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Review: Nippets
Cozy games are something I haven’t really explored much, aside from my past obsession with Animal Crossing. Even though Nippets fits this category, I felt drawn to give it a try. It appeared to be the ideal game to snuggle up with under a blanket on the sofa and unwind. Therefore, I made the decision to revisit the cozy game experience.
Game Details
Release Date: March 3rd 2026
Developer: Blink Industries
Publisher: Blink Industries
Price: £9.99
Reviewed On: Steam Deck
* Access Provided For Review *
A Living Hidden Object World
The team at Blink Industries has taken the concept of a hidden object game and added some intriguing layers. The gameplay takes place across scenes that represent the four seasons. You start with a short prologue that guides you on how to interact with the objects in the game world. Following this, you are quickly drawn into Spring, illustrated through an open cityscape filled with traffic and people engaged in their daily activities.
Your task is to find the hidden objects in each scene. At the bottom of the screen, you will find fourteen primary objectives, but each level also hides several secrets that are not associated with the icons shown below. These icons begin as outlines, and clicking on them offers hints regarding the location of the necessary object(s). Some clues are clear-cut, while others may be somewhat cryptic. The objectives can range from merely locating objects to completing a series of tasks; for example, you might need to find several fish and then deliver the bucket full of them to a fisherman who is having trouble catching anything.
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One of the truly remarkable features of the game is that the clues mentioned act as their own mini narratives about the characters inhabiting these scenes – with some stories even spanning multiple seasons. This truly showcases the skill involved in the writing of Nippets, as these concise clues tell significant stories despite their brevity, pulling you into the major life events of some characters.
What I found particularly enjoyable about Nippets is that a large part of the environment, including both people and animals, is interactive—not just the elements required for your objectives—creating a dynamic, living world. Many interactions are tactile; you can open doors, cupboards, cabinets, and windows, among other things, sometimes allowing you access to rooms within the scenes. In most instances, these rooms are related to your main objectives, but they may also hold secrets, such as cleaning up a carpenter’s workspace. Accomplishing these hidden goals grants you achievements or perhaps even a magnet for your fridge in the menu, preserving that tactile sensation even within the games menu.
Where Every Detail Matters
My love for what the team has created carries on through the visuals of the game. With this being a hidden objects game, the design of these scenes and the visuals need to only be strong, but also clear enough not to make locating the items impossible. The team have nailed this with the hand-drawn isometric scenes, which you can tell have been designed with so much care and love, to go with the stories being told through each objective. This is joined by fantastic smooth animations, be it someone stood still, crying children to people skiing, vehicles driving by or even trees swaying in the wind, everything has been created with such care and attention to make this interactive and tactile world feel alive.
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Naturally, it makes perfect sense given the immense love poured into the gameplay, visuals, and the overall world. The team has lovingly created a soundscape that ties everything together. Each interaction is accompanied by a sound—whether it’s a cat purring when you pet it, a human making an indistinct noise if you poke them, or the trees rustling as you shake them. Every element has a corresponding sound that enhances the tactile experience of the gameplay. Additionally, there’s a soothing soundtrack that interacts with your zooming actions. When you zoom in for a closer view, the music softens, allowing you to better hear the lively sounds of the world around you. Conversely, when you zoom out, the music becomes more pronounced. Everything is exquisitely crafted, no matter where you direct your gaze.
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Verdict
Nippets is an exemplary showcase of cozy game design, where every aspect of the game – from gameplay to visuals and sound – reflects the meticulous care and passion that the team at Blink Industries poured into their creation. The hand-drawn seasonal scenes are animated beautifully, exuding a tactile and interactive quality, thanks to the love infused into the game. The developers have crafted a world that feels vibrant and alive, allowing players to engage with the major life experiences of the characters in Nippets through minimal textual hints – highlighting the strength of the writing as well. The game provides enough depth within its three-hour playtime, and at £9.99, it is perfectly priced. I relished every moment spent playing the game on my Steam Deck, snuggled under a blanket on the sofa, feeling cozy and warm, just like the delightful experience the team has created.
Copyright / Virtual Grip (formally The VR Realm) / 2016 -
