Mail Time LadiesGamers

Mail Time Demo Impressions

Demo code used with many thanks to Stride PR.

Mail Time is an adorable cottage core collect-a-thon from solo dev Kela Van Der Deijl, published by Freedom Games. The game is releasing in April 2023, but in the meantime, there is a free demo to download during the Steam Next Fest. The demo lasts about an hour, but it’s long enough to give you a taster of this beautiful game.

Deliver Mail

Mail Time LadiesGamers
Customise your character

It’s your first day on the job as a newly minted Mail Scout. You’re equipped with a mushroom hat, a backpack full of letters, and lots of enthusiasm; it’s time to deliver letters and packages across Grumblewood Grove and gain your Mail Scout badges.

Firstly, Mail Time asks you to customise your character. There are six different categories ranging from skin tone to backpack type for customising your Mail Scout. Allowing you to change hairstyle and hair colour, add a name and pick your pronouns. So I named my little mushroom-hat character Daisy, and we were soon off delivering letters.

One Area To Explore

Mail Time LadiesGamers
cute van

The demo has one area to explore and a few characters to chat to. While delivering letters, you’ll run, jump, glide, and make your way across the forest, bringing joy to all the cute critters who love to get mail. All the characters have something to say, and there are plenty of collectables, such as bottle caps, to collect.

The full game will have eight distinct areas to explore, from a lively woodland village to a murky swamp and a peaceful farm.

No Time Limits or Pressure

Mail Time LadiesGamers
Glide, jump and bounce.

Furthermore, the game involves platforming to reach the characters in high places. You can bounce on mushrooms to reach higher, and bouncing around on the mushrooms is a lot of fun.

However, the camera movement lets the game down in those instances. The camera always seems to face the wrong way when you are in the middle of a jump. You can also glide, and your little character uses a letter as a glider; that’s very cute to see.

Mail Time LadiesGamers
Characters to meet

In addition, there aren’t any time limits, pressure, or risk of harm if you fall, as there isn’t any fall damage. It’s a lovely relaxing and explores the Forest at your own pace and leisure. In the full game, you can continue the story at your own pace and take as long or short as you want.

Whimsical and Delightful

Mail Time LadiesGamers
Explore the forest in the demo

Mail Time has colourful and whimsical environments that jump off the screen, and it’s the kind of place I’d like to live. The game can be played with full controller support. In the demo, the vast flower field and the scale of the towering trees make it feel like you are in a real forest. I enjoyed the demo, and I love the look of the game.

The game will be released in April this year and will be available to play on Steam. It’s also being released for PS4, PS5 and Switch later date.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *