20 Small Mazes

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,747 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • emotional
20 Small Mazes Game Cover
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"20 Small Mazes" is a free, compact puzzle game featuring twenty challenging mazes. Playable with a keyboard and mouse, it caters to both PC and Steam Deck users. The game, an IGF awards' excellence in design honorable mention, offers about 1-2 hours of gameplay, with some puzzles needing English knowledge. Recent updates enhance stability and fix issues, ensuring a smoother experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,747 reviews
gameplay64 positive mentions
story6 negative mentions
  • Each maze has a unique gimmick, making them fun and engaging.
  • The game is free, providing great value for a short and enjoyable experience.
  • The puzzles are cleverly designed, offering a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
  • The sliding puzzle is frustrating and can be a significant challenge for players.
  • Some puzzles may require external hints, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The game is quite short, leaving players wanting more content after completing it.
  • gameplay185 mentions

    The gameplay of "20 Small Mazes" is characterized by its innovative and diverse mechanics, with each of the 20 mazes offering a unique challenge that keeps players engaged. Reviewers praise the game's clever design and satisfying puzzle-solving experience, noting that the variety of mechanics prevents repetition and enhances enjoyment. While the game is relatively short, lasting about an hour, it is described as a delightful and creative puzzle experience that is well worth trying, especially given its free price point.

    • “Unique maze mechanics keep you engaged, and the satisfaction of clearing each maze from the screen is unmatched.”
    • “Each of the 20 mazes has its own unique mechanic to it that makes solving all 20 small mazes fun.”
    • “The innovative design keeps things interesting, and the mix of different mechanics ensures that each stage feels distinct.”
    • “The game offers no tutorial or hints, leaving players to figure out the mechanics and solutions on their own.”
    • “Some have rather straightforward gimmicks that make for deceptively linear puzzles, but others require trial and error just to figure out their mechanics.”
    • “I was a bit surprised that most ideas were pretty straightforward and I hoped to see more combinations of mechanics and less known puzzles.”
  • graphics64 mentions

    The graphics of the game are consistently described as cute, simplistic, and aesthetically pleasing, with a charming art style that enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers note that the visuals are minimalist and not particularly advanced, they appreciate the polished design and calming color palette, which complement the creative puzzles and gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute to a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere, making the game visually appealing without being distracting.

    • “The graphics are a delightful blend of whimsical art and polished design, all presented in charming two-dimensional pixel art.”
    • “The graphics are nice and simplistic, with a soft, rounded aesthetic and soft pastel colors to match.”
    • “The simple art style and calming sounds are quite relaxing, while the mazes themselves range in difficulty from simple/cute to mildly difficult.”
    • “Graphics: neat and minimalist though I wouldn't call them exactly good.”
    • “This game is graphically pretty simple.”
    • “Why's it making my computer go flat out with 100% GPU usage when the graphics and mechanics are this simple?”
  • emotional30 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "20 small mazes" is characterized by a blend of nostalgia, frustration, and heartwarming experiences, with players expressing feelings ranging from joy and accomplishment to moments of self-doubt and frustration. Many reviews highlight the game's wholesome design and creativity, evoking a sense of childhood wonder while also challenging players intellectually. Overall, it elicits a wide spectrum of emotions, making it a memorable and engaging experience.

    • “It’s a celebration of creativity and clever design, wrapped in a package that’s as heartwarming as it is challenging.”
    • “I laughed, I cried, I contemplated my place in the universe.”
    • “This was an amazing, truly heartfelt game; I wish to throw my computer freely one day after I finally finish the shifting puzzle.”
  • humor29 mentions

    The humor in "20 Small Mazes" is widely praised for its cleverness and creativity, with players enjoying the unique and funny mechanics of each puzzle. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through inventive challenges and quirky elements, making it a delightful experience that combines humor with engaging gameplay. Overall, the game is described as a charming and amusing puzzle adventure that consistently entertains.

    • “Funny and creative puzzles with just the right amount of challenge!”
    • “What truly sets '20 small mazes' apart is its sense of humor and heart.”
    • “'20 small mazes' is a gem of a game that will tickle your brain and your funny bone in equal measure.”
  • music27 mentions

    The game's music aspect is polarizing, with some players appreciating the absence of a traditional soundtrack in favor of ambient sounds and interactive effects, which create a relaxing atmosphere. However, many reviewers express a desire for more musical elements, suggesting that a background score could enhance the experience. Overall, while the sound design is generally well-received, the lack of music leaves some players wanting more.

