Game: Whimside
Genre: Creature Collecting, Casual, Indie, Idler
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer|Publisher: Toadzillart | Future friends Game
Controller Support: None
Price: US $5.85 | UK £4.88 | EU € 5,76
Release Date: 7 August 2025
A review code was provided, thanks to Future Friends Game.
What is Whimside about?
Whimside is an idle, creature-collecting game designed to run quietly at the bottom of your screen. Idle games are designed to add a little spice to your work or study hours, providing a pleasant distraction in the background.
In Whimside, you explore biomes, collect and breed whimsical little creatures called whimlings, and decorate both your space and theirs.
Gameplay, or the Art of Catching Cuties
Whimside’s world is packed with pastel biomes and strange, adorable creatures, but catching them isn’t just about clicking randomly.
Whimside begins with a short tutorial phase, approximately 15 minutes long, that covers the basics. From there, multiple layers of interaction unfold. You’ll need specific whimlings to unlock portals, which transport you to new biomes. Quests appear regularly, often requiring you to breed a particular whimling to meet certain criteria.
There are Steam achievements (most of them hidden until you figure them out), but no trading cards for now.
As mentioned, each biome has its own set of unique whimlings. You begin in Prairie, which, as the name suggests, feels very spring-like, and eventually unlock others: beach-like areas, forest zones, and more.
The game’s main currency is crystals. Along with the correct whimling, you’ll need a certain number of crystals to unlock each portal. You can collect crystals using your garden, where caught whimlings can roam freely. If you pet or show affection to them every five minutes, they’ll reward you with a few shiny crystals. Also worth noting, because it’s super important (right?), whimlings squeak when you catch or pet them. A crucial feature, obviously.
The breeding system plays a key role in your progress. You select two whimlings with specific traits (head, tail, nature, body, etc.) and cross your fingers for the right combination.
Side note: pay close attention to the color of each trait; some are “dominant” and might override the outcome you’re aiming for.
That said, Whimside isn’t something you leave running all day. It’s more of a game you dip into for 30 minutes or so, then return to later. Playing for longer stretches can feel repetitive, since most actions remain the same across all biomes.
Art and Sound of Whimside
Unsurprisingly, Whimside leans heavily into cuteness, and it does it well. The art style is soft, pastel, and very light-hearted. The whimlings themselves are fun and strange. Imagine a creature that combines the body of a rabbit, the tail of a squirrel, and the teeth of a shark. That kind of weird (but endearing) energy.
Sound-wise, the ambient background audio is present without being overwhelming. You can adjust the music volume, as well as background effects, which include the occasional little noises made by the whimlings. Some of them sound like newborn babies, and I swear I was melting. (What can I say?)
Conclusion
I should preface this by saying that Whimside is my first experience with a bottom-of-the-screen idle game. It’s undeniably cute. The visuals are charming, and the gameplay mechanics aren’t demanding.
That said, I wouldn’t exactly call it an “idle” game, not in the way I expected, anyway. You can’t just leave it running and focus entirely on something else. Progressing in Whimside still requires your attention at regular intervals. And in that sense, it doesn’t quite work as a productivity-friendly background game. If that’s what you’re looking for, I wouldn’t recommend it.
However, if you’re aware of this and just want a relaxing, low-stakes experience with cute creatures and simple mechanics, Whimside might be worth a look. Unfortunately, I’m not the target audience, but I can see the appeal. The demo is available on Whimside’s Steam page. If you’re curious, give it a try and make up your own mind!
Final verdict: I’m Not Sure
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