Wax Heads Review

This is a game about community, the physical weight of media, and the specific magic of finding the right song at the right time. It is a love letter to the local hubs and businesses that are slowly disappearing from our streets which helped shape groups of people to be who they are today. Learning about the threats of the digital age and shady business practices that are slowly killing local shops off and it is one of the most heartfelt titles I have played so far this year.

You take on the role of the newest employee at Repeater Records, a local cornerstone business that provides a sanctuary for people who love to browse crates of vinyl and talk music. I for one still do this to this day so was instantly hooked into what was going to unfold. The hand drawn paper art direction captures personality from the employees you work alongside as well as every corner of the shop being cluttering in some pop culture chaos you would see in a real life record store. Every little section of the shop is every changing as you progress and they have really put love and labour into the thought process.

The premise is very simple you get to learn about your regulars and customers over your time at the store. They will talk shop, provide you with some small talk about things happening in their lives or even just about the music which gives you clues and context to give them recommendations of an album they might enjoy. Essentially this is a puzzle game that you have to look into context they provide to locate a record they might enjoy, sometimes things are buried within song titles, cover art and just the general lore of the local music scene around Repeater Records and their band scene.

The core loop of Wax Heads relies on your ability to listen, observe, and eliminate. A customer might walk in and say, “I’m looking for that punk band.” Or ‘’I want the cheapest records you’ve got’’ or something vague with a word like ‘’Space’’ From there, you’ll dive into the crates. The game uses the controllers’ triggers to let you flip through vinyl with a satisfying thwack-thwack-thwack sound you would hear flicking through yourself. You’ll pull out an album, flip it over to read the liner notes, check the genre, and look for notes stuck to the plastic just to get the recommendation.

There is nothing quite like connecting a customer’s vague emotional state like “pre-breakup” to a specific punk or rap record you remember seeing in the back of the shop. It makes the player feel like a genuine tastemaker and you get to learn and connect with customers and over time they let you in to their lives and make a genuine connection and understand why this store is the heartbeat of the town. While the shop is technically struggling, the game never punishes you with a “Game Over” screen. If you give a customer the wrong record, you simply get a bit of witty dialogue and a rating. It encourages exploration and learning rather than demanding to start over.

In a game about a record store, the music has to be enjoyable, it has to be the driving factor Patattie Games went above and beyond here. The soundtrack features a massive library of original songs that span across a handful of genres. Whether it’s the distorted growl of a garage rock anthem or the shimmering synths of a forgotten pop star, the music in Wax Heads feels lived in and authentic. You are able to have jukebox privileges and play the new music that comes out as the story and stock change giving you a full insight to some of the bands and thought processes in the lore.

The lore associated with these fictional bands is equally impressive. Not only have they hand drawn all the art work, created a fictional world of different bands, artists and genres. You’ll find yourself reading the review apps on the smartphone or a magazine left around the shop that detail the rise and fall of local legends. By the end of the game, you’ll have developed your own favourites, making the act of recommending them to customers feel personal. You aren’t just selling a product you’re sharing a piece of history and lore just like you would in real life.

Beneath the surface of the record flipping sim lies a poignant story about the modern world. Repeater Records is under threat from corporate interests specifically a generic, soul sucking entertainment conglomerate that wants to replace the shop with something modern and upmarket. The game handles this stick it to the man story with a refreshing lack of sarcasm and more focuses on the regulars and togetherness. The regulars treat the shop like an escapism, teenagers looking to be influenced by music and a regular meeting spot for those with memories tied to the place. You get to learn and understand that the people you work with have seen things change and want to provide something for the community away from the shops and keep human connection fostered through the arts.

Wax Heads is a triumph of focused love and labour it offers a musical imprint that stays with you long after the credits roll. Like buying your first album or your favourite this will be something in your collection that will stay with you and shape your enjoyment for the arts.