Mail Time

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,341 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Mail Time Game Cover
Mail Time is a simple game with a simple reminder we often forget to hold onto when the world often can make us feel like we should run instead of walk.
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In Mail Time, become a Mail Scout and deliver letters and packages to various cute critters in the peaceful forest of Grumblewood Grove. Explore a charming, fairy tale-like world filled with 15 heartwarming characters, each with their own unique stories and personalities. Immerse yourself in this relaxing, cottagecore adventure and bring joy to the forest's inhabitants.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,341 reviews
story81 positive mentions
stability128 negative mentions
  • Mail Time features an adorable art style and charming characters that create a cozy atmosphere.
  • The dialogue is funny and engaging, making interactions with characters enjoyable.
  • The game encourages exploration and has a relaxing gameplay loop, perfect for casual gaming.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking only 2-4 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • There are numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with character interactions and quest completions.
  • The lack of a map can make navigation confusing, leading to frustration when trying to find characters or complete tasks.
  • story317 mentions

    The game's story is characterized as cute and engaging, featuring lovable characters and interconnecting storylines that provide a cozy experience. However, many players noted significant bugs that hindered quest completion and overall enjoyment, leading to frustration with the fetch quest mechanics and a desire for a more expansive narrative. While the art and humor are praised, the short length and repetitive nature of the quests left some players wanting more depth and polish in the storytelling.

    • “The story and dialogue are a lot of fun too!!”
    • “The art and storytelling of this game is absolutely beautiful.”
    • “I really enjoyed the story and the message at the end.”
    • “The entire time is just one long cascading fetch quest and none of them involve anything more interesting than 'here's where this person is, go find them and get more busywork.' If I wanted the runaround, I could just walk down the street and talk to a bank.”
    • “Other than that, I found myself mostly disinterested in the story that was going on and found it to be pretty tropey in a bad way.”
    • “However, this had no real story to it, it was incredibly short and it glitches constantly.”
  • graphics260 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which many players find cozy and visually appealing. While the overall aesthetic is considered the game's strongest aspect, some reviewers noted that the graphics could feel unpolished at times, with minor glitches and texture issues detracting from the experience. Despite these shortcomings, the delightful visuals and character designs contribute significantly to the game's whimsical and relaxing atmosphere.

    • “The graphics are beautiful and the characters are charming.”
    • “From the adorable graphics to the soothing soundtrack, every moment felt like a mini vacation for my mind.”
    • “I absolutely adored the graphics and the little world, and all the characters are so adorable!”
    • “It's cute, the artwork is cozy, but the game feels very rough and unfinished.”
    • “Super janky controls, it's hard to navigate and the graphics were not near as crisp as they seemed in the trailer and pictures.”
    • “I know in the patch notes that some of this was supposedly fixed but I continued to have graphical errors around Egbert and quests not completing where I did not feel confident in continuing further in a new save out of fear of spending 3 more hours to find out other bugs were also not fixed.”
  • gameplay144 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, primarily revolving around fetch quests and light platforming, which some players find charming and relaxing, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the engaging dialogue and beautiful art style, but there are concerns about the game's short length (around 3 hours) and its price point, leading to mixed feelings about its overall value. While the mechanics are straightforward and enjoyable for casual play, some players experienced control issues and bugs that detracted from the experience.

    • “An adorable and quirky woodland adventure with hilarious writing, and a cozy balance between easy gameplay and fun exploration.”
    • “I enjoyed this game so much and there are a lot of fun mechanics and different types of gameplay that make this game very interesting and fun to play.”
    • “Overall this game is absolutely wonderful, the art style is so cute and cohesive, the music is brilliantly designed for the different areas and feels of the game, and the gameplay is calming and smooth.”
    • “The gameplay is...well, it's a fetch quest and nothing but a fetch quest.”
    • “It's honestly way too much money for 3 hours of gameplay.”
    • “Too expensive for not even three hours of very similar gameplay (run around, talk to people, run around, talk, ad infinitum), still some bugs to be fixed.”
  • humor140 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and creativity, with many players finding the dialogue and character interactions to be genuinely funny and engaging. The characters are described as adorable and quirky, contributing to a cozy atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. However, a few reviews note that some jokes may not land well, leading to mixed feelings about certain characters' humor. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy lighthearted, humorous narratives in a cute setting.

    • “This game is absolutely adorable and all the characters are charming and their conversations hilarious.”
    • “I have never experienced a short, cozy game that was able to deliver dialogue *this* well...absolutely hilarious!”
    • “The writing is hilarious and each NPC feels distinct in their personality; they're so cute!”
    • “But unfortunately, the characters in this game are mostly unlikable and completely unfunny.”
  • music134 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and calming qualities, enhancing the overall cozy atmosphere. Many players appreciate how each area features its own distinct tune, contributing to an immersive experience that complements the charming artwork and engaging gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is described as delightful and memorable, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “The soundtrack is absolutely gorgeous and really immerses you into the different environments around the map, whilst the dialog has some really funny humor moments!”
    • “From the adorable graphics to the soothing soundtrack, every moment felt like a mini vacation for my mind.”
    • “Overall this game is absolutely wonderful, the art style is so cute and cohesive, the music is brilliantly designed for the different areas and feels of the game, and the gameplay is calming and smooth.”
    • “It's may be easy for people to overlook the soundtrack as it's a cozy blanket for the setting and doesn't push itself to the forefront, but is enjoyable at the times when it wistfully comes to your attention.”
    • “I got all the way to the party where it bugged out and wouldn't let you talk to Janet, even had the music stand and the table all disappear so it was just awkward partygoers standing there (or dancing in the air).”
    • “The musical section of mail time dramatizes the tranquility to a point of majestic beauty of a quiet place.”
  • stability128 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its numerous glitches and bugs, which significantly impact the overall experience. While some players found the game enjoyable and noted improvements after patches, many reported frequent issues that led to frustration and interruptions in gameplay. Overall, the stability of the game remains a concern, with players recommending caution until further updates are released.

