Kiln May Be a Multiplayer Brawler, But It Also Seems Like a Cozy Game
Kiln is an upcoming game from the first-party Xbox developer Double Fine Productions that definitely feels like the first of its kind. The multiplayer brawler takes the popular co-op party formula and gives it a charming pottery-focused twist. In Kiln, players assemble teams of playable characters made of pottery that dives into the concept of creativity and destruction being intertwined. Double Fine is known for its unexpected and unique concepts, and Kiln is further proof of the developer’s fun-loving creativity. Double Fine is marketing Kiln as a “pottery party brawler,” but the game also looks like it could have some great cozy elements, too.
Kiln was revealed to be the surprise fourth game at the recent Xbox Developer Direct showcase, and being among juggernauts like the new Fable game and Forza Horizon 6 doesn’t mean its smaller-scale concept should be taken for granted. It may not be a heavy-hitter like the other Developer Direct games, but it could be the perfect choice for both cozy gamers and co-op fans.
Beyond Kiln’s Charming Brawler Premise Lies a Potential Treasure Trove of Coziness
The basic idea around Kiln is simple, but incredibly imaginative. Teams are made up of a group of spirits who use pottery as their armor, where players craft the pottery themselves with a sculpting mechanic. Whatever shape and size the pottery comes out as determines a character’s abilities and play style. Being Double Fine’s next game, creative ideas are expected from the studio, and Kiln delivers on that front.
Kiln doesn’t have a release date set in stone yet, but Double Fine is expected to launch the game sometime during spring 2026.
Building Pottery Armor Already Looks Incredibly Satisfying and Fun
Pottery has become a go-to cozy activity for many over the years, making its way to gaming plenty of times before. Master of Pottery on Steam is a good example of how this kind of gameplay can really scratch the cozy itch, and it seems like Kiln took plenty of notes on the indie title. After all, cozy games on Steam are some of the most popular offerings on the platform, but Kiln is set to bring this to a larger audience, not just PC fans. Taking the time to carefully form Kiln‘s in-game clay to get the ideal armor for a player’s preferred play style not only sounds fun, but slightly challenging without being too much of a hassle. That’s where the cozy meditation is.
The soul of the artist meets the heart of the warrior.
Breaking Stuff is Still One of the Best Stress Relievers
Cozy games usually don’t focus on destruction and chaos, but some titles fully embrace that sometimes breaking things can be one of the best ways to take the stress away. Destructive games like Goat Simulator, Teardown, and ABRISS can be really cathartic. Not only does Kiln bring stress relief with pottery formation, but it also requires players to break their opponent’s armor. The sound of ceramics breaking and the destruction that’s being teased in Kiln has an ASMR-like quality about it that could ultimately be for those who find the ultimate comfort in destroying stuff.
Kiln‘s matches support up to four players for each team.
Double Fine Has Already Proven That It’s Great at Building Unexpected Cozy Worlds
Creativity lies at the heart of Kiln, and destruction is ultimately its own form of creation. The two go hand-in-hand, so it’s fascinating to see this concept depicted in such a fun way, especially from Double Fine. Its last game wasn’t destruction-based, but it had plenty of its own coziness to it, too. Keeper was one of the most underrated games of 2025, and Kiln looks like it’s shaping up to be a double dose of coziness and charm from Double Fine.
Kiln is Good News for Xbox Game Pass Subscribers
Like many first-party Xbox titles, Kiln will be added to the list of day-one Xbox Game Pass games. Smaller-scale games with a lot of charm are Xbox Game Pass’ bread and butter, so it only makes sense for the pottery brawler to debut on the subscription service. Between Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and the PS5, Kiln will be able to reach a lot of gamers who are craving a fresh co-op title.
Kiln Has the Potential to Be One of 2026’s Best Ways to Wind Down With Friends
While Xbox-owned AAA games like Fable and Forza Horizon 6 are some of the company’s biggest releases this year, Kiln breaks things up with a fun-loving co-op premise that sounds perfect for spending time with friends. Party-focused co-op games are nothing new, but Kiln‘s unique identity really helps it stand out in the crowd. That’s incredibly hard to do these days, so that already makes Kiln impressive in that regard. So many party brawlers can feel like recycled ideas, but Kiln is something completely its own. Part pottery-maker, part head-to-head action-packed challenge, Kiln is aiming to demonstrate that both active gameplay and cozy concepts can coexist together in one experience.
Kiln may not be a game that’s for everyone, but its special take on co-op gameplay hopefully sets it up to find its perfect audience. Keeper was a fantastic game, but even now, it struggles to find a solid Steam player count. Of course, Steam players aren’t everything. Most of Keeper‘s players are likely found on Xbox Game Pass, but it still shows how underrated of a title it is. Kiln hopefully has more success right out the gate, though. Only time will tell, but Kiln‘s pottery-focused gameplay centered around chaos and creativity may be one of the best cozy experiences that gamers have coming their way in 2026.