What’s the stitch with Dressmaker?

This review is an outlier compared to my usual pattern. I’m not reviewing a game that’s at least a decade old. For once, I’m striking while the iron is hot. That pun is intended, as the subject of this review is Dressmaker.

Released on Sept. 21 of this year, Dressmaker is an indie darling that made waves in the cozy gaming community. I haven’t been able to put it down since I purchased it!

As always, a minor spoiler warning for those that have yet to play the game.

Graphics: 5/5

Dressmaker blends three-dimensional modeling and two-dimensional visual novel-esque visuals. Your dresses are 3D rendered down to the last button while most other components, such as backgrounds and customers, are 2D. Both 2D and 3D are beautifully well done.

The 2D art style is soft and comforting yet vibrant and lively at the same time. Each customer has their own unique sense of style on top of their unique features. Nobody in the game looks the same. The user interface (UI) is incredibly fitting and stunning to boot.

The 3D renderings for the dresses are wonderful. Every fabric is made with so much love, and there are a lot of fabrics. There are more to come, with the developer planning continuous updates. Accessories are gorgeous and unique too, often tying a dress together. Lace, sequins, velvet and more are all fully detailed. The dresses realistically form their desired shape and don’t feel all the same with a poorly pasted on overlay.

Storytelling 4/5

Storytelling is limited to brief character interactions and a newspaper article at the end of each section. We don’t actually see any character interactions, only hear about them. That being said, what we do get is a lovely story. Each character offers their own unique perspective, allowing the player to piece together the events of each section themselves. Customer commissions also tell the player a great deal about their personalities.

Characters: 5/5

I find the characters in Dressmaker to be absolutely delightful. Despite the Bridgerton-esque setting, the characters don’t feel out of touch. You can relate to them despite their extraordinary circumstances. Strangely enough, Prudence is my favorite. I find her staunch determination charming and occasional lack of self-awareness fascinating. Every character unfolds as they increasingly commission you. It’s a wonderful reward for simply playing the game.

Game Mechanics: 4/5

Dressmaker has the player pick fitting fabrics, dress designs and accessories for each commission. I find myself spending most of my time determining the perfect fabric to use for what section of each piece and how to balance required stats with visual pleasure. The sewing minigame keeps me on my toes and focused, desperate to ensure I give my clients the best quality possible. If I had to air a grievance, it would be that the eraser function in the sketchbook only erases every color instead of being able to target certain areas.

Unlocking new materials is well-paced and encourages one to keep climbing the ranks. I love that you are able to choose whatever combination of pieces you desire, mixing bodices, collars, sleeves and skirts to your heart’s desire. I also adore that you earn new styles through growing your relationship with customers.

My favorite game mechanic is, of course, petting your cat Buttons and watching him move positions. The ‘Off the Rack’ mechanic essentially functioning as both a get out of jail free card for penniless players as well as a sandbox mode is also a great favorite that truly makes the game.

Controls: 5/5

Dressmaker’s control scheme is simple and effective. Placing accessories seems daunting at first, but you can manipulate them every which way for maximum customization. The sewing minigame is easy to control without being brain-dead as well.

Accessibility: 3/5

As of right now, Dressmaker is only available on PC and the Steamdeck for $14.99. The developer claims to have plans for releasing Dressmaker on the Switch and Switch 2, though a release date has not yet been set. As the game is relatively inexpensive and planning to increase available platforms, I feel this ranking is sufficient.

26/30 Grade: B

I would recommend Dressmaker to anybody who asked. It is a darling cozy game with a proactive development team and lots of love imbued within it. Dressmaker is so beautiful and such a joy to experience. It has quickly solidified itself amongst my favorites, despite only having had it for half a week at the time of writing this.