You Must Build A Boat

About

You Must Build A Boat is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by LucaRedwood and was released on June 4, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"You Must Build A Boat" is a match-3 puzzle game with RPG elements. You play as a captain, recruiting crew members and building a boat to travel through treacherous waters, battling monsters and bosses. Gameplay involves swapping rows of tiles to make matches, with the objective of filling a progress bar to complete each level. As you advance, you can upgrade your boat, equipment, and characters to face more challenging foes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 725 reviews

gameplay44 positive mentions

grinding45 negative mentions

Charming and addictive gameplay with a satisfying progression system.
Great for casual play, allowing for quick sessions while still providing depth.
Improved mechanics over its predecessor, with new tiles and RPG elements that enhance the experience.

Late game can feel grindy and frustrating due to RNG and difficulty spikes.
Visual clutter and unskippable cutscenes can detract from the overall experience.
Some mechanics, like the item system, can feel cumbersome and limit strategic play.

gameplay
165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The gameplay is characterized by its addictive match-three mechanics combined with RPG elements, offering a blend of simplicity and depth that keeps players engaged. While the initial hours are enjoyable and the retro visuals charming, many reviewers noted that the experience can become repetitive and grind-heavy in the late game, leading to frustration. Overall, it appeals to fans of the genre but may not win over those seeking more varied gameplay.
- “Sure, the gameplay's addictive, and the visuals are charmingly retro, but it's the never-ending groove that keeps me hooked.”
- “The one-step-at-a-time introduction to new gameplay mechanics, plus the simplicity makes this game easy to get into - while the 'one more run!' addictive gameplay and charming music keep you playing once you start.”
- “This is simple game, but the gameplay provides fun and has this 'one more run' syndrome (it is addictive).”
- “The core mechanic is stretched out longer than it needs to be, leaving you repeating the same rote matching over and over again in a subtly different context.”
- “There's so much useless, annoying filler that keeps you from the actual gameplay, and there's no way to skip past any of it if you don't want to sit through it.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay got worse instead of better.”
story
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
87%
3%
The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as minimal and often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics, with many players noting that it lacks depth and character development. While some appreciate the quirky and simple narrative that drives the quest system, others feel that the focus on completing missions and upgrades detracts from any meaningful storytelling. Overall, the game is seen more as a puzzle experience with a loose framework of objectives rather than a narrative-driven adventure.
- “It's a cute, quirky puzzler with solid core gameplay, fun characters, and a simple but silly story that drives everything.”
- “The nifty thing about this game is that there is a sort of storyline and different game mechanics that make it feel like a bigger, beefier game.”
- “Completing missions will give you resources, as well as things like new crewmembers (monsters) to recruit.”
- “The final quest is impossible to complete, even if you unlock every upgrade.”
- “Unlike other games which have an intricate woven story encouraging a gamer to push forward, instead the only motivation here is simply the next upgrade to be made.”
- “There is a story, but it is practically non-existent.”
music
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and nostalgic chiptune style, often described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the upbeat and engaging soundtrack, some note that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness during extended play sessions. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's charm and addictive nature.
- “Forget the rest; it's the music that's the star here.”
- “The music is even better than the first one with a few different tracks to experience based on the region you are in.”
- “The chip tune music is catchy (I could listen to it for hours-long game stints without tiring of it) and matches the game perfectly.”
- “The sound effects aren't really inspiring and the music gets old really quickly.”
- “I'm not against 8-bit music, but only two tracks is aggravating.”
- “Whenever you complete an area, you will travel to a new one, complete with different backgrounds and 'water.' The music and sounds are decent and reminiscent of the old-school retro games era; however, I muted it after an hour of playing in favor of my own.”
graphics
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic gaming, reminiscent of the Atari era. While opinions vary, with some praising the charming simplicity and others criticizing the aesthetics as unattractive, most agree that the visuals do not detract from the addictive gameplay. Overall, the graphics are seen as functional and fitting for a casual match-3 experience, with a few noting improvements in clarity and detail compared to previous titles.
- “Sure, the gameplay's addictive, and the visuals are charmingly retro, but it's the never-ending groove that keeps me hooked.”
- “Combine it with a bombastic soundtrack and pleasing pixel graphics, and you get yourself one of the best match-3 games to ever come out.”
- “The pixel graphics are adorable and the music matches suit.”
- “The art style is atrocious.”
- “I really dislike this art style where the characters have limbs made of 1 pixel wide lines, but at the same time want to add shading and textures.”
