
Playtest report preview
Dumb Ways to Build
Physics-based co-op construction game where teams build paths through dangerous jobs.
We listened to 8 Twitch streams of Dumb Ways to Build (7h 23m in total). The problem that came up most: how many revives a revive station or toilet grants is unclear, in 3 of 8 streams.
8 Twitch streams · 7h 23m analysed · Chinese, Portuguese, English, German · analysed in the week of 28 Sept 2026 · Steam page
- Problems
- 78
- Ideas
- 2
- Highlights
- 17
Where the moments happened
Grey bars show when the streamer was talking. Each mark is one reported moment; select a type below to hide or show it.
- Stream 1, 1h analysed: 7 problems, 3 highlights.
- Stream 2, 1h analysed: 15 problems, 2 highlights.
- Stream 3, 1h analysed: 20 problems, 1 suggestion or comparison, 4 highlights.
- Stream 4, 1h analysed: 22 problems, 3 suggestions or comparisons, 5 highlights.
- Stream 5, 1h analysed: 18 problems, 1 highlight.
- Stream 6, 39 min analysed: 4 problems, 2 highlights.
- Stream 7, 44 min analysed: 12 problems, 6 highlights.
- Stream 8, 59 min analysed: 13 problems, 6 highlights.
Problems (78)
Bugs, confusion, frustration and the moments players gave up.
- #1Bug
grapple gun runs out of charges and stops working mid-climb
1 of 8 streams · 5 moments
5 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #2Bug
swapping items deletes the previously held item
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #3Bug
noticeable lag during gameplay
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #4Bug
npc quest fails to trigger when standing too far away
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #5Bug
joining a friend's room sometimes fails with a generic error
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #6Bug
electrocution hazard strikes with no visible cause
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #7Bug
player falls off the map
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #8Bug
getting stunned can clip player inside building geometry
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #9Bug
fuel boost item causes rubber-banding lag glitch
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #10Bug
emote or reaction button fails to work for some players
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #11Bug
toilet prop splashes despite not being plumbed in
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #12Bug
voice sounds distorted after a knockout
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #13Confusion
how many revives a revive station or toilet grants is unclear
3 of 8 streams · 4 moments
4 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #14Confusion
megaphone tool's voice-activated function isn't clear to players
2 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #15Confusion
which button rotates a placed building piece is unclear
2 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #16Confusionblocking
plunger gun's pull mechanic is never explained
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #17Confusionblocking
carrying a teammate blocks the crush hazard and causes sudden deaths
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #18Confusion
room code on the lobby screen is hard to see or gets covered by chat
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #19Confusion
freeze ability is powerful but easy to miss early on
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #20Confusion
battery/energy recharge objective is never explained
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #21Confusion
cosmetic items are confusing to preview and equip
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #22Confusion
unclear what the goal and gameplay loop are before starting
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #23Confusion
shared boost mechanic and level path are unclear without hints
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #24Confusion
nailed objects behave inconsistently and sometimes hold unexpectedly
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #25Confusion
no clear indicator of where to go next during build tasks
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #26Confusion
ladder locked behind an unexplained resource requirement
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #27Confusion
gluing pieces together removes the ability to pick them up again
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #28Confusion
summon system spawns the wrong item
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #29Confusion
cracked planks give no clear safety signal
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #30Confusion
character creation cosmetics differ between players in the same lobby
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #31Confusion
bomb and tomato items look too similar to tell apart
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #32Confusion
traffic hazards can kill players without warning
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #33Confusion
floating spectator camera after death is confusing
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #34Confusion
a breakable prop that looks like a vase surprises players
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #35Confusion
bomb reactivation instructions are easy to miss before dying
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #36Confusion
escape menu hides streamer mode and secret achievements players find by accident
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #37Confusion
wild creature flee and respawn behavior is unclear
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #38Confusion
portable ladder item's use and limited supply confuses players
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #39Confusion
improvised weapons and shortcuts like fridges or staplers do not work
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #40Confusion
switching tools and ducking are not explained by the controls
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #41Confusion
unclear whether evolving a creature can produce a shiny variant
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #42Confusion
battle ability effects are hard to understand
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #43Confusion
boss battle retry limits are not explained
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #44Confusion
streamer mode and crossplay toggles are hard to find in settings
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #45Confusion
unclear whether an unlockable feature requires payment
