2022 video game
| Please Fix The Road | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Arielek |
| Publisher(s) | Silesia Games |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Please Fix the Road is a 2022 puzzle video game developed by Arielek and published by Silesia Games. It was released in June 2022 for Windows, along with an official pirated release, and in May 2024 for Nintendo Switch. The game received a positive reception, with praise for its calm atmosphere and graphics but criticism for its gameplay.
Gameplay
In Please Fix the Road, the player must finish an incomplete road using their provided resources. Across 160 levels, the player has a limited amount of bombs to clear land and road tiles to add paths, both of which come in different shapes and sizes. In some levels of the game, the terrain is uneven, and the player may also have to finish a railroad or canal network. At any point in the game, they can undo a move, take a hint, or restart the level.
Development and release
Please Fix the Road was developed by Arielek, the solo developer studio of Ariel Jurkowski. The game was previously a Flash game produced in 2014. The game was released on June 10, 2022, for Windows, and on May 16, 2024, for Nintendo Switch. Jurkowski also released the game for torrent sites, allowing users to download a pirated version with no updates and limited features, and several pirate-themed changes.
Reception
Reception| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 80/100 |
| OpenCritic | 80% recommend |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| The Guardian |   |
The game has a "generally favorable" score of 80 on Metacritic. On OpenCritic, the game has a "strong" approval rating of 80%.
Critics appreciated Please Fix the Road's quiet nature. Keith Stuart of The Guardian compared the game to a combination of Tetris and Pipe Mania, giving praise to its gradual learning curve. However, critics noticed the game's lack of camera rotation and its overuse of "trial and error" gameplay.
The game's graphics and animation were praised. Ed Nightingale of Eurogamer praised how the visuals added a "cinematic flair", while Vandal's Manu Delgado commented that the game's minimalist graphics hinder the player's ability to preview their next move.
References
- ^ Nightingale, Ed (June 16, 2022). "Please Fix The Road review - a polite yet fiendish little puzzle game". Eurogamer. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Stuart, Keith (June 9, 2022). "Please Fix the Road review – turn chaos to calm in this pleasing puzzle". The Guardian. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ Diaz, Ana (March 14, 2022). "Fix roads and untangle waterways in this chill, gorgeous puzzler". Polygon. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Nelson, Jared (June 8, 2022). "Visually Stunning Puzzler Please Fix The Road Hits PC this Week, and a Mobile Port is Being Considered". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Reeve, Justin (June 12, 2022). "This Indie Developer Wants People To Pirate Their Game". TheGamer. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- Norman, Jim (May 2, 2024). "Please Fix The Road Is The Perfect Puzzler For Anyone With A Pothole Problem". Nintendo Life. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- Chalk, Andy (May 9, 2022). "Indie dev is releasing an official pirate version of his upcoming game, 'no strings attached'". PC Gamer. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- Saed, Sherif (May 9, 2022). "Pirates added to pirate-less indie game as a treat for pirates". VG247. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- Fujiwara, Hideaki (June 13, 2022). "道路修理パズル『Please Fix The Road』発売と同時に"公式海賊版"が本当に配信される。皮肉の効いた特別仕様" [An "official pirated version" of the road repair puzzle Please Fix The Road will be distributed at the same time as its release. A special version with irony]. Automaton (in Japanese). Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ "Please Fix The Road". Metacritic. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "Please Fix The Road". OpenCritic. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Delgado, Manu (June 10, 2022). "Análisis de Please Fix The Road, puzles gratificantes al estilo minimalista (PC, Switch, Xbox One, PS5, PS4)" [Please Fix The Road Review: Rewarding Puzzles in Minimalist Style (PC, Switch, Xbox One, PS5, PS4)]. Vandal (in Spanish). Retrieved October 6, 2024.