- “I genuinely dislike the art style typically, so while I may recognize a game as being good or fun, it loses a ton of points for objects, landscapes, backgrounds, and entire chunks of that game being initially unrecognizable due to the pixelated ambiguity of the art form.”
grinding
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often described as tedious and excessive, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. While some find satisfaction in the incremental progress and upgrades, others feel that the reliance on grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the gameplay repetitive and luck-based. Overall, the grinding element is a divisive feature, appealing to those who enjoy it but alienating players seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “Really though, it's mostly a matter of grinding through some dungeons multiple times until you can afford to buy some kind of upgrade that eventually gives you an advantage that lets you get past the level.”
- “Too much grinding and less actual fun gameplay.”
- “At first the seeming storyline or theme of building the boat seemed promising, but the lackluster and grinding gameplay, gimmicky UI, and absence of any connection of theme to the objectives and progression makes for the perfect storm and capsized the game to unsalvageable depths.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
62%
13%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag among users, with some praising its endless replay potential through features like new game+ and daily challenges, while others find it lacking due to repetitive gameplay and limited incentives to return after completing the main story. Many appreciate the inclusion of optional objectives and randomized elements that enhance replay value, but some feel that the overall experience can become tedious, leading to a lack of motivation for multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game offers varying levels of replayability depending on individual player preferences and play styles.
- “This is one of my favorite games ever, almost infinitely replayable with new game+ and with daily challenges to tinker with.”
- “It stays true to the original whilst adding new gameplay mechanics and extra replayability to make for a refreshing play.”
- “Lots of hidden stuff to find and unlock, and quite a bit of replay value.”
- “Replayability: zilch for me.”
- “But after I put ten hours into the game and beat it, the replay value wasn't there for me.”
- “Not much replayability though, because it's tedious and rather boring to have to redo challenging quests.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as quirky and charming, enhancing the retro aesthetic and overall fun experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone, with funny characters and entertaining gameplay that balances skill and luck. While some find the graphics unappealing, the humor and engaging elements make it a delightful time-waster.
- “There is a nice retro aesthetic here and it has a fun, quirky, and humorous energy to the presentation.”
- “It has everything you want: a soundtrack that slaps, a good mix between mindlessly matching and strategic choices, a good balance between skill and luck, a ton of upgrades, a good sense of humor, and also some secrets.”
- “Charming humor.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The stability of the game is inconsistent, with some users reporting significant bugs and issues that hinder gameplay, while others find it largely bug-free and enjoyable. However, common problems include game mechanics that can be shifty and instances where the game locks up, requiring a restart to continue. Overall, the stability appears to vary widely among different devices and user experiences.
- “Ymbab is made extremely well and bug-free.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or freezes.”
- “This rather big issue, combined with other shifty and buggy in-game mechanics, leads me to deeply refrain from recommending this game to anyone.”
- “This seems to be every bit as fun as 10,000,000; however, it is buggy on my Surface after I found the resolution (which is my Surface's resolution is weird). The play is funny, but sometimes the board locks up and I have to 'win' that run and then exit the game before moving forward.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a vibrant "party" vibe, enhanced by a diverse range of graphical and musical elements that contribute to an engaging and immersive experience.
- “The game creates a fantastic 'party' atmosphere that makes every moment feel lively and engaging.”
- “There's a remarkable variety in the atmosphere, with stunning graphics and a diverse musical score that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a charming aesthetic but suffers from subpar graphic performance, especially considering its simplistic design, leading to a disappointing optimization experience.
- “A cute veneer over a mediocre matching game with surprisingly poor graphic performance for how simple it is.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics, such as building a larger boat, over narrative elements, resulting in minimal character development and story depth.
- “You have a mission to build a larger boat; there isn't a need for a story or in-depth character development.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
- “I was hoping for a rich narrative, but the character development is shallow and uninspired.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization aspect of the game has received criticism for its upgrade system, which appears to be a remnant of a previous microtransaction model that was removed for the Steam version, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
- “The way upgrading is handled stinks of a game that had microtransactions but were seemingly removed for the Steam version.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It seems like the game was designed with paywalls in mind, which detracts from the overall experience.”