Cessabit: the Calming Game 4+

Cute but frustrating

I find the game itself a really cute concept - it has a really simple, calm, clean design and lovely illustrations. It would work because the pictures are really simple and I know the concept is to look at the pictures - and I mean really look - and find/notice little details to make you feel calm and “in the moment”. However, I do find it more frustrating rather than calming with the pressure to literally look at every single detail and try to remember everything to progress to the next level in one sitting. Maybe it works for some people but not for me!

I wanted to like it more...

... but I just can’t. It’s a good effort and it is visually appealing but adding more “meat to the bone” would go a long way to bolster the game.

The art style immediately reminded me of Hidden Folks and I was looking forward to some laid back gameplay. Ultimately, I found the need to memorize details in order to pass the quiz at the end of the level to be pedantic rather than relaxing. Going back to the example of Hidden Folks, there were lots of things to find on most levels and you didn’t have to find everything to advance. The perfectionists amongst us could spend their time finding everything or come back later for that warm and fuzzy feeling. In Cessabit, the levels only had a handful of questions about the particular level and on some levels there weren’t more than a handful of elements to ask questions about. The lack of elements, questions, and levels makes for a really quick playthrough with little to no replayability.

Developer Response ,

Hi, I'm Ovidiu, the developer of this game. I am currently working on an update that will include more questions, levels and elements!

Not calming (at least for me)

I really wanted to love this game, the illustrations are sweet and remind me a little of hidden folks (which I find both charming and calming) but for me the actual game mechanics are frustrating rather than soothing. Which, especially if I am feeling anxious or stressed, is jarring.

Somehow (for me) being given a small image to find hidden in a bigger image I find calming, but memorising something, e.g. the exact details of a banana drawing (as in this game) to answer a question I find frustrating. I would also say I spend less time looking at the cute pictures this way too.

I have only played a few levels for the reasons I have explained.

If the game creator makes a similar looking game with different gameplay I would be interested.