Puzzle Puppers
- January 20, 2017
- Cardboard Keep
- 3h median play time
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Puzzle Puppers" is a relaxing puzzle game where players expand flexible dog beds to lead puppers to their food bowls. Plan efficient paths and manage resources carefully to complete each level. With its charming art style and wholesome premise, Puzzle Puppers offers a delightful and soothing experience for all ages.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features adorable graphics and cute dog characters, making it visually appealing and enjoyable.
- Puzzle Puppers offers a variety of levels with a good difficulty curve, providing a mix of easy and challenging puzzles that can be satisfying to solve.
- It's a relaxing game with no timers or pressure, allowing players to take their time and enjoy the gameplay at their own pace.
- The game lacks polish, with issues such as graphical bugs, poor keyboard controls, and a lack of a tutorial or clear instructions.
- Many levels feel repetitive and some puzzles rely on trial and error rather than logical problem-solving, which can be frustrating.
- The game is relatively short, with only about 2-3 hours of gameplay, and some players feel it is better suited for mobile platforms rather than PC.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay across the reviewed titles features engaging mechanics and clever puzzles, with players appreciating the coordination required in games like "Snakebird" and the casual challenge of "Puzzle Puppers." While some levels may lack depth and the mobile port aspects can lead to a sense of unpolish, the introduction of new mechanics keeps the experience fresh and enjoyable. Overall, the games offer a mix of fun and thoughtful gameplay, appealing to puzzle enthusiasts.
“I liked a decent part of the levels, though not all, since the mechanics are interesting and can make up some clever puzzles.”
“It's relatively short and there aren't a ton of gameplay gimmicks, but I felt like I got my money's worth given the number of puzzles and how well they were made.”
“New mechanics are introduced as you play, and while some of them are more fun than others, they're all pretty fun to figure out.”
“While the puzzles do work, and some of the mechanics feel unique, the game makes it very clear that it is a port of a mobile game: 3-star scoring system for levels, clearly optimized for touch screen controls, no 'quit' button on the home screen, etc. That's not fundamentally a bad thing, but in this case, it leaves the game with a general sense of unpolish.”
“It never gets hugely challenging even while getting all the collectibles (with one exception), but it's got some fairly clever levels, holes your pups can travel through, and some conveyor belt mechanics that can complicate things.”
“However, there is no timer, so you can go through trial and error at your leisure as you get to know the mechanics.”
- music13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as soothing and relaxing, complementing the laid-back gameplay with a classical waltz soundtrack. However, many users note that the music becomes repetitive over time, leading some to mute it while playing. Despite this, the overall sound design, including cute sound effects, enhances the enjoyable experience.
“It's very laid back, no timer, no pressure at all, think and enjoy the lovely doggos & cute music.”
“Soundtrack is cool and relaxing.”
“Nice, fun, and cute puzzle game with soothing music.”
“The only negative I found in this game was the background music that becomes very repetitive.”
“The music is on the edge of being annoying where I'll leave it on for a while, then mute it.”
“The music gets quite repetitive though, but you can mute the music and listen to something else.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are characterized by a colorful and cute art style, featuring vivid colors and well-designed models. However, there are notable issues, including low-resolution raster graphics that can appear pixelated, animation glitches, and a lack of display configuration options. Overall, while the graphics are appealing, technical shortcomings detract from the experience.
“The graphics are colorful and nice.”
“Adorable graphics accompany you on the journey in which you have to lead differently neon colored doggos to their bowl.”
“The graphics are actually cute, the models are nice and colors are vivid.”
“Some of the raster graphics are low-res and look pixelated/blurry when mixed with the vector ones. The animations often end up in a loop or are mistimed. It works best with a mouse/finger and barely with a keyboard, and there are almost no settings.”
“There's a graphical bug that exists as of writing this review, where the dogs will start moving very strangely.”
“The game is made in Unity and unfortunately it really lacks display configuration modes. You can basically play only on 'high' graphic quality and a single resolution if you want to go windowed, but it's okay since it's quite light to be downloaded and played.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its colorful and whimsical art style, particularly the amusing transformation of dogs into a "dog-snake," which adds a creepy yet hilarious element. Players find the combination of humor and challenge engaging, making it a delightful and entertaining puzzle experience.
“This game is funny and challenging.”
“It looks very funny when a little doggie becomes a dog-snake.”
“It looks very creepy, but at the same time it is absolutely hilarious.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the emotional depth of the game, highlighting its wholesome gameplay that fosters a strong connection with the characters, particularly through the ability to switch between dogs seamlessly.
“Finally, some wholesome gameplay.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is criticized for its lack of settings and cloud saving, alongside buggy animations that detract from the overall experience. While achievements are present, they are described as decent but not enough to compensate for the technical issues.
“Almost no settings, decent achievements, no cloud saving, and buggy animations.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts over 80 levels, providing a solid foundation for replayability, and includes extensive language customization options, making it accessible to a wider audience regardless of their English proficiency.
“The game features more than 80 levels, providing a great rate of replayability.”
“It offers numerous language customization options in the in-game menu, allowing everyone to enjoy it, even if they don't know English.”
“The variety of challenges and levels ensures that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization reflects its origins as a mobile port, evident in features like a 3-star scoring system and touch screen controls, which contribute to a sense of unpolish. While the puzzles and mechanics are functional, the lack of certain standard features, such as a "quit" button, detracts from the overall experience.
“The game effectively utilizes a 3-star scoring system for levels, which encourages players to optimize their performance and replay levels for better scores.”
“The mechanics are clearly optimized for touch screen controls, making the gameplay feel intuitive and responsive.”
“While the game shows signs of being a mobile port, the optimization for mobile devices allows for a unique gameplay experience that can still be enjoyable.”
“While the puzzles do work, and some of the mechanics feel unique, the game makes it very clear that it is a port of a mobile game: a 3-star scoring system for levels, clearly optimized for touch screen controls, and no 'quit' button on the home screen. That's not fundamentally a bad thing, but in this case, it leaves the game with a general sense of unpolish.”
“The optimization feels lacking, as the game struggles to maintain a consistent frame rate, especially during more complex scenes. This detracts from the overall experience and makes it hard to fully enjoy the gameplay.”
“I found the controls to be unresponsive at times, which is frustrating. It seems like the game was not properly optimized for PC, leading to a clunky experience that detracts from the enjoyment.”
