While the Iron’s Hot

Reforge a blacksmith’s village on an isle of the land’s finest artisans! Step into the boots of an expert smith for a crafty adventure filled with mystery and charm. Explore the land of Ellian, and prove that a hammer, anvil, and your wits can overcome any challenge. Switch version reviewed. While the Iron’s Hot is an interesting take on a blacksmith simulator, but it feels like the game can be a tedious chore sometimes.

82%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

82% User Score Based on 95 reviews

Critic Score 65%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $19.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$19.99

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About

"While the Iron's Hot" is a crafting adventure game set in the land of Ellian. As a journeyman blacksmith, forge, smelt, and assemble works of metal to grow your smithing skills, discover new items, and restore a abandoned blacksmiths' village. Explore the island, solve puzzles, and interact with fellow artisans to ultimately become a true master smith.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 95 reviews

story15 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Charming pixel art and relaxing soundtrack create a cozy atmosphere.
Engaging crafting mechanics and satisfying gameplay loop keep players invested.
The story is lighthearted and humorous, with quirky quests that add charm.

Gameplay can feel repetitive and grindy, with some mechanics lacking depth.
Inventory management and crafting UI are clunky, making bulk crafting tedious.
The save system is unreliable, leading to potential loss of progress.

story
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
11%
The game's story is generally described as enjoyable and light-hearted, featuring a charming narrative that unfolds as players progress through crafting and quests. While some reviewers found the storyline to be linear and lacking depth, others appreciated its engaging twists and character development, making it a pleasant experience overall. However, there are criticisms regarding the pacing and the integration of crafting mechanics with the story, suggesting that the narrative could benefit from a broader scope and more impactful gameplay elements.
- “The story is fun and light, and there are lots of secrets to find.”
- “Its compelling storyline, beautiful graphics, and well-crafted puzzles make it a must-play for fans of adventure and puzzle games.”
- “A beautiful little story told in roughly 10 hours of playtime with plenty of additional time to be invested for the completionists among us.”
- “The story is quite linear and non-inspiring.”
- “However, inventory management can be clunky, and the story itself feels a bit thin.”
- “Imo, this game needed more time, both to squash bugs and to flesh out the barebones story.”
gameplay
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
52%
9%
The gameplay of "While the Iron's Hot" is characterized by a satisfying core loop of resource gathering, crafting, and fulfilling villager requests, enhanced by polished mechanics and charming aesthetics. While some players appreciate the depth and challenge of the puzzles and crafting systems, others find the mechanics can become repetitive and lack extrinsic motivation. Overall, the game offers an engaging experience, though it may benefit from additional quality-of-life improvements and more varied gameplay elements to maintain interest over time.
- “I must say that I loved forging items and I find its gameplay element very cool.”
- “The core gameplay loop of gathering resources, crafting items, and fulfilling villager requests is satisfying and surprisingly deep.”
- “The gameplay is engaging, addictive, coherent, and fun.”
- “It's a shame as the overall arc does give you a decent reason to keep going, but all the mechanics are very mediocre and there are just better games out there.”
- “The crafting mechanics are neat but can grow rather tiresome over time, especially when crafting the more complex goods.”
- “Post-endgame on the 'good' path doesn't make sense based on the lore presented moments before, and the gameplay loop consists of building and upgrading, and filling a makework 'museum', so you can dress your ox in goofy outfits.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
28%
17%
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the charming pixel art style and beautiful visuals that enhance the immersive experience. While some players noted that the graphical stylization may not appeal to everyone, the overall aesthetic is considered engaging and well-suited to the game's theme. The combination of captivating artwork and a relaxing soundtrack contributes to a cozy atmosphere that players find enjoyable.
- “While 'While the Iron's Hot' is an enthralling addition to the realm of adventure-puzzle games, it offers players an immersive experience that combines a captivating storyline, stunning graphics, and engaging puzzles.”
- “The art style perfectly complements the game's theme, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Beautiful pixel graphics overcome the lack of fine detail to keep you entertained and enthralled at beautiful scenery.”
- “The graphical stylization of the overworld is not for me, but I can recognize that it might hit a nostalgic note for others.”
- “While the visuals may not be for everyone, they are also pleasant.”
- “I like the graphical style, but I don't like the scale of everything.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall cozy atmosphere alongside charming pixel art. Reviewers highlight the well-selected soundtrack and sound effects, which contribute to a delightful and immersive experience, making it suitable for both casual and puzzle-loving players. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's engaging mechanics and storyline.
- “Lovely game, very polished crafting mechanics, cute pixel art and good soundtrack.”
- “The quirky characters and humorous dialogue add charm, while the calming soundtrack creates a truly relaxing experience.”
- “The game has a charming pixel art style and a relaxing soundtrack that create a cozy atmosphere.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous after a while.”
- “The soundtrack doesn't match the game's tone, leading to a disjointed experience.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the overall music feels uninspired and forgettable.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be relatively short and straightforward for completing the main story, typically taking under 10 hours. However, pursuing 100% completion and engaging in post-game activities can lead to a grindy experience, with some aspects feeling tedious and shallow.
- “The game is grindy and shallow feeling.”
- “It's rather short (not difficult to get the 'credits' in under 10 hours of gameplay), yet also grindy.”
- “Grindy if you go for 100% or the post-game activities, but completing the story is short and sweet.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its quirky characters and humorous dialogue, which contribute to a charming and lighthearted experience. Reviewers appreciate the whimsical tone and entertaining story, noting that the humor enhances the overall gameplay, making it both relaxing and engaging.
- “The quirky characters and humorous dialogue add charm, while the calming soundtrack creates a truly relaxing experience.”
- “It's lighthearted and humorous, perfectly fitting the whimsical world Bontemps Gaming has created.”
- “In conclusion, while the iron's hot was very entertaining, it has quite a bit of humor and a somewhat relaxing (or addictive depending on the player) gameplay loop.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a rich, emotionally charged experience that captivates players throughout, providing a wholesome and relaxing journey, even if it lacks innovation.
- “Players are taken on a rich, emotionally charged adventure that keeps them invested from beginning to end.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by detailed environments and character models, enhanced by atmospheric effects that foster immersion. Its charming pixel art style, combined with a relaxing soundtrack, contributes to a cozy and inviting ambiance.
- “The detailed environments, character models, and atmospheric effects come together to create a vivid and immersive world.”
- “The game has a charming pixel art style and a relaxing soundtrack that create a cozy atmosphere.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it features solid elements, users report persistent glitches, particularly with quest tracking and a rushed ending.
- “Keeping track of your quests is also buggy.”
- “The ending is a bit rushed and some glitches persist, but in other elements, it's pretty solid.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in character development, skillfully intertwining complex plot points that foster a strong emotional connection between players and the protagonists.
- “The game's ability to weave intricate plot points and character development ensures that players feel a deep connection to the story and its protagonists.”