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NUTS

Busting a nut-based mystery such as this one involves two parts: clever thinking and intuition. NUTS is a beautiful game, in aesthetic, design and atmosphere
74%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
88% User Score Based on 1,176 reviews
Critic Score 61%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

PCPCiPhoneiPhoneWindowsWindowsNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchMac OSMac OSMobile PlatformMobile PlatformiPadiPadPhonePhoneSteam DeckSteam Deck
Buy Nowfrom $19.99
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About

"NUTS" is a game where you play as a rookie field researcher, tasked with tracking the movements of a mysterious group of squirrels in Melmoth Forest. During the day, place cameras to capture their behavior, and at night, analyze the footage to uncover puzzling patterns and routes. With full voice acting, bold visuals, and immersive sound effects, "NUTS" offers an engaging and unique gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
NUTS screenshot
+11

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,187 reviews
story222 positive mentions
grinding56 negative mentions
  • Visually stunning with a unique art style that enhances the atmosphere.
  • Engaging gameplay loop of tracking squirrels through camera placement and footage review.
  • Compelling story that builds intrigue, despite some unanswered questions.
  • Short playtime of about 2-4 hours, which may not justify the full price.
  • Repetitive gameplay can become tedious as the game progresses.
  • Abrupt ending that leaves many plot points unresolved, leading to a feeling of dissatisfaction.
  • story
    653 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Nuts" is often compared to "Firewatch," featuring a narrative centered around environmental themes and the surveillance of squirrels in a forest setting. While many players found the premise intriguing and the aesthetic appealing, the execution left much to be desired, with numerous unresolved plot threads and a lack of satisfying closure. Overall, the story is described as engaging yet ultimately disappointing, as it fails to deliver a compelling conclusion, leaving players wanting more.

    • “The story was still beautiful and actually pissed me off on several occasions, which is great!”
    • “The squirrels are more intelligent than you think they are, and the whole story serves as a well-wrapped metaphor about the interaction between humanity and the natural world.”
    • “I found myself immediately engaged in the story, and in fact my only complaint is that the ending was not very interesting compared to all the build up.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious and repetitive, and the story is so dull that you become almost positive there is going to be some kind of outrageous twist to re-contextualize all the vague, mundane environmental grousing, but there is just nothing at the end.”
    • “Every plot thread that sounds like it might lead to something interesting is abandoned with no explanation.”
    • “The story ends in a nonsensical way, it's clearly rushed, there's no way that it was someone's artistic vision for an ending.”
  • gameplay
    505 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Nuts" features a unique mechanic centered around tracking squirrels using cameras, which many players find engaging and innovative. However, the experience is often marred by repetitiveness and a lack of depth, leading to a sense of tedium as the game progresses. While the art style and atmosphere are praised, the overall gameplay loop can feel simplistic and may not sustain interest for the game's short duration of 2-4 hours.

    • “The gameplay is intuitive and fun with low pressure puzzles.”
    • “A gorgeous little adventure with a satisfying gameplay loop!”
    • “The gameplay is simple and keeps interesting with little twists and changes during the game.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious and repetitive, and the story is so dull that you become almost positive there is going to be some kind of outrageous twist to re-contextualize all the vague, mundane environmental grousing, but there is just nothing at the end.”
    • “The concept is interesting, but the gameplay becomes tedious very quickly.”
    • “The camera surveillance/tracking gameplay gets tedious after a while and while the story was going in an interesting direction that I wanted to see the end of, at the end I found it to be not worth the effort.”
  • graphics
    322 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Nuts" are widely praised for their unique and stunning art style, characterized by vibrant colors and a minimalist aesthetic that enhances gameplay by making it easier to spot key elements. While many players appreciate the ethereal atmosphere and creative visuals, some express concerns about the game's performance and the potential for the graphics to become monotonous or hard to distinguish in certain areas. Overall, the art direction is seen as a significant strength, contributing to the game's charm and immersive experience.

    • “The visuals were very vibrant, the music was atmospheric, and the sound effects were all inspired by nature.”
    • “The art style is stunning and the gameplay is intuitive.”
    • “Beautiful art style carries the game.”
    • “Graphics are that of a calculator on monochrome steroids.”
    • “For one, the areas are too small to give you a sense of being lost in a large place and the art style with low details is actually quite claustrophobic.”
    • “I think another tedious thing for me were the minimal graphics - in the beginning, I could barely see where I was supposed to go.”
  • music
    82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the natural setting while also introducing an underlying sense of unease. Many reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to create a cohesive environment, with some tracks being particularly memorable, though a few felt that certain pieces felt out of place or overly ominous for the game's tone. Overall, the combination of ambient sounds, music, and voice acting contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The music is well done, and often fits the mood.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic, the visuals, the sounds, the music, all just drew me in!”
    • “Without spoiling anything about the plot, the music really makes some masterful atmospheres, sometimes relaxing and sometimes foreboding.”
    • “The graphic is also what makes this game special, but the unnecessarily eerie background music and noise made me expect more from the world and story.”
    • “The rather mysterious music and setting will make you think that something is going to happen, but unfortunately nothing ever does.”
    • “I understand that there is a mysterious theme here, but some moments did not connect with me musically.”
  • atmosphere
    79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant visuals, atmospheric music, and nature-inspired sound effects, creating a captivating and sometimes eerie experience. Reviewers highlight the unique art style and minimalistic color palette that enhance the game's ethereal quality, making it both relaxing and foreboding. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, drawing players into its immersive world and elevating the gameplay experience.

