Weyrdlets Review: Productivity Meets Cute Pets

Having your own pet isn’t a new concept. Owning your own small island isn’t a new concept. But having your own pet on a small island while you work is an interesting concept. Weyrdlets isn’t just about raising your own team of digital pets. It’s about having them with you while you work at home or carry out other tasks. It’s a smaller form of multi-tasking that is enjoyable and fits with your schedule without interrupting your work.

Weyrdlets is a casual game that allows you to work on other tasks after you attend to your pets. You even have productivity functions like a timer that help you with your work or take breaks. The game is not built for long-term play but can be put in the background as you work. Unfortunately, making progress requires considerable effort and patience along with some financial investment. But for casual games that go with your work, it’s tough to find an alternative to Weyrdlets.

Weyrdlets is a free-to-play game available on PC.

It’s a slow start but you eventually get your pet.

Story – Pets on an Island & Screen

Weyrdlets doesn’t have a big goal or objective and is similar to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You have a new pet and an island, free to do whatever you like. It takes a few days for everything to properly settle, but eventually you can do whatever you like. The main point is raising pets on an island while balancing it with your work. There are other inhabitants and a store, but you access them through other menus.

There isn’t much of a story though you can achieve some goals and slowly develop your island. As you earn experience points, you level up and unlock new features. A handy assistant helps introduce you to the island and provides useful tips throughout your time. You can also run into conversations with NPCs through new locations such as the playground. But in terms of a story, there isn’t something deep or fulfilling.

You don’t have much at first but that changes with time.

That’s not a disadvantage since Weyrdlets isn’t a game about narrative depth or details. You are raising pets and doing whatever you like, achieving goals if that suits you. The main draw of the game has always been its gameplay.

Gameplay – Pet Monitioring While You Work

The main appeal of Weyrdlets is managing your pet’s lifestyle while you are doing something else. It’s similar to The Sims 4 as you are responsible for the well-being of your pet. You must look out for your pet’s general health, fitness, luck, and other factors. You get some currency in the beginning but must earn more with basic tasks. Thankfully, your helpful assistant walks you through the entire process.

Many pets can play here, but not right now.

After that, it’s basic pet care by dragging objects over to them and waiting for interaction. Seeing your pet interact with new toys or food items is adorable, almost like watching a child discover the world. You can even take your pet on adventures, though it’s just a playground and a sailing ship for now.

The real draw is the ability to bring your pet to the desktop and use the productivity functions. If you work at home, it’s a great chance to have a fun distraction that lets you take breaks. For those who like multi-tasking, it’s an easy activity that you don’t need to pay much attention to. Your pet can’t “die” in the traditional sense, letting you focus on some tasks. You can always set a timer or reminders to pace yourself or take a break.

Getting a new desktop pet is a rewarding experience.

Desktop Mode – Productivity Balance

Putting your pet in desktop mode takes away the island but puts them on your desktop. You can still interact with them as if they were on the island, though some features aren’t available. If you are working in the background, your pet won’t interfere with your work. Worst case scenario, you just move the pet away. There are also timers and other productivity options to keep yourself on task.

Weyrdlets is great in the background while you perform other tasks. The pet isn’t intrusive and none of the toolbars take lots of real estate on your screen. Even if you play a game, the pet doesn’t interfere with the game itself. This makes it easy to stream or record a video, promoting Weyrdlets as well as the game you are playing. The biggest downside to the game is that progress is slow and prices are expensive. This results in long wait times where you won’t be able to do much.

Daily tasks are simple and quick to complete.

Progress – Very Slow & Steady

Getting your first pet is easy because it’s free. But subsequent pets are considerably more expensive. Without additional variety, the game gets stale. You can purchase new furniture and walls for your island, but you don’t have many options at the start. Playing over several days and months while interacting with your pet is the only way forward.

On one hand, it encourages you to check in and start Weyrdlets every day. It’s an easy reminder and helps set up a productivity tool if you don’t already have one. On the other, that means you are likely sitting with one pet for a long time. Prices have changed upon release but it’s still a slow grind if you didn’t start early.

It’s just you and one pet for a long time.

Audio & Visual – Cuteness is Everywhere

Weyrdlets is about enjoying time with a cute critter and it shows. The environment is simple and the animal designs are cute. You have several accessory options to customise your pet as you wish. None of them overpower your pet and enhance their appearance in various ways. You must unlock these options, giving you an incentive to try something new.

The background music is soothing and calm, going silent when you are in desktop mode. It’s not intrusive and helps to keep you focused while working. The odd sound may play when you use a timer but it’s nothing out of the ordinary. 

Weyrdlets was reviewed on Steam with a code provided by Weyrdworks.