The Shape of Things
- May 26, 2023
- Hyper Three Studio
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"The Shape of Things" is a relaxing puzzle game inspired by Rubik's cube, where you rotate, pan, and scale real-life objects to solve puzzles. With no timers or pressure, you can progress at your own pace and enjoy the calming atmosphere, adjustable room mood, and original background music. Obtain in-game coins by solving puzzles to release new worlds from mystery gachapon.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a relaxing and cozy atmosphere, making it perfect for unwinding after a long day.
- The puzzles are enjoyable and not overly difficult, providing a satisfying experience for both casual and more experienced players.
- The vibrant graphics and charming sound design enhance the overall experience, creating a delightful ambiance.
- The controls can be finicky and frustrating, requiring precise movements that can detract from the enjoyment of the game.
- Some puzzles demand excessive precision, leading to tedious gameplay as players may struggle to align pieces correctly.
- The game can feel repetitive over time, lacking new mechanics or challenges as players progress through the levels.
- music32 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and atmospheric, enhancing the cozy experience while solving puzzles. However, some players noted that the soundtrack is short and can become repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite this, many appreciate the soothing melodies and aesthetic integration, making it a pleasant backdrop for gameplay.
“The music and visuals are quite nice, and should you pick it up on sale, it'll make an excellent addition to your cozy puzzling library.”
“A lovely little game that has soothing music and gorgeous visuals, probably one of the best relaxing games I have ever played.”
“I love the chilled atmosphere and music in this game; there are a generous amount of puzzles and it's satisfying completing the puzzles in each level.”
“The soundtrack is quite short and gets repetitive within a few minutes.”
“Halfway through the game, I wanted to bash my head in to stop the music.”
“A short, repetitive soundtrack and frustrating controls ruined the relaxed vibes that the game was trying to create.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and cozy aesthetic, featuring vibrant colors and charming 3D art that enhance the overall relaxing atmosphere. Many players appreciate the delightful visuals and soothing music, which contribute to a satisfying and enjoyable puzzle-solving experience. However, some reviewers noted a desire for more originality and integration of backgrounds to elevate the visual experience further.
“I like to 'eat with my eyes,' so to speak, when it comes to video games, and I have no complaints about the graphics.”
“The adorable 3D art style complements the cozy atmosphere of the game.”
“A lovely little game that has soothing music and gorgeous visuals, probably one of the best relaxing games I have ever played.”
“The visuals are pleasing but nothing too original; I wish they'd done more with the backgrounds, for example, integrate all the objects you finished into the background so it gets slowly filled.”
“Helps to not have graphics settings set to low even on basic gear - I have a potato, and the game was a lot easier when I changed up the in-game settings to medium rather than the low I had chosen initially.”
“The graphic?”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its cozy and relaxing qualities, enhanced by a chill soundtrack and adorable 3D art style. Players appreciate the calming environment that encourages unwinding and nostalgia, making it an ideal backdrop for solving puzzles. Overall, the atmosphere is described as delightful and immersive, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of the gameplay experience.
“The adorable 3D art style complements the cozy atmosphere of the game.”
“With its cozy relaxing atmosphere and multitude of levels, it provides ample hours of entertainment that is perfect to unwind to.”
“The atmosphere of the game is calm, the artwork is cute, and the simplicity of the puzzles is a nice way to unwind after a long day while still encouraging your mind to think.”
“The game atmosphere can easily bring some happy and nostalgic memories.”
“Overall, I enjoyed winding down to these puzzles and the cozy atmosphere is undeniable.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a straightforward and repetitive mechanic of moving and shrinking set pieces to solve puzzles, which some players find enjoyable but others consider boring after a while. While the puzzles are well-designed and the controls intuitive, the lack of new mechanics after the initial stages can lead to a sense of monotony, making it best suited for shorter play sessions. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience, though it may not hold players' attention for extended periods.
“The shape of things is so cute, it’s super fun, and the smooth gameplay and the puzzles are well-considered.”
“The puzzles were enjoyable to figure out and the gameplay is very straightforward.”
“I had my doubts about the concept before playing, thinking it could lead to some confusing gameplay, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well implemented the controls are - it takes a little getting used to with the mouse controls but it soon becomes intuitive working through the puzzles.”
“It isn't bad, but it's boring and overstays its welcome somewhere after the 3rd set of puzzles, since it doesn't introduce any new mechanics.”
“I mean, gameplay simply is just moving/shrinking set pieces so you can make a whole object out of it.”
“The gameplay can get a bit repetitive so it is best enjoyed over multiple shorter play sessions but it is a relaxing way to spend 20 minutes with a cup of tea and is worth returning to.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that "The Shape of Things" lacks a compelling narrative, with levels designed around random objects that do not engage the player’s imagination. Many users note that the game does not require a story to be enjoyable, but those seeking a narrative experience are advised to look elsewhere. Overall, the absence of a plot is a significant aspect of the game's design.
“If you really want to play something with a story, check out a game I've recommended before: [url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/innocentred/recommended/1202900?snr=1_5_9__402]Assemble with Care.”
“Unlike Tiny Lands, where each level was a scene that compelled the player to imagine a story, the levels in The Shape of Things are random objects with no appeal.”
“So overall, it's easily worth the low price; just don't expect challenging puzzles or a story.”
“There is no plot at all, and frankly, this game doesn't need it.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, primarily due to the overly precise controls that require excessive rotation and minute adjustments. This leads to a lack of enjoyment in what is intended to be a casual experience, with some users suggesting that the controls feel poorly adapted from a touch interface. Overall, the grinding can detract significantly from the game's relaxing nature.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You have to line up the edges far too precisely; the farther in you get, the more time you spend rotating the object, moving a part a minuscule amount, rotating it again, moving another part a minuscule amount, rotating it again, etc. It just gets hugely tedious.”
“The shape of things is supposed to be a casual and relaxing game, but due to the poor controls, it makes it tedious to play.”
“Usually like a casual game to fill in time, but this is really tedious. The controls are poor and it feels like a conversion from a tablet touch interface.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users highlight the game's substantial content and replayability, suggesting that it remains enjoyable even at full price.
“Even if you can't get it on sale, it's worth the full price in my opinion due to the amount of content and replayability.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is playable on the Steam Deck, but users feel that it requires further optimization to enhance performance.
“It runs on the Steam Deck, but it could benefit from further optimization.”
“The game's performance is impressive, showcasing excellent optimization for various hardware.”
“I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, making the game run smoothly even on lower-end systems.”
“It does run on the Steam Deck, though it could stand to be optimized.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the emotional aspects of the game to be poignant, though they feel that the execution could be improved for a more impactful experience.
