Woodo | Nintendo Switch 2 Review

Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
Developer: Tiny Monks Tales
Nintendo Switch 2 Review

*Disclaimer: I was sent the code for this game on Nintendo Switch 2 in return for a review; all opinions are mine and mine alone.

Are you ready to snuggle up and get cosy? I always am. I have the perfect game recommendation for the cosy autumn season. Woodo is a cosy puzzle game made from wooden pieces that you piece together to bring the story to life, developed by a small team at Tiny Monks Tale. You find yourself in the shoes of Foxy, a very adorable girl who is addicted to tech. She was sent to spend the summer in the countryside, where she meets a mixed bunch of personalities who are also animals. One of them is called Ben; they form a friendship after he guides her around the countryside, helping her discover her childhood and immerse herself in memories of being a child again, very nostalgic.

Some may be sick of the world of cosy games and feel it's full of farming, but I can assure you Woodo doesn't have that implemented. With the use of dioramas, you are prompted to place matching pieces into the scene in front of you to bring colour back to the world as well as life. On the right-hand side of the screen, you will see a bunch of different pieces of the environment in the game to match it with, some small and some big, but equally satisfying when you find the right pieces. I loved the added movement from objects and characters in the diorama once you matched a piece of the puzzle; it really adds to bringing a story to life. It's basically a puzzle storybook, like the ones I used to have from my childhood.

The diorama rotates, so just when you think you have completed one side, there is more just around the corner. Whilst rotating, you will find that the objects you need to match will also rotate; it helps them slot into the right place at the right angle. On top of this, you can solve more puzzles within the puzzle; it's a bit like puzzle inception. Some help you find missing puzzle pieces to use when you go back to the big world; it's a very clever mechanic.

At the start of the game, before we are even transported into Foxy's new summer world, you can put together the puzzle pieces for the word Woodo and then on a beautiful chest; it gives you a sight into what is to come next. This is where Foxy keeps her memories of that summer, and we are transported inside. The narrator does a brilliant job of transporting you into the mind and world of Foxy, forced to immerse herself outdoors instead of shutting herself away with her tech. It's clear she isn't happy about where she is, or her current situation, but Ben and the residents show her life can be fun outdoors even if she is still using her phone. Foxy reflects on her time there; amongst the chaos of her newfound geese friends and Ben's calming nature, you can tell it was a good way for her to spend her summer.

Woodo implements some accessibility modes: there is a hint system that shows you where a piece of the puzzle fits when you are stuck, and if you feel like you have missed a bit of the story, you can go into the storybook and read all about Foxy's adventure that beautiful summer. The use of bright colours makes you forget that this is a wooden world. My cat must have enjoyed the colours; she sat next to me watching me play. Although it's a short game, Woodo forces you to slow down, zoom in and find what you are looking for; it will make you take in each scene and notice all the added little parts of this wholesome world. 

I moved to Cornwall 18 years ago this August, and I get to experience the beautiful outside world whenever I want. Seeing Foxy discover this world brings back memories of when I first moved here; it's also very nostalgic for me. Woodo is out today and available on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Have a cosy day

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