Stacking

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,254 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
Stacking Game Cover
Short but sweet a relentlessly imaginative adventure from Double Fine that never wears out its welcome.
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"Stacking" is a puzzle adventure game featuring a world of living Russian stacking dolls. Players control Charlie Blackmore, the smallest doll, and use the abilities of over 100 dolls to solve puzzles and challenges, on a mission to rescue Charlie's family from the evil Baron. The game includes the "Lost Hobo King" DLC, where players join Charlie on new adventures to uncover the secrets of a hidden Hobo city.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,254 reviews
story116 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Stacking features a unique and charming gameplay mechanic where players control a small doll that can stack into larger dolls, each with their own special abilities.
  • The game is visually stunning with a delightful art style reminiscent of silent films, complemented by a whimsical soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Puzzles are engaging and can be solved in multiple ways, encouraging exploration and creativity, making it enjoyable for players of all ages.
  • The game can feel repetitive and simplistic, with some puzzles being too easy or obvious, which may not satisfy players looking for a greater challenge.
  • Cutscenes can be lengthy and unskippable, interrupting the flow of gameplay and potentially leading to frustration.
  • The overall experience is relatively short, and once completed, there is little incentive to replay the game, which may leave some players wanting more.
  • story376 mentions

    The story of "Stacking" follows Charlie Blackmore, a small Russian stacking doll on a quest to rescue his family from an evil baron, blending humor with a charming, albeit dark narrative about child labor. Presented through silent film-style cutscenes, the story is engaging but relatively short, with many side quests that enhance replayability. While some players found the plot simple and repetitive, others appreciated its whimsical nature and the unique mechanics tied to the characters' abilities.

    • “This is a charming adventure game from Double Fine where you play as Charlie Blackmore, a little Russian stacking doll, who embarks on a quest to rescue his family from the evil 'Baron'.”
    • “The story is also very charming and humorous, which makes the game even more enjoyable.”
    • “A game featuring Russian matryoshka dolls as characters, Stacking blends Double Fine's signature humor and great writing with simple but unique gameplay and an engaging (if a little dark) story.”
    • “The story sadly does not do anything to endear itself.”
    • “Its story feels whimsically forced with some really awkward passages in the dialogue that feels like it is written by a first timer.”
    • “The story is plain and takes a backseat to the puzzles themselves.”
  • gameplay298 mentions

    The gameplay of "Stacking" is characterized by its unique mechanic of controlling a small doll that can jump into larger dolls, each with distinct abilities to solve puzzles. While the innovative stacking concept and charming visuals are praised, many players find the gameplay repetitive and simplistic, leading to a mixed reception regarding its depth and challenge. Overall, it offers a fun, casual experience with a quirky atmosphere, though some players feel it lacks long-term engagement.

    • “Innovative gameplay: the idea of stacking other dolls as a matryoshka doll, using their unique abilities, is a brilliant innovation in the puzzle genre.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and everything goes at your own pace so you have time to explore and find all the collectibles in the game.”
    • “A fantastically fun little puzzle game with adorable graphics and a unique stacking mechanic.”
    • “The gameplay comes down to grabbing the next somewhat logical character and then rubbing them against the challenge or mission.”
    • “Even worse is that towards the end you nearly have more of these stretched out scenes than there is gameplay, exacerbating the issue of tedium and boredom even more.”
    • “This basic gameplay loop got old almost immediately and I found myself wondering if this was all there was to the game.”
  • humor203 mentions

    The humor in the game is a blend of charming, quirky, and sometimes juvenile elements, featuring a variety of funny characters and their unique abilities that often lead to hilarious interactions and scenarios. While many players appreciate the light-hearted and whimsical nature of the humor, some find it veers into crass territory, which may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game successfully combines clever puzzles with a playful narrative, making it an enjoyable experience for those who appreciate its distinctive comedic style.

    • “The story is also very charming and humorous, which makes the game even more enjoyable.”
    • “There are so many quirky dolls to collect and each one has its own special ability which is fun to mess around with and so funny to watch.”
    • “The humor is the best part of the game.”
  • graphics188 mentions

    The graphics of "Stacking" are widely praised for their charming and unique aesthetic, drawing inspiration from vintage art styles reminiscent of the 1920s and 30s. Many reviewers highlight the imaginative and detailed visuals, which enhance the game's whimsical atmosphere, although some note that the graphics can be a bit dark and may require adjustments for optimal visibility. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite mixed feelings about gameplay and pacing.

    • “The game has amazing graphics, especially considering it's 10 years old, and they are still great even to this day.”
    • “The visuals and art style are imaginative, detailed, and just lovely.”
    • “The graphic design of the world is delightful and is enhanced by the almost stop-motion style of animation, backed by a graceful soundtrack and sound effects.”
    • “It has everything I want from a game: originality, wacky jokes, classic cinema references, a lot of love and care... but my experience is a terribly boring and graphically painful game.”
    • “But the dour graphics and the overly simplistic gameplay just didn't do it for me.”
    • “Graphics - okay but not great because of the console heritage.”
  • music120 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its charming classical soundtrack that complements the aesthetic and gameplay, creating a delightful atmosphere. However, some players noted that the limited variety of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over time. Overall, the music enhances the experience, fitting well with the game's vintage art style and storytelling approach.

