In a fun little Friday surprise, Melbourne-based developers Studio Folly has “soft launched” its charming word-puzzler Gubbins on iOS in Australia and New Zealand. While the studio has said that this region-specific release is to gauge the general state of the game, it’s happy to offer the title for free with no monetisation implemented in the meantime. The game itself is a bit of an oddity but in the best way possible. When we saw it at PAX Australia last year it was billed as a rogue-like take on Scabble, featuring strange creatures (the titular Gubbins) that can help or hinder your progress.
We have fantastic news, Gubbins is available on the iOS App Store in Australia & New Zealand RIGHT NOW! 🆒✨
— Studio Folly (@folly_studio) March 16, 2023
For now there is no monetization, no ads and no funny business for your unbridled enjoyment.
Make some words, tell ya pals!https://t.co/4a9GjPiazp pic.twitter.com/cfER6IR6B0
In the Twitter thread announcing the release, Studio Folly explained that while this initial soft launch is free from monetisation, that will likely change eventually. “Naturally we will need to make some money at some stage (Boo!)” the studio explained, “…so please don’t be alarmed if monetization features/walls are implemented down the track.”
We were so impressed by our hands-on experience with the game that we included it in our list of Aussie-made games to watch out for in 2023. WellPlayed’s Zach Jackson describes the game as having “…a gorgeous aesthetic and I can see it becoming incredibly addictive, where five minutes becomes 30”. You can jump over to the iOS store to grab the game here and be sure to chuck Studio Folly a follow on Twitter for more updates around the game’s release.
Are you gonna check out Gubbins? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.
One part pretentious academic and one part goofy dickhead, James is often found defending strange games and frowning at the popular ones, but he's happy to play just about everything in between. An unbridled love for FromSoftware's pantheon, a keen eye for vibes first experiences, and an insistence on the Oxford comma have marked his time in the industry.
