While the Iron’s Hot

While the Iron's Hot is a really interesting concept for a crafting game, but it just lacks the hooks to keep you engaged from start to finish.

75%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

82% User Score Based on 190 reviews

Critic Score 65%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $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 197 reviews

story32 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Charming pixel art and relaxing soundtrack create a cozy atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
Engaging crafting mechanics and a satisfying progression system keep players invested in rebuilding the town and fulfilling quests.
The game offers a lighthearted story with quirky characters and humorous dialogue, making it enjoyable for casual play.

The gameplay loop can become monotonous and repetitive, leading to feelings of tedium as players grind for resources.
Quality of life issues, such as clunky inventory management and lack of meaningful choices, detract from the overall experience.
The story and side quests lack depth and inspiration, making it difficult for players to feel a strong connection to the narrative.

story
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
59%
12%
The game's story is generally described as enjoyable and light-hearted, featuring a charming narrative that allows players to gradually become a renowned blacksmith. However, many reviewers note that the storyline is quite linear and can feel shallow, with some aspects lacking depth and engagement. While the crafting system is praised for its addictiveness, the overall narrative experience is seen as needing more development and complexity to enhance player immersion.
- “The storyline of 'while the iron's hot' is a masterclass in narrative design.”
- “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.”
- “With the game’s story, characters, and gameplay repetitive and forgetful to the end, the visuals and soundtrack ignite a spark that regrettably ends up burned out.”
gameplay
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
52%
9%
The gameplay in "While the Iron's Hot" is characterized by a satisfying core loop of resource gathering, crafting, and fulfilling villager requests, which many players find engaging and addictive. However, some mechanics can feel repetitive and lack depth, leading to a mixed reception regarding innovation and motivation. While the charming aesthetics and polished crafting mechanics enhance the experience, the overall gameplay may not evolve significantly, leaving some players wanting more complexity and variety.
- “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.”
- “It was some nice ideas, but the gameplay and story are incredibly boring.”
- “With the game’s story, characters, and gameplay repetitive and forgettable to the end, the visuals and soundtrack ignite a spark that regrettably ends up burned out.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style, which enhances the immersive experience and complements the game's theme. While some players noted that the graphical stylization may not appeal to everyone, many found the visuals to be beautiful and engaging, contributing positively to the overall atmosphere. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics and a relaxing soundtrack creates a cozy and enjoyable environment for players.
- “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.”
- “Graphical stylization on the overworld is not for me, but I can recognize that it might hit a nostalgic note for others.”
- “With the game’s story, characters, and gameplay repetitive and forgettable to the end, the visuals and soundtrack ignite a spark that regrettably ends up burned out.”
- “I like the graphical style, but I don't like the scale of everything.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall cozy atmosphere alongside the charming pixel art. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a significant aspect that complements the gameplay, making it enjoyable for both casual players and puzzle enthusiasts. While some critiques mention the game's plot as forgettable, the art and music remain standout features that contribute positively to the experience.
- “The quirky characters and humorous dialogue add charm, while the calming soundtrack creates a truly relaxing experience.”
- “The concept, the story, the music, the coziness is all there and it's great.”
- “The game has a charming pixel art style and a relaxing soundtrack that create a cozy atmosphere.”
- “With the game’s story, characters, and gameplay repetitive and forgetful to the end, the visuals and soundtrack ignite a spark that regrettably ends up burned out.”
- “The art and music make for fine companions, especially as there is an extended amount of time being spent toiling away, but its plot and side quests are nothing spectacular.”
- “[blacksmithing process a joy., environmental puzzles are a pleasure., art style and music are whimsically charming.]”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be grindy, particularly when pursuing 100% completion or engaging in post-game activities, despite the main story being relatively short and straightforward, often completed in under 10 hours. The crafting system, while interesting, can feel tedious and shallow, contributing to the overall grindy experience.
- “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.”
- “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.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky characters and witty dialogue that enhance its charm and lightheartedness, fitting seamlessly into the whimsical world created by Bontemps Gaming. Players find the humor to be entertaining and well-integrated into the engaging story and relaxing gameplay loop, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players experience a deeply emotional journey that captivates them throughout the game, offering a wholesome and relaxing atmosphere. While the gameplay may not be groundbreaking, it effectively engages players on an emotional level.
- “Players are taken on a rich, emotionally charged adventure that keeps them invested from beginning to end.”
- “All in all, it is not particularly innovative, but it is wholesome, relaxing, and nice.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its detailed environments and character models, which combine with atmospheric effects to create a vivid and immersive world. The charming pixel art style and relaxing soundtrack further enhance the cozy ambiance, making for an inviting experience.
- “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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is marred by persistent glitches and bugs, particularly in quest tracking, which detracts from the experience. While some elements are solid, the rushed ending further highlights the stability issues.
- “Keeping track of your quests is also buggy.”
- “Ending is a bit rushed and some glitches persist, but in other elements, it's pretty solid.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game excels in character development, skillfully intertwining intricate plot points that foster a deep emotional connection between players and the protagonists. This strong narrative focus enhances the overall storytelling experience.
- “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.”

65%Critics’ scoreBased on 7 critic reviews

Buy While the Iron’s Hot

12h Median play time

11h Average play time

10-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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