Back to Bed
- August 5, 2014
- Bedtime Digital Games
- 8h median play time
Other than small flaws, Back To Bed is an intriguing puzzle game that doesn’t fail to keep you interested. However, its small length may make it a disappointment to some.
"Back to Bed" is a 3D puzzle game featuring the sleepwalker Bob and his subconscious guardian, Subob. Players guide Subob through surreal, painting-like dreamscapes to return sleepwalking Bob to the safety of his bed, avoiding various dangers in a merged dream and reality world. With artistic cityscapes and a unique premise, this game offers a distinctive and visually appealing puzzle-solving experience.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and visually stunning art style inspired by surrealist artists like Salvador Dali and M.C. Escher.
- The puzzles are simple yet engaging, making it a fun and relaxing experience for casual gamers.
- The gameplay mechanics allow for creativity in solving puzzles, and the game is enjoyable for short play sessions.
- The game is very short, with only 30 levels that can be completed quickly, leading to a lack of depth.
- Controls can be clunky and frustrating, especially when using a keyboard and mouse instead of a controller.
- Many players found the puzzles to be too easy and repetitive, lacking the challenge expected from a puzzle game.
- graphics91 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Back to Bed" are widely praised for their artistic and surreal aesthetic, drawing inspiration from renowned surrealist artists like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte. Players appreciate the game's beautiful visuals and unique art style, which effectively create an immersive dream-like atmosphere, although some feel that the graphics overshadow the gameplay, which can be lacking. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the experience despite mixed feelings about the gameplay mechanics.
“The game's colorful and surrealistic graphics immerse players in a dream world.”
“The art style is strong, emulating classic surrealism like Dali, Magritte, and Escher, and fits the mood perfectly.”
“Beautiful artwork and an overall surreal atmosphere.”
“Unfortunately, it seems the developers didn’t care as much for gameplay and level design as they did for the visuals.”
“This disconnect between gameplay and graphics makes the game feel somewhat of a disappointment.”
“Also, the graphics are awful and the sound is awful.”
- gameplay61 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the simple mechanics and creative puzzle design, while others criticize it for being bland and lacking depth. The visuals and aesthetic elements are often highlighted as strong points, overshadowing the gameplay, which some find tedious and uninspired. Overall, while the game offers a charming experience with some clever puzzles, it falls short in providing engaging and evolving gameplay mechanics.
“The combination of beautiful visuals, innovative gameplay, and an unforgettable story make this game an absolute must-play.”
“The puzzle mechanics about leading Bob to bed are very easy to understand but allow a lot of creativity in terms of level design.”
“Bizarre Salvador Dali influenced background art, weirdly amusing voiceovers conjoin to make a simple, fun, compelling gameplay experience for puzzle fans.”
“Unfortunately, it seems the developers didn’t care as much for gameplay and level design as they did for the visuals.”
“The gameplay is slow and dull with very little that's really fun.”
“It is a pity that the developers would choose to tackle such a unique theme, only to then ignore it completely when designing the actual gameplay.”
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with varied tracks that complement the surreal visuals and gameplay. While some players find the music relaxing and fitting, others note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's aesthetic, though there are calls for a more diverse or soothing selection to elevate the experience further.
“A short, fun puzzle game with exceptional visuals and music.”
“The music that accompanies each level is varied enough to keep it fresh and awesome.”
“Thankfully the soundtrack and the minimal yet interesting and well-placed audio cues from the creepy narrator enhance the game's dream-like atmosphere and reinforce the feeling of floating within a surreal dream.”
“Music gets repetitive after a while.”
“Creepy music, puzzles not that challenging.”
“"Figment", developed by the same game studio, is much better done in terms of art, music, level design, etc.”
- story13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as minimal and simple, with some players appreciating its light narrative that complements the gameplay, while others criticize the lack of a traditional, engaging storyline. The visuals are praised for their charm and creativity, but the overall narrative experience may not satisfy those seeking a deeper or more structured plot.
“The combination of beautiful visuals, innovative gameplay, and an unforgettable story make this game an absolute must-play.”
“The graphics are charming, the storyline is simple yet there, and offers you a reason as to why you are playing rather than just playing a puzzle game.”
“Definitely pick this game up if you're not too fussed about playing an easy game with little story, but enjoy a unique visual experience clearly influenced by Escher and Salvador Dali.”
“Before cons, two things that would qualify more as 'acquired tastes': first, there's no 'story', in the sense of an act-based story.”
“Instead the story just consists of watching what the world looks like through Bob's mind as one guides and defends him, garnished with a couple of zoom-changing paintings warning of some new development, or narrating what it's like for Bob's subconscious as it works to keep its host alive.”
