After the latest Indie Direct from Nintendo, the concerns of mobile gaming ports was brought up as quite a few of the “new” titles coming had originally been on smartphones. The concern is understandable: mobile gaming, for the most part, has gone down a very dark path, as developers and publishers alike find ways to milk the very last cent out of people who just want to keep pushing the button on their Skinner Boxes. But there are excellent mobile titles that have made the jump to console, not the least of which are Oceanhorn, Monument Valley and, yes, Among Us. So when Lykke Studio’s darling puzzle title Stitch was announced, I actually got fairly excited. Who couldn’t use a bit more relaxation in their daily lives?

Stitch is a fairly straightforward puzzle game using elements of cross stitching, simple counting and pattern recognition. Players will be given one section of a greater piece at a time, and asked to fill in the grid with a certain number of colorful counts. Once the players successfully work out which direction all of the numbered sections will lead, you move onto the next piece of the pattern, and, after a time, complete a delightful image that you can proudly display in your own gallery. The patterns range from simple pieces that can be done in under ten minutes to complex, sprawling designs that could take hours or days, depending on your patience. There are also specifically obtuse patterns to test players logical skills if you’re looking for something to really put your brain to work during the game.

As a mobile title, Stitch is probably one of my go-to titles regardless of circumstances. It’s easy enough to pick up and do a few panels when you’re on the train, waiting in line or just generally want to keep your hands busy. It’s also great for longer dual entertainment moments, like when you want to play something while you’re watching a television show or movie. It’s incredibly relaxing once you get into the groove, and there’s a certain sense of accomplishment for being able to craft a delightful penguin, a charming countryside landscape, or an intricate dedication to National Women’s Month. At this stage of development, it feels like there are hundreds of puzzles to do and all the time in the world to ingest them at whatever rate you’d like.

While there are points awarded and a leveling system in place, most of these elements are to help you keep track of your own progress, though online leaderboards will help you pit your friends against each other in a competitive cross stitch challenge. The idea of the hint – letting you know the specific direction one piece should go – is appalling in these high stakes feuds, but you always know it’s there if you want to disconnect from the rat race and just stitch at your own leisure, like they used to do in the olden times. You see that six? That six can probably fill in that happy little gap where a tree trunk might grow. Just feel the flow of nature guide you through the course.

Being on the Switch, Stitch doesn’t bring much more to the table than it would if you had access to Apple Arcade, but there are some benefits. For one, my iPhone is old as hell and the larger, more accessible screen of the Switch makes it infinitely easier to focus on the marathon style puzzles that take multiple hours. The touch inputs have been well mapped and there’s no confusion as to where and how directions will play out when you begin dragging your finger across the screen. Plus, as a dedicated gaming device, Stitch felt massively more relaxing without worrying if I was about to get a phone call, text message or Pikmin Bloom update to interrupt my puzzling. I KNOW IT’S RAINY OUTSIDE, I HAVE WINDOWS.

However, on the other hand, trying to navigate the flow of the game using joysticks and buttons is, in a nutshell, an obtuse errand. You constantly feel like things are floating and amorphous, like you’re attempting to get that one piece of eggshell out of your now-ruined omelet before it fully cooks. It never really clicks the way it does when you simply need to swipe with your finger: now you need to navigate to the right spot, push a button, draw a longer rectangle, push another button, then hustle your cursor to another spot to repeat the process. In any other situation, this would sound like a foolish complaint, but you have to remember where this game started, as a cozy, benevolent engagement of colors, yarn and fuzzy pictures. The joystick approach has been ported well enough, but I always preferred playing handheld if I could.

Which is a shame, because Lykke Studios has done a marvelous job in preserving the assets of the puzzles in Stitch so that they look great on the big screen. I actually made a point to undock my Switch, play a puzzle through, then re-dock when it was finished so that you can admire the overall presentation. That’s probably one of the biggest shocks in the addictive nature of Stitch; it’s not just fun, it’s actually a visual spasm of joy upon completion. Much like the fix you get from Picross when a picture comes together, this one almost inspires you to put down the controllers and pick up some knitting needles or crochet hooks and make something beautiful. Almost. I’m terrible at crafting and I’ll stick to games, thank you very much.

The only other qualm I have is the soundtrack, which is generally unimportant with puzzle games as long as it’s crafting the atmosphere that you want. Freshly Frosted, for example, was very bubbly and warm, like the sweet, supportive tone the game and the narrator sought to create. In contrast, the extended piano soundtrack, combined with the haunting notes of string and vocal-adjacent synth, give a very different vibe. If I was watching a film where a child discovered her grandmother’s long-lost toy and it triggered a memory of when grandma’s village was ransacked by an army and she had to flee into the night, taking only this toy and her baby brother while they lost their parents, then the music would be perfect. Given that I’m trying to get the color palette to match for a unicycle cross stitch, it’s weirdly uncomfortable and made me play in silent mode.

Overall, I think Stitch is an ultra quaint title that oozes warmth and welcome in gameplay and visual presentation, and is just such a decompression tool after a long day doing literally anything. It gives me such joy and relaxation to bring together the numbers and colors until I’ve made a bicycle or a nutcracker or whatever. I’ll do Christmas puzzles in April, it’s fine and the game doesn’t judge me. Unlock more and more pieces, don’t wait for power ups or villains because there are none, and just keep making yourself happy. If games are art, this one is a sweater my mom made for me, and I’m wearing it to keep out any and all chilly elements. But, just like mom, I’ll only pretend to listen.

Graphics: 8.0 The textures and warmth of the cross stitching come through superbly on both the handheld and on the big screen. A massive variety of designs and colors help to make the game visually dynamic each and every time, and it’s never a disappointment to behold what you create.	Gameplay: 7.0 Touch control works best and is perfectly suited to the Switch’s tablet-like display panel. Simple gestures translate into quick and accurate gameplay. Controllers are a bit more awkward in their handling, but, after a fashion, are fine. Once you play one puzzle, you’ve played them all: the difficulty rises but nothing really changes in terms of requirements.
Sound: 2.0 “And when I looked back, the flames crackling over the forests’ edge told me what I already knew: all that was left in this life was little Toshito, asleep on my back; the bag of oranges under my arm; and this doll, Kinse, who now grew damp under my bitter tears.”	Fun Factor: 8.0 In all honesty, I could play this game for hours at a time or minutes between activities. There’s satisfaction and enjoyment in the casual, calm building of the patterns, and I felt proud of good scores from not needing to use hints. If there was better music, it would be marvelously perfect.
Final Verdict: 7.0

Stitch is available now on Apple Arcade and Nintendo Switch.

Reviewed on Nintendo Switch.

A copy of Stitch was provided by the publisher.