Woodo is an adorable hidden object puzzler that tells the story of a little fox’s unforgettable summer through gorgeous dioramas.
What are video games for? The most common answer would be as a distraction to help us cope with the stresses of daily life. A variant of it would be to blow off some steam. These are valid responses, yet I find myself inclined to find a deeper meaning. As any other art form, the convergence of its disciplines is what elevates them. They could pull you out of a rut. Or remind you of a memory that you thought you lost. Woodo, in its adorable presentation as a hidden object puzzle game, is all of these things, and so much more.
Wooden Heart
As a child, I used to be very introverted. It became so much of a problem that my mom had to send me to a summer camp to “fix me.” Initially I absolutely hated it. I enjoyed being with my games and Yu-Gi-Oh cards with my nerdy friends, not ever even thinking of leaving my comfort zone. Woodo tells a similar story. Across 12 levels where you place pieces in a diorama, you live the story of Foxy, an adorable young fox who is sent to spend the summer to the countryside with Ben the Frog.
Woodo excels in its simplicity. Finding where to fit each piece is disarming. Listening to the friendly music that sparks curiosity as the narrator’s warm voice unfolds the story before your eyes makes each stage simply fly by. Sharing similarities with a welcoming fairy tale, witnessing Foxy’s summer is both hilarious and vulnerable. Facing one’s inadequacies is never an easy process, but through the many stories that are unlocked when finishing a level we come to learn how to ease that struggle.
Aptly named, everything in the game looks like it is made out of wood. This lends to a cutesy art style that inspires kindness, in line with Woodo’s themes. Trying to find my way in said summer camp, not all went smoothly in the beginning. Either because of my weight or less-than-outgoing behavior, I was targeted and had to learn the hard way to let things go. My emotions are valid, but so is trying to live in a community that actually wants the best for you. Rocky starts are not unheard of, as Foxy’s first hostile interaction with the town’s geese attests to.
I Spy With My Little Eye
As the game progresses, naturally the puzzles do get much more complex. From starting with a grid on the right hand side and gently picking the pieces and placing them one by one the adventure starts slowly. It is not surprising then, than in the latter half, as Foxy finally understand that the best way to learn and grow is by being open to new experiences, that the puzzles become more difficult. Now, most pieces are floating around the diorama and that makes it a bit harder to recognize and look where they belong. As a cozy game through and through, Woodo has a solution for this as well.
There is a medium level of magnetism that the pieces are attracted to when you hover over their spot. As a point-and-click experience, this can be adjusted to attract them more or less depending on the player’s appetite for challenge. A handy hint system also easily tells you exactly where a piece should be with the press of a button. Appealing to those looking for a heartwarming story and a challenge—or not—Woodo knows how to deliver to both.
But Wait, That’s Not All
If the whole package was not enough, Woodo even takes the time to add little secrets on each level. Mischievous, minute characters called Tiny Monks can only be found by those with a keen eye. Walkie-talkies also share some insightful and funny conversations about the summer adventures Foxy and Ben live through. Apart from each platform’s achievement system, there is a set of goals in-game to work towards to entice replayability. I would not judge you for going back to spend a bit longer time in that pleasant summer of dreams.
A curious aspect of the puzzles as they move along is how it plays with perspective. Much like looking at big problems in retrospect could make us laugh about it years later, so does Woodo’s use of sizes is rather clever. Take, for instance, a treehouse stage. Searching for the place where flowers could fit is predictable, but a whole bed and furniture for a living room? Perhaps if you looked at a birdhouse that possibly has all those amenities would you find your answer. Taking the gameplay even further, there could be storage areas inside drawers, or below beds where a mouse has their entire room in. There is no shortage of charming little surprises throughout the game.
Verdict: Woodo
I was never the same after that summer. Gaining new friends that I frequented for years to come, although I tried to resist the change future me is grateful that things turned out the way they did. Likewise, once Foxy leaves her electronics and decides to look up at the world above, she really starts to live. To appreciate the world in new ways, to recognize that these fleeting moments will become cherished memories, to feel that life is worth living. Woodo appreciates profound storytelling as much as its adorable art style. So much for a simple puzzle game.
Reviewed on PlayStation 5. Also available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.
A key was provided for the purposes of this review.
Developer: Tiny Monks Tales
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
Release date: Out now
Pros
- Useful accessibility features
- Kind coming-of-age narrative
- Warm narration evokes childhood tales
- Pleasant music to accompany the puzzles
- Clever use of puzzles the more the game develops
- Short stories all have an important message to give
Cons
- Some pieces are difficult to perceive on the latter puzzles
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Amazing
