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A Hole New World

A Hole New World Game Cover
71%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
story, replayability
70% User Score Based on 53 reviews
Critic Score 74%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStationPlaystation Vita
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A Hole New World Game Cover

About

A Hole New World is a single player arcade platformer game. It was developed by MadGearGames and was released on May 19, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"A Hole New World" is a retro-style action game where players, as a lone Potion Master, must defend their city from invading monsters from the Upside Down World. With a jump-and-shoot mechanic, players will fight enemies in both worlds and take on giant bosses to acquire their powers. The game features Story, Game+, Boss Rush, and Challenge modes, with more than 30 enemies, 7 boss battles, and multiple endings.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
A Hole New World screenshot
+1
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70%
Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews
gameplay11 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • A Hole New World features polished retro-style graphics and a catchy 8-bit soundtrack that evoke nostalgia for classic platformers.
  • The game offers a unique upside-down world mechanic that adds depth to the gameplay and encourages exploration of secret areas.
  • Boss battles are challenging and require players to learn patterns, providing a rewarding experience for those who enjoy difficult games.
  • The difficulty spikes in later levels can feel unfair and frustrating, often relying on overwhelming enemy placements and cheap mechanics.
  • Level design is inconsistent, with some areas feeling bland and repetitive, lacking the cleverness found in classic platformers.
  • Controls can be clunky at times, and the implementation of the potion system feels restrictive, limiting player choice in combat.
  • gameplay
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the innovative gravity inversion mechanic and retro aesthetic, while others criticize its execution, citing issues like artificial difficulty, inconsistent hitboxes, and a lack of depth. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles, but many find the mechanics frustrating and the level design hindered by the constant upside-down transitions. Overall, while the game offers engaging elements and replayability, it suffers from significant flaws that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The cool mechanic here that's explained from the first level is the ability to walk both normal and 'inverted' gravity levels.”
    • “Everything is made with care and caution to be a fun game for everyone to enjoy, and with the new mechanic, the game gets more challenging and encourages you to continue trying no matter what.”
    • “[Solid retro-style 2D gameplay that offers plenty of unique and challenging action, cool visuals, and great music, rewarding replay value for hardcore gamers.]”
    • “And as others have pointed out, it doesn't feel like they took as much advantage of the reverse mechanic as they could/should have.”
    • “Coupled with the 'new game plus' mechanic, it is obvious in hindsight that they expect you to have all the unlocks already gotten to even navigate all of the areas in what is a very linear and ruthless game.”
    • “Gameplay execution, enemy, fight, and level design had major flaws that made it boring, unfair, and frustrating in ways that it shouldn't, such as the necessity for frame-perfect execution of the slide kick if you want to use it as intended (and as is necessary for blocking the charge of the final boss), or random instances where your invulnerability suddenly doesn't matter.”
  • music
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is predominantly characterized by its nostalgic 8-bit style, which resonates well with fans of retro gaming, offering catchy and faithful tunes reminiscent of the classics. However, opinions are mixed, with some players finding the soundtrack generic and uninspired, while others praise its ability to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the music complements the game's retro theme effectively, though it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.

    • “The chiptune soundtrack is amazing and it works very well in combination with the other aspects of this game.”
    • “The 8-bit music further complements the retro theme along with the various sound effects that help you understand what is happening.”
    • “The awesome art style and the catchy soundtrack combined with the upside down world make this game one of the best platformers I have played in years.”
    • “Finally, I found most of the music tracks to be uninspired.”
    • “The music sounds generic and has no punch to it.”
    • “Although, the soundtracks remind me of many pop songs.”
  • graphics
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are primarily characterized by retro 8-bit pixel art, which appeals to fans of classic gaming aesthetics. While some players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and find them well-executed, others feel they lack memorability and could benefit from more modern design elements. Overall, the graphics are seen as a solid homage to the past, enhancing the gameplay experience for those who enjoy retro styles.

    • “A whole new world is a game for people that love 8-bit games and want to play something close to this era; the graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay feel like you are really playing a 80/90's game.”
    • “The awesome art style and the catchy soundtrack combined with the upside-down world make this game one of the best platformers I have played in years.”
    • “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “Whoever did the graphics for this game should have picked different partners (or focused solely on that; I didn't look up how many people worked on this).”
    • “The visuals consist of pixelated models, effects, and backgrounds, all well made and unique so you can easily distinguish each.”
  • story
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story has been described as lacking depth and development, with elements that feel superficial despite an interesting premise. While it includes a basic narrative framework and some engaging features like an opening sequence and a reverse world, overall, it fails to deliver a compelling or meaningful experience, earning a low rating of 2/5.

    • “Playing a whole new world is like using a time machine; it has all the elements of old school games: gameplay, story, graphics, music...”
    • “The presence of this other world actually fits into the storyline.”
    • “The game has a basic story to explain what is happening and why you, the potion master, have to prevail against the forces of chaos.”
    • “Playing a whole new world is like using a time machine; it has all the elements of old school games, gameplay, story, graphics, music...”
    • “They've even got an opening sequence telling a story, speed-run options, and from what I've heard, a new-game+ option, not to mention special attacks and a reverse world you reach by falling into some holes in the ground.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features solid retro-style 2D gameplay with unique challenges and appealing visuals, but its replayability is rated low at 2/5, suggesting that while hardcore gamers may find some value in replaying it, the overall experience may not encourage repeated play for most players.

    • “Solid retro-style 2D gameplay that offers plenty of unique and challenging action, cool visuals, and great music, providing rewarding replay value for hardcore gamers.”
    • “The game features multiple paths and endings, encouraging players to explore different strategies and playstyles, which significantly enhances its replayability.”
    • “With a variety of unlockable content and challenges, each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making you want to dive back in for more.”
    • “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
    • “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels repetitive and uninspired.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that while the main game can be completed quickly, much of the experience involves extensive grinding for card farming, which may detract from overall enjoyment.

    • “I finished the game in 50 minutes; the rest is just card farming.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “After the initial excitement, all that's left is repetitive grinding for resources.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization approach is praised for being a genuine effort to create a quality game rather than a typical cash grab or low-effort asset flip, indicating a commitment to delivering value to players.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I appreciate the effort put into the game, but the constant push for in-game purchases really detracts from the experience.”
    • “It's frustrating that so many features are locked behind paywalls, making it feel more like a money-making scheme than a fun game.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is generally viewed as acceptable, with users reporting some non-game breaking bugs, but overall, it is not considered a buggy mess or nearly perfect.

    • “Stability: some non-game breaking bugs.”
    • “Stability: buggy mess”
    • “Stability: some non-game breaking bugs”
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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

A Hole New World is a arcade platformer game.

A Hole New World is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Mac OS and others.

A Hole New World was released on May 19, 2017.

A Hole New World was developed by MadGearGames.

A Hole New World has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

A Hole New World is a single player game.

Similar games include Steel Assault, Gravity Circuit, Cyber Shadow, Shovel Knight, Berserk Boy and others.