.”
- “Animations, sounds, music, and visuals are all top notch goofy fun, and the quench maps, from Dionysus' dance floor to Hermes' giant conveyor belt mail-sorting facility, are as mechanically unique as they are thematically entertaining.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is creative, unique, and consistently funny, leaving a lasting impression that continues to amuse players even days after playing. It combines adorableness with a playful, silly charm that enhances the overall experience.
- “DF has always been creative, unique, and funny, and it really shows through here.”
- “And that is an experience that, days after, I'm still laughing about.”
- “Incredibly adorable with a good sense of humor.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect tedious and unrewarding, particularly criticizing the "death from above" achievement for being boring, trivial, and encouraging negative gameplay. Progression is hindered by monotonous grinding to unlock features.
- “Cannot recommend until they fix the 'Death from Above' achievement, which is super boring, trivial, grindy, and rewards trolling/feeding/inting.”
- “Suffers from grinding to unlock features.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from frequent freezes that prevent saving progress, leading to loss of builds and negatively impacting overall stability.
- “So many of my builds are lost because the game freezes and doesn't let me save.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming and engaging setting, creating an inviting and immersive experience for players.
- “The atmosphere and setting of the game are really charming.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no microtransactions or battle passes, allowing players to enjoy the full experience with a one-time purchase.