    • “A wonderful soundtrack of classical music accompanies us as we play and fits extremely well with the gameplay.”
    • “The music choices for this game are right on the mark; if you are a classical music fan, you will love it, and if not, perhaps this will change your mind.”
    • “The graphic design of the world is delightful and is enhanced by the almost stop-motion style of animation, backed by a graceful soundtrack and sound effects.”
    • “Quality is great for this short game, but music can be repetitive after waddling for a while.”
    • “To clear this off before moving on, the music in this game just doesn't really work.”
    • “Music is the same three piano tracks over and over; the overall attempt at storytelling kinda tries to be a silent movie and fails, and the only thing noteworthy about this game is the interesting matryoshka art.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming, retro aesthetic, with beautifully crafted settings and detailed environments that evoke a strong sense of time and place, such as the 1930s lower class and early industrial Russia. Players appreciate the unique style, engaging background music, and the delightful interactions with characters, although some note that the gameplay can feel secondary to the atmospheric experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the enjoyment of the puzzles and narrative.

    • “Charming atmosphere: the beautiful handmade settings and the lovingly designed dolls create a fantastic retro atmosphere that I absolutely love.”
    • “I loved the atmosphere of the game, the style of the era represented, the music choices, and the silent film touches.”
    • “It's a great puzzle game with great atmosphere and background music.”
    • “Unless you want to go back again and play it for the atmosphere and humor, there's not much more to it.”
    • “For 1 dollar, I'd say it's worth it because the atmosphere (outside of the boring story) is just the environments filled with interesting detail, and seeing what each doll does is surprisingly fun, but the game is highly held back by uninspired puzzles. It became so focused on the idea of multiple solutions that there aren't any decent, well-thought-out puzzles in the game.”
    • “The atmosphere is 1930’s lower class.”
  • replayability30 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple solutions to puzzles and the fun of experimenting with different approaches, others find the overall replay value low, especially after completing all content. Many agree that the game is enjoyable on the first playthrough but lacks incentives for returning once everything is finished, though there is hope for future DLC to enhance replayability. Overall, the unique gameplay offers some replay value, particularly for those who enjoy exploring various puzzle solutions.

    • “The puzzles are quite creative and fun, and there are multiple solutions to each puzzle, allowing for a relatively high replay value.”
    • “This game has high replayability by trying to find multiple ways to finish all of the missions.”
    • “So it is very short, but it is very replayable, as the many puzzles have different solutions.”
    • “I would say it has a pretty low replay value like most puzzle games, but it's still very fun the first run through.”
    • “To continue, there is no replay value whatsoever.”
    • “Second, this game has pretty much no replay value once you finish everything in it.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and monotonous, with players expressing boredom from repetitive tasks and excessive challenges. While some appreciate the detailed level design and engaging art style, many feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, making it feel unengaging and dull. Despite a few moments of fun, the overwhelming number of similar challenges leads to a sense of frustration rather than enjoyment.

    • “But I will be brutally frank here: I was so bored of the tedious back and forth that by the third level I just wanted to finish the story and pushed through the game to at least see the great art style.”
    • “A really fun concept that somehow manages to be one of the most tedious things I've played.”
    • “The game can get pretty tedious at times with the multiple stackings and the five billion challenges at hand that seem to be the exact same, but the artwork is what I appreciate the most.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its hilarious dialogue and a story that balances heartbreak with fun, creating a wholesome experience. The atmosphere is particularly praised, evoking a sense of nostalgia and pure enjoyment, although some elements, like Stacking, fall short, which adds a layer of disappointment. Overall, the game successfully elicits strong emotional responses through its engaging narrative and immersive environment.

    • “Dialogue is hilarious, the story is heartbreakingly fun, gameplay is great, and the atmosphere, oh god, the atmosphere is so amazing.”
    • “The game surprised me with a long-forgotten sensation of pure fun; it feels just very... wholesome.”
    • “The story is heartbreakingly fun, and the atmosphere is so amazing.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting poor performance and a maximum frame rate of only 60 fps, which many consider inadequate for modern gaming PCs. Overall, the optimization is deemed subpar, leading to a frustrating experience for players.

    • “Badly optimized, max 60 fps is a joke for modern PCs.”
    • “However, the performance is trash.”
    • “[h1]Graphics/Performance: (with a 970, 4790k, 16GB of RAM, SSD)[/h1]”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game features a distinctive approach to character development by incorporating a nesting doll design, which sets it apart from other titles in the genre. This innovative concept adds depth and uniqueness to the characters, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

    • “This is very unique when it comes to video games, and I have yet to come across another game that implements nesting dolls into their character design.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report significant issues with stability, citing frequent glitches and bugs that disrupt gameplay. These technical problems have led to a frustrating experience for many players. Overall, the game's stability is considered a major concern.

    • “The game is plagued by glitches and bugs that ruin the experience.”
    • “I encountered numerous glitches that made it nearly unplayable.”
    • “The constant bugs and crashes make it hard to enjoy the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

Buy Stacking

Play time

9hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
6-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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