Scrap Garden

About

"Scrap Garden" is an adventure puzzle game featuring Canny, a small rusty robot. Canny awakens in a post-human world and sets off on a journey to find the meaning of his existence. Along the way, he explores beautiful landscapes, solves puzzles, and meets other robots in this heartwarming story. The game offers a charming world with a variety of challenges for players to discover.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 493 reviews

story60 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

Charming visuals and a cute protagonist, Canny, make the game visually appealing.
Relaxing gameplay with simple mechanics, making it suitable for all ages, especially children.
The game features a lighthearted story and easy puzzles, providing a casual gaming experience.

Controls can be clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
The game is very short, taking only about 2-3 hours to complete, which may not justify the price.
Repetitive mechanics and lack of depth in gameplay, with many puzzles and enemies feeling uninspired.

story
224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
11%
The story of "Scrap Garden" revolves around Canny, a robot on a quest to uncover the mystery behind the deactivation of his fellow robots in a post-apocalyptic world. While some players find the narrative charming and suitable for children, others criticize it for being simplistic, predictable, and poorly executed, with numerous plot holes and lackluster writing. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag, appealing to younger audiences but failing to engage more discerning players.
- “The storyline is cute, about a world run by robots, but with some interesting twists and reveals.”
- “The game has a nice soundtrack, an interesting story and it is obvious the devs put a lot of effort and love into the game.”
- “Overall, I didn't start the game expecting much, but with its great storytelling, adorable characters, and somewhat nostalgic gameplay, I ended up loving it!”
- “I found the story to be boring.”
- “The story is not cohesive in the slightest; many simple plot holes exist that could have easily been avoided.”
- “The story isn't really all that charming and interesting: while it starts out as a small version of Wall-E, it quickly turns into your typical 'find-x-object-to-save-the-world' storyline without bringing anything new to the table.”
gameplay
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
62%
18%
The gameplay of Scrap Garden is characterized by its simplicity and charm, offering a lighthearted platforming experience with basic mechanics such as jumping on enemies and collecting items. While the game features a pleasant atmosphere and engaging visuals, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with some technical issues like clunky controls and a problematic camera. Overall, it provides a casual experience suitable for a short playthrough, but it may not satisfy those seeking more challenging or innovative gameplay.
- “Scrap Garden offers a fun, lighthearted adventure with charming visuals and simple gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun, the music is beautiful, the puzzles are not too hard, and the story is cute and interesting.”
- “The gameplay is simple and easy, and yet offers enough variability to not get boring and it progresses at a satisfying pace.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive and boring.”
- “But the gameplay is choppy and unsteady, the movements are crude, and there are so many invisible walls and ceilings that it just feels miserable to play.”
- “The gameplay is bland and uninspired.”
graphics
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The graphics of Scrap Garden are generally described as charming and visually appealing, with a cute art style that enhances the lighthearted gameplay. However, many reviewers note that the visuals can feel unpolished and occasionally suffer from glitches, with some comparing them to older games. Overall, while the graphics are not groundbreaking, they contribute positively to the game's atmosphere and appeal, making it enjoyable for a casual audience.
- “The game's graphics and animation are lovely and well-crafted, with bright and colorful visuals and a cute protagonist that's easy to root for.”
- “Gorgeous graphics that leave you in awe, a storyline which leaves you in wonder and hope, and a loveable little protagonist canny to guide you through this amazing experience!”
- “The visuals are beautiful - gentle and distant, something that feels like a warm dream from childhood, but the best part of it is the music.”
- “Don't expect AAA visuals and a really polished game; sometimes it can feel rough around the edges.”
- “The graphics look more like a 2006 game than a 2016 game, and the whole gameplay is just too repetitive - it's only repeating the same tasks and actions just in different maps.”
- “Even when loaded, the textures are muddy, enemies don't even come close to being the same art style, and every animation is stiff and jarring.”
music
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The music in the game is generally described as decent and atmospheric, contributing to a relaxing gameplay experience, though it often suffers from short loops that can become repetitive. While some players appreciate the soothing and charming qualities of the soundtrack, others criticize the lack of audio options and find certain tracks jarring or annoying. Overall, the music is seen as a highlight for its ability to enhance the game's mood, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The game's soundtrack also does a great job of setting the mood and immersing players in the game's world.”
- “Stunning atmosphere, good puzzles, interesting story, and a very beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The background music consisting of soothing instrumental piano pieces is an absolute aural delight to the senses, bestowing a very relaxing vibe upon the game.”
- “The music loops are too short and they get old really quick (the song for the enchanted mansion is the best but it also suffers from this issue).”
- “Annoying music that can't be turned off.”
- “The music didn't change at all; it is basically a 5 or 10 second loop throughout everywhere I've seen.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
25%
11%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charm and emotional depth, creating a unique blend of nostalgia and warmth amidst themes of loneliness and exploration. Players appreciate the beautiful level design, engaging soundtracks, and the immersive world that evokes a sense of both sadness and wonder. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay elements, the overall atmospheric experience is considered a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.
- “Nice game with a great atmosphere; it feels like the game has a soul, and I like that.”
