Stuffed | Xbox Review

As children, many of us clung to the notion that our teddy bears could protect us at night and ward off the monsters under our beds. For me, this belief was embodied in Booger Bear, my own childhood bear that, as a 38 year old man, I still have to this day. However, these days he protects me from monsters better known as “adult responsibilities.” Developed by Waving Bear Studio and published by The Game Publisher, Stuffed taps into that sentiment we had as kids and cleverly creates a fun, yet very challenging, first-person horde mode shooter.

The valiant, heroic Booger Bear!

The Bear Necessities

Stuffed might not have a deeply rich narrative, but it still excels in its delightful and simple premise. Building upon that age-old belief that our teddies protect us at night, players step into the role of one brave teddy bear, whose mission is to defend their sleeping owner from waves of nightmarish toys that emerge during the night. 

While the story’s simplicity is part of its charm, this game isn’t 100% wholesome. Stuffed actually can get a bit creepy at times, thanks mostly to the unsettling enemies you face. I experienced several jump scares in my playthrough. The game’s execution and its nostalgic theme creates an unusual combo of a heartwarming yet thrilling experience. I was surprised to see that a video game about teddy bears received an E10+ rating from the ESRB. For those unfamiliar with the video game rating system, it’s roughly the equivalent to a PG rating for movies.

Fur-midable Opponents

Stuffed is played from a first-person perspective, tasking you with protecting Ellie’s bedroom door from waves of increasingly difficult enemies, each with unique traits and behaviors. Surviving 10 waves constitutes a successful night, advancing you to the next procedurally generated stage. It’s game over if you lose all your health or if Ellie’s door is successfully breached. As you progress, you’ll earn points to buy better weapons, but these are located in locked rooms, requiring additional points to access. Defeated enemies occasionally drop items granting temporary perks like double damage, invincibility, or the ability to morph into a real bear, perfect for handling large groups in a pinch. Stuffed plays similarly to the Zombie mode from the Call of Duty franchise, but trades the gritty and high-octane military shooter for cuddly teddy bears and adorably comical makeshift weapons.

Along with the temporary perks from item drops, there are also permanent upgrades and abilities you can unlock by filling an XP meter. These upgrades include faster movement speed, increased ammo and health capacities, and a door repair kit to replenish and fortify Ellie’s bedroom door. Despite the simple and cute premise, this game is incredibly tough. As of this writing, I still cannot, for the life of me, successfully complete one night. No matter how hard I try, the game quickly becomes overwhelming and challenging. I believe this is partly because the Xbox port lacks a co-op mode, unlike its PC counterpart. Having a co-op mode would be a huge help, allowing players to cover more ground and handle individual tasks, rather than taking on everything solo.

The Right Stuff

On the surface, Stuffed is a charming and visually appealing game. The procedurally generated house layouts are filled with vibrant colors and whimsical designs, capturing the essence of a child’s imaginative world. In addition to its whimsy, the game also includes an ominous and creepy tone, particularly in the enemy designs, which add elements of surprise and tension as you fend off the nightmare creatures. Throughout your playthrough, you’ll face various enemies, including creepy garden gnomes, fang-toothed rubber duckies, evil toy robots, and multicolored sock monsters similar to Minecraft’s creepers.

In keeping with its charming toy theme, your weapons are adorably made out of common everyday items. At the start, you are given a pistol resembling a slingshot, but you can later acquire a submachine gun made from a rolled-up comic book held together by rubber bands and an assault rifle crafted from foosball components. The workbench where you obtain your upgrades is modeled after a child’s power tool playset, reminiscent of those from Little Tikes or Fisher-Price. The design choices for weapons and the workbench adds an extra layer of charm, humor, and cuteness to the first-person shooter, enhancing the game’s whimsical appeal. 

The sound design in Stuffed complements the visual experience perfectly. The playful yet spooky soundtrack enhances the atmosphere, balancing eerie tunes with lighthearted melodies, comparable to games like Luigi’s Mansion. Lastly, adding to the game’s charm is the ability to customize your teddy bear with different fur patterns, colors, and unlockable costumes, like having your very own virtual Build-a-Bear. This feature not only adds a personal touch but also increases the cuteness factor, making your brave teddy even more endearing as you defend against nightmarish foes.

Daahh Bears!!

As a lifelong teddy bear enthusiast with Booger Bear still by my side, Stuffed holds a special place in my heart. At its low price, I recommend checking this game out for yourself. However, don’t let its cute exterior fool you; the game can get creepy at times. Combine that with its brutal difficulty, particularly without the co-op mode available for the PC version. The game’s combination of charming visuals, a playful soundtrack, and the thrill of defending against waves of nightmarish toys offers a heartwarming yet intense gaming experience. Despite the lack of co-op, I believe Stuffed can still make for a great get together with friends. Perhaps you can pass the controller amongst each other to see who can complete the most waves.

To hear me talk more about Stuffed, be sure to listen to the May 30, 2024 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:23:38 time stamp.

This review is based on an Xbox copy of Stuffed provided by Keymailer for coverage purposes. It is also available on PC via Steam.