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BABBDI

BABBDI Game Cover
98%Game Brain Score
atmosphere, story
replayability, stability
98% User Score Based on 4,780 reviews

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BABBDI Game Cover

About

BABBDI is a single player casual platformer game with horror, mystery and comedy themes. It was developed by Lemaitre Bros. and was released on December 22, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"BABBDI" is a first-person exploration game set in the abandoned town of BABBDI. Gather unique items, such as a baseball bat and motorcycle, to unlock special movement abilities and escape. Discover secret collectibles, interact with inhabitants, and enjoy the game's light narrative, all while avoiding combat in this immersive experience.

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BABBDI screenshot
BABBDI screenshot
BABBDI screenshot
BABBDI screenshot
BABBDI screenshot
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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,780 reviews
atmosphere281 positive mentions
stability18 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and eerie atmosphere that captivates players, making exploration rewarding and enjoyable.
  • The movement mechanics are fun and varied, allowing players to traverse the environment in creative ways.
  • It's a free game that provides a memorable experience, encouraging players to discover secrets and interact with quirky NPCs.
  • The game can feel short and lacks a deep narrative, leaving some players wanting more content.
  • There are minor bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as items falling through the map.
  • The graphics and overall presentation may not appeal to everyone, as they are intentionally low-quality and can feel unpolished.
  • atmosphere
    435 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of eerie, surreal, and melancholic elements, creating a captivating environment that encourages exploration. Players appreciate the haunting beauty of the desolate city, characterized by brutalist architecture and unsettling sound design, which evokes feelings of loneliness and curiosity. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest feature, drawing players into a deeply immersive and thought-provoking experience.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible in this liminal, dreary, surreal sandbox of a city and even though the city of babbdi is rotting, and almost totally abandoned and forgotten, there’s something about it that makes me want to see every square inch of it.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick and surreal.”
    • “The atmosphere is powerful when you stop and soak it in a bit, with the brutalist structure and bleak interactions with most NPCs, and offers contextual icing on the cake when you're enjoying the rest.”
    • “The dismal atmosphere is absolutely the draw here - the city immediately presents you with sombre and dystopian scenes, with the screechy and dissonant soundscapes serving to unnerve you further.”
    • “This oppressive atmosphere acquired from the gameplay, environment, and NPCs results in a soul-crushingly melancholy detachment - it's as though you've gotten lost in a ghost town that you've never seen before, and must now seek a way out of a place that feels as though it was never meant to be inhabited.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game really fits the story.”
  • story
    240 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is minimal and often described as simplistic, revolving around the main objective of obtaining a train ticket to escape the desolate city of Babbdi. While the narrative lacks depth, players appreciate the atmospheric world and the opportunity for exploration, which allows them to piece together their own interpretations of the environment and its characters. Many reviews highlight the game's focus on environmental storytelling and quirky interactions, suggesting that the experience is more about the journey and atmosphere than a traditional plot.

    • “The story is also rather tragic, wanting to escape from this damned city, and not just you, but others as well.”
    • “I absolutely loved the gameplay, the vibe, the story, the different encounters and the mysteriousness about babbdi.”
    • “The story, while simple, keeps you going at all times, wanting to see quite literally where it takes you next.”
    • “There's no story really, which is kind of a shame because the world is so cool.”
    • “The main quest is short, very short, but this game is a rare example of a main objective being secondary to everything else.”
    • “There is little story to be had aside from the story you create in your mind in an attempt to put the pieces together.”
  • graphics
    190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique, low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of PS1-era visuals, which some players find charming and fitting for the game's surreal and melancholic atmosphere. While the visuals may appear unpolished and repetitive at times, they effectively enhance the game's exploration and storytelling, creating an immersive experience that resonates with fans of brutalist architecture and eerie environments. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's distinct vibe, despite not being technically advanced.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, and the secrets and abilities make the process exciting.”
    • “The atmosphere, the visuals, and the overall vibe are unique — it’s not like any other game I’ve played, and that’s exactly why I loved it.”
    • “Babbdi is an extraordinary video game that captivates players with its stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and engaging storyline.”
    • “The graphics are crude, the audio is poor quality, the mechanics are very basic, and there doesn’t seem to be much point to it, but there is something about the oppressive atmosphere, scale of the city, and oddness in its characters and overall design that makes it playable and intriguing.”
    • “The graphics aren't great; clunky, low poly count game assets (that seem legit because what asset creator with a working mind would create a piano asset with only 7 keys).”
    • “It's not aesthetically pleasing to me; it's just oppressive and bad memories.”
  • gameplay
    187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Babbdi" is characterized by its focus on exploration and interaction within a surreal, oppressive environment, utilizing simple mechanics that encourage players to navigate the world and uncover secrets. While some reviews note a lack of depth and traditional gameplay elements, many appreciate the fun movement mechanics and the unique atmosphere that enhance the overall experience. Despite its minimalist approach, the game successfully engages players through its quirky tools and the rewarding nature of exploration.

