The Cozy Puzzle Game That Prickled My Brain: 'Prickle' Videogame Review

Before I start telling you about the cutest game I've played in a while, I want to give you my two cents on the "cozy game" experience. When I first started calling myself a gamer — sometime around the Jurassic Period, some would argue — games were largely "larger than life," outworldly cool, adventure-spirit-inducing. You could hunt your turtle nemesis as Jazz Jackrabbit, lead your empire to victory in Age of Empires, or play a literal god in Black & White. Games had absolute bravado and nothing less.

It's not that games today are completely different; you can still embark on epic adventures as Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher or build your interstellar civilization in Stellaris. But the industry has grown exponentially over the past decade or so, making room for more low-key, wholesome experiences: cozy games.

People will give you slightly different definitions of "cozy games", but to me, Prickle fits the bill. On top of being a brain-prickling puzzle game, that guides you smoothly through rising difficulty levels, Prickle also feels almost too cute. Those two elements live happily side by side in this wholesome, yet short, experience.

This indie title first sprang to life during Ludum Dare 54 — the "Limited Space" themed game jam — and was later expanded into a full release on Steam by Sunbird Studio. As a grid-based, maze-like puzzle game, it really nails that snug, bite-sized feel.

So, why did I like Prickle so much? Let me tell you.

The Gameply Brings it Home. Literally.

You play as DadHog, a father hedgehog who needs to collect all his hoglet children and bring them home. The hoglets are scattered throughout each puzzle level; you “collect” them by sticking their quills to yours (and to each other’s), forming a Tetris-like shape: a prickle. Once a hoglet sticks, it can’t be unstuck. Your job is to guide DadHog and the prickle you’ve created through the maze and into the door.

But don’t be fooled — it might sound like an easy-peasy task, but as you progress, the difficulty ramps up. There are nearly 50 levels to work your way through, divided thematically into four seasons, each introducing a new challenge to consider.

Summer is simple: move your hoglets through the maze in the correct prickle shape and reach the door. Autumn has acorns: they stick to DadHog and his hoglets, but they make your prickle bigger and more cumbersome. Winter rain has left some puddles for you to deal with: you cannot swim in them, but your hoglets might. Spring’s blossom sprouted flowers: they “eat” the acorns left from Autumn, adding yet another layer of complexity to your strategy.

The puzzles are actually thought-provoking — I really struggled on some Spring levels, and utilized the hint system more than once. But that’s the fun of a good puzzle game: not so easy that it feels like a kid’s game, yet not so brutal that it’s frustrating. Prickle nails that sweet spot middle ground, with a clear learning curve and genuinely rewarding “aha!” moments.

What Makes Prickle Precious

Not every puzzle game about a father hedgehog who needs to bring his children home is a wholesome gem, but this one is. Not just because of the narrative concept — it’s everything around it that gives off an adorable vibe.

First of all, everything is hand-drawn: the characters, the maze and puzzle elements, even the menu text. There’s a charming quality to those visuals that you just wouldn’t get if Sunbird Studio had used pre-made props or 3D models. Hand-drawn animation in games carries this borderline-nostalgic feel — so much so that I actually wrote a seminar paper during my degree about handmade video games, because I appreciate the craft that much. But that’s a story for another time.

Then there’s the music. Prickle’s soundtrack matches the visual charm with nostalgic vibes à la Chrono Trigger. Each season is accompanied by its own track, and together with the main theme, they form a short but lovely game soundtrack.

Add in the “aww”-worthy voice acting (yes, even in a game like this) and the ability to squeak on demand, and you’ve got yourself a fully wholesome gaming experience.

Important Accessibility

It’s worth mentioning that Prickle is super accessible on many fronts. First off, it’s available in no less than 15 (!) languages. If you ever want to share this game with kids who don’t speak English as their first language, you can do so easily. Sure, some puzzles aren’t a walk in the park, but I’m sure some kids will be totally up for the challenge.

You can even invert the visuals from black-on-white to white-on-black, or add a splash of color to help your eyes adjust (which I’ve used).

I brought up the hint system earlier when talking about gameplay, but it’s worth a mention here to drive the point home: even though it’s a brain-prickling puzzle game, Prickle never feels frustrating, and a lot of that is thanks to the hint system. The hints don’t just hand you the solution; they offer a visual cue on each level that gently helps you reach the solution.

Are You DadHog Material?

I honestly think anyone can enjoy Prickle. You don’t have to be a master strategist to appreciate the puzzles, and even if you are some kind of puzzle genius, you’ll still love its charm and casual vibe. It’s definitely not text-heavy, so any age group can jump right into the gameplay. The game really does fit everyone.

I say — go and be a DadHog. Prickle costs just a few bucks, and right now there’s an extra 20% off for the next few days on its Steam page. If you’re more of a casual mobile gamer, Prickle is also available on the Google Play Store.

Ready to get your brain prickled?