BOOKS, developed and published by UNIOCS, is a small and straightforward educational quiz game that focuses on teaching and testing knowledge about animals. At its core, it is built around a simple idea: the player browses through a collection of virtual books, each dedicated to a different animal, and then answers trivia questions to demonstrate what they know. There are forty animals in total, covering familiar domestic companions like cats, dogs, cows, and horses, as well as wilder choices such as lions, elephants, snakes, whales, and parrots. The range of subjects gives the game a broad enough scope to appeal to younger players, casual learners, or anyone who enjoys brushing up on animal facts in a light, approachable format.
The gameplay itself is uncomplicated and easy to grasp. Each book serves as a small self-contained quiz, where questions appear in clear, straightforward form and players select the correct answer from a set of options. The questions are designed to be accessible, offering bits of factual information that are not overly obscure or overly academic. This means the game functions more like a fun trivia session than a full-fledged learning tool, testing recognition and recall rather than building a deep educational framework. Its repetition of question formats is both a strength and a weakness: it makes the game consistent and relaxing to play but also contributes to a sense of monotony after extended sessions.
Visually, BOOKS is unpretentious but effective. The presentation is neat, with an interface designed around the imagery of a cupboard filled with books, and the overall aesthetic has a calm and inviting tone. The graphics are basic yet clean, while the background music contributes a quiet and soothing atmosphere. This combination keeps the experience low-pressure and casual, which suits its intended role as a lightweight trivia game. The lack of visual flash or elaborate animations might disappoint players expecting more variety, but the focus on clarity works in the context of quick quiz rounds.
One of the most striking aspects of the game is its achievement system, boasting thousands of Steam achievements for players to collect. For those who enjoy the pursuit of digital trophies, this can add an additional layer of motivation to keep answering questions. However, because the achievements often hinge on repetitive actions—such as completing many books or answering large numbers of questions—the system can feel more like a grind than a reward. It highlights one of the challenges the game faces: it offers breadth in terms of subjects but limited depth in terms of gameplay variety or progression.
Priced at a very low cost, BOOKS positions itself as an accessible title for nearly anyone curious enough to give it a try. At under a dollar, it does not ask for much in terms of investment, and in that light, it provides a modest amount of entertainment and educational value. Still, its reception has been mixed. Many players appreciate the simplicity and see it as a pleasant, casual diversion, while others criticize it for becoming repetitive and for not offering enough content beyond its initial novelty. The limited question pool and lack of evolving difficulty make it hard for the game to hold attention over the long term.
Ultimately, BOOKS is exactly what it presents itself as: a small, low-stakes trivia game designed around animals. It will not deliver deep educational engagement or highly polished gameplay systems, but it can serve as a relaxing pastime for those who enjoy testing their knowledge or simply want a gentle and inexpensive way to spend a few minutes. Its greatest strengths lie in its accessibility and its family-friendly nature, while its weaknesses emerge when players look for lasting depth or variety. For what it costs, however, it succeeds as a straightforward and casual experience, and it will likely find its audience among those who approach it with the right expectations.
Rating: 6/10
