Most Disappointing Cozy Game of 2025? Pixelshire Review! 😭

Summary

In this critical review of *Pixelshshire*, a pixel art-style sandbox RPG, the reviewer shares their immense disappointment after eagerly waiting for the game's release. Despite the game's appealing visuals and farming mechanics, the reviewer encounters numerous bugs, clunky controls, and confusing quest systems, leading to frustration. Issues with mining, character progression, and gameplay inconsistencies dominate the experience, overshadowing the few positive aspects such as the fishing mini-game and relaxing pace. Ultimately, the reviewer cannot recommend the game in its current state, though they express hope for future updates that could improve the experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 The reviewer was excited about Pixelshshire, a pixel art-style sandbox RPG, but was ultimately disappointed by numerous issues.
• 😡 The game was filled with bugs, including disappearing resources, unresponsive quests, and broken mechanics, making progression difficult.
• 🎮 Character customization was basic, with limited options, although the ability to choose a custom color palette was a positive aspect.
• 💻 The UI and controls were problematic, especially on Steam Deck, where controls were misaligned and icons were hard to see.
• 🌱 Farming mechanics felt too simple, with crops maxing out too quickly, making the gameplay too easy and removing the sense of progression.
• ⚒️ The talent system was confusing and poorly explained, leading to frustration as the player wasted time without understanding how to unlock new abilities.
• ❓ Quests were overwhelming and often unclear, with incomplete information, missing notifications upon completion, and tasks that were too difficult for the player's current level.
• 🛠️ The reviewer encountered many game-breaking bugs, including disappearing ores in the mining system, causing them to restart the game multiple times.
• 🌍 The game’s first day was described as a lackluster intro that failed to engage the player and did not set the tone for the rest of the game.
• 🎣 Despite generally disliking fishing mini-games, the reviewer praised Pixelshshire's fishing mechanic for being balanced and enjoyable.
• 🚫 Ultimately, the reviewer could not recommend the game due to its many issues but expressed hope for improvements in future updates.

Q & A

What game is being reviewed in this video?

The game being reviewed is *Pixelshshire*, a pixel art style sandbox RPG that focuses on farming, exploration, combat, and town rebuilding.

What were the key reasons the reviewer was disappointed with the game?

The reviewer was disappointed due to numerous bugs, clunky mechanics, and frustrating gameplay issues such as broken quest progressions, disappearing ores, and confusing character controls.

How did the reviewer feel about the character customization in *Pixelshshire*?

The reviewer found the character customization basic. While there is a custom color palette, it was generally limited, with only minor options for hair, skin, eyes, and outfits.

What was the significance of the 'rice planting' issue in the game?

The reviewer encountered a quest where planting rice in the wrong order caused a significant roadblock. The player was unable to buy more rice from the shop after running out, leading to a frustrating gameplay moment.

What specific bugs did the reviewer encounter in the game?

The reviewer experienced multiple bugs, including quests not being accessible, disappearing quest UI elements, issues with NPCs walking off the map, and items like ores disappearing. There were also sound inconsistencies and misaligned controls on the Steam Deck.

Was the game enjoyable despite its issues?

The reviewer had moments of enjoyment, particularly with the pixel art design and fishing mini-game, but overall found the constant bugs and progression-blocking issues too frustrating to continue.

What was the reviewer’s experience with the game's farming and terraforming mechanics?

The farming and terraforming mechanics were initially promising, but the reviewer faced issues like planting rice out of order and discovering that quests required tasks to be done in a specific sequence, which wasn't made clear.

How did the game handle its combat mechanics?

The combat mechanics were straightforward but felt clunky. The reviewer found it easy to fight enemies, like slimes, but noted the combat lacked polish, with some interactions feeling unresponsive.

What did the reviewer think of the tool wheel and its accessibility?

The reviewer struggled with the tool wheel, especially with the small icons. They also found the controls frustrating, as they had to click to select tools rather than simply hovering, which affected the overall usability.

Does the reviewer recommend *Pixelshshire* for players to buy right now?

No, the reviewer does not recommend *Pixelshshire* in its current state due to the numerous bugs and gameplay issues. They hope that the developers will address these problems and improve the game in future updates.