Developer: Voxel Studios
Platform: PC (Reviewed)
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Noovola
The Bench is an incredibly charming first-person adventure and puzzle game where you play as an elderly man who has just decided that a retirement home life isn’t for him. Instead of playing with action, you get to relax, explore, and stir up mischief in different colour environments. Voxel Studios is the developer, and it was published by Noovola.
You play as an old man while you venture through parks and plazas. The Bench uses nostalgia, humour, and subtle narrative hints, like flashbacks to a mysterious ‘agent’ past, to paint a quirky story about rediscovering purpose. The game is a celebration of ordinary life made extraordinary; the old man’s charm feels very intentional and heartfelt.
Visually, The Bench has been able to embrace a stylised cartoon look with soft, warm, and bright colors that perfectly suit its relaxed tone. The environments, parks, benches, and different city nooks are very lively yet calming. The game can feel like you’re inside an animated storybook, with bright colors that are saturated but never overwhelming, and the world being painted with a cheerful palette, which is ideal for this cozy and mischief-filled adventure.
The gameplay is where The Bench really shines; you are playing as a man who moves from bench to bench, each acting as a hub for different puzzles and interactions. The pigeons aren’t just for decoration; you are able to command them. They are your hands and feet. You are able to assign them to different tasks like fetching your items, hitting switches, or creating different distractions. From newspaper puzzles to hidden objects and even fishing or chess, there’s always something to do to keep your mind active, whether it be a mini game or a puzzle, while creating mini chaos everywhere you go. One of the best things about the game is that you are able to dress up your pigeons while being able to name each and every one of them. The Bench is able to blend puzzles, explorations, and different pigeon antics that give the games a unique rhythm that’s funny and often satisfying.
There’s no official soundtrack, but the different atmospheric sounds fit the game’s tone nicely. The ambient park noises, bird calls, gentle background music, and the rustle of city life create an immersive and peaceful atmosphere. Rather than having a dramatic soundtrack, the soundtrack is able to gently support the laid-back and humorous spirit of the game, which works incredibly well!
The controls of The Bench are simple and accessible, allowing for either mouse-driven or controller-supported gameplay. The pigeon commands feel intuitive, and the movements are free-roaming, which helps keep the experience light and stress-free. The tutorial helps to learn how to command your pigeons. The controls are friendly and approachable, even if you’ve never played an adventure puzzle game before.
Overall, The Bench is a wonderful, quirky experience that finds joy in a simple concept that’s taken to a delightful extreme. The combination of humour and gentle puzzle-solving makes the game feel like a breath of fresh air. The narratives touch and sublet deeper themes that add an unexpected layer, and the pigeon mechanics are as charming as they are memorable. At times, the game can feel a bit slow, with narrative depth, along with repetitive mechanics, but it’s nice to play a simpler game after playing more action-involving games.
Overall: 8/10
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