Kiln Combines the Fun of a Party Brawler with Pottery Making

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The latest game from Double Fine Productions maintains the studio’s signature style: delightfully strange and quirky. When it was first revealed at the Xbox Developer Direct in January, many players were unsure what to make of Kiln.

Honestly, a game from Double Fine that’s all about pottery – like in Kiln – feels totally right for them! Kiln is really enjoyable, but I found myself wishing there was a bit more to it. It’s brilliant for a quick get-together with friends, but the fun doesn’t really last for hours and hours.

Pottery Making is Easily the Best Part of Kiln

I recently checked out Kiln, and the core idea is surprisingly cool – you actually make pottery vases! It’s a bit different, but honestly, coming from the creators of Baba Is You, I was expecting something unique. The twist is, you don’t just make pretty pots, you use them in battles! The goal is to splash the other team’s kiln with water, and there’s a lot of strategy in how you design your vase. Do you build for speed and offense, focus on defense, or try to maximize how much water it can hold? It’s a really interesting choice!

These vases offer a lot of different ways to play. You can focus on building powerful vases to smash your opponents’ creations, or you can prioritize crafting a vase that can hold the most water. It’s surprisingly strategic, and there’s a lot of room for experimentation and different play styles in this pottery game.

Okay, so beyond just needing a vase, actually making one in this game is surprisingly awesome. It really feels like you’re working with clay – it’s super immersive. You shape the vase using what feels like floating hands, and honestly, just experimenting with it is a blast. Seeing what other players have made also gives you tons of ideas and lets you get really creative with your own designs.

The Battles are Fun but Suffer From Multiplayer Issues

Kiln is a really fun, fast-paced party game where two teams of four players compete to put out the other team’s kiln. The game has a lively and energetic feel, perfect for a party. However, the biggest drawback is the lack of local multiplayer – it would be amazing to play with friends on the same couch!

The limited number of maps in Kiln becomes a problem quickly, as players memorize them after just a few levels. While the maps are initially enjoyable, you learn every nook and cranny by level 5, and by level 10, the motivation to keep playing drops significantly. Once players hit level 10 and unlock most of the cosmetic items, they often lose interest in continuing to progress.

Kiln is a Blast to Play Despite its Limitations

I really appreciate Double Fine Productions creating Kiln – it truly feels like a game that embodies their unique style. It’s refreshing to see something original like this, rather than another generic title. A pottery-themed fighting game is a wonderfully unexpected concept. It’s a lot of fun because it lets players express their creativity with art and crafts while also thinking strategically.

The multiplayer experience has some drawbacks, but with a few improvements, Kiln could really shine. Despite these issues, Kiln is still an enjoyable and unique option among multiplayer games. It’s like crafting pottery – it needed a little more refinement to reach its full potential.

Kiln is now released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. You can also play it with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

This review was based on a preview copy of Kiln for Xbox Series X, provided by Xbox Games Studios.

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2026-05-09 16:12