Wilmot Works It Out
- October 23, 2024
- Finji
- 6h median play time
Wilmot Works It Out is a puzzle building game about completing beautiful images and using them to decorate the walls of your house.We really like the premise of Wilmot Works It Out, and don’t mind a shorter experience! But the game really only hits its stride in the final chapters, leaving us wishing it expanded its later offerings at least a bit.
In "Wilmot Works It Out," players help Wilmot complete puzzle pieces into images and decide where to hang them in his house, with over 60 original puzzles, additional rooms, and decorative items to unlock, as well as the option to adopt a cat or a dog. This game is a sequel to a beloved organizational simulation.
Reviews
- Wilmot Works It Out offers a relaxing and cozy puzzle-solving experience, with charming visuals and a delightful soundtrack that enhances the gameplay.
- The game features a unique mechanic where players receive mixed puzzle pieces, adding an engaging challenge as they sort and assemble them, making each puzzle feel fresh and rewarding.
- Marathon Mode provides an exciting twist, allowing players to tackle multiple puzzles at once, which adds depth and replayability to the game.
- Some players found the controls to be unintuitive and occasionally clunky, particularly when moving and decorating completed puzzles in the game.
- The game lacks a significant challenge in the main campaign, which may disappoint players looking for a more demanding puzzle experience.
- There are minor localization issues, such as incorrect key bindings for different keyboard layouts and some translation errors that could affect the user experience.
- story36 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in the game is described as charming and unobtrusive, providing a cozy backdrop that enhances the overall experience without overwhelming it. Players appreciate the gentle narrative of friendship and discovery, complemented by delightful art and music, while the gameplay allows for a relaxed pace. Although the story is subtle and not the main focus, it adds emotional depth and character development, making the game feel more engaging and enjoyable.
“Beautifully simple core mechanic, great art and music, and a surprisingly emotionally engaging storyline.”
“The surrounding atmosphere is also great; I love how you gradually get pieces of the story over time, really makes you value taking your time to enjoy the moment, relaxing to the soothing music and sound effects.”
“The story of Wilmot receiving puzzle boxes in the mail was very sweet, and it's nice he has work/life balance after working at the warehouse.”
“I was a bit skeptical of the main story as a fan of Wilmot's Warehouse though.”
“As you progress through the story, your inability (playing as Wilmot) to meaningfully answer the other characters in the game with any dialogue options other than 'give me my puzzle' was mildly stressful - the characters have a decent level of development, and not being able to interact with them felt rude.”
“The story of the first game as well is how your boss doesn't treat you right even though you do more work than literally every other non-existent employee at the company and then in the end [spoiler] you get fired.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, making it easy for players to pick up and enjoy, even after long breaks. With a focus on relaxing puzzle-solving mechanics, intuitive controls, and charming visuals, it offers a cozy experience that balances challenge and enjoyment without the stress of time constraints. Overall, it serves as a delightful and engaging follow-up to previous titles in the series, appealing to both new and returning players.
“Even if you stop for a while and then play after a long time, the gameplay is self-explanatory and you can always look up the controls again.”
“The mechanics feel nice and smooth, and while I did occasionally forget which button did what, a little cheat sheet is always visible at the bottom of the screen, so it was never frustrating.”
“Engaging and relaxing with intuitive controls, good writing, and a fun gameplay loop.”
“I really enjoyed the logistical/organizational aspect of it, and was worried that as I was going through this one the organization mechanics weren't going to be developed further, or worse, were going to be underdeveloped in order to make a more relaxing, mass appealing game.”
“I think I was expecting other mechanics to be introduced as you play, but once I realized that wasn't going to happen I was still content with what the game is.”
“This one is more zen, chill, puzzle solving, using the Wilmot mechanics.”
- music21 mentions
- 81 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its soothing, jazzy quality that enhances the overall cozy atmosphere, making it a perfect backdrop for puzzle-solving. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a key element that contributes to a relaxing and enjoyable experience, complementing the beautiful artwork and engaging storyline. Overall, the music is described as delightful and integral to the game's charm, creating a seamless and immersive experience.
“Beautifully simple core mechanic, great art and music, and a surprisingly emotionally engaging storyline.”
