- Tiny Monks Tales, developed by a two-person Ukrainian indie team, releases demo for PC, Xbox, and PS5
- Steam Demo 99% ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ Rating… A Tactile Diorama Puzzle That Feels Like You Can Grasp It
The world is stopped. But the moment a piece of wood is inserted into its place, the stopped time begins to flow again.
An expansion demo for ‘Woodo’, a healing diorama puzzle game developed by the Ukrainian indie duo Tiny Monks Tales (Yulia Prokhorova and Timur Bogotov) and published by Daedalic Entertainment, was unveiled at Steam Next Fest (June 15–22).
This demo is available to play on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, and versions for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 are scheduled to be added later this month.
The demo currently has a ‘Very Positive’ rating on Steam, with 99% of the 443 user reviews being positive. Although the official release date has not yet been announced, the development team stated, “The fact that we have been selected for Steam Next Fest means that the release is not far off.”
A 3D storybook-like world you can touch with your hands
Woodo is a diorama puzzle game that captures the feeling of completing a 3D coloring book yourself. Players breathe life into static scenes by assembling small worlds made of wood piece by piece.
All dioramas begin with time frozen. Whenever the player places a piece in the correct position, characters and objects begin to move, and the story within the scene unfolds little by little.
In particular, the warm, woodcraft-style visuals catch the eye. Colors are added as you fit puzzle pieces together, and hidden animations and small surprises are revealed throughout.
Players must freely rotate the diorama to find hidden pieces, and through this, they can experience the joy of exploring a small world beyond simple puzzles.
The sound also adds to the charm of the work. The friendly voice of the narrator invites the player into childhood memories. It naturally evokes the pure emotions of a time when even the trivialities of everyday life felt exciting.
The Summer Adventures of Country Girl Foxy and Frog Ben
The game centers on the story of Foxy, a girl raised in the city, and her frog friend Ben.
Foxy, sent to the countryside for the summer, becomes friends with a local boy named Ben, and the two embark on various adventures together. Friendship, growth, childhood memories, and the excitement of midsummer are built up layer by layer through a diorama that connects them all.
Each diorama captures a special moment shared by the two protagonists, and players can complete the puzzles at their own pace. The game is designed to provide appropriate hints if progress is blocked, allowing anyone to enjoy it without pressure.
The core gameplay combines find-the-object elements with puzzle assembly. Players find and place unique landscape pieces to complete a beautiful tree world, and in the process, encounter the stories behind each scene through Foxy’s narration.
“The game that healed my soul”… Users continue to give rave reviews
Woodo is receiving an enthusiastic response from players even though it is still in the demo stage.
One Steam user commented, “As someone living with bipolar disorder, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, Woodo gave me the gift of true beauty and comfort,” adding, “It feels like I have visited another warm and lovely world.”
Developer Yulia Prokhorova explained, “Woodo started with the idea of creating a warm, safe, and emotionally resonant space,” adding, “I wanted to express the feeling of a cozy home that everyone cherishes in their hearts.”
They also stated, “Players who enjoy the sensibilities of ‘Unpacking,’ ‘A Little to the Left,’ and ‘Florence,’ or the unique warmth of Studio Ghibli animations, will find a familiar charm,” while emphasizing that it is “a work that has established its own identity, rather than a simple imitation or a similar piece.”
“A game you want to enjoy with a warm cup of tea”… Media acclaim continues
Reactions from overseas media are also positive. Game media outlet tBreak selected Woodo among the top 15 recommended demos for Steam Next Fest, describing it as “a work I came to love more than I expected” and “a game that makes you want to enjoy it slowly with a warm cup of tea by your side.”
Gamezebo stated, “If you are a player who likes small, handcrafted worlds, Woodo will provide exactly the feeling you are looking for,” while Bleeding Cool described it as “a comforting and soothing work, like drinking tea with your beloved grandmother in front of a warm fireplace.”
The official version is expected to include a total of 24 challenges. Additionally, there will be hidden elements to find small monk characters inspired by the developer’s name, Tiny Monks Tales, which is expected to provide the fun of collecting beyond just the puzzles.
Woodo is not simply a puzzle-solving game. It is closer to a small storybook that breathes life into frozen scenes and revives forgotten childhood emotions one by one. If you are looking for a warm space to take a break from your busy daily life, this world of wooden dioramas might just be the perfect pause.
Information related to ‘Woodo’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Tiny Monks Tales (Yullia Prohorova·Timur Bogotov duo) |
| Publisher | Daedalic Entertainment (under Nacon) |
| Genre | Cozy Diorama Puzzle / Narrative Adventure / Hidden Picture |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) / Xbox Series X|S / PlayStation 5 / Nintendo Switch · Switch 2 (Demo added in late June) |
| Scheduled for release | Undetermined (Target release: Summer 2026) |
| Demo Review | Very positive 99% (443 items) |
| Demo content | Intro Chapter + 2 Complete Dioramas |
| Language support | English voice + subtitles in 19 languages (multilingual voice planned for the full version) |
| composition | A friend with 7 children participated |
| Sound Design | ODDA Participating Designer Mathilde |
| Challenge | 24 full edition items (including finding the little tree monk) |
| Main Keywords | Cozy, Diorama, Tree, Puzzle, Fairy Tale, Childhood, Summer, Friendship, Healing |
| Official Channel | Discord · X · Instagram · TikTok · Bluesky |
| Steam Page | Go to Wishlist/Demo |
