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Play Overview
Painted Waters (2021) is a simple adventure for young children. You explore a secret miniature world on a Walker Doodle (the game's version of caterpillar) using a single button to get around and play the puzzles and challenges you find. It's unique not only because of the approachable and accessible controls and storybook visuals, but because it combines these with nuanced interactions and tests of skill.
Play involves directing your fish or Walker Doodle using a single button (mouse button, any key, controller button, or other camera peripherals like Tobii, Eyegaze). In the world you make single press choices about the turns and directions to go. In this way you explore from place to place and find a range of miniature adventures (mini-golf, pachinko, board game, and block bashing).
Each of the mini adventures are also played with a single button, but also provide ingenious ways to make strategic choices and timed throws. For example you make your way around the edge of a mini-golf hole and can choose when to hit the ball and in that way control the angle of your shot.
Completing one of the adventures rewards you with a prize that you can then use to decorate and customise the world. This might be a giant cherry to hear a joke, a seed to grow a flower, a block, button or statue. You can also find items in some of the mini adventures that let you customise those spaces, and how those games play.
Painted Waters is currently available in a trial mode as part of early access. The game is in ongoing development and will see many content updates and fixes as it moves towards a full release.
Our examiner, Jonah Monaghan, first checked Painted Waters 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 11 days ago.
Play involves directing your fish or Walker Doodle using a single button (mouse button, any key, controller button, or other camera peripherals like Tobii, Eyegaze). In the world you make single press choices about the turns and directions to go. In this way you explore from place to place and find a range of miniature adventures (mini-golf, pachinko, board game, and block bashing).
Each of the mini adventures are also played with a single button, but also provide ingenious ways to make strategic choices and timed throws. For example you make your way around the edge of a mini-golf hole and can choose when to hit the ball and in that way control the angle of your shot.
Completing one of the adventures rewards you with a prize that you can then use to decorate and customise the world. This might be a giant cherry to hear a joke, a seed to grow a flower, a block, button or statue. You can also find items in some of the mini adventures that let you customise those spaces, and how those games play.
Painted Waters is currently available in a trial mode as part of early access. The game is in ongoing development and will see many content updates and fixes as it moves towards a full release.
Our examiner, Jonah Monaghan, first checked Painted Waters 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 11 days ago.
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Play Style
This is a Collecting and Traversal game with Adventure, Creative and Puzzle elements. This is a single-player game.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Duration
Play Time: It takes between 15 minutes and half an hour to play a round of this game. It's an open ended game that can be enjoyed for many hours. Most players tend to play for up to 30 minutes at a time.
Benefits
Age Ratings
This game includes adverts on some platforms that are watched to unlock additional content. Note that these adverts are not covered by the age rating and may include older-rated content.
Skill Level
3+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Young children with physical impairments should find the challenge approachable and accessible. You only need to be able to press a single button with very light timing.
Costs
Painted Waters
This game is free to play, but there are other costs associated with this game:
- Advertising: Smartphone or Tablet version of this game includes adverts. This varies in form but watching ads is often incentivised by unlocking additional content and progress in the game. Note that these are not covered by the age rating and may include older-rated content.
The game will always be free, with no ads or in-app purchases.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Game Details
Release Date: 28/01/2021
Out Now: PC
Skill Rating: 3+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Collecting, Traversal (Adventure, Creative and Puzzle)
Accessibility: 36 features
Components: 2D Overhead, Cartoon and Open World
Developer: Numinous Games (@Numinous_Games)
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