The Nerdy Type

I’m a sucker for anything that happens to be cute. I can’t help it, and I’m still not sure whether it’s a blessing or a curse. When I saw the announcement of Woodo many months ago, I immediately knew that I was powerless against it. The combination of the adorable art style and the puzzle gameplay called to me, and now the demo is finally here. 

Woodo, developed by Tiny Monks Tales, has lived in my head rent-free ever since it was announced, and quickly became one of my most anticipated indie games. So, when the demo dropped on August 6, I immediately dropped everything (which was a lot, considering the fact that I was on vacation) and dove in. 

Childlike wonder with a grown-up story

There’s something really special about any game that can inspire childlike wonder through its gameplay, and Woodo does just that, but it does it in a way that will resonate with any player because of the narrated story. 

While you’re absorbed in figuring out where each adorable little wooden block goes on the diorama, the narrator tells a story that seems to be about stepping outside of your comfort zone and overcoming unexpected adversity to find joy where you never expected it to be found. 

The main character of this tale, at least in the demo, is Foxy. Foxy has spent their entire life in the city, attached to technology and social media, until they venture out into the countryside for a summer and lose that connection. They immediately get attacked by geese (which, in itself, is highly relatable), and have to battle through these events to find peace on the other side. 

The true point of the story, I think, is one of disconnection, or at least that’s how it settled itself in my mind. Ironically, playing the Woodo demo while I was supposed to be on vacation inspired me to step away from technology more fully, and I actually managed to enjoy my time away far more than I think I would have if I hadn’t played the demo. Strange, but something I’m infinitely grateful for. 

A spark of joy for inner children everywhere

I think everyone wishes they could go back to being a child at one point or another in their life. Let’s face it, those times were simpler. We had no worries about bills or responsibilities of adulthood weighing down on our shoulders on a daily basis. All that mattered was which toy happened to be our favorite on a given day, and what we could expect to eat for dinner.  

The Steam page for Woodo describes it as ‘tactile’, and while I have been hugely excited to get my hands on the game for a very long time now, I was hesitant to believe that any game could actually pull off that feat. Somehow, Woodo manages it extremely well. 

Rather than providing a 2D space for you to slot in puzzle pieces, Woodo allows you to rotate small dioramas at will and choose which pieces you want to place down. As you spin the setting, the wooden puzzle pieces spin too, allowing a small hint as to where each piece belongs in the larger picture. 

More importantly, slotting a piece into its rightful place feels satisfying. There’s a specific click sound that’s hard to describe but somehow manages to feel nostalgic at the same time, and each piece changes the scene around it in a small way. One roof tile placed correctly will then add color to half of the roof, slotting a goose’s leg into place will add the other leg as well, and the scene is constantly changing based on the order in which you place the individual pieces. 

All of these things work together to somehow spark the imagination of an inner child I’d forgotten I even had. It’s easy to grow up and forget how that particular aspect of the imagination works, but Woodo reawakens it in a beautiful way that ends up being addictive and therapeutic, almost. 

There’s so much more to come

The demo of Woodo offers but a small glimpse into the world and story that will eventually be accessible once the full game gets released. In the demo, you get to complete three little scenes that introduce Foxy and their tale, but the map offers a clue as to what can be expected of the full game. 

There are multiple different buildings on the map, each of which will presumably make up a separate scene to be completed by slotting wooden blocks into place, and that’s not accounting for any surprises that may appear between the major buildings. Each scene will further Foxy’s tale, digging deeper into what it means to disconnect.

It’s hard to put into words just how truly special and touching Woodo is, but you can go and play the demo for yourself right now over on Steam. Make sure to wishlist the game, as well, to show your support to the developers.