It’s amazing how games can take tasks that people would actively avoid in real life and package them up into compelling game mechanics. Lawn Mowing Simulator being a prime example. With Hozy, developer Come On Studio has taken the hassle and manual labour out of renovating and packaged it up in a beautiful and relaxing experience.
Gameplay
Each level in Hozy follows a similar blueprint. You are given a space to renovate that first needs cleared and then cleaned. Putting rubbish in the bin, washing floors, windows are all quick and surprisingly satisfying tasks that pave the way for you to start painting walls so that you have a clean, blank canvas to decorate.
Next you get to unpack a load of furniture from various boxes. It starts to resemble a clown car as you pull your third table out of the one box. At first it may seem daunting with the amount of furniture you unpack, but anything you don’t want can be discarded. This allows you to still go with a clean, minimalist design if you wish.
I really liked some of the quality of life features the game had to offer. The aim was to be a chill experience and so being able to slap paint onto the walls without worrying about some going onto the window frame or the floor was appreciated.
Graphics/Audio
The aesthetic is what initially drew me to Hozy. One single screenshot is enough to convey the beauty of the game. It uses an isometric viewpoint which I’m always a huge fan of and it comes with plenty of options to zoom and rotate. The attention to detail in the rooms, furniture and decorative items is superb. At the end of each level you have the option to take photos of your creations and it’s a great way to capture your masterpieces.
The audio is understated but fits perfectly with the game. Lots of ambient sounds that blend in perfectly with the world. It is also a game that perfectly suits playing while listening to a podcast if you are someone who likes to double up on their media consumption.
Performance
I didn’t experience any issues during my time with the game. The framerate was completely stable with no graphical issues.
Value
In our local currency, Hozy is £12.49. In my opinion this is great value for money. The game is a short experience, with nine levels available at launch. But it does offer some replayability as you have enough furniture in each level to make a few significantly different looking rooms. I would like to see more colour options for paint, as well as a mode that let’s you choose any level and the full catalogue of furniture, but these are things that can be added in future updates.
Trophies/Achievements
A very basic list. Nine achievements, one for completing each level. Hopefully if the game comes to console we can get a more inspired list.
Overall
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Hozy. It is graphically stunning and manages to make mundane tasks like cleaning the area, washing the floor and painting the walls fun. If you are a fan of interior designing but don’t want to get your hands dirty and obliterate your wallet, this is an easy recommendation.
-Jessica