Kiln

Double Fine has given us another charming Xbox first-party title in the form of Kiln, which might be light on content, but nevertheless is a fun time both on and off the battlefield. The pot-creation system is a genius take on a character creation suite, matches are frantic but offer plenty of room for strategy, and the overall presentation is really high quality. Moving forward though, it's going to need regular new content to remain fresh and give players a reason to keeping coming back, otherwise I fear this online-only game might get doused a little too prematurely.

Kiln is the latest example of one of gaming’s most creative studios executing well on a fresh idea. There may be a couple of aspects that could’ve used more time in the oven, but Double Fine’s Kiln is a cool and quirky addition to Xbox’s 2026 lineup.

You can't help but get the feeling that the game's multiplayer-only focus, combined with its limited launch content, unpolished gameplay, and weak marketing, will bury it before it ever gets a chance to flourish.

Double Fine has made a lot of money out of the absurd concept, and the pot fights can be more fun than you might think. The question remains, however, whether a small multiplayer game can keep enough players. It's a shame the game doesn't include a singleplayer.

Much like the pottery it's based on, Kiln is a game that has some creativity but is pretty empty on the inside.

While Kiln would certainly benefit from additional game modes or even local competitive or cooperative multiplayer, there’s still plenty of fun to be had.

Kiln looks great and has a creative idea at its base, but it gets old fairly quickly and doesn’t seem, like it’ll have the longest shelf life. Making pottery is incredibly well-realized and satisfying, and the team-based matches have their moments, but the main gameplay loop gets tiresome, and the lack of stages and content beyond Quench mode makes the game feel more empty than you’d expect.

Kiln offers a highly entertaining experience that blends creativity and art with gameplay mechanics. The fast-paced, short matches played with friends make you lose track of time. The variety of pottery and different maps add depth to the game; however, having only a single game mode can quickly create a sense of repetition, especially for solo players. More variety is essential.

Kiln is a creative title with unique foundations, but in its current form it still lacks the content and depth needed to keep a larger player base engaged in the long run.

Kiln delivers an innovative and entertaining multiplayer experience that blends the chaos of competitive gameplay with the creativity of pottery crafting. Its diverse gameplay offers players the freedom to customize their characters, while its distinctive cartoon-inspired art style gives the game a unique visual and audio identity. Although the game currently suffers from limited content, some repetitive elements, and a heavy reliance on an active player community, its strong foundation makes it a standout experience and an easy recommendation for fans of competitive multiplayer games.