Release date: May 5, 2026
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC
Genre: Adventure, Indie, Sim
Developer: Patattie Games
Publisher: Curve Games
Short intro
Wax Heads is a cozy-punk narrative sim about working in a struggling record store and helping a parade of quirky customers find the perfect vinyl. You’ll chat your way through music tastes, explore a handcrafted record collection, and get pulled into local band drama and community vibes—all while trying to keep the shop alive (or just slacking off with coworkers, if that’s your style).
Story overview
You’re thrown behind the counter of a record shop that’s on the edge of fading out, and your day-to-day choices shape how the store—and the people around it—recover their groove. The game leans into an uplifting “save the local scene” feeling: solving customer requests, digging into musical mysteries, and slowly rebuilding the shop’s place in the neighborhood.
Gameplay Mechanics (Wax Heads)
Wax Heads is a cozy-punk narrative sim / interactive fiction where the “core gameplay” is basically being a record store employee with detective energy. You work shifts at a struggling shop, talk to quirky customers, and figure out which vinyl fits what they actually mean.
Customer Conversations as a Puzzle
Most objectives come from dialogue. Customers describe what they want (sometimes clearly, sometimes… not), and you have to read their vibe and clues to match them with the right record. It’s less “scan barcode” and more “music mind-reading.”
Browsing a Handcrafted Record Collection
The shop has a curated library of albums you can explore. Records include descriptions/lore that help you make better matches, so learning the collection becomes part of progression.
Store Exploration and Side Interactions
Between customers, you can wander around the store, interact with objects, and soak in the space’s details—turning the shop into a small hub you get to know over time.
Narrative Focus and “Hangout” Options
It’s not a hardcore management sim about profit-maxing. The game leans into story, relationships, band drama, and slice-of-life choices—including the option to slack off and vibe with coworkers.
