Wax Heads is one of the best games I have played this year. It’s full of cozy stories, amazing music, and wonderful characters. I think anyone who is craving meaningful human connection could learn something from Wax Heads. Now I want to go and watch Empire Records.

Whether you spent your youth hanging around in a record shop or just wish you had, Wax Heads is going to speak to you and your love of music.

I am completely smitten with the world of Wax Heads. It has so much to offer, and it feels like a game that was made for me and my particular tastes. The game delivers on all fronts, especially as an innately human experience, much like music itself. And like a good record, this game elevates your day by spending time with it, getting in touch with its intricacies, and allowing itself to open up to you.

Wax Heads is the new game for those who enjoy cozy life/job simulator games, with heartwarming stories and stunning visuals woven throughout. I can truly see this game becoming a huge part of discussions around cute, stylized, relaxing video games, as well as a big name in the cozy gaming community. Patattie Games is definitely one to watch, and I can’t wait to see what dynamic duo Somerwolff and Tome create next.

Wax Heads masterfully embodies the concept of being welcoming, using a lighthearted narrative and simple gameplay to create elements of connection that resonate with every type of person in a unique way. It's impossible not to be touched, whether by the MacIntyre sisters' story or by each customer's individual experience, from the funniest to the most emotional.

Wax Heads is one of my favorite narrative-driven puzzle games in years.

Wax Heads represents a unifying beauty and purpose I've never seen in a game before. If it exists elsewhere, please guide me to it; for now, this game deserves its moment. I laughed (a lot), I cried (a bit), I smiled (endlessly). It feels like a game made for me, but not only me.

Wax Heads is more than just record sales behind a counter. It's about human and musical connection with great writing and characters, backed by a very good soundtrack, I'll be playing for months to come!

Wax Heads makes you feel like you are part of this safe, wholesome, creative world of Repeater Records, surrounded by alternative and queer folk who just want to keep rockin’ as long as they can. Finding records for people is fun, but also challenging, so you’ll have to not only scour Repeater’s records, but watch cutscenes, search through your apps, and pay attention to the customer’s vibe. For someone who grew up in 90s indie record stores, longing to hear something that would change my teen life, Wax Heads really cultivates an atmosphere of curiosity, love and respect for musical communities, and how much better music is when it involves human connection.

Wax Heads is an impressive achievement. It delivers a great mix of varied music, great record graphical design, exquisite fictional critical texts, and narrative. The universe built around Repeater Records is a lovely one, filled with cool customers and interesting co-workers. Make sure to unlock and play all the songs that were specifically recorded for the game.

Wax Heads ultimately shares the same central conflict as Empire Records, in which an independent shop is at risk of being bought up by a soulless corporation, but the interactive elements of this game really emphasize just how much there is to lose beyond one’s job. Music conjures powerful, immediate emotions, but it’s the game’s masterful story about how that music brings audiences together that produces all the lingering, magical feels.

Beneath the surface of the record flipping sim lies a poignant story about the modern world. Repeater Records is under threat from corporate interests specifically a generic, soul sucking entertainment conglomerate that wants to replace the shop with something modern and upmarket. The game handles this stick it to the man story with a refreshing lack of sarcasm and more focuses on the regulars and togetherness. The regulars treat the shop like an escapism, teenagers looking to be influenced by music and a regular meeting spot for those with memories tied to the place. You get to learn and understand that the people you work with have seen things change and want to provide something for the community away from the shops and keep human connection fostered through the arts. Wax Heads is a triumph of focused love and labour it offers a musical imprint that stays with you long after the credits roll. Like buying your first album or your favourite this will be something in your collection that will stay with you and shape your enjoyment for the arts.

Wax Heads brings an offbeat art style, a rich soundtrack, and an emotional story behind the simple act of recommending records to unknown people.

If you're looking for a simple game with an engaging storyline, Wax Heads is the title for you. With its absurd plot and characters, and thanks to its rewarding and consistently entertaining gameplay, it effortlessly draws you into its world. However, the overall experience isn't without its flaws, particularly regarding the writing of certain characters, which could have been executed more convincingly.

Wax Heads is a great musical journey all about sticking together, making real art, and that friendship is punk rock. It’s for anyone who likes investigation and constantly looking for something new to listen to, don't skip this sleeper hit!

