Born of Bread

Usually, when we say a game is “fun,” we mean it is fun for the player to play. Born of Bread is a game that is fun in that sense. It is cute, colorful, quirky, punny, and witty. The developers clearly enjoyed themselves while making it. Characters make funny faces and have fun designs. It’s a silly game in the best sense. I likely would have enjoyed it as a kid. But when it has to stand against my adult criticisms, I unfortunately find it lacking.

I enjoyed Born of Bread despite how much its flaws became more glaring the more I played, and I think that’s the most incriminating and interesting thing about it. The story kept me hooked and the charm of the world made me want to see it through to the end even though my issues with it never got any better. There’s something special here, buried amongst a lot of redundancy. Dial back some of the mechanics and forced humor–trim the fat (or crusts)–and this would be a definite recommendation. As it stands now, though, maybe wait for a Thousand-Year Door-inspired sequel.

Born of Bread is a lighthearted and easy-to-pick-up game that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It clearly wears its influences on its sleeves and borrows a lot from the original “family recipe.” While the similarities might not be to everyone’s taste, the developers at WildArts Studio Inc. know what makes the genre fun and keep the ingredients that work while tossing in their own brand of humor and lots of personality. You shouldn’t go into this game expecting to play the next big Paper Mario, but rather a charming and light RPG with heaps of humor.