Welcome to our review of the most bad-ass game that will launch on the Nintendo Switch this year! Why do you ask? Well, it features lumberjacks. So, time to channel your inner lumberjack and shout timber from the top of your lungs in this frantic party game. So, let’s dive in (or check out the interview we did with the studio right here!).
Lumbercooked?
Many players will say – oh hey, this is the next Overcooked-clone! And yes, even I asked them some questions about the similarities between Lumberhill and Overcooked. However, the main premise is very different than the said game. Sure, it might share some mechanics, but it takes way more after games like Among Us and Don’t Starve (Together) in the non-violent co-op. Calling every shooter out there Call of Duty and calling every Battle Royal game out there Fortnite is the same as calling this the next Overcooked. Luckily the marketing folks over at All in! Games can summarize it much better than I do.
“Lumberhill is a family-friendly multiplayer game for players of all levels. The casual and bright nature of the game will appeal to the Nintendo Switch audience. At the same time, the available online multiplayer will allow them to connect with friends and family outside their homes,” says Raul Nieto, Head of Marketing at All in! Games. “When live social interaction is decreasing, there is a demand for co-op experiences. Therefore we are certain Lumberhill will find its place within the player community and help bring people together.” And I couldn’t have summarized it better.
I’m a lumberjack, and I’m oke.
Life as a lumberjack is no simple walk in the forest—especially when nature is there to trip you up. Yet a forester’s work must be done no matter the colorful chaos! While playing through Lumberhill, you will chop wood and catch fluffy sheep in the forest, coax cute little piglets in Hawaii, steal eggs from pterodactyls when you travel to Dino World, and herd pandas in Asia, solo or with friends. Put your teamwork skills to the test with up to four local or online multiplayer players. Feeling mischievous? Switch to PvP and chase your friends across the map (and off it!) as a ram or a furious hog to keep them from completing tasks. All through it, collect an array of fun skins and capture the craziest screenshot you can.
Solo – Co-op or PVP?
I tried this game in both solo and co-op mode, and no, it’s not fun to play it on your own. However, Lumberhill is a party game and should be played with others. My eldest (two and a half) had some fun with it since it features a lot of recognizable avatars (including Santa Claus), and she had the opportunity to play with both sheep and her dad (read: push dad off the map). Lumberhill offers a few nifty challenges, which can be pretty hard sometimes – like not falling off the map or not picking up animals. Sounds easy, doesn’t it; well, it’s not. Especially if you’re playing in the PVP mode.
Graphically the game looks great and shines on the Nintendo Switch. Its colorful outlook and quirky elements add to the total party feel they are trying to create. Switching between mountains, prehistoric areas, and many more keeps the game fresh and offers something for everyone. However, the game has one major flaw. I could not launch it without a Nintendo Switch Online account – Devs, please correct me if I’m wrong, but when I tried to play it on my editorial account (without all the friends, online features, etc., you know, for embargo purposes). This is pretty frustrating since Lumberhill works with co-op features and is not necessarily a game played online with friends.
Conclusion
So, to conclude! Lumberhill is so much more than just another party popping overcooked clone! It offers a great combination between co-op gameplay elements and enjoyable-for-all-ages gameplay. Do you want to have fun? We got you covered. You want to challenge yourself; yes, we got you covered. The total package, combined with highspeed gameplay and nifty challenges, makes Lumberhill worth your time. Just make sure you have the Nintendo Switch Online package, or you’re locked out of most of the game…