Wax Heads is a fun, but short, cozy narrative sim that puts you into the world of physical media via selling vinyls, which is actually seeing a resurgence in the real world. What starts as a charming new job with friendly coworkers turns into the story of how hobbies have to be balanced with real-world obligations and the reality of how corporate practices often hurt small businesses the most, taking away beloved features from towns. It's cute and a bit of a puzzle game, but I wish it lasted longer and gave me more options when speaking to characters, especially to ask follow-up questions regarding record requests.

En resumen, Wax Heads es de esos juegos que pueden parecer pequeños a primera vista, pero que esconden mucho más de lo que dejan ver. No se centra en la acción ni en la velocidad de reacción, sino en observar con atención, interpretar lo que tienes delante y conectar pequeñas pistas para avanzar, lo que le da un enfoque bastante particular dentro del género. Esa forma de plantear la experiencia hace que todo gire alrededor de la atención al detalle y de la lectura de personajes y situaciones, algo que encaja muy bien con su ambientación musical y su narrativa. En un medio que todavía arrastra ciertos prejuicios sobre lo que pueden o no pueden ser los videojuegos, propuestas así ayudan a ampliar un poco más esa idea, demostrando que también hay espacio para experiencias más pausadas, reflexivas y centradas en la interpretación del jugador.

Wax Heads is a small game that knows exactly what it wants to be, and it does so with a craftsmanship that's hard to find in even much larger productions. It's the kind of experience recommended to those who love music as a cultural object, to those who've ever spent an afternoon browsing records in a store knowing they probably wouldn't buy anything but enjoying the ritual anyway, and to those looking for a narrative product that has something to say beyond its gameplay. The fact that it comes from a two-person studio makes it all the more remarkable. It's not for everyone: those looking for mechanical challenge, a sustained pace, or a length that justifies a AAA price tag will be disappointed. But Wax Heads doesn't have these ambitions, and it has the good sense not to fake them. It's an indie debut album: not perfect, not very long, but full of personality, with some songs that stick in your head longer than you expected.

Murray Somerwolff y Rocío Tomé (Patattie Games) lo definen como un  ”punk-cozy slice of life”. Una parte de vida punk acogedora es exactamente lo que muestra Wax Heads. Una buena historia contada a muy buen ritmo y con unos personajes muy interesantes. Los clientes también juegan con una razón de ser para venir a comprar y eso mueve el sistema de juego principal. La atención al detalle de su diseño gráfico y el empezar con pocos discos y puzles simples hace que se entienda perfectamente el bucle jugable y se celebre cada variante nueva y minijuego planteado. Aunque tiene muy buen balance entre juego e historia, tal vez la parte jugable sea demasiado simple en principio pero pronto coge profundidad, pero no complejidad. Al igual que viendo Alta Fidelidad, quiero trabajar en una tienda de discos así.

Wax Heads is a gorgeous, short, beautiful game built around a simple and cozy gameplay loop. It captures the spirit of your local record shop and uses its cast of colorful characters to tell a confined, low-stakes story that will stay with you regardless. It’s a perfect game for those looking for a small, comfortable narrative experience, and the price is hard to argue with.

A glance at Wax Heads might make you think it’s about assisting record store customers, but it’s not just some shop management simulation.

Wax Heads checks all the boxes with gusto. It takes the simple concept of recommending songs to people and transforms it into a clever puzzle game that not only revolves around knowing a bit about music, but also tests your logic and attention skills. Then, when the gameplay loop starts getting a bit samey, the game stops it for a while, transforms into a visual novel, and captivates you with a surprisingly well-written story until the next chapter starts.

Despite the rise of digital downloads, vinyl records (and other physical media) have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. Wax Heads, a story-driven ...

When it comes to the sea of simulation games, this cosy post-punk game has the ability to stand out from the crowd. Between its pleasant visuals, great music and relatable story, I think Wax Heads deserves its place on the shelf.

My brief career as a record store assistant turned out to be an incredibly pleasant surprise. From the cast of characters with all their quirks and flaws, to the well-written story, the wonderfully captured atmosphere, and the surprisingly challenging task of figuring out which vinyl record would suit which customer best, Wax Heads gets a lot of things right.

Wax Heads is a memorable and emotionally satisfying experience. The pace slows down sometimes, and the game's systems don't always have real-world effects, but the atmosphere, characters, music, and authenticity always make the experience better. Repeater Records feels less like a made-up place and more like a real place you spent time in by the end of the game.

