Chicory: A Colorful Tale Reviews
An indie adventure with the confidence of heavy hitters like Undertale, Chicory: A Colorful Tale is one hell of a pleasant surprise that excels on every level it is possible to do so. Would it be too hackneyed to say it belongs in an art gallery?
Greg Lobanov has produced a game that has it all. It's a truly heartwarming story with unique gameplay, clever puzzles and a colourful cast of characters in a gorgeous world that never feels limited by its retro-inspired, two-dimensional roots.
As an adventure game, Chicory is quite sincerely up there with the very best of the genre. There's plenty to see and do and a full completion run will probably take you 25-30 hours. The characters and their travails are rich and likeable, the game's sense of humour is generally inspired, and it's all very sweet without being sugary-twee and talking down to the player. It's also an affecting little tearjerker that will definitely strike a chord if you make art, and almost certainly will even if you don't – so long as you're capable of pretty basic empathy. Chicory is simple to play but impressively long and complex, with perfect controls, performance and visuals. Throw yourself into painting the world and you'll be left with a game that's very much your own and speaks to you directly – a beautiful marriage of mechanics, themes and visuals.
Chicory's strengths lie in the myriad heartwarming stories it wants to tell, and the wealth of accessibility options it gives the player in how they want to experience these stories. A sedate, and, at times, hilarious use of the canvas of gaming.
Chicory: A Colorful tale is an adorable little adventure with clever puzzles, cute writing, characters and hardstyle. The painting mechanics are incredibly well utilized and keep the gameplay constantly fresh while the gripping story keeps you wanting to play more and more. It also has plenty of secrets and items to find that keep the game replayable if you want to continue exploring. These things alone would make a good game, but the intelligent and heartfelt story is what makes it amazing. You learn so much about the characters and yourself while playing Chicory and it teaches such wonderful lessons that are applicable to anyone of any age. The writing and the world work together so perfectly to create an experience that is both fun and cute, while also being deeply profound. It isn’t a grand, sweeping story. It is small, it is personal and it hits incredibly close to home.
From a fantastic story and endearing characters to varied puzzles and a great soundtrack there is just so much to love about Chicory: A Colorful Tale. Its coloring book world leaves everything open for your interpretation, but also doesn't force you to spend any more time with it than what is actually required. I loved every minute I spent with the game and it is easily my favorite game of 2021 so far.
We need more games like Chicory in our lives.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The soundtrack is stellar and completes the package on display here. It's a game that can be enjoyed for all ages and if you decide to pursue all the sidequests, complete the decorating minigames, and find all of the collectibles, you can certainly spend a lot of time in the world of Chicory. My only gripe is a personal one-that I didn't play this game last year-because without a doubt it makes for a wonderful late addition to the best of what 2021 had to offer. I cannot wait to see what Greg, Lena, Em, Alexis and Madeline will make next, because Chicory can't be described as anything other than a piece of modern art.
Indie games generally hang their hats on one great idea. Is it a compelling, original narrative? Or an aesthetic that you haven’t seen anywhere else? How about a unique game mechanic around which the rest of the game builds? Any of these can work. Just one of these can lift a small-team title above the indie pack. Chicory: A Colorful Tale has all three.
Chicory is the kind of game that reminds me why I enjoy gaming in the first place. It takes innovative, artistically driven mechanics and makes them accessible and intuitive. It combines them with a narrative which is emotionally charged and truly engrossing. This is all topped off with a fantastic world that houses oodles of charm, a top class soundtrack and puzzle design that challenges the player while rarely becoming frustrating.
A thought-provoking and heartfelt story wrapped around a Zelda-esque adventure with great puzzles and the clever twist of using a painting mechanic to add color and draw on anything, Chicory: A Colorful Tale is one of the best games of 2021.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a story about both side of depression
Review in Italian | Read full review
'Chicory: A Colorful Tale' is an adventure game that anyone can enjoy lightly like a coloring book. You can feel stable while filling maps with various colors, and fall in fun with well-organized Zelda style puzzles and actions.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a stunning game that should be on everyone's list of games to play. It features plenty of creative gameplay mechanics, which proved to be engaging with very minimal faults. The storyline is also incredibly charming, and you'll likely struggle to find a more wholesome game than Chicory.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale has a simple principle, but its gameplay quickly gains a dynamic of its own. The result is a fantastic work that puts painting at the centre of the adventure and will lead the player into completely unexpected paths. Thanks to the Nintendo Switch touch screen and the ability to play anywhere, Chicory: A Colorful Tale finds a perfect home in this console and it fits just right with anyone looking for a fun and enveloping adventure.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is simply beautiful, free and customizable. It is a unique game where you and your creativity are protagonists, modelers and recipients.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Chicory is an intriguing world full of hilarious characters and inventive game mechanics, which makes it a delight from start to finish
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is an ambitious, absorbing, and creative Zelda-style adventure with some meaningful, heartfelt things to say about the creative process, self-doubt, and other big issues. Like its characters, Chicory isn't perfect – its controls can be a bit clunky and maybe its painting tools aren't as versatile as they could be – but it's an easy game to love. Does it fall slightly short of masterpiece status? Perhaps, but it's still very much worth adding to your art collection.
Lena Raine's fabulous soundtrack also must be commented on, which glistens with life but feels airy and sparse as if to mimic the gaps in color you have to fill over the course of the game. Despite being a pretty "wholesome" game, it doesn't mince words and never presents a simple solution to serious issues. I'm really happy I played Chicory-it's one I truly needed to play, and I hope a lot of people get something out of it too.
The world is your oyster - or rather, your canvas - in the charming and expressive adventure, Chicory: A Colorful Tale. Paint the world in the colors of your choosing and solve the mystery of why the world has gone black-and-white!