Kiln

Kiln is bursting with smashtastic gameplay and so much charm that I want a Celadon poster just so I can remember how cool it is to be silly.

I like Kiln’s cheeky humor and colorful style. I’m frankly amazed the game is more than just a wacky premise. The pottery-making sim aspect isn’t half bad. Unfortunately, Kiln feels constrained by a lack of alternative modes and maps, with systems and mechanics that could be deeper. In its present state Kiln is engaging for a while, but the fun doesn’t last long enough.

At its best, Kiln’s robust pot creation and genuinely raucous multiplayer are a great base for a game that needs more content and polish in both performance and gameplay to truly live up to its potential. Despite this, every multiplayer match I played managed at least one moment that made me smile or laugh. The pot creation made me both proud of my pathetic creations and jealous of everyone else’s talent, and the general vibe just made me want to stick around. This is one work of art I hope gets finished and not merely abandoned, but it does need a little more time in the oven.

Double Fine has created a fun multiplayer experience. Creating your own pots is enjoyable and easy and the gameplay is simple yet effective. Unfortunately the game has very little content at launch with only 1 game mode and 5 maps. Without much reason to progress beyond new cosmetics, the team will need to quickly add content for Kiln to have any staying power. With how fun the game is, here’s hoping they can.

Double Fine reinvented the multiplayer party brawler genre, giving players complete creative freedom. The ability to create your own character is both ingenious and functional. This customization affects not only the aesthetics of the characters but also their stats. Unfortunately, the content is lacking, resulting in a rather marked sense of repetitiveness.