    • “But so, so, glitchy and buggy.”
    • “For a game that repeatedly denounces capitalism at multiple points, pricing $20 for a buggy game that can be completed in less than two hours is rather hypocritical.”
    • “I am seriously disappointed, I paid 15.99 and waited almost a year for this buggy and extremely short game.”
  • emotional125 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with players highlighting its wholesome, cute, and heartwarming qualities. Many reviewers appreciate the engaging characters, charming art style, and the game's ability to provide a comforting escape, often describing it as a perfect remedy for stress. While some mention minor glitches, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully evokes warm feelings and emotional investment in its narrative and characters.

    • “What a sweet little game, with engaging characters, simple dialogue, and a surprisingly moving ending touching on the nature of success and failure.”
    • “I knew this game was going to be adorable but I didn't expect to get as emotionally invested in the characters as I did (I'm talking about you, Soks).”
    • “All of the elements for an adorable, wholesome experience are there: its cast of animal characters are incredibly well-written, its art direction is delightful, and the entire premise is utterly charming.”
  • atmosphere24 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cute and relaxing vibe, complemented by charming characters and a friendly, happy forest setting. Players appreciate the heartfelt and cozy environment, enhanced by delightful music and engaging backstories, making it a perfect comfort game to enjoy at a leisurely pace. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as lovely and inviting, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “Very cute, relaxing atmosphere, funny little characters; it's amazing and fits to be a comfort game.”
    • “The atmosphere, including music and environment, was absolutely lovely to be in.”
    • “Get it in the sale; it's 3 hours of playtime to 100% if you're taking your time, but it's a cute, vibey, atmospheric, sweet, heartfelt little game with my favorite creatures :)”
  • replayability18 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many players noting that it can be completed in just a few hours and lacks significant variation in quests and map layout. While there are some opportunities for replay through missed delivery missions, the general consensus is that once players are familiar with the game, there is little incentive to return. Some hope for future updates to enhance replay value, but currently, it serves more as a one-off, relaxing experience.

    • “+replay value (50 possible delivery missions, if you miss some you can get them the next playthrough!)”
    • “-the game has excellent replayability”
    • “I hope more playable options are added on in the future!”
    • “However, the game is very short and lacks replayability.”
    • “The game doesn't feel like it's worth $20 USD when it can be 100% completed in a couple of hours and there's very little replayability since the map and quests remain the same.”
    • “Definitely one of those one-off, 'I need to play something slow and easy to relax.' Replayability (outside of most likely replaying later to get currently bugged achievements) is low in my opinion.”
  • character development18 mentions

    The character development in the game is highly praised for its charming and adorable design, which enhances the overall experience and fits the cozy vibe of the game. Reviewers appreciate the beautiful hand-drawn art style and the thoughtful inclusion of diverse pronouns, contributing to a delightful and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the character design is a standout feature that leaves players smiling and captivated.

    • “Incredibly beautiful scenery, amazing character design, and great story writing.”
    • “The art style and character design have such charming attributes that you can't help but smile when playing.”
    • “Your character design is also adorable and fits the cozy vibe (also includes they/them pronouns).”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The game's optimization received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing performance issues, particularly in specific areas that felt poorly optimized and caused frame drops. While one user noted that the overall performance was good with only minor dips, others struggled to run the game smoothly on less powerful hardware, indicating a need for better optimization across different systems.

    • “I enjoyed the different environments; the cave was my favorite, and finding the fastest route between them all was fun as well (though I am partial to optimization, so perhaps this is something few people would enjoy).”
    • “The performance was really good - I only ran into one area where the frames seemed to dip a little bit (around the multiple waterfalls), but even though it was noticeable, it didn't detract from the enjoyment I got from this game.”
    • “It was much better as a smaller game, and I think it should've been broken up into separate areas, also because it isn't the best optimized and my computer was loud playing it.”
    • “One area in particular was especially poorly optimized and felt chunky to get through despite playing on a powerful PC.”
    • “I played it on my desktop windowed with the SD's native resolution to test the performance against my Steam Deck.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive travel required for missions, which can become frustrating over time. While the game is relatively short, the back-and-forth nature of certain tasks may lead to a sense of monotony, especially if bugs persist and require players to restart.

    • “I could see this getting tedious in the long run, but the game is overall fairly short, even when completing everything 100%.”
    • “The only gripe I had was how tedious it was traveling up and down and back and forth over and over and over.”
    • “I hope that the bugs get fixed because I don't have any intention of restarting my game anytime soon for it to possibly work, as a couple of the missions were tedious to do as it can take a while to get to certain locations.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Mail Time

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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