What if running a failing record store was actually a detective game where customers give you cryptic clues instead of asking for specific albums? That’s the premise behind Wax Heads, the debut title from two-person indie studio Patattie Games. You’ve inherited Repeater Records, a struggling vinyl shop packed with quirky customers, bizarre band lore, and over 50 hand-drawn records waiting to be discovered. Your job is simple: listen to vague descriptions, decode what they actually want, and recommend the perfect album without going insane.
Created by Murray Somerwolff (Welcome to Elk) and Rothio Tome (former Unity developer support engineer turned top Spanish GameDev streamer), Wax Heads launches early 2026 on PC, Linux, and Xbox. A free demo is available now on Steam, and if you’ve ever worked retail, loved High Fidelity, or played Coffee Talk and Strange Horticulture, this cozy-punk narrative sim might be your next obsession.
- Coffee Talk Meets Strange Horticulture in a Record Shop
- The Bands Have Drama and You Need to Know It
- 50+ Hand-Drawn Records with Personality
- Charmingly Approachable Puzzle Design
- Rule One: The Customer Is Never Right, But You Are
- More Than Just Matching Records
- From Welcome to Elk to Wax Heads
- Curve Games Publishing Partnership
- Demo Available Now
- Summer 2026 Launch Window
- FAQs
- More Than Music Trivia
Coffee Talk Meets Strange Horticulture in a Record Shop
The developers describe Wax Heads as a blend of Coffee Talk, Strange Horticulture, High Fidelity, and Scott Pilgrim, which perfectly captures the vibe. Like Coffee Talk, you’re behind a counter serving customers while absorbing their stories. Like Strange Horticulture, success depends on decoding cryptic clues and correctly identifying items from a large collection. The High Fidelity influence shows in the music snob culture and eccentric customer personalities. Scott Pilgrim contributes the vibrant comic book art style and punk aesthetic.
The core gameplay loop is refreshingly straightforward. Customers enter with vague hints about records they’re seeking. Maybe they describe a feeling, mention a specific instrument, reference a visual element from the album cover, or drop cryptic comments about the artist’s personal life. You listen carefully, browse your collection of 50+ albums, and recommend what you think matches their description. Get it right and you satisfy the customer. Get it wrong enough times and your stress level increases until you need a break.
The Bands Have Drama and You Need to Know It
What elevates Wax Heads beyond simple matching puzzles is the detailed world-building around fictional bands and their ridiculous lore. Did Scandinavian metal band Jarhead really murder their singer and put his head in a jar? Is it true that Kerri Krow only sings while brushing her teeth? These aren’t throwaway jokes but actual clues you’ll need to remember when customers ask for recommendations.
The game rewards paying attention to everything. Posters on walls, zines scattered around the shop, conversations between customers, arcade machines in the corner, TVs playing music videos, all of these contain information that helps you make better recommendations. The record store itself becomes a character you need to learn and understand. Get distracted by all the details and you might miss important clues. Stay too focused on efficiency and you’ll miss the personality that makes the experience special.
50+ Hand-Drawn Records with Personality
Every album in Wax Heads was hand-drawn by Somerwolff, whose illustration background shines through the gorgeous comic book art style. Each record feels like a real artifact with thought put into cover design, band names, and musical identity. You’re not just matching generic genres but learning the specific characteristics that make Becoming Violet different from Jarhead or Kerri Krow.
This attention to detail creates genuine discovery moments. When you finally figure out which obscure album a customer wants based on their weird description, it feels earned rather than lucky. The satisfaction comes from understanding the collection well enough to navigate it confidently, similar to how Strange Horticulture rewarded learning plant characteristics or Coffee Talk taught you drink recipes through repetition and attention.
Charmingly Approachable Puzzle Design
One concern players raised about the demo was puzzle difficulty. Some wanted more complex challenges while others appreciated the accessible approach. Creative director Somerwolff clarified that Wax Heads deliberately avoids overly complex puzzles to maintain a friendly tone. The goal is ensuring players don’t feel overwhelmed or frustrated, keeping the cozy vibe intact even when challenges increase.
That said, the game includes hidden meta puzzles for players seeking deeper mental workouts. These optional challenges provide extra depth without forcing everyone through frustrating difficulty spikes. The philosophy mirrors what makes Coffee Talk successful, mechanical simplicity that lets narrative and character work shine without punishing players who aren’t puzzle experts. You’re here to vibe with quirky customers and discover cool fictional bands, not prove your genius-level deduction skills.
Rule One: The Customer Is Never Right, But You Are
The game’s first rule immediately establishes its personality. Unlike retail reality where you nod politely at terrible customer opinions, Wax Heads positions you as the musical authority. These indecisive, eccentric customers need your expertise to find their perfect record. This power dynamic creates satisfying moments where you confidently recommend albums that expand their horizons rather than simply confirming their existing tastes.
The quirky customer types range from the uber-Mimi fan (think obsessive Taylor Swift stan) to gentlemen seeking relaxing male choral ensembles. Each personality type requires different approaches. Some respond well to challenging their preferences. Others want validation of what they already know they like. Reading customer vibes and tailoring recommendations accordingly adds social simulation depth to what could have been purely logical puzzles.
