Shindig Review

Shindig is a new game made by Imaginary Friends Games. The team consists of a husband and wife duo, who have decades of experience in the gaming industry. This is their first game, and it is available to play on Itch.io and Steam. Shindig features a hand-drawn picture book art style, with an upbeat soundtrack that is a delight to listen to. It’s a short game that will only take you a couple of hours, and it’s all very low-stakes gameplay, meaning it will be a completely stress-free adventure!

I really enjoyed the art style, as it reminded me of cartoons that I watched as a kid, coupled with the music really made for a nostalgic adventure. The music is very cheerful and dainty, giving it an upbeat but relaxing vibe. I really appreciate the diversity and accessibility features included in a game like this. There are multiple skin tones and hairstyles, also giving you the option to have closed captions, which is fantastic! The game includes SFX and volume controls to adjust for your comfort, too. 

The characters are fun and quirky, all with very big personalities that shine through. They are the stars of the game, making it a funny adventure suitable for all ages. It reminds me of games that I would play online as a kid. The voice acting for the characters is funny, but some of them can be a bit annoying. My favorite character is the turtle with all of the hats! He’s adorable and loves hats. What’s not to love about these silly characters?

One of my favorite moments in the game was at the very start, with the little song sung to the main character by the pig, about having a shindig. I found myself laughing a lot throughout the game at all the different jokes that came along. 

Some of the characters have very interesting stories to tell, so it’s important that you meet them all! I really loved the story of Cosmos and Astrid. It’s a funny story, and one that is fun to solve, as it also comes with some surprises.

One of the issues I did have with the game is that the controls are a little bit clunky. For example, I’d be holding down the mouse, and I’d stop moving in the middle of the path despite having plenty of room to walk. I also struggled to keep focused when playing the game due to how slow the walking speed is. The walking speed fits the style of the game and the slow but relaxed pace of the game, but personally, I found it a big struggle to stay concentrated on the game when walking. 

This game is cutesy, fun and does exactly what it says on the tin. It serves very well as just a relaxing game with minimal thinking to be done and low-stakes within the game. Personally, I believe Shindig is very well suited to a young audience, as there are many lovable characters to enjoy, and a nostalgic art style. There are lots of funny moments within the game too! The music is chipper and very easy-listening. It could be a fun game to play as a parent with a young child, or even by yourself if you just want some easy puzzles to solve.