- “It is an incredibly beautiful atmospheric experience, fully worth the few hours you will spend playing it.”
- “There is a ton of charm and atmosphere packed into this game, from the lonely piano music and quaint voiceovers to the number of fun (and sometimes destructible) details the developers put into the environment.”
- “Could've been a great game with the music and atmosphere, but the annoying bugs and boring puzzles destroy it.”
- “It is a weak story about something no one really cares about and let's face it, if you were interested in this game it would be for the atmosphere and gameplay and not so much the poorly voiced cutscenes that have all the subtlety of a brick going through a window.”
- “What is most striking about Scrap Garden is without a shadow of a doubt the inescapably pervasive atmosphere of silence and emptiness, the complete antithesis of most other games.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and charming, while others criticize it for forced or cringe-worthy moments. Many appreciate the lighthearted and whimsical nature of the gameplay, highlighting specific instances that elicited laughter, such as character antics and clever writing. Overall, the game offers a humorous experience that can provide a refreshing break from more serious titles, despite some inconsistencies in comedic execution.
- “Great for some chill and funny gaming experience, away from all tryhard games.”
- “It is a fairly short game but had a few moments that made me laugh, for example when Canny tries to fly or the entire gorilla fight.”
- “There are moments of odd and unexpected humor in the game that made me laugh out loud.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Overall, the game's stability is characterized by a mix of minor bugs and glitches, including camera issues, strange checkpoint placements, and occasional crashes. While these problems can detract from the experience, many players find the charm and engaging level design compensate for the instability. The developers are noted for their responsiveness in addressing these issues with timely hotfixes.
- “The level design is awesome and almost 100% bug free.”
- “Gameplay would have been better if the camera wasn't buggy and if the character moved just a little bit faster.”
- “The first boss fight is actually buggy--when the worm emerges, sometimes it changes its exit point to be directly under you.”
- “Once there, the game soft freezes, no option is selectable, not with mouse, not with controller, not by tabbing, not by dragging mouse, not with anything.”
- “I ran into a few small graphical glitches and experienced a crash in a particular area, but the developers seem very responsive and good about getting out hotfixes.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with some achievements requiring significant repetitive effort, though a few can be optimized to minimize time spent. While the grind can be frustrating, it is often described as manageable, with only a couple of achievements deemed excessively grindy. Overall, the grinding experience is likened to classic platformers, but many players recommend alternatives that handle this aspect more effectively.
- “I finished the game at 2.6 hours and spent the rest of my playtime farming for the grindy achievements.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Needs extra grinding even after completing the game.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
23%
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find the story heartwarming and capable of evoking strong feelings, others criticize it as boring and poorly executed. The main character and environments are described as wholesome, yet the overall narrative and voice acting fail to engage many players, leading to a lack of emotional investment. Despite these criticisms, a few reviewers highlight the emotional depth of the storyline, particularly in relation to the protagonist's journey.
- “It is a heartwarming game and you should play it at least once.”
- “The main character is wholesome and so are the environments.”
- “I felt that the story itself is where this particular one truly shined, because you couldn't help but emotionally invest yourself in the plight of your character - while also feeling a deep sense of empathy for him as he tries to make sense of what happened to his world.”
- “This, plus the fact you cannot turn off the sound (which is ridiculous if you are making a game), led me to just not care about the ridiculous, boring story.”
- “Technically passable as a game, this is a very dull and poorly put together collect-a-thon with repetitive gameplay and a boring story.”
- “Boring story, bad controls, sloppy controls, outdated graphics, and a settings menu that doesn't even work.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's optimization is mixed; while it runs well on low-end PCs and offers a generally enjoyable experience, players report significant performance issues, including unexplained drops and graphical problems. Some users appreciate the graphics and controls, but others find the overall optimization lacking, particularly in demanding scenarios.
- “Performance-wise, it's a very light game; you can play on low-end gaming PCs or those without a GPU.”
- “Ignoring the spiders, it's a cute relaxing game; the music is nice but could be better, graphics are great, optimization is great, and controls are great.”
- “Performance also seemed pretty good.”
- “Graphic-wise and performance-wise it has some problems, but the experience was not ruined by those aspects.”
- “Unfortunately, the blur effect, not sure if it exists for performance or aesthetic reasons, and camera angle, don't allow you to look around the prettier areas, but that doesn't stop you from exploring the locales up close.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The game's replayability is generally viewed as limited, with some users noting a lack of incentive to replay due to a slow pace, while others mention the presence of collectibles that can enhance replay value. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players finding enough motivation to revisit the game for collectibles.
- “I would really recommend this game to anyone; it is a great game and has replay value for the collectibles.”
- “As for replayability, there is none, although there are some collectibles that you can collect.”
- “No replayability due to a forced slow pace.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is generally well-received, with charming and adorable character designs enhancing the experience, despite some criticism of the voice acting quality.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's unique story.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The backstories and personal growth of the characters add so much depth to the overall narrative.”