Block’Em! Review 

Game: Block’Em!
Genre: Action, Party, Platformer
System: Steam (Windows & Linux)
Developer|Publisher: Cat Shawl Games | CPD, Indieark, Aurora Punks
Controller Support: Yes
Price: UK £7.99 | US $ N/A | EU € N/A
Release Date: September 8th, 2022

Review code provided with many thanks to Press Engine. 

Simple to the Point

Block’Em!  is a 2D party game that keeps things simple and to the point allowing players to jump in on some instant multiplayer fun locally or online for up to four players. There’s no story, you just play as a weird-looking cube-shaped monster whose face you’re able to choose, from an assortment of presets. This does make for a decent game night game but just for the one night only due to lack of content. 

When you start, single-screen levels are presented randomly with a small assortment of goals. Either be the first cube to reach the goal, survive the longest as lava slowly engulfs the screen or place the most blocks on a screen. For controls, you can either use a controller or mouse and keyboard. Moves at your disposal include jumping, laying blocks and even being nasty and pushing your friends. This last move is particularly cruel if you temporarily form an alliance in a survival match.

The controls are displayed very briefly on a loading screen before the game begins. It would have been more useful if the game paused to allow new players to adjust to the controls before swiftly moving into the game leaving you just to guess. Games really don’t last very long with an entire match lasting easily under half an hour. It makes it an ideal title to play if you want something quick and easy to play with friends on a game night. The trouble is the formula loses its lustre very quickly.  

Play Together

The goal of the game is to win five games to gain the ultimate victory. That victory being you can celebrate being the best compared to all your friends. The game doesn’t give you much reward or unlockables for that matter. I guess, if you want, you could always put together a paper crown and proudly display it on your head. Maybe wear it to work for a whole week, allowing colleagues and friends to bow in the presence of your awesomeness. The reason I’m waffling on a lot here is that there really isn’t a lot to Block’Em! There’s not much variety in the gameplay or level design.

Graphics are simple pastel-coloured blocks, not exactly striking. You can’t even customize your game. It’s just one single-party game mode. I was lucky enough to find an online game to play with four other players. Online matchmaking actually worked very well and the game ran smoothly. But even after one complete game most of the other players just left me and one other random player which felt kinda sad. The option to play this single player is there, all of the other players will be controlled by bots whose difficulty you can’t adjust. I gave this a go but it really wasn’t as fun as playing with humans.

Conclusion – Night In

Block’Em! is simple to the point gaming fun, which is pick up and play for the whole family. It will make for a good gaming night game to play with your favourite folk or worst enemies. But the game’s downfall is that it keeps things too simple, lacking replay value and variety in its gaming modes. I guess it’s possible more content will be added in future updates but as it stands this is a game you’ll likely play one session and probably never touch again. So in a way, it’s similar to that board game you play with the family for Xmas. If that sounds ok to you, have at it.

Final Verdict: I’m Not Sure