“Story is minimal in this game.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Back to Bed" is characterized by its dreamy, surrealistic visuals and artistic graphics, reminiscent of Salvador Dali, which create a captivating and relaxing experience. Players appreciate the game's hand-painted cityscapes and well-placed audio cues that enhance the dreamlike quality, making it an engaging environment for puzzle-solving. Overall, the combination of beautiful artwork and a quirky, immersive atmosphere contributes to a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The game is visually stunning, with hand-painted cityscapes that mix elements of reality and dream to create a truly surreal atmosphere.”
“The quirky art atmosphere is in homage to Salvador Dali, with a few audio winks here and there to the TV show 'Twin Peaks'.”
“Thankfully, the soundtrack and the minimal yet interesting audio cues from the creepy narrator enhance the game's dream-like atmosphere and reinforce the feeling of floating within a surreal dream.”
“I got it that it's for the 'dream atmosphere', but...”
“The quirky art atmosphere is in homage to Salvador Dali and a few placed audio winks here and there to the TV show 'Twin Peaks'.”
“Thankfully the soundtrack and the minimal yet interesting and well-placed audio cues from the creepy narrator ('the apple is a hat...') enhance the game's dream-like atmosphere and reinforce the feeling of floating within a surreal dream.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often seen as tedious and repetitive, particularly in hardcore mode, which fails to provide a true challenge. While some players, especially puzzle game enthusiasts, may find enjoyment in the grind, many others find it frustrating and monotonous.
“Upd: I checked the 'hardcore mode' which is not hardcore at all; the same levels with additional moves, just tedious.”
“Even for those who enjoyed areas like Snowpoint Gym in Pokémon Diamond/Pearl, this will become rather tedious the fourteenth time around.”
“If you're a big fan of puzzle games, the tediousness of the gameplay may not draw such ire from you as it has from me.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its unique design and amusing voiceovers, which many players find entertaining. The quirky nature of the puzzles adds to the overall comedic experience, making it a fun challenge across its 30 stages and an additional difficult level.
“A funny little puzzle game with unique design and nice voiceover.”
“I find the voiceover audios quite funny.”
“Back to Bed is a funny puzzle game with 30 stages and an extra level of difficulty (nightmare) where you play the same 30 stages but they are much more challenging.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability, allowing players to explore efficient routes and speedrun for a few sessions, while also providing a fun experience for casual play. However, its replay value is considered limited, with some players suggesting it serves better as a brief diversion rather than a game to revisit frequently. Overall, it garners a mixed reception regarding replayability, rated around 5/10.
“The game is replayable two or three times if one wants to find more efficient routes and speedrun.”
“It's a really fun, trippy, weird little game, and it's both worth the money and has great replay value to get all of the achievements.”
“Great fun game, and its replay value shines when you just want a fun small game to breeze through while you wait for a meeting.”
“The game is replayable for two or three times if one wants to find more efficient routes and speedrun.”
“Replay value: 5/10”
“That all being said, it's still a really fun, trippy, weird little game and it's both worth the money and worth the replay value to get all of the achievements.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a stable experience with no glitches or hiccups, although some mention that the gameplay can occasionally feel buggy and clumsy. Despite these minor issues, the game's engaging imagery and character portrayal contribute positively to the overall experience.
“I experienced no glitches or hiccups during my gameplay.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
“I was impressed by the overall stability; everything worked as intended.”
“Even the gameplay can be buggy and clumsy sometimes.”
“No glitches or hiccups experienced.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its quick emotional impact, effectively engaging players and leaving them eager for additional puzzles to solve.
“A quick emotional game that leaves you wanting more puzzles!”
“The story tugged at my heartstrings and made me reflect on my own experiences.”
“I was genuinely moved by the characters and their journeys throughout the game.”
Critic Reviews
Back to Bed Review
As simple as Back to Bed may seem, it's a satisfying puzzle game. Bob's dream sequences further enhance the experience with the inclusion of an appropriately fitting surreal art style. If you're in the mood for a fun and functional puzzle game, maybe consider this one.
70%Back To Bed Review
Other than small flaws, Back To Bed is an intriguing puzzle game that doesn’t fail to keep you interested. However, its small length may make it a disappointment to some.
80%Back to Bed Review
Back to Bed is something that we'd love to see again in the future. A sequel could build upon and flesh out its genius puzzle solving foundation, but as it stands, the game feels more like a well-developed prototype than a fully-fledged title. The cartoony, minimalist graphics and eye-catching presentation will hold your attention, but like a fanciful daydream, the breezy experience will abruptly end, leaving you sighing in disappointment as you snap back to reality and stow away its pleasant aspects at the back of your mind for a good, long while.
60%