Tidy Up the Town Review (Steam)

We all get a weird joy from putting things back where they belong. Whether it’s organising a messy desk, colour-coding a bookshelf, or finally cleaning out that kitchen drawer that's been a disaster zone for years, tidying taps into a simple but powerful sense of accomplishment. Tidy Up the Town takes that feeling and turns it into a cosy fantasy game, dropping players into a charming medieval marketplace that has been thrown into disarray by a magical mishap. The result is a surprisingly addictive organiser that's difficult to put down once you start.

The premise is delightfully straightforward. After an ill-advised spell leaves the town market in complete chaos, it's up to you to restore order before the merchants arrive. Armed with little more than your powers of observation and a willingness to sort hundreds of misplaced objects, you'll wander the market collecting lost goods and returning them to their rightful stalls. It's essentially a giant interactive tidying session, but one wrapped in enough charm and personality to keep the concept engaging for hours.

What makes Tidy Up the Town work so well is the way it transforms a simple task into an engaging puzzle. The market is packed with items ranging from food and tools to books, clothing and decorative trinkets. Learning where everything belongs gradually becomes second nature, and spotting a misplaced object amongst the clutter delivers the same satisfaction as finding the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle. The game constantly rewards observation, memory and efficiency without ever feeling stressful.

The market itself is wonderfully designed. Each shop and stall has its own identity, making it easy to recognise where items should ultimately be returned. The medieval fantasy setting adds plenty of character, and details scattered throughout the environment encourage exploration. Rather than simply being a checklist of objects to move around, the town feels like a lived-in location inhabited by merchants, craftsmen and eccentric townsfolk who have accidentally become victims of your magical incompetence.

Another strength is the game's relaxed pace. There are leaderboards and achievements for those who want to optimise their runs, but there is no pressure forcing players to rush. You can casually stroll through the market, picking up objects at your own speed and enjoying the calming atmosphere as you clean up the chaos. It fits perfectly into the growing cosy gaming space while managing to stand apart from other organisation-focused titles.

Just a week after launch, developer Pawsmonaut Games delivered the substantial Samhainn (Halloween) Update, adding a surprising amount of new content. The market receives a spooky seasonal makeover inspired by the traditional Gaelic festival of Samhainn, complete with darker lighting, eerie decorations and a brand-new Curiosities Stall run by the mysterious Old Morwen. Players can discover and organise 109 new seasonal items, adding fresh challenges for completionists and tidy-up enthusiasts alike.

The headline addition, however, is head-to-head multiplayer, allowing players to race friends to see who can restore order to the market the fastest. Rather than co-operative gameplay, the focus is on friendly competition, with players able to chase each other around the market, use new abilities such as the Gust spell, and compete for leaderboard positions.

The update also introduces new achievements, a dedicated leaderboard and five new spooky music tracks, giving existing players plenty of reasons to return. Best of all, the seasonal content doesn't disappear forever. After the event period ends, it remains accessible through the settings menu, ensuring the content isn't lost to future players.

Alongside the seasonal additions, recent hotfixes have addressed various issues including Steam Deck optimisation, performance improvements and bug fixes relating to item placement and hardware compatibility.

Pros

• Exceptionally relaxing gameplay loop

• Charming medieval fantasy setting

• Satisfying organisation and sorting mechanics

• Strong accessibility and pick-up-and-play appeal

• Excellent free Samhainn update with substantial new content

Cons

• Core gameplay can become repetitive for some players

• Limited variety outside the central sorting mechanic

• Competitive multiplayer may not appeal to players seeking co-op experiences

Tidy Up the Town succeeds because it focuses entirely on delivering a relaxing, rewarding experience centred around organisation and discovery. What sounds like a simple idea on paper quickly becomes an enjoyable obsession once you start returning hundreds of misplaced items to their proper homes. The excellent Samhainn update further strengthens the package, adding meaningful new content and competitive multiplayer that expands the game's appeal without sacrificing its cosy identity. For players who find satisfaction in order, organisation and methodically clearing clutter, Tidy Up the Town is an easy recommendation.

XPN Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (SILVER)

Tidy Up the Town is available now!