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #46Confusion
unclear when climbing is actually necessary versus walking around
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #47Confusion
gluing pieces to walls for platforms is not obvious
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #48Confusion
party and game chat switching confuses players
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #49Confusion
thrown objects travel farther than expected
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #50Confusion
photo mechanics unclear
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #51Confusion
unclear whether players must work together or can go solo
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #52Confusion
hard-to-see gaps in platforms catch players off guard
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #53Confusion
unclear which objects in the level can be climbed
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #54Confusion
hosting a lobby seems to require friending teammates on steam
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #55Confusion
dunking electrical items like the toaster in water has no effect
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #56Frustrationblocking
placing down the mice item is unreliable and frustrating
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #57Frustration
carrying batteries while climbing is physically frustrating
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #58Frustration
some building steps need two players, awkward when playing solo
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #59Frustration
mission difficulty rated easy or kid-friendly feels much harder in practice
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #60Frustration
glued pieces fail to stick reliably during construction
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #61Frustration
controls for manipulating and attaching pieces feel overly complicated
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #62Frustration
fall damage from broken ankles feels punishing
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #63Frustration
rotating a held building piece is fiddly
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #64Frustration
frequent falling deaths while climbing structures
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #65Frustration
death respawns the player far below their climbing progress
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #66Frustration
voice volume slider is awkward to drag
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #67Frustration
players can knock each other off ledges
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #68Frustration
piranha enemies deal heavy damage quickly
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #69Frustration
items donated with bits can spawn explosives that kill players
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #70Frustration
hammer tool disappears from inventory without explanation
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #71Frustration
loud sound effects drown out team voice chat
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #72Frustration
collectible eggs near incubators are easy to miss
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #73Frustration
no dance emote available after finishing a build
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #74Frustration
building materials can be accidentally thrown away and lost
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #75Frustration
grapple gun has very limited uses
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #76Frustration
low-hanging sign repeatedly hits player's head
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #77Frustration
electric hazard zaps players mid-jump unfairly
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #78Frustration
friendly fire causes concern about griefing in public lobbies
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report
Suggestions and comparisons (2)
What players asked for, and which games they compared yours to.
- #79Suggestion
no way to remove a placed nail
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #80Suggestion
players want more unlockable customization options
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report
What landed (17)
Moments players clearly enjoyed.
- #81Highlight
players enjoy picking fun cosmetic customization options
2 of 8 streams · 5 moments
5 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #82Highlight
players take pride in bridges and staircases they build
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #83Highlight
players enjoy the lack of on-screen guidance compared to other games
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #84Highlight
fixing broken tv reveals a nice nod to the original game
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #85Highlight
players can injure and sabotage teammates using tools and gadgets
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #86Highlight
small environment visual details delight players
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #87Highlight
destructible and interactive environment objects are a strong highlight
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #88Highlight
goofy actions like sledgehammer hits and jaywalking unlock hidden achievements
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #89Highlight
character creation is quick and easy to use
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #90Highlight
specific creature designs get a strong positive reaction
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #91Highlight
catching boss enemies is a pleasant surprise
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #92Highlight
players enjoy taking photos with the camera
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #93Highlight
starting structure looks unstable with chaotic ragdoll physics
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #94Highlight
nail gun tool feels fun to use
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #95Highlight
players feel proud watching their build's dollar value climb
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #96Highlight
a drink item that alters your voice delights players
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #97Highlight
the plunger gun is a fan favorite silly weapon
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report
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