    • “The visually striking art design and minimalistic use of colors create a captivating atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic; the visuals, the sounds, the music, all just drew me in!”
    • “Really enjoyed the game; they did a great job of creating an atmosphere that captures the beauty and eeriness of very old forests.”
    • “I struggle to call Nuts good; I experienced 4 apparent soft-locks in the 3 hours it took to beat it, alongside a dozen other collision and movement bugs, but there was an indisputable charm to the game and its atmosphere.”
    • “The sounds of the forest, and the minimalist ambient music, also work well to build up an atmosphere.”
    • “It has a very relaxing and increasingly foreboding atmosphere, reminiscent of Firewatch, but its heart is the truly original camera game mechanic: the squirrel starts at point A and travels to point B along the same route every night.”
  • grinding
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tedious and repetitive nature, with many players expressing frustration over the excessive backtracking and monotonous tasks required to progress. While some found initial enjoyment in the gameplay mechanics, the novelty quickly wore off, leading to a sense of boredom and a desire to rush through certain sections. Overall, the execution of the game's concept is seen as lacking, resulting in a grind that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Pacing is slow but not tedious.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious and repetitive, and the story is so dull that you become almost positive there is going to be some kind of outrageous twist to re-contextualize all the vague, mundane environmental grousing, but there is just nothing at the end.”
    • “The concept is interesting, but the gameplay becomes tedious very quickly.”
    • “The camera surveillance/tracking gameplay gets tedious after a while and while the story was going in an interesting direction that I wanted to see the end of, at the end I found it to be not worth the effort.”
  • emotional
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a blend of melancholy and heartwarming moments, with a touching narrative that resonates with players, particularly through the character of Nina and her connection to nature. While some players found the story engaging and emotionally impactful, leading to a strong connection by the end, others felt a lack of emotional investment due to the game's brevity and repetitive gameplay, which hindered deeper character connections. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotional responses, from heartfelt engagement to feelings of detachment.

    • “This game has a somewhat melancholy but also heartwarming story.”
    • “Honestly, the ending made me cry.”
    • “I became hugely invested in what started as a quirky premise - tracking squirrels - and by the end of the game, around 4 hours in, I definitely had an emotional connection to the experience.”
  • replayability
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with most players noting that it offers only about 2 hours of content and that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to revisit the game. While some players enjoyed the experience and appreciated the collectibles, the static nature of the world and repetitive mechanics significantly diminish any potential for replay value. Overall, it is recommended primarily for those who enjoy short, linear experiences, ideally at a discounted price.

    • “I don't think it is massively replayable because the world is pretty static and you'll know where everything is the next time around, but I think I will be messing around with it again to find easter eggs and get the last two achievements.”
    • “There are some collectibles dotted throughout which expand on the story, but beyond that, there isn't much replayability as the squirrels follow the same exact route each game.”
    • “But unfortunately, it's also very short, and I can't see that there is much replay value in the chapters.”
    • “There's about 2 hours of content, with no replayability.”
    • “The replayability might also suffer from the main mechanic being kind of repetitive and the objectives for certain chapters being somewhat obvious.”
    • “A cute and not unenjoyable experience, but overall dreadfully short with little to no replay value.”
  • optimization
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with notable performance issues reported on certain levels, particularly the swamp area, where frame rates can drop to as low as 15-20 fps. While most levels run smoothly at 60+ fps, some players experienced unexpected drops on devices like the Steam Deck. Overall, the graphics do not significantly change between low and ultra settings, and while there are minor glitches, they are not widespread.

    • “Overall a very cute game, with very little glitchiness in terms of going out of bounds or getting stuck. On the swamp map, it is possible to leap out of the map in several areas, and in the area with the treehouse, there is a fence you can hop over and get stuck behind. However, there are no other notable performance issues.”
    • “Honestly, the graphics don't really change between low and ultra settings, but there are some parts of the game that make my 1050 Ti struggle, especially in the swamp location where the FPS drops to 20.”
    • “I did experience a surprising FPS drop on the Steam Deck, which was unexpected, but I'm not someone who really cares about that kind of stuff. It's just kind of rare, especially for an indie title.”
    • “Besides that, performance is really bad in some levels (15 fps frequently); in most levels, it's fine though (60+ fps).”
    • “Graphics and optimization: honestly, the graphics don't really change in low or ultra settings, but there are some parts of the game that make my 1050ti cry, especially the swamp location (fps drops to 20 fps).”
    • “Also, there are some frustrating performance issues on one level.”
  • humor
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as both goofy and hauntingly hilarious, with players enjoying the absurdity of a squirrel photography theme. The well-paced chapters and seamless integration of story beats contribute to comedic moments that resonate with players, making for an entertaining experience. Comparisons to other games highlight the effective blend of humor and narrative, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

    • “Somehow both goofy and hauntingly hilarious.”
    • “The chapters are well paced, and the story beats are mixed in seamlessly with the gameplay, leading to some hilarious payoffs.”
    • “Got this in a bundle and thought 'haha nuts... funny name' - actually played it and had a very good time.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    User reviews on stability are mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no noticeable glitches or bugs, others highlight ongoing issues that detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. This inconsistency suggests that stability may vary significantly between different users' experiences.

    • “The main reason I can't recommend this, however, is that it is still buggy.”
    • “There are glitches.”
    • “The game is smooth and runs well, but I didn't experience any glitches, bugs, or issues.”

61%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews

Buy NUTS

3h Median play time
3h Average play time
3-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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