The focus of Wilmot Works it Out is that experience, but there are many virtual jigsaw puzzle games that mimic it. The latest game from Flock developer Hollow Ponds is a pseudo-sequel to 2019’s Wilmot’s Warehouse, which is essentially about organizing boxes. Players must move square pieces around the floor to put puzzles together. I have found it to be a strangely moving experience, even though it is almost a cheeky design joke that parodies Wilmot’s earlier appearance. In a compact, endearing puzzle game, it is a serene celebration of life’s quiet moments.
Our boxy friend joins a puzzle service and subscribes in Wilmot Works it Out. Wilmot receives a package full of pieces from the mailman who knocks on the door at specific times. A plethora of square puzzle pieces emerge as I choose a spot on the floor to unpack it. The mechanics of Wilmot’s Warehouse are then deftly reframed by Hollow Ponds to create a straightforward hook for puzzle-building. I can press the joystick toward a piece to attach it to myself when I am standing next to it. By navigating through any connected pieces with the joystick, I can carry as many pieces as I like at once. It is as easy as putting two joining pieces next to each other; if they match, they will fuse together automatically. As soon as I complete one puzzle, another one shows up at my door.
That hook has some ingenious subtlety. Upon receiving a box, I am given a few extra pieces for a different puzzle, for which I will receive the pieces in subsequent packages. To concentrate on the puzzle I can finish, I need to sort out the extras and get them out of the way. Because part of the game involves keeping your space neat, that is where Wilmot’s Warehouse’s DNA comes into play. It gets harder to locate pieces and move them around when I receive a fresh delivery that fills the room if I leave them strewn about randomly without any sense of purpose.
Also, Hollow Ponds’ puzzles can be a little misleading. I might have a puzzle of hot air balloons and a puzzle of colorful sailboats at the same time. Since the colors and textures in those puzzles are similar, I have to pay close attention to identify the differences and separate those pieces to avoid becoming confused.
FinjiAll of this may seem a bit straightforward, and that is exactly what it is. Making puzzles is only one aspect of Wilmot Works it Out; another is appreciating life’s quiet moments. The heart of it all isn’t even in its puzzles, but rather the quick conversations Wilmot has with his mailperson every time they deliver a package. She talks about her sister and her vacation plans, and there is always a little light conversation. Even though Wilmot spends his days alone, those calm suburban moments give him a sense of belonging to his community.
I am shocked at how much I can identify with that. As someone who is somewhat of an introvert, I find calm in small things. Recently, I have started going to a nearby cemetery to observe birds, which allows me to take in the sounds of nature. I occasionally pause to discuss our observations for the day with another birdwatcher. From a distance, those brief exchanges might not seem significant, but they are fundamental joys in my day that, like a single piece in a huge jigsaw puzzle, keep me linked to the outside world.
A true “cozy game,” Wilmot Works it Out is one that is specifically focused on comfort. This is about finding beauty in the ordinary, whereas Wilmot’s Warehouse was about finding order in chaos. When you combine all of your life’s little, inconspicuous moments, you will discover that they add up to something significant.
Wilmot Works it Out is available now on PC.