Wax Heads pretende hacernos sentir bien. Para ello utiliza con acierto narrativo la música como elemento de conexión. La música fuera del algoritmo que no busca agradar sino sentirse nuestra, como si moldeara nuestra personalidad con cada nota y verso. En su propuesta jugable, maneja acertijos que resultan divertidos gracias al maravilloso lore creado alrededor de decenas de grupos ficticios que, a causa de una escasa variedad de los puzles, puede sentirse algo plano al final de la historia. Una historia que aguanta el tipo y que hace que queramos abrazar a cada uno de aquellos amigos que siguen creyendo en la música. Que siguen creyendo que el vídeo nunca mató a la estrella de la radio. Suena esperanzador.

If you are a music fan who loves vinyl, Wax Heads is still worth a spin. Just be aware there are a few scratches on the record that stop it from playing perfectly.

Wax Heads was a unique experience that definitely lived up to the cozy promise. It may not be difficult, and it may not be my style, but I enjoyed the actual gameplay elements. I believe this one is a see it and you'll know type of game.

If you are looking for an interactive story-based cozy game, this is a rad choice. However, don’t expect much more from Wax Heads than a well-executed moral stand against an increasingly AI-loving, money-grabbing and overly-polished world of entertainment.

Wax Heads is a unique game with a strong focus on music and community.

If you are a fan of narrative games, then I think you will like Wax Heads. There is nothing out of the ordinary here – but the story is engaging, and the art style is fantastic. Unfortunately for me, I did find some of the gameplay tedious, and there is a lot you need to remember and take in to fulfil your role as a star employee. I appreciate the hard work that has gone into making the game, and what the creative team have tried to achieve here, but for me it just didn’t hit all of the right notes.

Wax Heads offers a short experience, which can be completed in around 5 hours of gameplay, but it ends up feeling a bit longer than that. A slow narrative that never really gets going, combined with gameplay that revolves around a great idea but is executed in such a simplistic way, is what makes it difficult to recommend this game to anyone.

Como veis, Wax Heads tiene una cantidad increíble de esfuerzo y detalles dentro de él que ya lo hacen merecedor de que le deis un buen tiento. Y si eso no es suficiente también os podría decir que, sin haber salido a la venta, ya se llevó dos premios en la edición de 2024 de los premios SXSW Sydney. Un muy buen comiendo para el dúo Patattie Games y su primer proyecto como desarrolladora indie. Gente así es a la que nunca me cansaré de dar voz porque se nota, no solo el talento que desprenden, sino también el amor y la pasión que le ponen a sus creaciones y a su comunidad.

En su conjunto Wax Heads es un juego llenísimo de mimo y amor que nos plantea unas mecánicas sencillas con una historia y unos personajes muy trabajados, interesantes y complejos. Trae muchísimas referencias a la actualidad y viene a reivindicar y a dar un buen puñetazo en la mesa. Espero que el mensaje os llegue tan bien como a mí y os entren ganas de coger las antorchas. ¿Cuándo quedamos?

Wax Heads es un juego musical que te sumerge a raíz de tu trabajo en la tienda de discos en un universo musical completo, en una lucha contra los poderosos y en un mundo donde la música y la amistad son lo más importante. Wax Heads es valiente, atrevido, necesario y precioso, sabiendo concienciar tu lado guerrero y hacerte una mejor y más amable persona al mismo tiempo.

Creedme que no miento, es un juego que me ha cambiado, que marca la diferencia y que me ha tocado el corazón con esta historia tan bonita, aquí no ponemos notas a los juegos, pero voy a daros en su lugar una frase que va más allá de cualquier puntuación para mí: Dentro de mí, siempre llevaré Wax Heads.

Wax Heads es un juego cozy con estética punk y fancinera. Aunque no tenga condición de derrota, te exige recordar a los personajes que vas encontrando y sacar pistas de cualquier pieza del miniuniverso de Repeater Records cual detective musical: desde conversaciones con tus compañeros hasta artículos de revista, pasando por las descripciones de cada álbum. Si te apasionan los juegos con alta carga narrativa y no te importa ceñirte a una mecánica muy simple, y sobre todo, si alguna vez soñaste con trabajar en una tienda de discos, seguro que lo disfrutarás.