You Must Build A Boat

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 550 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
You Must Build A Boat Game Cover
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You must build a boat.You must spring out of bed.You must bargain with the lizardman.You must heed your undead navigators.You must slide rows or columns of tiles on a 6x8 grid.You must match at least 3.You must run to the right.You must focus intently on 2 areas of the screen simultaneously.You must match keys to unlock chests and swords to attack.You must literally collect your thoughts and trade…

Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 550 reviews
gameplay32 positive mentions
grinding33 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun and addictive match-3 experience with RPG elements, making it engaging for players.
  • The progression system is well-designed, allowing players to upgrade their boat and recruit crew members as they advance.
  • The charming pixel art style and catchy soundtrack enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The game can feel repetitive and grindy, especially in the later stages where luck plays a significant role in success.
  • Some players may find the visual effects and animations overwhelming or distracting, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • The lack of a clear inventory system and the cluttered board can hinder strategic gameplay, making it difficult to focus on matches.
  • gameplay117 mentions

    The gameplay of "You Must Build a Boat" is characterized by its addictive match-3 mechanics combined with RPG elements, offering a blend of simplicity and strategic depth that appeals to fans of the genre. While many players appreciate the charming visuals and engaging progression, some express concerns about repetitiveness and a lack of significant variation over time. Overall, the game provides a fun, casual experience, though it may not sustain long-term interest for everyone.

    • “The simple gameplay never feels stale, as a run through the world is reasonably brief, and you must build a boat is generous with new abilities and mechanics.”
    • “It's like a very polished mobile game, where the gameplay is actually engaging and hits a nice mix of dopamine match-3 with rogue-like elements.”
    • “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.”
    • “The additional mechanics make the board cluttered, and some of the enemies are simply unbalanced - stat checks on top of pure RNG in a game where you're supposed to be playing through a match-3 board.”
    • “This mechanic just exists to artificially extend the amount of time you spend playing, without adding actual content.”
    • “Unfortunately, the predecessor outweighs this game when it comes to consistent gameplay and entertainment.”
  • story75 mentions

    The story in "You Must Build a Boat" is minimal and largely serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, which focuses on completing quests and upgrading your boat. While some players appreciate the addictive nature of the quests and the mechanics that enhance the experience, many note that the narrative is vague and lacks depth, often feeling like a series of goals rather than a cohesive story. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay over storytelling, leading to a more linear and grind-heavy experience.

    • “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.”
    • “You're not really told what the story is, and I think as I finish the game it will be revealed - and I'm looking forward to learning what I'm sailing towards and why I've built the boat.”
    • “Completing the dungeon quests adds things to your boat, like a crew and creatures, more types of vendors, and more.”
    • “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.”
    • “And the designers added unskippable cutscenes... to an 8-bit game... with no real story.”
  • music63 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and upbeat chiptune style, often described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games, although some note that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over longer play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered delightful and engaging, contributing significantly 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.”
    • “The music is really annoying.”
  • graphics40 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro aesthetic, reminiscent of the Atari 800/2600 era, featuring pixel art that appeals to fans of old-school visuals. While some players find the graphics to be low quality or simplistic, they generally agree that the visuals do not detract from the addictive gameplay and engaging soundtrack. Overall, the graphics serve as a nostalgic backdrop that complements the fun and fast-paced match-3 mechanics, even if they aren't the main draw of the game.

    • “The graphics are retro/old school and it has catchy tunes.”
    • “A frantic, fun action-puzzle game with bright pixel graphics and a pounding soundtrack.”
    • “The gameplay, sound, and classic graphics style come together seamlessly.”
    • “The graphics are reminiscent of the Atari 800/2600 era of computers and Activision's 'Pitfall', but the graphics aren't really important for this type of game.”
    • “A cute veneer over a mediocre matching game with surprisingly poor graphic performance for how simple it is.”
    • “While the graphics are pretty ugly, the soundtrack is great (though there are only 3 tracks, but they all rock).”
  • grinding33 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, often leading to a tedious experience for players. While some find satisfaction in the incremental progress and meta upgrades, many express frustration with the excessive reliance on grinding and luck for advancement, which detracts from overall enjoyment. The upgrade systems and repetitive dungeon runs contribute to a sense of monotony, making the game feel more like a chore than a fun challenge as it progresses.

    • “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.”
    • “Fun is gone around the end of the first playthrough due to grinding; the game becomes hard, but not in a way that feels rewarding, so I have to grind gold to buy upgrades and hope for the best.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its endless potential through features like New Game+ and daily challenges, while others find it limited due to repetitive gameplay and a lack of compelling reasons to return after completing it. Completionists may enjoy the optional objectives and hidden content, but many feel that the overall experience does not warrant multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game offers varying levels of replay value 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.”
    • “I was stuck on the last section for at least an hour (just not quite fast enough), and there's lots more replayability (you collect monsters, and several take special situations to get - I missed at least a half dozen in my playthrough).”
    • “There is an option to reset and play through again with an increase in difficulty if you're looking for a challenge or some replay value.”
    • “It's kinda good to kill some time, but it doesn't really have much replay value.”
    • “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.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and entertainment value, featuring funny creatures, wacky NPCs, and amusing gameplay elements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and clever writing, which contribute to a fun and engaging atmosphere, despite some technical issues. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay, making it an enjoyable time-waster.

    • “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.”
    • “Nice touch of humor, and the kind of gameplay that's 'easy to learn, hard to master.' It's a roguelike (roguelite? idk) but you get upgrades and boosts as you keep trying, which means it never hits that wall of frustration and ragequit.”
    • “The 8-bit tune is very catchy and the writing (well, that little that is there) is pretty funny.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent bugs and issues that disrupt gameplay, such as board lock-ups and other mechanical glitches. These problems have led to a general reluctance to recommend the game, despite its enjoyable elements.

    • “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 device after I found the resolution (which is my device's resolution is weird). Sometimes the board locks up, and I have to 'win' that run and then exit the game before moving forward.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    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.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    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 less satisfying experience for players.

    • “The way upgrading is handled reeks of a game that had microtransactions but were seemingly removed for the Steam version.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems designed to push players towards spending more money to progress.”
    • “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great hampered by a monetization model that prioritizes profit over player experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
3-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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