Wax Heads Reviews
My brief career as a record store assistant turned out to be an incredibly pleasant surprise. From the cast of characters with all their quirks and flaws, to the well-written story, the wonderfully captured atmosphere, and the surprisingly challenging task of figuring out which vinyl record would suit which customer best, Wax Heads gets a lot of things right.
Review in German | Read full review
If you are looking for an interactive story-based cozy game, this is a rad choice. However, don’t expect much more from Wax Heads than a well-executed moral stand against an increasingly AI-loving, money-grabbing and overly-polished world of entertainment.
Wax Heads is a fun, but short, cozy narrative sim that puts you into the world of physical media via selling vinyls, which is actually seeing a resurgence in the real world. What starts as a charming new job with friendly coworkers turns into the story of how hobbies have to be balanced with real-world obligations and the reality of how corporate practices often hurt small businesses the most, taking away beloved features from towns. It's cute and a bit of a puzzle game, but I wish it lasted longer and gave me more options when speaking to characters, especially to ask follow-up questions regarding record requests.
Wax Heads ultimately shares the same central conflict as Empire Records, in which an independent shop is at risk of being bought up by a soulless corporation, but the interactive elements of this game really emphasize just how much there is to lose beyond one’s job. Music conjures powerful, immediate emotions, but it’s the game’s masterful story about how that music brings audiences together that produces all the lingering, magical feels.
Despite the rise of digital downloads, vinyl records (and other physical media) have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. Wax Heads, a story-driven ...
Wax Heads makes you feel like you are part of this safe, wholesome, creative world of Repeater Records, surrounded by alternative and queer folk who just want to keep rockin’ as long as they can. Finding records for people is fun, but also challenging, so you’ll have to not only scour Repeater’s records, but watch cutscenes, search through your apps, and pay attention to the customer’s vibe. For someone who grew up in 90s indie record stores, longing to hear something that would change my teen life, Wax Heads really cultivates an atmosphere of curiosity, love and respect for musical communities, and how much better music is when it involves human connection.
Wax Heads is a great musical journey all about sticking together, making real art, and that friendship is punk rock. It’s for anyone who likes investigation and constantly looking for something new to listen to, don't skip this sleeper hit!
Wax Heads is an impressive achievement. It delivers a great mix of varied music, great record graphical design, exquisite fictional critical texts, and narrative. The universe built around Repeater Records is a lovely one, filled with cool customers and interesting co-workers. Make sure to unlock and play all the songs that were specifically recorded for the game.
Wax Heads is a memorable and emotionally satisfying experience. The pace slows down sometimes, and the game's systems don't always have real-world effects, but the atmosphere, characters, music, and authenticity always make the experience better. Repeater Records feels less like a made-up place and more like a real place you spent time in by the end of the game.
Murray Somerwolff and Rocío Tomé (Patattie Games) describe it as a “cozy punk slice of life.” And that’s exactly what Wax Heads delivers.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you're looking for a simple game with an engaging storyline, Wax Heads is the title for you. With its absurd plot and characters, and thanks to its rewarding and consistently entertaining gameplay, it effortlessly draws you into its world. However, the overall experience isn't without its flaws, particularly regarding the writing of certain characters, which could have been executed more convincingly.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Wax Heads is a gorgeous, short, beautiful game built around a simple and cozy gameplay loop. It captures the spirit of your local record shop and uses its cast of colorful characters to tell a confined, low-stakes story that will stay with you regardless. It’s a perfect game for those looking for a small, comfortable narrative experience, and the price is hard to argue with.
A glance at Wax Heads might make you think it’s about assisting record store customers, but it’s not just some shop management simulation.
Wax Heads is one of my favorite narrative-driven puzzle games in years.
Wax Heads offers a short experience, which can be completed in around 5 hours of gameplay, but it ends up feeling a bit longer than that. A slow narrative that never really gets going, combined with gameplay that revolves around a great idea but is executed in such a simplistic way, is what makes it difficult to recommend this game to anyone.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If you are a music fan who loves vinyl, Wax Heads is still worth a spin. Just be aware there are a few scratches on the record that stop it from playing perfectly.
Wax Heads masterfully embodies the concept of being welcoming, using a lighthearted narrative and simple gameplay to create elements of connection that resonate with every type of person in a unique way. It's impossible not to be touched, whether by the MacIntyre sisters' story or by each customer's individual experience, from the funniest to the most emotional.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Wax Heads brings an offbeat art style, a rich soundtrack, and an emotional story behind the simple act of recommending records to unknown people.
Beneath the surface of the record flipping sim lies a poignant story about the modern world. Repeater Records is under threat from corporate interests specifically a generic, soul sucking entertainment conglomerate that wants to replace the shop with something modern and upmarket. The game handles this stick it to the man story with a refreshing lack of sarcasm and more focuses on the regulars and togetherness. The regulars treat the shop like an escapism, teenagers looking to be influenced by music and a regular meeting spot for those with memories tied to the place. You get to learn and understand that the people you work with have seen things change and want to provide something for the community away from the shops and keep human connection fostered through the arts. Wax Heads is a triumph of focused love and labour it offers a musical imprint that stays with you long after the credits roll. Like buying your first album or your favourite this will be something in your collection that will stay with you and shape your enjoyment for the arts.
If you’re up for a mix of making recommendations to customers and enjoying some colorful characters with their quirks and drama, this could be a good time