Noticias
In Wilmot’s Warehouse, you unwind by packing pallets
D
David Silbert
Wilmot’s Warehouse, by comparison, is a game about the grind. As the spirited Wilmot, you receive shipments, stock inventory, and improve efficiencies in a never-ending corporate job. The better organized your station, the faster you can fulfill orders. The faster you fulfill orders, the more "Performance Stars" you receive, granting you new perks and motivational posters.
Between pallet packing, performance reviews, and office propaganda, you’d be forgiven for hearing all this and saying: “No, thank you! I already work a nine-to-five.” Rest assured, though. Underneath the seemingly mundane premise, Wilmot’s Warehouse offers plenty of substance, style, and heart.
There’s an alluring charm to the game’s mechanics. Each month, a truck delivers an array of goods to the warehouse door. A click of your mouse picks up an item (or an entire bundle), while another click drops your pallet. Scrolling your mouse rotates your items accordingly. As time ticks, you must run around and arrange your warehouse in preparation for upcoming orders.
Every playthrough is different. You might start off with a large shipment of winter hats or a ton of bananas. The more you fill the warehouse, the more types of inventory you receive. Play for several hours, and you’ll have more cargo than you can handle—that is, unless you come up with a clever tracking system. One section of the warehouse could be your “foodie corner.” Another could be for “blue backgrounds” or “weird patterns.” There’s no right or wrong way to play Wilmot’s Warehouse; think of it as a giant bookstore in which you’re the sole clerk.
The warehouse is big, but it isn’t boundless. As you get increasing numbers of items, Wilmot’s Warehouse becomes a gratifying game of Tetris. Every square foot is prime real estate. Waste space, and you’ll find yourself struggling to carve out room to maneuver. A “Stock Take” phase gives you downtime to reorganize the floor, but otherwise, you’re always on the clock.
Despite the time-based gameplay, there’s never much pressure. If you bungle an order or get lost in the sauce, you can always fix it tomorrow. You also regularly unlock handy abilities—like increased strength or a robot helper—to make work easier. A soothing electronic soundtrack by Eli Rainsberry only adds to the laid-back feel and flow. And, if you ever get lonely, you can even invite a friend to play alongside you.
With Wilmot’s Warehouse, co-developers Richard Hogg and Ricky Haggett have crafted an experience that is easy to pick up and endlessly addicting. The game is complex without feeling overwhelming. It’s frenetic, yet calming. It works the brain, challenging your ability to recall and reorganize on the fly. Perhaps above all else, it makes the banal an absolute blast.
If you ever need a cooldown after a long day, Wilmot’s Warehouse is an unlikely happy place. Yes, it’s a game about work—but the work’s never been more fun. Grab a copy here—and get ready to punch in that time card.