What the box?
- August 23, 2016
- Bitten Toast Games Inc.
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreWhat The Box is an online multiplayer shooter where players control living boxes in various environments, trying to destroy each other using a box cutter or a single bullet gun. With 6 game modes, room customization, a level editor, and Steam workshop integration, the game offers high replayability and a unique experience up to 10 players. The original soundtrack and AI bots add to the overall package.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- The game is incredibly fun and hilarious, especially when played with friends, creating memorable moments and inside jokes.
- It features a unique concept where players embody boxes, adding a layer of stealth and strategy to the gameplay.
- The graphics and soundtrack are charming, contributing to the overall lighthearted and entertaining experience.
- The online community is nearly non-existent, making it difficult to find matches with other players, which limits the game's replayability.
- The game lacks content, with only a few weapons and maps available, leading to a repetitive experience over time.
- Performance issues and bugs can detract from the gameplay experience, with reports of lag and optimization problems on various systems.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as fun and easy to pick up, featuring solid mechanics and a variety of levels, though some players find it repetitive and lacking depth. While the graphics are basic, they do not significantly detract from the experience, and the game offers a unique twist on familiar mechanics. However, issues like bugs and a low player count may affect long-term engagement.
“Amazingly fun and addictive gameplay.”
“The gameplay is challenging and tactical, the gimmick well-executed, the controls reasonably tight, and the levels well-designed.”
“Gameplay is incredibly easy to get into and there's a nice variety of levels for the meager price tag on this game.”
“The gameplay only consists of shooting and knifing people, but considering you can hide almost instantly anywhere, the game gets pretty absurd, even with only 2 players on the server.”
“Infinite bugs and the gameplay itself is incredibly boring.”
“Gameplay is bland and poorly executed.”
- music19 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the amazing soundtrack and catchy themes, particularly the main menu music. However, some users have noted issues with volume levels, especially at startup and between levels, which can be jarring. Overall, while the soundtrack is celebrated for its fun and silly elements, there are criticisms regarding optimization and certain tracks.
“Amazing soundtrack.”
“Highly recommend for the music alone :)”
“Only one warning for your poor ears: when starting up, remove your headset; the music is loud. Unfortunately, when you turn off the music between levels, it still belts out a few notes at full blast, so when the scoreboard is visible, I remove the headset a little and put it back on when we continue playing.”
“Poorly optimized, lags like crazy even on the lowest graphic settings, and the soundtrack is pretty terrible.”
“The music goes from 'how do I make it stop?' to singing it with your friends quite quickly.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique style and reasonable visuals, while others criticize the lack of optimization and occasional lag, even on lower settings. While the graphics are described as basic yet functional, they can appear unpolished and "boxy" at times. Overall, the visuals are considered adequate for gameplay, but improvements in optimization are needed for a smoother experience.
“Its breathtaking graphics are truly eye-opening, and from a gameplay perspective, it hits the nail on the head.”
“Controls are easy and smooth, and the graphics, while simple, are great as well.”
“+ neat cel-shaded cartoony graphics”
“Poorly optimized, lags like crazy even on the lowest graphic settings, and the soundtrack is pretty terrible.”
“It's kind of fun, but it really requires way too much graphics power for what it is.”
“But all this anticipation is not all what the box has in the 'package'; the gameplay is very well 'shipped' over from the console version, even though maybe the graphics look a little 'boxy' on lower settings.”
- humor17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its ironic and absurd elements, with players frequently laughing during matches, especially when engaging with quirky items like a cardboard box and box cutter. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend fun and hilarity, particularly in multiplayer settings, making it a delightful experience for friends. Overall, the humor is described as both cute and entertaining, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Honestly, I've never played a match yet where I haven't laughed at some point - you cannot tell me an ordinary cardboard box holding a box cutter coming straight at you isn't one of the most hilarious things you've ever seen.”
“This game is absolutely hilarious and terrifying at the same time.”
“Hilarious to play with friends you know.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing poor performance and low FPS even on decent hardware, while others report smoother gameplay on various systems. Despite its simple design, many users find it not well-optimized for lower-end PCs, leading to frustration. However, there is optimism that future updates may address these issues.
“And runs smoothly, on almost any computer.”
“Game is super fun and catchy - there are a few optimization issues that I'm sure will be fixed in coming updates.”
“You'd think that such a simple game about boxes killing each other would run smoothly on my laptop... well, after waiting through a match and starting a new one, it does run better.”
“Bad performance and low FPS on my moderately good PC.”
“Bad optimization: although simple, it cannot be played on a low-end PC.”
“Horribly optimized.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a lack of a dedicated story mode, with users expressing disappointment over the absence of a solo narrative experience or engaging AI-driven content. Overall, the game's storytelling elements appear minimal or non-existent.
“No story mode.”
“What story?”
“It would have been better if it had something to play solo, like a fighting smart AI or a story mode.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report bugs and missing features, others praise the developers for their quick responsiveness and effective bug fixes. The game's addictive nature and strong developer support contribute positively to the overall experience.
“There doesn't seem to be a suicide option, so I had to quit. Therefore, it's at least somewhat buggy and missing a useful feature for a buggy game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, but its affordable price makes it a worthwhile purchase for players.
“Low replayability, but it's cheap, so it's worth it.”
“The game lacks variety, making it hard to want to play again.”
“Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to replay.”