More Than Just Matching Records
Beyond the core customer service loop, Wax Heads includes mini-games, tamagotchis to care for, arcade machines to play, and a shop customization system where you can design promotional flyers. These side activities prevent the gameplay from feeling repetitive across longer sessions. When you need a break from decoding customer clues, you can redecorate, play arcade games, or check on your digital pet.
The narrative threading through everything involves saving Repeater Records from failure while uncovering mysteries about your boss Morgan (formerly of band Becoming Violet) and the local music scene’s secrets. The story provides context and motivation beyond simply matching albums correctly. You’re not just running a shop but becoming part of a community with its own dramas, histories, and interconnected relationships.
From Welcome to Elk to Wax Heads
Murray Somerwolff brings substantial indie credentials to Patattie Games. His previous work includes Welcome to Elk, an award-winning biographic adventure game with Triple Topping Games where he served as art director and co-writer. He also contributed to mobile precision platformer Spitkiss and worked pre-production on existential punk management game Dead Pets Unleashed before freelancing and teaching game art.
Rothio Tome’s background as Unity developer support engineer brings technical expertise that complements Somerwolff’s creative vision. Their partnership represents the classic indie duo model where complementary skills allow small teams to punch above their weight. Tome’s active game development streaming on Twitch four days weekly provides transparency into the creation process, building community investment before launch.
Curve Games Publishing Partnership
Patattie Games signed with Curve Games for publishing, a significant vote of confidence in the project. Curve has successfully published numerous indie titles and provides resources that two-person studios desperately need, marketing support, QA testing, platform negotiations, and community management assistance. This partnership suggests Wax Heads has commercial potential beyond niche appeal.
The Guardian, NME, and The Gamer have all praised the game’s concept and demo. The Guardian highlighted how it celebrates the joy of musical discovery waiting in local record stores. NME appreciated the punk charm, eclectic clientele, and satisfying vinyl-finding gameplay. The Gamer noted the vibrant quirky art style and familiar homage to music stereotypes. Critical reception suggests the concept resonates beyond hardcore puzzle game fans.
Demo Available Now
The Wax Heads demo on Steam offers substantial content showcasing core mechanics and personality. Players report finding new interactive elements each playthrough, testament to the detailed environment design. Community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with players expressing excitement for the full release while requesting features like being able to listen to all shop albums and expanded customization options.
Somerwolff actively engages with community discussions on Reddit and Discord, answering questions and incorporating feedback into development. This transparency builds trust that player suggestions matter and will influence the final product. The team promises exciting news early in 2026, likely including a more specific release date and additional feature reveals.
Summer 2026 Launch Window
While initially planned for early 2026, recent information suggests a Summer 2026 launch window. The delay likely reflects the reality of two-person development where scope expands as the project evolves. Somerwolff mentioned the project wasn’t supposed to be this grand initially, suggesting positive reception encouraged bigger ambitions that require more time to execute properly.
This measured approach prioritizes quality over rushing to market. The indie game landscape is littered with promising concepts that launched too early and never recovered from poor first impressions. Taking extra time to polish systems, expand content, and incorporate demo feedback increases chances of successful launch that sustains long-term interest.
FAQs
What is Wax Heads?
Wax Heads is a cozy-punk narrative puzzle game where you manage a struggling record store called Repeater Records. Customers give vague clues about albums they want, and you must decode their descriptions to recommend the perfect record from a collection of 50+ hand-drawn vinyl albums.
When does Wax Heads release?
Wax Heads is scheduled to launch in Summer 2026 on PC, Linux via Steam, and Xbox. A free demo is currently available on Steam showcasing the core gameplay loop and quirky customer interactions.
Who is developing Wax Heads?
Patattie Games, a two-person indie studio consisting of Murray Somerwolff (Welcome to Elk, Spitkiss) and Rothio Tome (former Unity developer support engineer and GameDev streamer). Curve Games is publishing the title.
What games is Wax Heads similar to?
The developers describe it as blending Coffee Talk’s cozy customer service, Strange Horticulture’s deduction puzzles, High Fidelity’s music culture, and Scott Pilgrim’s comic book aesthetic. It’s a narrative puzzle game focused on matching customer descriptions to specific albums.
Is Wax Heads difficult?
The developers aim for approachable puzzle design that doesn’t overwhelm or frustrate players. While the game includes some hidden meta puzzles for challenge seekers, the core experience maintains a friendly tone prioritizing vibes and story over complex deduction challenges.
Can you customize the record store?
Yes, Wax Heads includes shop customization features like designing promotional flyers. Players have requested expanded customization options for the full release. The game also includes mini-games, arcade machines, and tamagotchis to care for beyond the core customer service loop.
Are the bands in Wax Heads real?
No, all 50+ albums and bands are fictional creations with detailed backstories and drama. Part of the gameplay involves learning these fictional bands’ characteristics, histories, and bizarre rumors (like whether a metal band really put their singer’s head in a jar) to make better recommendations.
More Than Music Trivia
Wax Heads represents exactly the kind of creative, personality-driven indie game that makes the scene exciting. Two developers with complementary skills building something that AAA studios would never greenlight. The concept is simple enough to explain in one sentence but deep enough to sustain hours of engagement. And it celebrates something genuinely worth celebrating, the joy of discovering perfect music through knowledgeable recommendation rather than algorithm-driven playlists. Download the demo and see if you have what it takes to save Repeater Records. The customers are waiting, and they have absolutely no idea what they actually want. Lucky for them, you do.