Summary
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platforms – Xbox Series X (Reviewed), PS5, PC
Review copy given by Publisher
Double Fine Productions has released its latest game, Kiln, a unique team-based party game where players engage in battles using pots, aiming to extinguish the opposing team’s Kiln. At first glance, the concept may seem peculiar, but it reflects Double Fine’s signature style.
Let’s dive into the game with our review.
Gameplay Impressions
The gameplay in Kiln is very straightforward and mindless. All you need to know is how to smash, walk, roll, collect water, and use your special ability. What makes this game unique and feel like there are countless ways to play is the personalization of the pots.
There are three styles of pots you can create: Small, Medium, and Large. These all have their pros and cons, such as using small pots to go fast and sneak into enemy territory. Whereas large pots are perfect for defending your Kiln.
As I mentioned before, the gameplay is indeed mindless. You are as good as the pot you make, in my opinion. There are multiple different archetypes to choose from. My favorite is using the Cactus to get real damage on enemies. These archetypes do play a part in how you play, such as defending or being aggressive.
Kiln offers a variety of maps, and they all have their own obstacles. They all have the same number of water areas to fill your pot, and two health packs are available for each team to obtain. One of my least favorite maps in this game has to be Anubis’ Boat of the Dead, which has a lot of moving obstacles, making it difficult to get to the enemy base.
Each Quench match is at most 10 minutes, and for the most part, games will end fast. Each team’s Kiln has three lives, and you’ll have to splash a lot of water into it. I should also mention this is a 4v4 game mode.
The gameplay in Kiln is an absolute blast, and I can only imagine it’s even better when playing with family and friends. A perfect way to describe it in one word is chaotic. Maybe the only negative about the multiplayer is that there is only one mode offered right now, and the overall map design isn’t the best. Performance-wise, there had been times when frames would drop whenever being in the center of a map, when everyone is fighting. That would be the only time the performance dipped.
Kiln gives a reason to grind. There are at least 50 levels to grind for, and each level unlocks more customization for your pots and tools to help shape your custom pot. This is where the game’s replayability comes in.
Customizing Pots
Aside from the gameplay, customizing pots is the next best feature. You could spend hours making a variety of pots, and they would all have different looks and abilities. Not only can you shape your pots, but you can also decorate them and make them look like legit tea kettles, watering cans, or anything you want. You could place five different colors on it if you wanted.
As you level up, you will unlock more customization options available at the shop, which is located in the lobby. You can even share your pots with others, and they could even use them on their own. I find this to be a great option for someone who may not be great at customizing or who just wants to jump into gameplay without worrying about anything else.
The pot customization impressed me more than how fun the gameplay is.
Visuals and Audio Design
The visuals won’t amaze you, and it’s not meant to. That’s completely fine because the art direction Double Fine went with perfectly matches the game and has that “pottery vibe”. The audio, though, might be a little repetitive, especially when you are flying around the lobby and bump into things. While playing it’s fine, it’s the other aspects that could easily get a little too much.
Verdict: It’s A Blast
No matter what, Kiln is a blast to play. Yes, it has a few issues with only one game mode right now. It’s not meant for you to play for hours at a time. Quench Mode is a whole lot of fun, and I never thought smashing pots while being a pot would be so much fun. It’s rare to find party games like this anymore, and we appreciate Double Fine bringing back a vibe that was once felt in the early years of Xbox.
For only $20, it’s a no-brainer to get Kiln. If you are questioning whether you should buy this game, put it this way: Whenever I put the controller down to take a break from playing, I get this urge to hop back on and play. This game has some charm that makes you want to go back and keep playing.
