With only two weeks until launch, I was fortunate enough to preview the upcoming sci-fi, indie game, FixFox on Steam. While it was only a short taste, I can definitely say it has piqued my interest ahead of its full launch. Its laid-back style, quirky machine repairs and cosy comfort food instantly won my heart, and I simply cannot wait until its release date.
“There is none of the head-scratching frustration that comes from solving random moon logic as FixFox is an incredibly accessible title.”
FixFox is a retro-inspired point-and-click adventure game with a cosy sci-fi theme, developed by solo developer Rendlike. You play as Vix, a space mechanic, and are joined by a quirky machine named Tin. The story begins with Vix being awakened by Tin to help them fix the ship and search for tools to fix the fridge. It is a simple beginning, but it instantly draws you into the cosy nature of FixFox, not forcing you to endure something world-ending, but rather complete a more relatable task.
Unlike usual point-and-click games, searching for tools or food on the ship is relatively easy. This not only reduces the head-scratching frustration that comes from solving random moon logic but also makes it an incredibly accessible title. This is further evident in the game’s fairly short tutorial, which sees Tin guiding you through the ship. Throughout it, Tin will flag anything you get wrong, basically ensuring that you don’t make a wrong step. While some may see this as handholding, I felt it perfectly fit with the game’s cosy aesthetic. Tin also has a comical sassy tone, which helps keep the well-written dialogue interesting as you progress.
“The set-up is intriguing enough, and the expertly written characters make it all the more captivating.”
From the tutorial onwards everything starts to go wrong for our plucky protagonist and sassy robot. After a ten-minute intro on the ship, the team go into hyperspace, before crash landing on a mysterious planet called Karamel. The duo quickly discovers that tools on the planet are forbidden, which is awfully inconvenient if you need to repair a ship.
It’s clear that there is a lot of potential for a fantastic story here. The set-up is intriguing enough, and the expertly written characters make it all the more captivating. When the short demo ended I wanted nothing more than to jump back in and engross myself in everything else FixFox had to offer.
“FixFox looks set to be a great story-rich indie game with a lot of humour.”
Even beyond the narrative, it is clear that so much love, care and creativity has gone into making FixFox a truly unique and outstanding experience. Its gorgeous visuals are bursting with charm and originality, making its vibrant and eye-catching sci-fi world pop with colour and life.
Each of the characters also has their own distinct colour and movement for their dialogue, which more than makes up for the lack of voice acting. Suffice to say, FixFox looks set to be a great story-rich indie game with a lot of humour. This is definitely one to keep an eye on!
FixFox releases on March 31, 2022, on Steam. Head on over there to wishlist it and be notified of when it drops. Additionally, you can check out its trailer here for further insight into its gameplay and visuals.