Wax Heads

I’m a local record store worker, game dev, and I get mistaken for a punk all the time(actually more an emo-crust/screamo fan, it’s all of my patches that get people confused, but that’s not important), and I tried this game with high hopes that I could find something to send to people who wanted to know what it was like to work in a record store. But I was pretty disappointed with what I got. Much of this game feels like it was developed by someone who has never worked in a record store before, and this is what they imagine it’s like. There’s little that grounds this game in reality, and it feels like this game is stuck in the past, despite having a semi modern setting. The story is written in a very similar way, much of it feels like it’s trying too hard without understanding the substance of the genres. It feels like the sum of the devs knowledge of punk ends at the riot grrl movement of the 90’s, both modern diy movements and industry led movements are not even considered possibilities. This game lives in a bubble of nostalgia unfortunately common for many indie developers. Much of the actual content of this game doesn’t really exist. The story is 100% the priority, and the gam…

A charming, engaging game. It's story is pretty standard for the genre, but it's polished to perfection, and the collection of songs you get to listen to while playing are all fantastic. Incredibly timely, will hit you harder than you expect.

If you’re into light puzzle games (think Strange Antiquities), good music or lived human experiences, you should play Wax Heads. A true love letter to music, community and the human connection at the heart of both, I’ll cherish my time at Repeater Records for a long time to come. The music isn’t just a collection of tracks bolted to a seemingly random mechanic either. It’s the rhythmic heart of the experience, the melodic source that drive the characters and stories you witness across the store’s counter. Whether it’s music or video games, I think there’s common ground between a store clerk and a critic recommending stuff they feel passionate about. The idea that you can positively influence people’s lives with your knowledge of a certain artistic field, really resonated with me.

Do you like putting together playlists? Do you like getting asked 'what should I listen to'? Do you like spending hours with your friends browsing in record stores and talking about albums? Then this game is for you.

The puzzles are fun and range from simple to baffling. But in The Customer is Always Right mode, you can just keep guessing. I also enjoyed the overarching story. Repeater Records is a fun neighborhood shop to hang out in.

From the very beginning, *Wax Heads* was the perfect game for me: It perfectly captured my love for music, vinyl, and record stores, and combined it with a beautifully written story, great characters, and—above all—a truly fantastic soundtrack. You can feel the developers’ passion and dedication in every aspect of the game. If that doesn’t make you want to support your local store and get more involved in your own community, then there’s no helping you. ;) One of my highlights this year! Period.