Since E3, I’ve had my eye on KeyWe. I love Co-op games like Overcooked, and the second I saw this Australian Postal-Service-themed game, I knew I had to try it. KeyWe, much like Overcooked, mixes fun simulation and time management elements, with Co-op gameplay that requires teamwork and concentration.

In KeyWe, you play as Jeff or Debra (both if you’re playing Solo) who have joined the Bungalow Basin Telepost. As new postal workers, it is up to these two little kiwis to sort the mail, transcribe telegraph messages, send out and accept incoming mail, and more. What’s more complicated about their job, is that often you are required to contend with various seasonal issues such as pests, weather events, and more.

The controls of KeyWe are simple. You can chirp, butt-slam, peck, jump and push or pull objects. By butt-slamming buttons or levers, you can activate various machines, or you can use your beak to pull levers as needed. Additionally, some tasks require both Jeff and Debra to work at the same time, in order to do various actions. Each mission/level has a certain time limit, but the faster you complete it, the better score you get. Levels are scored by a gold, silver, or bronze medal at the end.

Depending on your score, you will get different amounts of stamps. Stamps are used to buy customization items to customize Jeff or Debra, such as new skins, hats, facewear, and more. Additionally, in certain levels, there are secret items you can find, which unlock cosmetics and unlock a decoration in your collection.

In addition to regular levels, there are overtime shifts which are unique tasks that you can repeat over and over. If you do them enough times and do them well, you will unlock special rewards. Playing in Co-op is simple enough if you have a partner that you work well with, however, I think solo play is pretty difficult despite being a good idea.

In Solo play, you control both Debra and Jeff at the same time. You can either switch between them or hold down a button and move/act with them simultaneously. The problem is that some jobs require you to split the roles if you want to get a decent time or score, so having to play both roles winds up being almost impossible.

However, don’t fret if you don’t have someone to play with at home. KeyWe does have an online Co-op, including the option of making private rooms in case you want to invite a friend to join you. I could easily see it being super fun to get in a discord call and fire up KeyWe for some fun times. There are a few levels that I have needed to restart due to the game soft-locking itself or bugging out, but it hasn’t happened often.

My biggest example was a level where carnivorous plants were overrunning the telegraph room. The plants would pop off the keys that we had to use to type out messages, and occasionally a key would go missing, causing us to lose precious time. It was nothing a quick restart didn’t fix though, and after getting stressed by the issue, it was actually a good idea to take a breath and restart.

Overall though, I really enjoy my time with KeyWe. Lisa and I play for a few hours, and each time we have a blast. The levels are varied and interesting, being just intense enough to get us excited and eager to improve our score. The story (what little there is) is also interesting, and I find myself eager to jump back in and play with Jeff and Debra again. The solo mode leaves much to be desired, but I’m not exactly sure how it could be improved.

All-in-all I think KeyWe is a great experience for friends, parents with kids, and people of all ages. I’ve never given much thought to working for the postal service, but playing as a little Kiwi bird has been very enjoyable. I’d recommend KeyWe to anyone that loves Overcooked or any similar experience.

A Nintendo Switch Review Copy of KeyWe was provided by Sold Out Games for this review.

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KeyWe

$24.99

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• Fun Puzzles and Levels
• Cute and Colorful Design
• Great for the Family
• Lots of Customization

Cons

• Solo Mode is Really Hard
• A Few Levels Can Soft-Lock or Bug Out