I really like the pixel art, and the gameplay seems quite interesting, however I don't understand how to make the pickaxe or how the different tools really work.

Hallo,

Thank you for sharing your game. I’ve already saved its RATING;

1. verified: GAME due to observed it in the SUBMISSIONS List with keyphrase “Play in browser” as filter; adds: noticeable pixel drawing and animation techniques based on the sample screenshots

2. observed: in MAIN GAME, item parts are first collected to build new items; example: a set of wood items to make ladder; remembers: from this GAMEPLAY technique, Warcraft#2 (PC) and Red Alert#1 (PC); adds: MINECRAFT (PS3)

3. observed: self to execute HOLD (R) COMMAND to restart multiple times and re-read the HINTS; notes: dwarf companion, GADIUS, to appear after three (3) (approx) restarts; notes: select items, e.g. storage to exist, albeit appeared to still be unclear of its use, where objective : climb to the TOP, due to LAVA is also climbing to the TOP;

4. reached: 5th platform, after re-verifying screenshot, where: has reached only the 3rd platform, with dwarf units already able to throw rotating axes to enemy orcs/goblins; observed: after re-verifying screenshot, 6th~7th platform can still be reached; notes: multiple playing and re-verifying due to need to know the next set of actions to reach the higher platform

5. observed: select PLAYERS may opt NOT to continue to play such GAME;  adds: however, if CAN be shown that WIN STATE can be achieved via current GAMEPLAY, such PLAYERS may opt to continue; adds: IF REFUND for paid COST to play GAME has noticeable DELAY, PLAYERS may opt to re-verify the GAMEPLAY via among others: existing tutorials, guidebooks; remembers: TRIANGLE STRATEGY (SWITCH), with the LADDER technique from Craftsman Unit Member

6. adds: noticeable background music, sound effects, and voice-overs;

Thank you. Health!

Nice job!

Really good game, it misses a tutorial to get started quickly but if you think about Dwarf Fortress...

Very cute graphics and animations, the game's very cute and a pleasure to look at! 😊

The mechanics are very interesting, but the lack of a tutorial is really impactful, there are some mechanics that I don't totally understand yet, and all that I could play and get into was because I reseted my game many many times. As it is now, this game is based on trial and error, you should add a tutorial or at least explain the mechanics in your page.

This is a very good start for a kind of puzzle and resource management game, if you keep working on it I can totally see it being sold in Steam! 😁

Great work on this! I liked the theme interpretation and the game play. The animations and art work were also very polished.

really really cool concept! I couldn't really figure out how to play, it was very hard to understand the use of each thing... but i like the idea, i think you can make a lot out of it!

The polish is also real... GGs to the team!

The game has a great concept and idea. I think it needs a tutorial, it' not really straightforward but otherwise it's really well made. I liked the sounds and the arts. Maybe you could add a button with which you can speed up the lava so that at certain moments you don't have to wait for the screen to catch up.

Overall good job and really enjoyed the idea as well as the ui.  Might be a cool "survival" game to play on the phone

Like the sounds and the sprite. Yeah -- very confused exactly what I'm building -- I couldn't figure out how to build horizontal to cross gaps, etc.

Really interesting concept and lovely spritework! As others have mentioned I only wish the lava was not there at least in the beginning. I am not sure if the intention was to figure out what each creation does on your own or if it was planned to have more detailed explanations for what each creation achieves but at present not really knowing what something does and also having a time limit feels quite pressuring and there isn't much room for experimentation. Not only is there the lava but there is also the happiness of the dwarfs so you have two separate systems which add urgency. I think starting out with a small room where you don't have lava and can test out everything at your own pace and then are brought to the lava room to test out your mastery would be a great improvement. Nevertheless, in game jams time is limited and it can be hard to predict what things are clear and what isn't. This is a seriously impressive level of polish and idea execution for a jam so well done :)

what a great idea! the crafting system works great with the tempo, few moments were quite demanding, but overall that was pretty fun to play!

Wow, this idea is unique. I like this game, but at first it was difficult and I was confused. It will be great if you add training in the future)

Very original and interesting approach to puzzle game.
Not sure if there were more ways to do things and reach the top or if some items were unnecessary as I didn't really find a need to use axes or where could I even build horseshoes.
Would also be better if dwarfs knew how to coordinate their work and ladders and other stuff together. Especially if there is nothing else to do.

I think something was missplaced on the platform with 3td dwarf. When I saved him resource placement on the platform didn't allow me to build ladder up - box of ore was in the way. So I though I missed something. But after reset of that chackpoint box of ore was moved one square left letting me build the ladder.

A cute game! As others have mentioned, it's got a punishing learning curve - the constantly rising lava works against the "figure it out as you play" design that you went for.

Very beautiful game, the quality of graphics and details are awesome, the lava, burning animations, event the icons of dwarf's "thoughts". I did not understand at the first time how to use a bench. And the game is really hard sometimes, but I loved it, cause there are checkpoints to restart from! very strong entry! Well done!

A very polished game. Graphics, audio suits it as well. But it's a bit hard.

Nice game overall.

Check my game https://itch.io/jam/game-off-2022/rate/1800497

Quite a difficult game and what everyone else has mentioned but good overall.

Wow, such an interesting entry actually ! I think this is one of the most polished one i've seen so far ! I really liked the art, the music and the global atmosphere

However, as mentionned in other comments, yes this game is indeed really hard. Actually it was not a big deal for me to try every option that i had and i had even quite some fun discovering all of these but the real issue was the lava ... It was so damn frustrating not to be able to discover and just having to rush ... I think implementing it after a while would have been better

For real i'm so frustrated i really wanted to play more but it was too hard x)

All in all this is a good job, keep it up !