Aviassembly

Aviassembly is a cozy, approachable airplane-building and flying game that has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews for its enjoyable gameplay loop and creative freedom. Players take on the role of a cargo pilot tasked with delivering goods to isolated airstrips, upgrading and designing planes to suit various mission challenges. The game features simple but charming graphics and an easy-to-learn, hard-to-master flight and building system that encourages experimentation.

Despite its strengths, the game is still in Early Access and has several rough edges. Aerodynamic physics are simplified and sometimes inconsistent, with critiques pointing out a lack of realistic lift and drag simulation. The campaign is relatively short (around 7-12 hours) and missions can be repetitive. Quality-of-life features like camera controls, UI navigation, and controller support need improvements. However, the developer’s ambitious roadmap and frequent updates promise a bright future, making it a worthwhile purchase especially at a discounted price.

Highlights

Players praise Aviassembly's creative plane-building mechanics that balance simplicity with engaging design challenges. The progression system is well-paced, rewarding experimentation with parts and upgrades. Graphics are described as charming and pleasant, complementing the relaxing atmosphere. The storyline, though simple, adds a nice layer of motivation. The game's accessibility makes it enjoyable for a broad audience, including kids and adults. Additionally, the soundtrack and audio receive positive remarks for enhancing the immersive experience.

Many appreciate the game’s lightweight system requirements and small install size, making it accessible on modest PCs. The sandbox mode offers endless creative potential beyond the campaign.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the lack of realistic flight physics, with wings placement having little effect on plane behavior and poor simulation of lift and drag forces. Players find the flight controls basic and sometimes awkward, especially with limited camera angles and no true gamepad support. The campaign is considered short and missions repetitive, lacking variety beyond fetch quests.

UI and UX issues include clunky menu navigation, inability to undo or modify designs easily, and insufficient in-game information such as cargo weight or center of lift indicators. Some players report minor bugs and desire more polish and content expansion. The music has mixed reviews, with some disliking certain tracks.