"Kiln" launches on April 23rd! Pottery Soul Brawl is here

I came across Double Fine's new game on the subway, and the art style immediately caught my attention. "Kiln" will be playable on April 23rd, available on PS5, Xbox, and PC, and it's free for Game Pass subscribers.

The game's premise is pretty interesting - you're a soul sealed inside a clay pot. Want to get out? You'll need to mold your own pot, then team up with three teammates for 4v4 battles. Sounds a bit abstract, but the developers said that's exactly the experimental style they're going for, not aiming for realism.

What appeals to me most is the customization system. Molding pots should be pretty relaxing, kind of like playing with clay. Plus, 4v4 isn't too much - perfect for squeezing in a match or two during commute time, unlike those large-scale battle games where one match takes at least half an hour.

Also, the developers promise to update with new maps and content later on, which is pretty generous. These days many games launch as half-finished products, relying entirely on microtransactions afterward. Double Fine's previous "Psychonauts" had good reviews, so this one probably won't be too disappointing either.

That said, honestly, whether this kind of stylized multiplayer game can take off is hard to say. After all, everyone's competing on graphics and gameplay right now - suddenly throwing in an abstract pot battle, whether the market will accept it depends on the launch performance. Anyway, it's free on Game Pass, so I'll give it a try when it comes out.