MakeRoom immediately got my attention when it was shown at the Wholesome Games Direct earlier this year. The cutesy emphasis on decorating spaces rather than building/managing them and the lovely tilt-shift style visuals jumped out at me, and after spending some time with it I’m pleased to say it delivers.
There’s no need for a complicated set up or reason for anything in the game, just pick a level and get decorating. There’s a fairly sizable list of spaces you can decorate, including spy headquarters, potion lab, meditation space, or, my favourite, a trendy van conversion. The variety on offer is great, so depending on your tastes you can spend more time in the more grounded locations or take a step into something more fantastical.
Once you’ve loaded in you’ve basically got free rein to change things up to suit your tastes. If you want a calming meditation room full of soft pastels then you can make it so, likewise if you want a potion room full of cats warming themselves by the fireplace then that’s also within your gift. It’s hard to really say too much more as it’s just a case of how creative you want to be, and how relaxing you find this stuff.
As someone who loves things like this but isn’t particularly creative, I appreciated that you get guided through a series of objectives initially in each level. It’ll often involve clearing away some of the stuff currently in the space, maybe a spot of cleaning by sweeping away cobwebs or tapping up puddles, and then you’ll follow instructions for what the space is in need of. These are always open-ended, so while the art studio requires a table, they don’t specify which one so you can pick something that suits your tastes, or an aesthetic that you’re planning on applying to the full room. It’s a great way of guiding the player through some basic improvements to the space, and once you’re done you’re free to continue decorating as much as you want before moving on.
There were two mechanics that I was pleasantly surprised to see there. The game has a photo mode, which is greatly appreciated, especially when every level looks so damn good. You can pan around and find the perfect angle that shows off your handiwork, and I imagine it’ll get a lot of use from the player base. The game also has controller support, which I didn’t expect. I was playing on a handheld PC and expected I’d need to dock to play but nope, it’s perfectly playable with analogue sticks and buttons, making it even easier to get tucked up in a cosy spot while you play.
Part of what makes MakeRoom such a warming experience is the audio-visual experience. It’s got a genuinely gorgeous tilt-shift style to it that makes every room feel like a miniature diorama, which I absolutely loved. Playing on a handheld PC, it looked beautiful and I think is probably an ideal way to play the game. Grab some headphones, a blanket, and a comfy nook on the sofa and you’re in for a treat. The music was nice, although it didn’t stand out to me quite as strongly as the visuals did.
There were a few frustrations that harshed my mellow. Item categorisation is a little weird; while everything is split into categories on the left of the screen, some items are difficult to locate. You’ve got a chairs category but also sofas and armchairs. Similarly there’s tables, but also desks as a separate category. It’s not a huge deal, and you’ve got the option to search (which was finicky with a virtual keyboard) that makes things a bit smoother. Additionally I also found it a bit tricky placing items at times. Trying to place an item against a wall can be difficult if the camera is at an awkward angle. You can hold X and it’ll snap to a grid, but then I found the grid was often not aligned with the walls of the room, so in the end it was more accurate to just take the extra time and do it manually.
If you like games like Townscaper where you can just fiddle around with a space and create something cute then you’ll love MakeRoom. It’s a warm and comfortable way to unwind after a busy day, and lets you be as creative as you want as you set up your adorable little dioramas.