“Its jazzy, relaxing soundtrack creates a pleasant, seamless experience from start to finish.”
“Wonderful soundtrack and lovely artwork, along with subtle storytelling that builds a comfy game that's a joy to play.”
“I found the knocking to blend into the music, enough to where you can miss it.”
“The music is impeccable; it helps fill the background with some jazzy tunes.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cozy art style, featuring thoughtful details that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful artwork, which is both visually appealing and cleverly designed to complement the puzzle mechanics, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The combination of delightful visuals and a soothing soundtrack contributes to a satisfying and immersive gameplay experience.
“The artwork is understated yet full of thoughtful details, drawing you closer with every puzzle you solve.”
“The art style is so charming and the atmosphere so chill I found myself obsessed with the game loop.”
“The adorable graphics and cozy vibe are so great for a puzzle game.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotionally engaging storyline, heartfelt character interactions, and a beautiful presentation that evokes a meditative and cozy atmosphere. Players find the experience both satisfying and wholesome, with the final puzzle twist leaving a lasting emotional impact. Overall, it combines simple mechanics with a touching narrative to create a fulfilling emotional journey.
“Beautifully simple core mechanic, great art and music, and a surprisingly emotionally engaging storyline.”
“But the presentation is perfect, the interactions with other characters are heartfelt, and the little twist in the final puzzle brought a tear to my eye.”
“Very meditative, very chill, and you get a wholesome story told through all of it.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as light, clever, and charming, enhancing the overall cozy experience. Players appreciate the funny writing and delightful artwork, which contribute to a therapeutic and enjoyable puzzle journey. The combination of humor and engaging gameplay makes for a delightful afternoon with the game.
“Very cute and unobtrusive story with funny writing and a very lovely ending.”
“The puzzle artwork is so lovely, often funny, and cleverly designed to be not just a pretty picture but also an interesting jigsaw journey.”
“If you enjoy a nice afternoon with puzzles, good music, and the company of a funny cube guy, then you're in luck!”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its charming art style and relaxing ambiance, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Players appreciate the gradual storytelling and soothing music, which enhance the overall enjoyment and encourage a leisurely exploration of the game world.
“The atmosphere was superb.”
“The art style is so charming and the atmosphere so chill that I found myself obsessed with the game loop.”
“The surrounding atmosphere is great; I love how you gradually get pieces of the story over time. It really makes you value taking your time to enjoy the moment, relaxing to the soothing music and sound effects.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when it comes to setting up and decorating rooms with completed puzzles. The requirement to fit finished puzzles onto specific walls adds an extra layer of frustration to the achievement-hunting process.
“My playtime of 21 hours includes fairly casually playing through marathon mode and then doing the tedious setup to get the remaining achievements after I finished that.”
“Putting puzzles on the walls and decorating rooms with them was, however, tedious, as you could only move finished puzzles to a different room if they fit on the wall of the current room.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players highlight the strong replayability of the game, citing a variety of puzzles that encourage multiple playthroughs and the assurance that there are still undiscovered elements to explore.
“Has replayability as there are a lot of different puzzles.”
“Replay value for sure, knowing I haven't seen it all.”
“The replay value is definitely lacking; I feel like I've seen everything the game has to offer after just a few playthroughs.”
“Once you complete the game, there isn't much incentive to go back and play again.”
“While the initial experience was enjoyable, I found that there wasn't enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting smooth performance even on the Steam Deck.
“Runs great on Steam Deck too!”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that character development is often overlooked, with some players prioritizing gameplay mechanics over narrative depth and personal connections. This suggests a desire for more engaging character arcs, but a lack of emphasis on them in the game's design.
“I'm a busy little square; I don't have time for things like 'establishing a sense of place', 'character development', or 'personal connections'.”
Critic Reviews
Wilmot Works It Out Is Puzzling for Squares
Wilmot Works It Out is a puzzle building game about completing beautiful images and using them to decorate the walls of your house.We really like the premise of Wilmot Works It Out, and don’t mind a shorter experience! But the game really only hits its stride in the final chapters, leaving us wishing it expanded its later offerings at least a bit.
60%A Charming and Chill Puzzle Game - KeenGamer
85%Wilmot Works It Out review - light, jigsaw goodness
40%