As someone always on the lookout for my next cozy escape,MakeRoomfrom Kenney and Wholesome Games Presents immediately caught my eye. This cute sandbox promised the ability to design custom spaces that were as cozy as they were unique, and I’m happy to say thatMakeRoomdelivered on just that, as I was immediately astounded by how much I would be able to do upon loading up the game for the first time.

Available exclusively on Steam,MakeRoomis, well, exactly what it sounds like.A sandbox builder that allows you to design custom rooms based on either prompts you’ve been given or your ideas.Between the wide variety of content already available to you and the ability to custom-build furniture as well, whether you’re looking to build a dream guest suite or a potion master’s lair, the options for rooms are limitless.

MakeRoom Allows You To Unleash Your Interior Design Skills

Whether You’ve Got A Knack For Interior Design Or Not, MakeRoom Will Have You Feeling Like A Pro

If you’re anything like me, then about90% of your time in games likeThe Simsis spent entirely in build mode, without ever actually playing the game. Something about the process of designing spaces, especially if you’re limited in what you’re able to do in your current home, is both relaxing and creatively fulfilling. Maybe you don’t have the option to design your dream cozy gaming setup in real life, but inside a game, there are no limits, and you’re free to design to your heart’s content.

With over 1000 different items that can be placed in rooms, different wallpaper and flooring options, and even unique foundations, no two designs are ever going to look the same, and thus, the content available to you feels infinite.

MakeRoomis simplistic on the surface, as there is no option to interact with the spaces once you’ve created them, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less enjoyable than something that does offer that option.Rather than thinking ofMakeRoomas a traditional game with an end objective, think of it more as a way to build virtual dioramas.With over 1000 different items that can be placed in rooms, different wallpaper and flooring options, and even unique foundations, no two designs are ever going to look the same. Thus, the content available to you feels infinite.

I wouldn’t exactly call myself an interior designer by any means. I enjoy creative hobbies like traditional 2D art, but when it comes to color, matching a space, and arranging furniture, I’m afraid my sister is the one who has got all those skills. Still, even I found thatthe foundation and guided tutorialsMakeRoomlaid out for me were more than enough to get started, enjoy myself, and not get overwhelmed by how detailed things could get.

Guided Tutorials Help You Master The Ropes

Design Spaces With Intended Outcomes To Get A Feel For Things

One of the biggest things I appreciated aboutMakeRoomwas that even though it’s a sandbox, it wasn’t just offering one simple tutorial to teach you the controls and then expecting you to start building rooms from scratch. Yes, there is a traditional tutorial in that sense, but once you’ve completed it,there are guided designs that you can then work on finishing, which not only let you slowly get the hang of things but also unlock rewards that include new items.

Of course, you do have the option of starting from scratch right away if you’d like to, but you don’t have to. If the idea of starting from nothing is likely to result in you blankly staring at the screen for thirty minutes, wondering where the heck to start, then, like me, you’d probably enjoy the handful of pre-planned rooms you can work off of.

When you open up the game, if you select the option to play, you’ll be brought to an overview of a small island with various houses on it. Each one that you hover over will give you a brief title that indicates what that general design theme would be, such as a Library Nook, Vampire’s Hideaway, or Cozy Cat Room. From there,MakeRoom’s mascot will provide you with a couple of instructions that typically involve making specific changes to the space, much like a renovation.

Once you’ve completed the tasks, you’ll be rewarded with a new item to be used in any other design you wish to. Additionally, keep in mind that you don’t have to limit yourself to what the mascot is asking of you, either. While you must complete those tasks to earn the reward, you can expand beyond them and create an entirely fleshed-out space that matches the theme.

I found that simply having a theme to work off of helped me avoid overthinking what I wanted to create, and it was a nice touch to have included. If I have any complaints in that regard, it’s that I wish there were more of them, or at least some sort of in-game room idea randomizer.