    • “The soundtrack is crazy, wouldn't have beat the game without it.”
    • “The puzzles are pretty fun and aren't unfair; the music is chill.”
    • “A hot drink, some nice music, and this little gem was a lovely treat.”
    • “The game does not feature a soundtrack, but instead uses ambient white noise and interactive sound effects to set the mood.”
    • “Very little sound effects (in fact, the end credits is basically just a thank you to people who make free sound effects to use in things like this), and no music at all.”
    • “There is no music in this game.”
  • story27 mentions

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on the game's story, with many users noting a lack of a traditional narrative or background. However, some players appreciate the emotional journey conveyed through the mazes, suggesting that while the overarching story may be minimal, the experience can still be impactful. Overall, the consensus leans towards the game having little to no substantial story.

    • “Each maze tells a little story, and by the time you reach the end, you’ll find yourself genuinely moved by the journey.”
    • “No bugs, no bad graphics, no bad story, this right here, is the perfect video game; it transcends art.”
    • “Plus their story is amazing as well.”
    • “This game has no story.”
    • “There is no story, background, or setup to the game.”
    • “The story, oh the story.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Overall, players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game. While many appreciate the unique and engaging puzzle mechanics that keep the experience fresh and rewarding without becoming tedious, some express frustration with certain aspects of grinding, describing it as repetitive and occasionally requiring excessive time investment. However, most agree that the puzzles are designed to be solvable without becoming overly tedious, making the grinding experience more manageable.

    • “Rewarding, catching, simple in the design yet complex in the resolution, while at the same time not tedious or too hard.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Meaningless & repetitive grinding anytime, anywhere.”
    • “Hardcore grinding but you can also get there with enough dedication.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed among users; while some find it infinitely replayable and enjoyable for quick runs, many note that it has limited replay value once puzzles are solved. Overall, it offers a fun experience for a short duration, but lacks incentives for repeated play beyond the initial enjoyment.

    • “It's a nice, hour-long experience that looks like it contains a good amount of replayability as you try and beat the game as quickly as possible.”
    • “I really love this one, and it is rare to find free games that have the value of replayability mixed with solid fun like this game.”
    • “This is a very replayable game.”
    • “Very good short puzzle game, no replayability but that's to be expected.”
    • “[b]Limited replay value:[/b] once you've solved all the mazes, there's not much incentive to return to the game, unless you really enjoyed the experience or want to try and beat your previous times.”
    • “It sure is a fun little game, it's unfortunate there is no replayability though.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The game is praised for its transparent monetization model, featuring no premium battle passes, in-game purchases, or paid DLCs. Instead, it creatively incorporates pop-up ads as part of the gameplay, offering a fun and engaging experience without the typical pitfalls of microtransactions, making it a refreshing free-to-play option.

    • “No premium battle passes, no in-game purchases, no paid DLCs!”
    • “It is built like that the mazes are pop-up ads and you try to remove them by solving them.”
    • “In an age where games often come with hefty price tags or microtransactions, this gem of a game is available to everyone at no cost.”
    • “It's fun, creative, short, and (a rare feature for free games) doesn't try to suck you into a vicious cycle of dopamine hits that can only be prolonged with microtransactions.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no glitches, others have encountered bugs, particularly in certain mazes and during fast-paced actions. The developers have been proactive, releasing hotfixes for minor issues shortly after launch.

    • “Shame, it's supposed to be a little fun and creative puzzle game, but it's just too buggy.”
    • “Fun game, except when you go too fast on the slide puzzle and it glitches out.”
    • “Some mazes are a bit buggy, but it's literally free, so I can't complain.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its calm and thoughtful ambiance, enhanced by excellent sound design that contributes to a relaxing experience. Players find the mazes engaging, adding to the overall enjoyment of the game's serene environment.

    • “Short but sweet, a fun and surprisingly clever little puzzler that nails the calm and thoughtful atmosphere you'd want in such a game.”
    • “The sound design of the game is excellent and creates a calm and relaxing atmosphere.”
    • “I like the atmosphere, and the mazes are actually interesting.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Reviews on optimization are mixed; some users report significant performance issues, suggesting poor optimization or potential hidden GPU mining, while others find the game smooth and well-optimized, particularly enjoying the charm of the puzzles. Overall, experiences vary widely depending on individual hardware and gameplay preferences.

    • “All 20 puzzles have their own charm, and everything felt smooth and optimized. After about an hour of gameplay, if you get bored or frustrated, I recommend just quitting and finishing later.”
    • “Either it is very poorly optimized, or the devs are pushing this out for free to do GPU mining under the hood.”
    • “The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “Despite the interesting concept, the lack of proper optimization makes it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviews suggest that character development is minimal, with some players feeling that the focus on gameplay elements, like maze design, overshadows the need for deeper character interactions or dialogue.

    • “I mean, who needs character development or dialogue when you have 20 small mazes that speak directly to your soul?”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “There are no real choices that impact character development, making the story feel flat and unengaging.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
1-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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