Windosill
- September 25, 2009
- Vectorpark
Windosill is a charming point-and-click puzzle-toy that guides a toy car through 10 whimsical worlds. Players solve inventive puzzles by clicking and dragging objects, promoting a sense of exploration and discovery. The game is also available on Nintendo Switch, offering controller support and two-player collaboration for an enhanced experience.
Reviews
- Charming and imaginative art style that evokes nostalgia and creativity.
- Engaging and playful puzzles that encourage exploration and experimentation.
- Short but delightful experience, perfect for a quick, relaxing gaming session.
- Extremely short gameplay, often completed in under 30 minutes, leading to concerns about value for money.
- Puzzles can be cryptic and lack clear instructions, which may frustrate some players.
- Limited replayability and content, making it feel more like a toy than a traditional game.
- graphics36 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, soothing art style and clean, simplistic design, which create a relaxing atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight the nostalgic and dream-like quality of the visuals, noting that they contribute significantly to the game's charm, despite some criticism regarding the lack of challenge in the puzzles. Overall, the artwork is considered a standout feature, making the game feel more like an interactive piece of art than just a puzzle game.
“The atmosphere and art style are really soothing to me, and I end up coming back again and again, just to enjoy playing with the environments.”
“A cute and fun little game with interesting puzzles and gorgeous, dream-like graphics.”
“Beautifully simplistic; an explorative puzzler with flawless physics and soft toybox visuals.”
“All in all, it seemed as if the design of the mediums flash and vector graphics were a much more important factor for the game than the experience itself.”
“At first it might seem a little childish, but I assure you it's far from - the graphics are smooth all the way through; the puzzle ideas are simply creative.”
“The graphics are clean and simple, and the animations are well done.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of puzzle mechanics and whimsical art, offering a unique and charming experience, though it is notably short, averaging around 30 to 45 minutes. While some players appreciate the creativity and low-stress nature, others criticize it for being overly simplistic, involving excessive clicking and guesswork without clear instructions. Overall, it provides a fun, albeit brief, puzzle-solving experience that may not justify its price for all players.
“Short but sweet, really nice blend of style and puzzle mechanics.”
“It offers an awesome gameplay with a surreal atmosphere for anyone from any age.”
“Unique gameplay and graphical presentation make this a fun, interesting game to play.”
“Playtime in Steam shows 0.6 hours, but that is made up of about 10 minutes of actual gameplay (or more accurately, 'busywork') followed by 10 minutes clicking around in vain at the end screen, and another 10 minutes of googling walkthroughs and gameplay videos because I thought I was stuck and didn't realize the game was actually over and I had 'won'.”
“I find it way too expensive for maybe 15 minutes of gameplay tops.”
“Very short, sometimes illogical, or the gameplay literally involves clicking lots of times.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily due to its short duration (around 30 minutes to an hour) and the static nature of its puzzles. While some players may find value in revisiting the whimsical art and exploring missed elements, most agree that the lack of challenge and content diminishes the incentive to replay. It may appeal more to younger audiences as a learning tool rather than offering substantial replay value for adults.
“Odd, simple puzzle game with some replayability for those who haven't played in a month or two.”
“Love this game, replayability galore!”
“There isn't that much replay value, but once I completed it, I did go through a second time real quick to see if I missed anything and just to experience it again.”
“There is not much replay value after the first walkthrough, although that is expected from a puzzle game, and there isn't much content seeing that you can complete it in an hour or less depending on the player's will.”
“There are very lite puzzle elements, and the whole thing is very short (< 1 hour), with little replayability.”
“It'll take about an hour to play through entirely and has zero replay value.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of surrealism and calmness, creating an inviting environment that encourages players to engage with its quirky world. The minimal art style enhances this soothing experience, making it feel both charming and immersive, while the puzzles serve to enrich the overall atmospheric journey. Despite its short length, players find themselves drawn back to the game for its captivating ambiance and delightful interactions.
“Windowsill is a game that uses minimal art and evokes an incredible atmosphere that by the beginning makes you feel like you are lost, then makes you feel found, then makes you feel at home.”
“The atmosphere that the game gives is weird but not unsettling, but rather calming, almost like you want to fit into the game's weird society rather than be isolated due to your own ideas of normality.”
“The atmosphere and art style are really soothing to me, and I end up coming back again and again, just to enjoy playing with the environments.”
“Windosill is a small game that allows you to solve puzzles in a relaxing yet otherworldly atmosphere.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and abstract, primarily serving as a backdrop for puzzle-solving in a surreal environment. While some players appreciate the whimsical concept of a toy car dreaming of cosmic adventures, many find the lack of a coherent plot disappointing, describing it more as a playful experience than a traditional narrative-driven game. Overall, it is characterized as lacking depth, with a focus on exploration rather than storytelling.
“The story it tells of this little car that dreams it may one day drive through the cosmos as a constellation inspires through the most unconventional means.”
“While to some people the little accompanying toy car might seem like the main hero of this story, in actuality what really makes this flash-based game come to life is you and how you choose to explore and solve how to move your toy car to the next room.”
“Didn't realize this when I bought it - however, it really is unique and has some sort of hidden story.”
“No real story, just playful objects to throw around and click on.”
“Tldr: an illogical sidescroll adventure with miniscule amount of content, no plot and a one button user interface reminiscent of tablets.”
“This is more of a toy than a game; there is no story, no drama, and the only puzzle is how to get to the next room.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is described as soothing and enjoyable, appealing particularly to those with an appreciation for art and surrealism. While some players noted a lack of a traditional soundtrack, others highlighted the fun and cutesy music that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, though its presence varies across different levels.
“Recommended for artsy types who appreciate surrealism - I myself am a musician and games like these help to get my creative juices flowing.”
“I picked this up for a song and it left a huge smile on my face.”
“A twee adventure for all ages, Windosill combines the enlightening experience of the best point-and-clicks with cutesy graphics and a fun soundtrack that makes for some great gaming.”
“Game consists of 10 short levels with no soundtrack (some sound effects included).”
“There is no music, just simple sounds.”
“The art and music are soothing, but the puzzles are definitely targeted at adults.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as short yet effective, with players finding it quirky and entertaining despite a lack of instructions. Many reviewers enjoyed the comedic elements, leading to a fun experience that, while brief, left them laughing.
“Short, but funny.”
“There are no instructions or tutorial of any kind (which I could find), so it took me a few minutes to figure out the general gameplay, but by the second room, I was laughing and having a great time with its quirkiness.”
“A funny little game, perhaps not that long but very fun.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a heartwarming experience, evoking nostalgia and positive memories despite its brevity and simple mechanics. However, some express disappointment in its value, feeling that even a low price did not justify their emotional investment. Ultimately, the game leaves a bittersweet impression, reminding us that sometimes, even fleeting moments can resonate deeply.
“I played a demo of this game back in the day when it was released... good memories :) This might be a very short game, but it's a heartwarming one, and the puzzle item interactions are pretty interesting; it's not just a simple plain point-and-click game.”
“-end it with a strangely emotional outro!”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is real, but the sense of achievement you get from leveling up makes it all worth it.”
“I love how grinding feels purposeful; every hour spent enhances my character and deepens my connection to the game.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding for minimal rewards.”