Solve difficult puzzles in a soothing atmosphere by altering your characters in multiple ways, forcing you to think outside the box.
The core gameplay revolves around controlling four distinct character types, each with their own unique movement and manipulation abilities. Players can assume the role of the Norn, who can extend and retract its arms horizontally and vertically, the Burdened, who can extend and retract its palms, the Guard, who can magnetically attach to metal cubes, or the Shadow, who can leave behind a duplicated version of itself. Mastering these diverse character mechanics is essential to solving the game's complex spatial reasoning puzzles.
The puzzles in this game consistently challenge players with their creative and intricate design. While the early levels gently introduce the core mechanics, the difficulty steadily increases, presenting increasingly complex challenges. Reviewers highlight specific puzzles that left them stumped for a time, only to experience a satisfying "aha!" moment when they finally discerned the solution. These puzzles demand lateral thinking and experimentation, rather than relying on brute-force trial and error.
Despite the game's challenging nature, reviewers agree that the difficulty curve remains well-balanced throughout. While some puzzles can be genuinely perplexing, the majority strike an appropriate level of challenge, offering a satisfying experience without becoming frustratingly difficult. The ability to skip puzzles and return to them later is praised as a player-friendly feature, allowing individuals to progress at their own pace.
The four distinct character types, each with their own unique mechanics, contribute to the game's replayability. Reviewers note that the puzzles feel fresh and engaging as they are tackled from the perspective of the different characters, as the same challenge can require drastically different solutions depending on the abilities at hand. This variety in gameplay, alongside the relatively short but dense nature of the experience, prevents the game from becoming repetitive.
Beyond the core gameplay, the game's cohesive design and soothing atmosphere are praised by reviewers. The minimalist, stylized visuals and ambient audio create a calming, meditative experience that complements the puzzle-solving. The visual and auditory elements work in harmony to enhance the overall experience, without distracting from the important task of solving the puzzles.