PHAT STACKS

About

PHAT STACKS is a single player action game. It was developed by ColloseusX and was released on November 29, 2016. It received negative reviews from players.

Phat Stacks is puzzle platformer, physics based addictive arcade game that is all about collecting crystals by building platforms and controlling an alien lifeform across these platforms

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

30%

Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of construction and timing, rewarding creativity and patience through its physics-based mechanics.
Players can enjoy a satisfying sense of accomplishment when successfully building stable structures to complete levels.
The minimalist visuals and soundtrack create a focused environment that enhances concentration and problem-solving.

The physics implementation is inconsistent and buggy, leading to frustrating gameplay where objects can pass through each other or fall unexpectedly.
The game lacks a tutorial or clear instructions, making it difficult for players to understand the mechanics and objectives.
With only eight short levels and a repetitive gameplay loop, the game feels limited in scope and may not hold players' interest for long.

gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
Phat Stacks offers engaging puzzle-platformer gameplay that emphasizes precision and problem-solving, appealing to players who enjoy mastering simple mechanics through repetition. However, the game suffers from significant implementation issues, including erratic object behavior and glitchy controls, which detract from the overall experience. While its minimalist design and quick puzzles may attract some players, the frustrating physics and limited visual appeal may hinder broader enjoyment.
- “Phat Stacks, developed by ColloseusX and published by Phat Phrog Studios, is a small but engaging indie puzzle-platformer that combines precision physics gameplay with the addictive appeal of structural problem-solving.”
- “The mechanics are easy to learn but challenging to master, and every misstep teaches you something new about how the system works.”
- “The simplicity of its mechanics also makes it easy to return to in short bursts—it's a game well-suited for players who enjoy quick, self-contained puzzles that reward precision and creativity.”
- “The mechanics are interesting but really badly implemented: objects clipping all the time, objects dropped all the time for no reason, and just erratic behavior overall.”
- “I'd not recommend buying this because it's visually uninteresting, gameplay-wise terrible, and the mouse control of blocks glitches out.”
- “I don't recommend it because the collisions (physics) are bugged and that makes the gameplay very hard and annoying at the same time.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's graphics are characterized by a minimalist, cartoonish style with bright colors, reminiscent of early indie titles. While the simplistic 2D designs and mobile-like interface may not appeal to everyone, they effectively support the gameplay, which emphasizes clever design and problem-solving over visual spectacle. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose but lack complexity and flair.
- “This stripped-down approach gives the game a certain charm, reminiscent of early indie physics titles that focused entirely on gameplay depth rather than aesthetic spectacle.”
- “While the minimalist visuals and occasional difficulty spikes might limit its appeal to a broader audience, those who appreciate clever design and methodical gameplay will find plenty to enjoy.”
- “The graphics of the game are very mobile-phone-like: cartoonish, with bright pink and blue colors, and an extremely simplified interface with round buttons.”
- “Graphics are bright and simplistic 2D designs, but nothing flashy or special.”
- “The graphics of the game are very mobile-phone-like: cartoonish, with bright pink and blue colors, an extremely simplified interface with round buttons that seem to be telling you 'touch me on your touchscreen even if I know you're playing this game where it's not supposed to be played.'”
- “The backgrounds and artwork seem to be all asset flips.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with users describing it as low-key, repetitive, and lacking uniqueness, often feeling like a low-quality loop. While some found it relaxing initially, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is annoying and detracts from the gaming experience.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The game has good graphics, the music is normal (just 1 track), and the gameplay is good. Yes, it's hard, frustrating, and will make you mad, but isn't that the objective of this type of game?”
- “The soundtrack follows the same philosophy, using low-key electronic tones that fade into the background.”
- “Music isn't unique either; it sounds like an MP3 rip-off from the internet played on an infinite loop.”
- “The soundtrack is annoying.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is severely compromised, with numerous bugs causing inconsistent physics and graphical glitches, such as shapes falling through each other or disappearing entirely. Players report frustrating gameplay due to these issues, leading to a lack of control and overall dissatisfaction. As a result, many reviewers advise against purchasing the game due to its unstable performance.
- “The game is so buggy that I'm having triangles, circles, and rectangles fall through each other instead of stacking, or just disappear completely.”
- “The problems arise with how buggy the game can be, with the physics being janky, but not in a good way; frustratingly inconsistent and buggy.”
- “You'll have to click on the shapes in the upper part of the screen to help yourself reach the star - you'll be able to position them (no rearranging, and there's not even a hotkey to restart the level), but their physics will be totally messed up, causing them to fall into glitches and bugs or stack in unpredictable ways.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players find the game highly replayable due to the challenge of collecting all crystals, which adds tension and encourages experimentation with different strategies. The short levels are designed for repeated play, appealing to those who enjoy pursuing higher scores and perfect completions.
- “The levels are short but replayable, especially for those who enjoy chasing higher scores or perfect completions.”
- “Going for all the crystals often means stretching your structure to its limits or taking daring leaps, which increases the tension and replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes or different paths makes replaying feel more like a chore than an adventure.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story emphasizes the value of persistence and problem-solving, highlighting that life's unpredictability can lead to unexpected outcomes. It conveys a moral about resilience and the importance of not giving up in the face of adversity.
- “It’s the kind of experience that rewards persistence and problem-solving over flashy visuals or elaborate storytelling.”
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be engaging, as it requires not only reaching for a goal but also maintaining a delicate balance, which adds a layer of tension and connection to the experience.