I Thought I’d Be At A Loss Starting From Scratch

MakeRoom’s Limited Foundations May Or May Not Be A Problem For You

As mentioned, working from nothing is not my strong suit, and I like to have a plan, guide, or outline when beginning a creative project. Unfortunately, for custom room designing, that’s not an option, as you have to decide everything from the theme to the room shape to get started. That being said,MakeRoomdoes have one thing going for it that helps in that area, but it may not be something that everyone will see as a positive.

When it comes to room shape, the options are somewhat limited, and while there are more than enough to choose from for me, I could see someone who likes to get extremely detailed with builds like this feeling a bit frustrated over the fact that you’re restricted to these layouts and nothing more. There are also some limitations to wallpaper and flooring options, which led me to repeat many of the same options; however, that’s about where the limitations end.

SinceMakeRoomoffers the ability to custom-make furniture and items to put into your dioramas, there’s essentially nothing you can’t create. If the item you’re looking for isn’t one of the pre-made options offered, you can save your design and then head into furniture creation and build it yourself.

That being said, if that doesn’t sound particularly thrilling to you either, there will be a way to share and utilize other players’ designs as well, so there’s no need to panic if you’re having trouble bringing your item idea to life yourself. Additionally,you can revisit your designs later once you have all the necessary elements to completethem, as long as you save them.

Furniture Building Is A Skill That Takes Time

Aspects Of MakeRoom Can Be As Simple Or Complex As You’d Like

When it comes to actually building furniture inMakeRoom, there is a bit of a learning curve you’ll need to overcome. Working on an isometric grid,you’ll be able to place various shapes and objects that you’re able to then squish, lengthen, and flip all aroundto create whatever it is that you have in mind, but of course, that’s easier said than done.

The furniture builder’s controls aren’t necessarily advanced tools by any means, but they do take a bit of getting used to if you’ve never used anything like them before. Thankfully, the grid itself helps, as does the option to snap objects to surfaces. The latter of which also helps make shaky hands a bit less annoying while building, too.

Additionally, if you’re curious, I testedMakeRoomwith both a DualSense PS5 controller and a mouse and keyboard.Whilea controller is fine, I would recommend using a mouse and keyboard, especially if you intend to use the furniture builder. Placing objects often requires precision, especially when other objects are already present in the area. Using the controller can make things significantly more frustrating than they need to be.

Overall, don’t be bothered if you can’t master the technical aspects ofMakeRoomright from the start, as they become a bit more natural with time. After playing for a couple of hours, I began to learn little tricks and a process to make things look the way I wanted them to, and most of the frustrations disappeared, allowing me toimmerse myself inthe cozy game experienceMakeRoomis intended to be.

MakeRoom’s Cozy Atmosphere Is A Blissful Escape

Custom Building Options & Pre-Made Items Ensure MakeRoom Isn’t Off Limits For Anyone, Regardless Of Skill

All in all,MakeRoomis everything it promised it would be and more. For a game that doesn’t have a story or the ability to interact with the rooms you build, I was still able to sink hours into this and intend to continue to do so.

Sandbox games have a chance of being hit or missbecause it’s often hard to find a happy middle ground of being simple enough that beginners don’t feel overwhelmed, but also intricate enough that advanced builders feel like they can truly express themselves. However, with that being said, I thinkMakeRoomhas found that sweet spot.

Plus, at a low price of around $10 for everything you’re getting and the amount of time you could put into this, this is practically a steal. Not to mention that, with the ability to save designs and share them using the photo mode, I can see this building up a large active community rather quickly.

I can’t wait to see what others create and implement some of those creations into my own spaces, and if you’re at all prone to building or designing your home spaces in life-sims,MakeRoomis absolutely something that should be on your radar. The incredible music and soft designs will have you lost in peaceful relaxation before you know it.

MakeRoom

Build rooms, gardens, and camper vans with 1,000+ objects and the ability to create your own custom furniture, or visit MakeRoom Island and get inspired by unique design requests.

Screen Rant was provided with a PC Steam code for the purposes of this review.