From Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer of LIMBO and INSIDE — COCOON takes you on an adventure across worlds within worlds. Master world-leaping mechanics and solve intricate puzzles to unravel a cosmic mystery.
Players repeatedly praise the game's puzzle design as both challenging and intuitive. The puzzles start simply, tasking you with manipulating orbs to progress, but gradually become more complex. You'll need to think creatively, combining the game's unique "world-leaping" mechanic in unexpected ways to solve each new obstacle. Reviewers highlight how the puzzles feel fair, with no cheap tricks or frustrating difficulty spikes - just satisfying, logical problem-solving.
The game effortlessly introduces and expands upon its core mechanics. The ability to carry and switch between different worlds on your back is easy to grasp, yet offers seemingly endless possibilities for puzzle-solving. As you progress, new abilities are layered on top of this foundation, with the game seamlessly guiding you to master each tool without explicit tutorials.
While puzzles take center stage, the experience also emphasizes open-ended exploration. You can freely navigate the game's striking alien environments, discovering new paths and secrets at your own pace. Reviewers note that backtracking and experimentation often uncovers hidden rewards, creating a constant sense of wonder and discovery.
Reviewers remark on the game's careful balance of challenge. The puzzles require thought and experimentation, but rarely leave players stuck or confused. The difficulty curve is well-paced, with each new obstacle building logically on previous mechanics. This creates a sense of flow and progression that keeps the gameplay engaging throughout.
Interspersed between the puzzles are a series of distinctive boss battles that are widely praised. These encounters cleverly incorporate the game's world-hopping mechanics, providing a welcome change of pace that requires both strategic thinking and quick reflexes to overcome.