NUTS

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 588 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
NUTS Game Cover
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
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"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.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 588 reviews
story109 positive mentions
grinding28 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.
  • Gameplay can become repetitive and tedious over time.
  • The story leaves many plot points unresolved, leading to a lack of closure.
  • Short playtime of around 2-4 hours may not justify the full price for some players.
  • story324 mentions

    The story of the game is often compared to "Firewatch," featuring a mix of environmental themes and personal narratives conveyed through phone conversations with a female boss. While many players found the initial premise intriguing and the aesthetic appealing, the overall execution left much to be desired, with numerous unresolved plot threads and a lack of satisfying closure. Despite its engaging elements, the narrative is criticized for being vague and underdeveloped, leading to a sense of frustration among players who hoped for a more conclusive and impactful ending.

    • “The story unfolds as you aid the research efforts of Viago University and uncover the mystery of the forest.”
    • “The story is interesting, with unexpected turns throughout that make it very worthwhile.”
    • “Nuts is a wonderful first-person narrative investigation game with a compelling story and an incredible art style!”
    • “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, and there's no way that it was someone's artistic vision for an ending.”
  • gameplay247 mentions

    The gameplay in "Nuts" is centered around a unique mechanic of tracking squirrels using cameras, which offers an engaging and intuitive experience. However, many players find the gameplay repetitive and tedious over time, with a lack of depth in mechanics and story progression. While the art style and atmosphere are praised, the overall execution leaves some feeling that the game doesn't fully realize its potential, making it a short but enjoyable experience for those who appreciate its quirky premise.

    • “The gameplay is intuitive and fun with low-pressure puzzles.”
    • “A gorgeous little adventure with a satisfying gameplay loop!”
    • “The gameplay loop revolves around setting up cameras and following the path of squirrels in a nature reserve.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics159 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and stunning art style, which features vibrant colors and a minimalist aesthetic that enhances gameplay and atmosphere. While many players appreciate the creative visuals and how they contribute to the narrative, some express concerns about the simplicity and occasional difficulty in distinguishing elements within the environment. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, providing a beautiful and engaging experience, despite some technical performance issues.

    • “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.”
    • “The overall aesthetic is beautiful and fun.”
    • “I'm not sure why the devs went with this aesthetic.”
    • “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.”
  • music41 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the natural setting while also introducing an element of unease that some players found dissonant. Many reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to create a cohesive environment, with beautiful and minimalist compositions that complement the visuals and voice acting. However, there were mixed feelings about certain tracks feeling out of place or overly ominous, leading to expectations of horror that the game did not fulfill.

    • “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.”
    • “The use of the colors and music combined with the narrative helps to give the player a feeling of 'I'm going to see something disturbing right now, ain't I?'.”
  • atmosphere39 mentions

    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, elevating the gameplay and immersing players in its beautifully crafted environments.

    • “The visually striking art design and minimalistic use of colors create a captivating atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is great and the nifty puzzle mechanic lifts this above your average indie title.”
    • “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 it 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.”
    • “The game loop of placing cameras by day and tracking squirrel movement by night is satisfying in and of itself, but it is the atmosphere of the environments that takes the experience to the next level.”
  • grinding30 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the backtracking and monotonous tasks required to progress. While some moments are engaging and the core mechanics are initially interesting, the gameplay often becomes a chore, particularly in the later stages, leading to a lack of motivation to continue. Despite its unique concept, the execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a mixed reception regarding the grinding experience.

    • “Pacing is slow but not tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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 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.”
    • “But in execution it's rather tedious having to run all the way back every single day and pressing the record button for what is almost always only about 30 seconds of footage or less at a time and repeatedly doing that over and over again.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of melancholy and heartwarming storytelling, with players expressing a range of feelings from deep emotional connection to disappointment in the lack of attachment due to its brevity. While some found the narrative touching and engaging, leading to a strong emotional investment, others felt the gameplay mechanics hindered their ability to connect with the characters and story. Overall, the game evokes a mix of wholesome experiences and emotional resonance, though opinions on its effectiveness vary significantly.

    • “This game has a somewhat melancholy but also heartwarming story.”
    • “You get tidbits of Nina's life when she was in your shoes years ago, and it's honestly really touching to see how empathetic she is of the natural world.”
    • “Honestly, the ending made me cry.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with most reviews noting that it offers only about 2 hours of content and that once players know the solutions to puzzles, there is little incentive to replay. While some players enjoyed the experience and mentioned the presence of collectibles, the static nature of the game and repetitive mechanics significantly diminish its replay value. Many recommend it only at a steep discount due to its short playtime and limited replay potential.

    • “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 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.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant FPS drops, particularly on the Steam Deck and in specific levels like the swamp, where performance can plummet to as low as 15-20 FPS. While most levels run smoothly at 60+ FPS, the overall graphical settings do not seem to impact performance significantly, leading to frustration for some users. Despite these issues, the game is generally described as cute with minimal glitchiness.

    • “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 rather surprising FPS drop on the Steam Deck, which caught me off guard, but I'm not someone who really cares about that kind of stuff. It's just kind of rare, especially for an indie title.”
    • “I did suffer a rather surprising FPS drop on the Steam Deck, which surprised me, 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).”
    • “Honestly, the graphics don't really change in low or ultra settings, but there are some parts of the game that make my 1050 Ti cry, especially the swamp location (FPS drops to 20 FPS).”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as both goofy and unexpectedly poignant, with players enjoying the absurdity of squirrel photography as a central theme. The well-paced chapters and seamless integration of story and gameplay lead to amusing payoffs, creating a blend of funny and heartfelt moments that resonate with players. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Compare the funny and moving conversations in Firewatch between Henry and Delilah with the expository phone calls you get in Nuts.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some players report a smooth and glitch-free experience, others encounter significant bugs and issues that detract from the gameplay.

    • “The main reason I can't recommend this, however, is that it is still buggy.”
    • “Not to mention the polish — it is so rare that I never had a single problem nor noticed any glitches or bugs at all.”
    • “Glitches.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

61% average critic score

Buy NUTS

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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