The main gameplay is all about speed and recognition. Different foods appear and I have to decide which ones Dad wants while making sure the unwanted ones do not get through. Feeding him something nasty lowers his relaxation, so I have to pay attention rather than simply clicking everything as quickly as possible. I liked how the game starts off feeling very easy, then becomes more about keeping up with the increasing pace.
The score chasing is where most of the replay value comes from for me. Every correct choice gives me points, so there is always a reason to try another run and see if I can beat my previous score. It is the kind of game that works well in short sessions because I can jump in, play for a few minutes and immediately understand what I am supposed to do. I do not need to remember a complicated control scheme or learn a huge set of mechanics.
I also liked the unlockable outfits for Dad. Reaching higher scores lets me unlock different things for him to wear, which is a funny reward considering the entire game takes place during his bath time. These little cosmetic rewards give me something extra to work towards without changing the simple gameplay. The cartoon presentation fits them well too, and the colourful style makes the whole thing feel light and family friendly.
The biggest problem is that there simply is not a huge amount of depth here. Once I understand the food selection and get used to the pace, the gameplay loop does not change very much. There are no big levels, complicated upgrades or major surprises waiting for me. I think the game works best as a small arcade score attack rather than something I would sit and play for hours.
I do appreciate how accessible it is. The game is single player, lightweight and very easy to understand, with Steam Cloud support and achievements giving me a few extra goals. The minimal presentation also means it gets straight to the point without unnecessary menus or systems. I think that simplicity is actually one of its strengths, although it also means the limited scope becomes noticeable pretty quickly.
Overall, I think BathDad is a cute and funny little score chasing game that knows exactly what it wants to be. The food sorting, fast reactions and outfit unlocks give me enough to enjoy a few runs, while the ridiculous bath time setting gives it plenty of personality. It is definitely not a deep game and the replayability depends heavily on whether I enjoy chasing a higher score, but I had a good time with it. For a small indie game built around such a silly idea, I think it does its job surprisingly well.
Rating: 6.4/10