Pile Up! Box by Box

Teamwork-focused puzzler hit by tech issues, limited play.
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Pile Up! Box by Box
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Pile Up! Box by Box is a casual platformer currently available for Microsoft Windows, with further releases on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 scheduled for the summer of 2021. Between one and four players will enter the adorable world of Boxling Square and begin a series of levels full of colorful puzzles and collectibles, with the goal of completing puzzles and unlocking cute skins. It's accessible for younger and beginning gamers, but there's enough to do that older and more experienced players will still be entertained. There's no inappropriate content to be found in the game.
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What’s It About?
In PILE UP! BOX BY BOX, players are introduced to some sort of dangerous storm hanging over Boxling Square. There really aren't any elements of a story that players need to focus on, allowing them to learn the basic mechanics of the game's puzzle-solving play. Each level contains a mini-goal, such as finding four tiny frogs who have been separated from the giant frog living under one of Boxling Square’s waterfalls. Aside from the main levels, other highlights include a section of the town called The Arcade. By completing puzzles, players can gain access to four competitive mini-games, including boxy takes on soccer and basketball.
Is It Any Good?
This puzzle platformer offers an instant shot of simple, wholesome fun, but it's ruined by technical flaws and, aside from multiplayer matches, limited play. Pile Up! Box by Box offers a relaxing experience that delivers exactly what it advertises: a relaxing experience. While playing solo is just fine, players may find themselves wishing for teammates when attempting Pile Up! alone. That's because while puzzle difficulty is scaled depending on the number of players, solo mode isn't engaging enough to keep more experienced gamers interested in the long run. Additionally, it isn't possible to play any of the arcade mini-games with fewer than two players. Solo mode is a great choice for those younger audiences looking to dip their toes into the platformer genre. All the basic conventions are there, and it's much less likely that new players will get frustrated or stuck on any particular puzzle than they would in a different game. But experienced gamers looking only to play solo might not be enthralled with Pile Up! past a few hours.
Another issue: It's rather difficult to navigate the menu and invite others to play when using a keyboard and mouse. While it's perfectly fine that this is a game designed to be used with a console-style controller, it's an odd choice to have the initial release be on Windows, especially when Steam's remote play, which allows players to join from their own devices rather than sharing the same screen, doesn't seem to work. As a multiplayer game, it's difficult to picture multiple adults gathering around a single PC, as well as going to the trouble to connect console-style controllers to their device, just to play this game -- especially when other casual co-op favorites won't ask them to leave the living room couch. Therefore, players might wish to wait for the console releases and add Pile Up! to their Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, or PS4 library as opposed to their computer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about effective communication. If you'd like someone's help with something, how can you ask them? Why is it important to practice using the right words?
While having highly specialized genres and games is definitely fun, what's the value of a game like Pile Up!, which is appropriate for everyone?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: HandyGames
- Release date: March 18, 2021
- Genre: Puzzle
- Topics: Adventures
- ESRB rating: NR for No Descriptions
- Last updated: March 30, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love puzzles
Themes & Topics
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