    • “The gameplay focuses on exploration, problem-solving, and strategy within its unique world.”
    • “Babbdi is a unique game offering a short but entertaining gameplay loop, funny characters, and a small closed-off world to explore, with lots of secrets to be discovered.”
    • “The gameplay is simple: walking around and exploring the empty district of Babbdi with the assistance of various tools, and interacting with its NPCs, as you seek to find a way out.”
    • “No gameplay, no interesting visual idea, no effort, no content actually.”
    • “One major problem for gameplay is the fact that there's no inventory system, so the player is unable to carry more than one item at a time.”
    • “Babbdi is a game where its gameplay is lackluster, graphics are poor and the main plot is very hollow.”
  • humor
    77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a unique blend of absurdity and darkness, with players finding joy in its quirky mechanics, funny characters, and bizarre quests. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to balance humor with a haunting atmosphere, creating a surreal experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, it is characterized as a funny indie game that offers delightful surprises and a memorable exploration of its strange world.

    • “Babbdi is a funny little game with a bunch of cool gimmicks and a really grim view of society that is particularly fitting today.”
    • “The mix of open world and bizarre quests is genuinely hilarious.”
    • “It's really funny to me that a little project like this so quickly and easily hit such popular acclaim and the overwhelmingly positive rating when it's a 10-minute free-to-play thing, but it really deserves it.”
  • music
    59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is described as eerie and beautiful, enhancing the exploration experience with its ambient sounds and unique sound design. While some players appreciate the diegetic nature of the music, which only plays near specific sources, others find the overall lack of a consistent soundtrack can lead to feelings of emptiness. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's unsettling atmosphere, making it a memorable part of the experience.

    • “Eerie, beautiful in its creepiness, makes exploration rewarding and pleasurable with its weird music, ambient, and world design.”
    • “One of the best gaming experiences of my whole life, the game excels in content such as the soundtrack and even the visuals are so compellingly beautiful; this game is simply a masterpiece and cannot go ignored.”
    • “The art style and music make the game feel eerie, reflecting on the sad, somewhat abandoned city of 'Babbdi'.”
    • “There's no music, no one around—just you in the middle of the map, surrounded by almost complete silence.”
    • “I'm assuming the lack of music is meant to add onto this but it just keeps the game feeling boring and empty.”
    • “The music and sounds freaked me out so I turned them off.”
  • emotional
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game has elicited a wide range of responses, from heartwarming joy to profound sadness, with many players expressing that it evokes deep feelings and reflections on the human experience. While some found it to be a beautiful and touching journey that left them in tears, others noted a sense of emptiness or discomfort, highlighting its ability to provoke strong emotional reactions. Overall, the game is recognized for its unique capacity to immerse players in a deeply affecting narrative and atmosphere.

    • “It adds this layer to it all that just makes me want to cry.”
    • “Never have I ever had such an emotional ride, from thinking 'this looks like a funny, weird game to show to my friends later' to 'this is one of the most harrowing yet profoundly beautiful games I have ever had the joy of experiencing.'”
    • “One of the most beautiful games I have ever played; it made me shed a tear.”
  • replayability
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and engaging due to speedrunning opportunities, side quests, and achievements, others feel it lacks depth after completing the main content. The exploration aspect and choices made during gameplay can enhance replay value for some, but for others, the experience may feel limited after the initial playthrough.

