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I don't usually go in for narrative games where you're clicking arrows instead of actually, you know, doing things. But, Wax Heads has got me. After an hour with the demo, I'm genuinely gutted it ended when it did - which is probably the highest praise I can give a game that's essentially about working retail in a record shop.
Wax Heads is a narrative-driven adventure from Patattie Games, a two-person indie punk duo made up of creative doodler Murray Somerwolff and creative programmer Rothio Tome. It's not your typical game in the traditional sense - there's no character you're steering around with a controller. Instead, you're clicking arrows to move from screen to screen, soaking in the story and interacting with a cast of genuinely brilliant characters.
The demo clocks in at about an hour, and it's available to play on Steam right now, which is exactly what you should do if any of this sounds remotely up your street.
Welcome to Repeater Records
You play as a new employee at Repeater Records, a music shop run by Morgan, a former music star who decided to pack it all in and start flogging vinyl after two of her bandmates buggered off to do their own thing. And let me tell you, there is bad blood here. Morgan won't even stock records from that particular group, which tells you everything you need to know about how messy that split was.
I won't spoil too much because the story is genuinely one of the best bits, but the opening couple of hours (well, hour in the demo's case) kept me absolutely glued. It's got layers, and I'm genuinely keen to see where it all goes.
The Gameplay: More Engaging Than It Sounds
Right, so your actual job in the shop is to help customers find records. Sounds dead simple, doesn't it? It's not. Someone will wander in and say something like, "I'm after a jazz record, mate, but I can't remember the name. All I know is the cover's got a saxophone on a red background."
Off you toddle then, rummaging through the shop trying to find the bloody thing. Some requests are straightforward. Others require you to flip LPs over, check the tracklisting on the back, squint at liner notes - proper detective work. The shop itself is split into sections: you've got a room for the heavier stuff like metal, another for hip hop, one for jazz, and so on. It's surprisingly satisfying when you finally track down the right record and hand it over.
It's the kind of gameplay loop that shouldn't work as well as it does, but it absolutely nails that sweet spot between engaging and relaxing. You're not stressed, but you're not bored either.
The game is packed with characters - former musicians, your colleagues at the shop, customers who range from lovely to absolute nightmare - and they all feel properly fleshed out. The art style, courtesy of Somerwolff, does a lot of heavy lifting here. Everyone looks unique, a bit rough around the edges in that distinctly indie punk way, and it gives the whole thing a ton of personality.
The Music
It's a game about a record shop, so the music had better be decent, hadn't it? Thankfully, it is. Wax Heads features original music that you can play in the background whilst you're working, and even though I'm not usually massive on indie rock and punk, this stuff genuinely slaps. There's real craft here, and it adds so much to the atmosphere.
If you're the sort of person who actually listens to the soundtrack in games rather than just tolerating it, you'll be well chuffed.
Moment That Had Me In Stitches
I need to mention one particular bit from the demo because it's still making me laugh hours later. This woman rocks up to the shop, and I immediately clock that she's on the banned list. Why? Well, she sings.
She comes in, whips out a handheld speaker, and proceeds to absolutely belt out a tune into her microphone. The catch? The voice actor has done an incredible job of sounding like the worst singer you've ever heard in your life. We're talking properly off-key, no sense of rhythm, just complete chaos. From the moment I heard that voice, I was in tears. Genuinely crying with laughter. Kudos to whoever did that voice work - you've made my entire afternoon.
It's moments like that which elevate Wax Heads from "quite good" to "properly memorable."
The Verdict (So Far)
Look, I'll be honest with you - games like Wax Heads aren't usually my cup of tea. I'm more of an RPG and action-adventure kind of bloke. But this has soul. It sounds great, it looks gorgeous, and it plays nicely.
If the rest of the game maintains the quality of this first hour, people who love narrative-driven indie experiences are going to absolutely adore Wax Heads. And even if you're like me - a bit sceptical, not normally drawn to this sort of thing - I'd still say give the demo a bash. It might just surprise you.
The full game is coming to Steam, and if you fancy getting a taste of it now, the demo is sitting there waiting for you. Go on, give it a go. You might end up as charmed by it as I was.
Wax Heads
