Every once in a while a game to lose a few mindless hours to is very needed. Sometimes that game comes in a mindless adventure and sometimes it comes in a cozy puzzle game. Developed by Sketchy Cerviche and Fayer, Pancito Merge brings you the same joy that previous puzzles such as Suika Game brought many but with a small twist.
Basic Gameplay
On the surface, Pancito Merge is a simple merging game. Merge the same items to create a new bigger item and keep doing this until you unlock all 12 items. Once you’ve unlocked the 12 pancitos, keep going to get a score worthy of showing off on the leaderboards. For those who have explored other merge games, this mechanic is simple and straightforward enough. However, Pancito Merge adds two elements to the gameplay that may help or hinder players.
As you merge your different pancitos, customers will appear in the window requesting an item. You do not have to provide them that item right away if it doesn’t suit your strategy. Leave the customer alone while you merge a few more pancitos and you’ll see them change their order. I’ll be honest throughout my game play there were many times that I let them wait until whatever they would order would clear some bag space for me.
The other element that made this feel game changing? The ability to shake the bag. This mechanic is extremely helpful when there’s just small spaces that you wish would be filled. Of course, it doesn’t always work the way you hope but when it does, it’s as satisfying as a warm chewy cookie with a glass of milk after a long day.
Art & Music
It’s always lovely to see art work that shines through especially in a simple game. If you’re familiar with many of these pastries, you’ll quickly be able to recognize them as they appear. The art of the characters is also inviting as they approach your window. Even those who may seem a bit rough around the edges are fun to look at. So is your tableau as they approach the window.
The current three bakeries each have their own decor in addition to their own pastries. Whether you enjoy traditional or the Japanese/Mexican fusion as shown above, each is colorful and appealing to the eyes.
The music is where the game might falter a bit. Not because the music is bad, instead because before long, it fades to the background. While it does build an atmosphere, it too quickly seems to fade to the background. This isn’t necessarily a beat or tune that sticks in your head after playing. In fact, you may forget there was even music playing after only a few minutes. Of course, if your runs are long, this may be for the best to not hear the same music play over and over.
Little bits of Learning
Pancito Merge isn’t just a bit of a merge game, there is a bit of knowledge for people. For those who are curious about the items that end up in your bag, you can learn more about them. By clicking on the items on the right hand side of the game screen, you can learn about each pastry. Not every pastry is a pan dulce and Pancito Merge takes the opportunity to educate its players when and where possible.
The moments of being able to learn more about the pastries is part of what makes the game feel a bit endearing. It’s a celebration of Mexican baking and it makes sure that you too can learn a bit more before walking into your local shop. You should probably just be sure to not play while hungry because reading some of the descriptions can have you rushing to a shop before you know it.
The Downsides?
Pancito Merge truly is a simple game with a little bit of educational flair and joy. However, with only three different levels to play through, you really have to have a competitive spirit to keep returning. The leaderboard is constantly moving with different names finding their way into the top 10. However for those who like to keep seeing their name at the top they’ll keep returning.
It could use a few achievements for the achievement hunters to find themselves returning to the game as well. There could be simple achievements such as unlock all the breads on each level or unlock all the bread. Perhaps even an achievement for seeing all the customers or having rarer customers who appear if you hit certain point thresholds could be fun and add to the challenge. The game is not meant to be overly complex, but something beyond the leaderboards to keep players revisiting could be quite a game changer.
Overall
Pancito Merge is exactly what it says it is, “perfect for quick sessions and high score chases.” It doesn’t give you false pretenses but it can leave you wanting just a bit more. It’s dipping a small toe into a cultural experience. While food can be a gateway to learning about culture, this gamifies the experience a bit if you will let it. It may also leave you with quite a craving for carbs along the way. Casual puzzle gamers should definitely consider adding this on Steam (it’s also Steam Deck verified) but if that isn’t your jam, this may not be the game for you.
Pancito Merge is now available on Steam. GSC would like to thank Hey Bud! Games for the code.
