Sugar Shack

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 280 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Sugar Shack Game Cover
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In "Sugar Shack," players run a cozy maple syrup-producing farm in a magical world, with customizable landscapes and buildings, various activities like baking and quests, and the option to play solo or with friends. The game encourages creativity and community-building through decorating paths, fences, and chests, with a new hexagonal tile offering various tasks and rewards. Experience a soothing, syrupy escape filled with joy and customization. ° °Please note that my summary is not an official description and serves to offer a general idea of the gameplay and features of "Sugar Shack."

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews
story6 positive mentions
grinding56 negative mentions
  • The game has a charming art style and cozy atmosphere, making it enjoyable for fans of farming and cooking simulations.
  • The tile system allows for creative map customization, giving players control over their environment and gameplay experience.
  • The developers are actively working on bug fixes and quality of life improvements, showing commitment to enhancing the game.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences and even game-breaking issues.
  • The inventory system is clunky, limiting players to carrying only one item at a time, which slows down gameplay and resource management.
  • The tutorial lacks clarity and guidance, leaving players feeling lost and unsure of how to progress in the game.
  • story72 mentions

    The game's story is described as charming yet flawed, with an intriguing arc that keeps players engaged despite its clunky execution and numerous bugs. Many players found the quest progression confusing and frustrating, often feeling stuck due to unclear objectives and missing key items or NPCs. While the narrative has potential, it suffers from a lack of polish and guidance, making it feel like an early release title.

    • “The story arc is intriguing and I want to see it through.”
    • “You're not going to put 300 hours into it like some cozy games, but you can easily put 30 hours into it and come away satisfied with its charming story and interesting game mechanics.”
    • “The story progression is interesting too.”
    • “Crafting table keeps changing places, all stalls and shops have disappeared, I'm unable to plant, craft, learn new recipes, and continue the story as the ghost wants a blueberry muffin and all my flour has vanished and I can't buy more, or alternatively plant the crop and get flour from it because we must buy the seeds.”
    • “The problem here is that it is a main story quest, so you're effectively locked from the rest of the game and unable to unlock anything because of this bug.”
    • “I'm also stuck in the story but there is little to no guidance, so you're left wandering around testing anything and talking to everyone repeatedly.”
  • gameplay70 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a charming mix of mechanics, including cooking, crafting, and world-building, which many players find engaging and enjoyable. However, some users report issues with clunky controls, poor explanations of mechanics, and bugs that can disrupt the experience. Overall, while the game shows promise and offers a fun, cozy atmosphere, it still feels like it needs refinement and improvement in its current state.

    • “The gameplay is sticky in the best way, and the humorous touches add to the experience.”
    • “The building mechanic is easy, the progression makes it fun, and I find it easy to get lost playing this game for chunks of time.”
    • “Sugar Shack blends simple farming mechanics with Overcooked-style cooking and management, with extra features like unlocking new sections of the map and rearranging the whole map overnight.”
    • “The game simply wasn't enjoyable or charming enough to trudge through that kind of lack of direction or clunky gameplay.”
    • “Buggy, clunky, weird UI, strange and restrictive gameplay choices when it comes to the storytelling/tutorial/post-tutorial.”
    • “Aside from the technical issues, the gameplay just felt so boring, which is odd because I enjoyed the demo.”
  • grinding56 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, as players find the tasks become tedious and overwhelming after a short period. While the initial charm of the farming and cooking mechanics is appreciated, the repetitive nature of resource gathering and daily tasks can lead to frustration, especially for solo players. Co-op play is suggested as a potential remedy to alleviate some of the grind, but many still feel the game suffers from excessive tedium compared to other titles in the genre.

    • “I wanted to keep playing, but the tediousness got to me after a couple of hours.”
    • “It was fun at first but then it got grindy but not in a fun way.”
    • “There's a lot of grinding involved, and the day is too short to get all my daily tasks + opening up the restaurant done in a timely manner, nevermind doing extra stuff like upgrading my shack.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which stands out in a saturated market. Reviewers appreciate the well-polished visuals and creative world-building mechanics, often likening the aesthetic to a cozy, miniature Christmas village. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's enjoyable and relaxing vibe, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are very fun and the map/world building mechanics in it are very creative and flexible.”
    • “The art style and graphics are charming and use a pleasing miniature effect that gives the impression of living inside a miniature Christmas village.”
    • “This game is really good, in terms of graphics and in how fun it is.”
    • “Would have loved to play, but due to not paying attention to graphic card requirements, I couldn't play and had to refund.”
    • “The aesthetic is so cute; it's a shame I won't be able to play any further.”
    • “Otherwise, the game itself is not scary, and the graphics and smooth movement are quite cute.”
  • stability32 mentions

    The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, leading many players to describe it as unfinished and frustratingly unplayable at times. While some users note that major issues have been addressed since launch, others report persistent freezing and lag, particularly on specific platforms like the Steam Deck. Overall, the stability of the game remains a significant concern, with hopes for future updates to improve the experience.

    • “Game is definitely unfinished and is too buggy to recommend.”
    • “Really wanted to like this one, I like the concept and the farming/cafe is good but there are so many bugs and glitches it makes this much more frustrating than fun.”
    • “The game freezes, lags, bugs out, etc. The inventory system is unpolished, carrying items, etc. is incredibly frustrating.”
  • music26 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its charm and pleasantness, complementing the cute art style and setting. However, some players note a lack of variety, leading to repetitiveness, particularly with the daytime tracks, which can become grating over extended play sessions. While the existing soundtrack is enjoyable, many would appreciate a longer and more diverse selection to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The art is pretty, the music is charming, and it's fun to discover the different map pieces.”
    • “The setting and music are so amazing.”
    • “In terms of sounds, I wouldn't mind a longer soundtrack, considering the game feels like it could potentially last for a few tens of hours, but what is there sounds good enough.”
    • “I also find that there is not a lot of variety in the music, which gets to be a little repetitive.”
    • “Now I'm not expecting something like Animal Crossing where it changes every hour, but your daytime music is always the same, and it's loud farm music, so it's a little grating after a while.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting overheating issues on high-end hardware and a lack of smooth performance, particularly in controls and storage systems. However, others have experienced no significant performance problems or bugs. Overall, it appears that optimization issues may vary by system, suggesting a need for further developer attention.

    • “At least on my PC, there were absolutely no perceivable performance issues.”
    • “It runs smoothly and I haven't encountered any bugs or glitches, so far.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized; it makes my Ryzen 7 run a bit hot. Dragon Quest Builders 2 doesn't even make my processor spike past 55 degrees Celsius.”
    • “The game is unoptimized in some way; it gets my 3080 Ti way hotter than it should be for a game that could arguably be played on a Switch.”
    • “I suggest you wait until the dev addresses these basic performance issues.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating its quirky and amusing moments, such as funny bugs and a hilarious storyline. Many found the gameplay's comedic elements endearing, contributing to a unique and memorable experience that left them wanting more. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay, making it enjoyable despite any minor issues.

    • “The gameplay is sticky in the best way, and the humorous touches are delightful.”
    • “The story is hilarious and keeps you entertained throughout.”
    • “Dropping an object and having it fly away was pretty funny.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game is praised for its cozy atmosphere, making it an ideal setting for relaxation, often enjoyed with a warm beverage. The hex tile game progression adds to this inviting ambiance, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The game offers a cozy atmosphere perfect for relaxing while sipping your favorite hot beverage.”
    • “The atmosphere is very cozy, and I like the hex tile game progression.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as both original and wholesome, resonating positively with players.

    • “Very original and wholesome.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

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

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