Kiln

An absurdly fun and unique multiplayer throw down, Kiln might be somewhat light on content, but it more than makes up for it with bags of character, immediacy, and infectious gameplay.

It wasn’t all a flowery trip to Pottery Barn though; at launch there was some issues with matchmaking, but it was corrected pretty quick. Kiln actually performs quite well, aside from some longer loading times; I had really no issues with the gameplay or anything. In fact, my only real gripe is the lone game mode that is currently available. Not that there is anything wrong with quench because it is a lot of fun, but there is no variety outside of it and we all know that gamers get bored of things quicker than a babysitter’s boyfriend when a car pulls up. And even though the Kiln is on Game Pass I worry about the longevity of the game, especially since it’s multiplayer only. But I guess that’s tomorrow’s problem, for today we smash pots.

Kiln presents a concept that feels tailor-made for modern multiplayer, and at its best, it shows exactly why that idea works. Its pottery system is creative, the core premise is refreshing, and matches can be genuinely fun. However, its limited combat depth and a lack of content ultimately hold it back. It’s a game that’s easy to enjoy in short bursts, but unlikely to become a long-term staple in your rotation. With the right support, it could grow into something much bigger. For now, it’s a promising idea that still needs more time in the kiln.

Double Fine has created a fun multiplayer experience. Creating your own pots is enjoyable and easy and the gameplay is simple yet effective. Unfortunately the game has very little content at launch with only 1 game mode and 5 maps. Without much reason to progress beyond new cosmetics, the team will need to quickly add content for Kiln to have any staying power. With how fun the game is, here’s hoping they can.

With a universe of design possibilities and an outstanding creative engine, Double Fine offers us the catharsis of destruction in a game that oozes originality and humor from every pore. Kiln invites us to build our own combat vessels and take them into battle in a game featuring great level design, frantic 90s-style gameplay, and a unique art style. While we wait for new maps and game modes, the current catalog falls a bit short—we’ll have to wait and see how it grows in the coming weeks.

Kiln sparks curiosity with its creative concept, unique systems, and that unmistakable Double Fine charm, backed by solid gameplay and appealing visuals. Yet beyond the surface, it quickly loses its grip due to imbalance, a lack of meaningful content, and a focus on live-service over cooperative play. It’s a fine pick for a quick Game Pass try, but ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression.

I appreciate that Double Fine tries something unique with Kiln. We need more of that. But one cannot simply reward originality. It must also execute. Kiln is a scarcely functional and excruciatingly amateurish multiplayer game. This is an anomaly for Double Fine and, as such, it should be left in a furnace until it's burned out of existence.

Kreatives, frisches und sehr liebevolles Multiplayer Game. Double Fine überrascht immer wieder. Das Geräusch der rollenden Töpfe ist echt cool.

No one will play this game outside of Game Pass. It's simple as that. It's not a bad game, but not a great one either. Perfect for a quick game here and there.

Kiln is what happens when you take a fun idea, a trusted studio, and a ton of aesthetic polish but have nothing to show for it. As it stands, this game from what I can tell has essentially no content! There is one mode! You make a series of handmade vases/cups/bottles/bowls that grant you with a different special move and size, and your put into a 4v4 match where you have to fully extinguish the opponent’s fire kiln 3 times first to win. There is no single player campaign, no ranked modes, that’s the whole game! The online servers are very laggy too. It feels like you have to learn how to deal with the game running at 47fps if you wanna play. If you can look past that, is the mode itself good? Yeah sure! But this is the type of game that you’ll play about 5 matches of and after that, you basically have seen everything this has to offer after no more than an hour! The only thing you unlock from leveling up by playing is more options to further craft and customize your pots. Kiln is not a game. It’s an online mode that provides nothing more than a demo! The fact that it’s $20 is wild! Despite all the charm, for what it offers to the player you’d expect it to be $5, if not free to play. If they keep the game in the state and asking price this is, it will go out by the end of the week. Pun completely intended!

Für 5 € könnte man vielleicht eine 5 von 10 vergeben. Für den aktuellen Preis einfach nicht empfehlenswert.

An absolute embarrassment for Xbox first party. This is not what the majority of Xbox players want or look forward to from the brand.