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Paws of Coal

Paws of Coal is a generally enjoyable and well-told tale, if not especially inventive.
Paws of Coal Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
92% User Score Based on 63 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Paws of Coal Game Cover

About

Paws of Coal is a single player action game with fantasy and drama themes. It was developed by Gamechuck and was released on May 1, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Paws of Coal" is a cozy detective adventure where you play as Charles, a scholar investigating an outbreak in the mining town of The Burrows. With productivity suffering and miners on strike, it's up to you to find a solution and uncover the true nature of the outbreak. Featuring multiple endings, your choices will determine the fate of The Burrows and its critters.

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Paws of Coal screenshot
Paws of Coal screenshot
Paws of Coal screenshot
Paws of Coal screenshot
Paws of Coal screenshot
Paws of Coal screenshot
Paws of Coal screenshot
Paws of Coal screenshot
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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 63 reviews
story7 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game features excellent writing and a thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of class struggle and personal responsibility.
  • The unique deduction mechanics and well-organized notebook system make solving mysteries engaging and satisfying.
  • The charming hand-drawn art style and lively character animations create an immersive and delightful atmosphere.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs that can disrupt gameplay and cause crashes.
  • Some players found the navigation and user interface clunky, making it difficult to interact with certain elements.
  • The game is relatively short, leaving some players wanting more content and a more expansive narrative.
  • story
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story serves as a captivating side narrative within a larger universe, featuring a charming yet mature plot centered on a rabbit outbreak. While it offers engaging characters and multiple endings, many players feel it ends abruptly and leaves them wanting more depth and world-building. The narrative is straightforward and enriched by detective mechanics, making it appealing for those who enjoy story-rich experiences, despite some critiques regarding its visual presentation and pacing.

    • “I absolutely loved this game, from the lore to the story in general - I loved the genuine scientist/detective mechanics with finding evidence, making deductions, and doing research with every ounce of information at your disposal.”
    • “There's quite a bit of reading, but in a game like this that's a strength, both in terms of storytelling and of world building.”
    • “The story teases elements of the larger world in a way that makes you hungry for more, but the game unfortunately ends fairly abruptly after you solve the outbreak.”
    • “The story feels like a very brief snapshot of a world/society with complicated systemic issues.”
    • “The only thing that slightly bothered me was that it seemed to promise more story than it delivered.”
  • gameplay
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by unique deduction mechanics that engage players in moral decision-making and investigative tasks, though some users found navigation and the clue system to be somewhat clunky. While the game leans towards reading and narrative, it effectively combines light detective work with interesting puzzles, making for an original and enjoyable experience. Overall, players appreciate the innovative mechanics and the depth of interaction within the game's world.

    • “The gameplay here was also really unique and effective.”
    • “I absolutely loved this game, from the lore to the story in general - I loved the genuine scientist/detective mechanics with finding evidence, making deductions, and doing research with every ounce of information at your disposal.”
    • “The puzzle-solving mechanic feels just right: testing your understanding without being too revealing.”
    • “The game is also a bit tricky to navigate; it took me a while to get the hang of stairs or the journal riddle-solving mechanic, as there is no tutorial.”
    • “I'm not sure the UI was optimal for the main mechanic, which is doing the investigation.”
    • “The clue mechanic is clunky, but it is novel and interesting enough for the few puzzles in the game.”
  • graphics
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are praised for their charming, handmade art style and engaging character animations, creating a heartwarming and immersive experience. However, some reviewers noted a mismatch between character and background art, suggesting a need for better color palette cohesion. Overall, the visuals are considered delightful and well-suited to the game's themes, contributing positively to the overall aesthetic.

    • “I really liked the animations, the art style, and the writing.”
    • “The world has a very good design and the graphics are a lot of fun.”
    • “An awesome little gem of a game with hypercute visuals and an engrossing storyline.”
    • “Given the game as it stands (length, price), the repass on matching the visuals to the theme of the game seems like the option that makes more sense.”
    • “The character art doesn't quite match the art style in the background; maybe the whole thing needs a faint lighting/color palette adjustment to make them really seem like they go together.”
    • “The soundtrack and artwork, character and backdrop, are both lovely, although I found myself wishing for some more interface sounds, and a little bit of voice acting, just to polish the overall design off.”
  • music
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for being lovely and fitting the theme well, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and expressed a desire for more variety, such as additional interface sounds or voice acting. Overall, the music complements the charming art style and enhances the game's atmosphere.

    • “Art style and graphics are pretty charming and the music is beautiful.”
    • “I really love the music and the art.”
    • “A great game with an interesting premise set in an animal kingdom with wonderful art and relaxing music.”
    • “Cute game, there are a few small things it could have done better (mainly the soundtrack), but nothing major.”
    • “The soundtrack and artwork, character, and backdrop are both lovely, although I found myself wishing for some more interface sounds and a little bit of voice acting, just to polish the overall design off.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features clever and whimsical writing that elicits genuine laughter, with users noting its cute charm. While some movement mechanics can be janky, they often contribute to the humor rather than detract from the experience. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that enhances the game's appeal.

    • “This is a very cute game that has some clever and even funny writing.”
    • “Lastly, there's the prevailing whimsical humor.”
    • “The game made me laugh out loud, something that seldom happens to me.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability has improved, with no crashes reported; however, users still encounter significant bugs, particularly with pathfinding. Minor formatting inconsistencies and a typo were noted, but these did not detract from the overall experience.

    • “Kinda buggy but not unplayable.”
    • “Edit: game does not crash anymore, but the path is still extremely buggy.”
    • “I did notice a very slight bit of formatting inconsistency (font size changing) and one punctuation typo, but otherwise did not come upon any glitches.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a profound and introspective experience rather than traditional fun, appealing primarily to thoughtful teens and adults. The combination of audio and visuals contributes to a heartwarming atmosphere, enhancing the overall emotional impact.

    • “Audio and visuals create a heartwarming experience.”
    • “It's not 'fun' (as in a happy, energetic, emotionally easy time) and I don't think anyone but thoughtful teens and older would enjoy it.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate that while the game is text-heavy, the information provided enhances the engaging deduction gameplay, making the experience feel rewarding rather than tedious.

  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While the game features multiple endings, many users feel that its overall replayability is limited, suggesting that the experience may not significantly change with subsequent playthroughs.

    • “I know that there are multiple endings, yet I think the replayability of this game is not that great.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a sense of unease and tension, often described as "atmospheric parasitism," suggesting that it effectively draws players into a haunting and immersive environment that lingers long after gameplay.

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Paws of Coal is a action game with fantasy and drama themes.

Paws of Coal is available on PC and Windows.

Paws of Coal was released on May 1, 2023.

Paws of Coal was developed by Gamechuck.

Paws of Coal has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Paws of Coal is a single player game.

Similar games include Tales of the Neon Sea, Lacuna, Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane, Unavowed, Whispers of a Machine and others.