Sometimes life isn’t about the destination; it’s about the journey. A Pizza Delivery, developed by Eric Osuna and published by Dolores Entertainment, is a perfect example of this. The journey here is rarely simple or easy, often testing you in ways that are sure to infuriate the player.

I’ve always enjoyed narrative exploration games, titles like Abzû, What Remains of Edith Finch, or Outer Wilds. These games tell emotional stories or let players discover them at their own pace. A Pizza Delivery does its best to deliver a compelling narrative, but it’s unfortunately held back by a few poor design decisions and a feeling that the game probably should have been left in the oven a little longer.

You play as B, a delivery driver on a simple mission: to bring a pizza to a waiting customer. It becomes clear, however, that you’re in a reality where nothing stays still; locations shift around you. Your boss, Earl, calls frequently to check in, offer advice, and remind you that you’ve got a spare pizza in your bag to share with anyone you meet along the way.

These characters share their own stories with you, often hinting at your past as well. They’ll give you items needed to progress, skip rocks with you by a lakeside, or help you refill your scooter. The game frequently reaches for a beautiful, emotional narrative, yet severe, game-breaking bugs hold it back.

The camera can get stuck, you can fall through the map, and a few of these issues even forced me to restart the game entirely, multiple times. Thankfully, the adventure only lasts an hour or two, so it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Still, the constant interruptions can become exhausting and ultimately undermine the story it’s trying to tell.

Janky movement, while not terrible, definitely hurts the immersion. I understand it’s a solo-developed game, so I can overlook some rough edges, but the scooter often feels like it’s sliding on ice, making it far too easy to crash into your surroundings. Along the way, you’ll encounter plenty of puzzles, many of which rely on using the environment or the terrain to your advantage. In fact, the puzzles turned out to be one of the game’s few real highlights.

The other major highlight is the world itself. When the camera pulls back, and you’re riding through a vast, beautiful field with the northern lights overhead, it’s genuinely stunning. The game looks great visually, even if it’s not technically impressive.

Your character model is a bit too cartoony for my taste, especially when set against such gorgeous backdrops, which creates a contrast that feels a little odd. Still, the landscapes and overall world design are undeniably nice.

You’ll also discover small memories along the way that offer more insight into the world. Music boxes can be found throughout each level, and you can track them via a checklist in the menu. Each one usually comes with a short story or bit of context, adding a nice layer of much-needed detail. Audio glitches persist throughout, which detracts from the chill soundtrack that follows the player, further supporting my point that the game needed a little more time in the oven.

There is a thoughtful, heartfelt story buried beneath the bugs and inconsistencies in A Pizza Delivery, but the game gets in its own way far too often. It’s a short, creative experience that never quite comes together; however, I hope this developer can learn from it, as with the right execution, they could make something special.

Written by: Dylan Kocins