Pick up your super glue because it’s time to get fixing in Gamkat’s debut game Piece By Piece. Releasing today, we got our hands on the game early to see whether it’s a perfect piece or the cracks are showing.
You can get Piece by Piece on Steam now!
Everything’s a jigsaw when you have to put it back together piece by piece
Gameplay
Like with most cosy games, Piece By Piece starts with you inheriting grandad’s old shop. From there, it is up to you to make the most of what you’ve got. The main gameplay comes from interacting with customers and fixing up whatever broken item they bring.
Fixing the items is like putting a puzzle together. The game breaks every item into pieces, and you put it back together. It’s a very simple mechanic, but it is done really well. However, it’s not as simple as just pointing and clicking. You need to rotate not only the broken-off part but the entire outline of the completed item. Depending on the order you put the pieces in, you might have to deal with some awkward angles.
Increase your profit
Beyond fixing broken items, you can increase your revenue by adding a few items to your shop. Bake cookies, paint products and chop wood to increase the cosy vibes of the shop. The cleaning, warmth and cookies levels have three sections. The higher the section is filled, the more money you make from each customer. Thankfully, it’s a simple process to improve, as it’s necessary to make sure you can make enough money to keep upgrading.
A little mouse camps outside of your shop and sells you a wide range of items that you need to keep your shop in tip-top condition!
Waiting… and waiting… and waiting
At the beginning of the game there are a few occasions where you feel like you’re stood around waiting for something to happen. Customers are slow, you haven’t got the money to upgrade anything so you end up running around in circles. It’s less frequent as you get further into the game but at the beginning it can be a bit tedious.
Graphics & Audio
As expected with a cosy game, the Piece by Piece graphics are exactly that. As a cute fox with even cuter customers, it’s a really simple yet pretty game. Even the things that you’re fixing are adorable. For example, this funky little duck lamp!
Everything is calm and relaxing, and the graphics and audio combined make it a relaxing experience.
Longevity
Piece By Piece genuinely is one of the easiest games I’ve ever played that keeps you sucked in. Maybe it’s because the puzzles become increasingly difficult or just because it’s so simple that it doesn’t take too much brain power. I have spent hours just putting stock on shelves and baking cookies.
There are little stories going on with each customer which are fun to read and develop. Ultimately, it takes between 5 and 6 hours to complete the game, with an additional two hours to get the 100% completion. It’s a simple game that isn’t too difficult to focus on, making it a perfect addition to a cosy game library.
Final Thoughts
Piece by Piece is one of the most tranquil, cosy games I’ve ever played. It sweeps you into a cute little animal world and can keep you entertained for hours at a time. Aside from the initial issue I had with waiting for customers to appear, this really is a good little game.
As a result I have to give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
Check out our other PC reviews here!
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