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About The Bench
The Bench is a laid-back adventure game from Voxel Studios that launched on October 24, 2025, for PC. It’s all about hanging out on park benches, hunting for hidden objects, and solving oddball puzzles while avoiding squawking pigeons. The game leans into cozy, colorful visuals and a slow-paced vibe. You’ll explore different benches across whimsical settings, each with its own set of tasks and distractions. Think of it as a digital chill session where you interact with the environment to unlock stories and keep things lively. It’s not about high stakes or intense action, just a quirky, relaxing way to pass time.
Gameplay
You spend most of your time clicking around park scenes to collect items, rearrange objects, and trigger mini-games. Each bench acts as a hub with linked puzzles, like restoring a broken swing or decoding a graffiti message. The pigeon encounters are timed: you click to throw snacks or wave to scare them off before they steal your progress. Controls are simple, mouse-driven interactions with occasional quick-time events. Sessions usually last 30, 45 minutes, but you can quit and return anytime. The game emphasizes exploration over speed, with hidden rewards for thorough searches. Some puzzles require lateral thinking, like using a banana peel to trap a mischievous squirrel.
What Players Think
PlayPile users rate The Bench 4.2/5, with 68% completing the main story. Average playtime is 12 hours, and 84% of players finish within 15 hours. Critics on Metacritic gave it an 84, praising its “charmingly absurd” puzzles. Community moods are overwhelmingly “relaxed” (72%) and “amused” (58%), though 15% called it “too slow.” Achievement completion sits at 92%, with the hardest being “Pigeon Whisperer” (deflect 50 birds). Some players complain the bird mechanics feel repetitive, but 89% say the art style and humor make it worth it.
PlayPile's Take
The Bench is a niche gem for casual players who enjoy puzzles and low-pressure exploration. At $19.99, it’s a low-risk buy for fans of games like Gris or Monument Valley. The 33 achievements add light replay value, but don’t expect a challenge. Skip it if you crave fast-paced action or deep narratives. For a cozy afternoon of quirky problem-solving and parkside pondering, though, it hits all the right notes.
Game Modes
Single player
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