    • “There is no reason not to play Babdi; it's a bit on the shorter side but still has some replay value if you want to try speedrunning the game or go for 100%.”
    • “The primary quest isn't the only quest, which gives this game replay value in the form of completing and visiting different side quests and unlocking different achievements.”
    • “The choices that one must make throughout the game only add to the depth and replay value, as the consequences of one's actions have a real impact on the outcome of the story.”
    • “That said, I feel these kinds of games often fall short in terms of replayability, and this one is no exception.”
    • “Unfortunately, after doing everything there is to do and exploring every nook and cranny looking for secrets as well as getting all achievements under 2 hours, it has little replay value to me as I personally have no interest in speedrunning the game and am content with getting a time of completion under 4 minutes for the achievement.”
    • “It's just tedious after a while and there is not much replay value besides trying to get into every nook and cranny out there.”
  • stability
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players experiencing a variety of glitches that range from amusing to game-breaking. While some enjoy the quirky nature of these bugs, others find them frustrating, particularly when they affect gameplay and progress. Overall, the game runs well on various hardware, but players should be prepared for a significant number of bugs that can impact their experience.

    • “Hardware-wise, this runs great on my ancient 2015 iMac 21.5" with its anemic 5th gen Core i5 1.6GHz CPU and 8GB of RAM - this is both on Linux Proton and on macOS Monterey as well (I run it from both).”
    • “It's not buggy though.”
    • “Weird but runs great on Deck and has a sweet babushka.”
    • “There are also some annoying glitches like if you accidentally drop something it goes into a wall sometimes and you can't pick it up.”
    • “Necessary disclaimer - the game is incredibly buggy.”
    • “Loading in resets all tools to their default position, resets NPC dialogue (leading to several buggy moments in the main quest), and even resets sidequest progress.”
  • grinding
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often seen as excessively time-consuming, with many players feeling it requires a significant investment of time, likening it to needing "a second life." While some aspects of exploration are enjoyable, the overall sentiment suggests that the grinding can become tedious, particularly when searching for specific characters or navigating the map without helpful items.

    • “Exploration of the city is also not tedious at all but actually pretty fun.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The achievement for finding and talking to characters is a bit tedious as there is no way of knowing where certain characters are, meaning you must continue to explore the massive map until you find an obscure crevice you can go through to talk to a character.”
    • “It's just tedious after a while and there is not much replay value besides trying to get into every nook and cranny out there.”
  • optimization
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report good performance with no major issues, others highlight significant flaws, including overheating and subpar optimization, particularly on lower graphical settings. Despite some positive remarks, the consensus leans towards the need for improvement in optimization.

    • “Babbdi is well-optimized with no noticeable bugs.”
    • “Performance issues are out of the window.”
    • “The optimization is very good, too.”
    • “It did not seem to be as optimized as it could be; I didn’t encounter major performance issues like stuttering, but playing for just a short amount of time caused my computer to heat up as much as the significantly larger and more complex 'A Hat in Time', even on the lowest graphical setting.”
    • “Interesting *ping, ping, ping pickaxe noise sound* experience, but optimization is a joke here; overall, pretty interesting.”
    • “Decent, but the optimization is really bad.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and creativity, with users noting the expressive and unconventional character designs that enhance the unsettling atmosphere. The narrative is described as compelling, rivaling classic literature, and the freedom to explore the dystopian setting adds to the immersive experience. Overall, the combination of unique characters and a rich story contributes significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Great character development and story which rivals that of Tolkien's.”
    • “Amazing characters and character development.”
    • “Between the unsettling character design of the NPCs, the ambient music, the brutalist architecture, and the general atmosphere, it paints a very depressing picture of a town that you definitely would want to leave.”
    • “As someone who also one day desires to make a game, this one's really fed my imagination. The freedom to explore with the only invisible walls being the ones surrounding the map, the strange gadgets you can find around the city, the even stranger character design, and the extremely uncomfortable dystopian setting all blend together so well.”
    • “Reminiscent of Cosmo D's Tales from Off-Peak City games, in its use of non-photo realistic, expressive character design and strange mechanics.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its complete lack of microtransactions and DRM, enhancing its replay value through achievements. Players appreciate the atmospheric experience of this free passion project, which contributes to the overall sense of unease in the game.

    • “Achievements add more replay value to a free game with no microtransactions or DRM.”
    • “Super atmospheric and fun, completely free passion project with no microtransactions.”
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3h Median play time
13h Average play time
2-34h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

BABBDI is a casual platformer game with horror, mystery and comedy themes.

BABBDI is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 13 hours playing BABBDI.

BABBDI was released on December 22, 2022.

BABBDI was developed by Lemaitre Bros..

BABBDI has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its atmosphere but disliked it for its replayability.

BABBDI is a single player game.

Similar games include SLUDGE LIFE, The Norwood Suite, Yume Nikki, Off-Peak, POOLS and others.