Baldi's Basics Plus
- June 12, 2020
- th10g7
- 45h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Baldi's Basics Plus" is a single-player horror strategy game, boasting unique gameplay that combines strategy with chaos. As you collect notebooks in the ever-changing Super Schoolhouse, stealth and strategy are crucial to evade Baldi's exceptional hearing. Despite some bugs, the game's replayability and hidden depth make it an engaging and mysterious experience.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features randomly generated levels, providing a unique experience each time you play.
- It includes a variety of new characters and items, enhancing gameplay and strategy.
- The game is fun and challenging, making it a great choice for fans of the original Baldi's Basics.
- Some players find the game too difficult, especially on higher floors.
- There are complaints about the lack of updates and content compared to the original game.
- Certain characters and mechanics can feel frustrating or annoying, detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay148 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Baldi's Basics Plus is characterized by its strategic mechanics, random level generation, and a variety of unique characters, which contribute to high replayability and a fun, chaotic experience. Players appreciate the blend of simple yet engaging mechanics, with many noting the game's ability to keep each playthrough fresh and exciting despite its educational roots. While some players find the difficulty and randomness challenging, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is addictive and well-balanced, making it a standout title in the indie gaming scene.
“The gameplay is simple: collect notebooks and get the hell out of there.”
“Every character, every item, and every mechanic feels very well thought out, leading to a very fun and randomly generated experience every time.”
“My absolute favorite part of this game is the gameplay with each character type, items, random events, and randomly generated levels, which is absolutely fun because you have to completely strategize how you approach each level collecting the notebooks, keeping each playthrough a completely unique experience.”
“The gameplay is simple, collect notebooks, and get the hell out of there.”
“While I really like the mechanic of needing to look at them to keep them in one place, their punishment of blinding me for a minute feels too long.”
“The fact that the school changes each time you start a new game just adds a lot more to the gameplay loop but can get a bit repetitive.”
- humor86 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and surreal elements, particularly embodied by the character of the "funny bald man," who adds a comedic twist to the gameplay. Players appreciate the blend of humor and horror, noting that the game's bizarre characters and unexpected moments create a unique and entertaining experience. Overall, the humor is described as charming, engaging, and a significant factor in the game's replayability and cultural impact.
“The game's quirky humor, bizarre characters, and unexpected twists have also contributed to its widespread acclaim, inspiring fan art, memes, and even academic analyses.”
“Through its blend of retro aesthetics, surreal humor, and challenging gameplay, it has captivated players and sparked a vibrant online community.”
“This game is the best indie game I've ever played, it has so much replay value, it's goofy and funny and it really meets that 90's vibe a lot!”
- graphics79 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic, retro aesthetic reminiscent of 90s edutainment titles, which many players find charming and fitting for its unique horror theme. While some reviews note that the graphics are simplistic or "crappy," they argue that this intentional design choice enhances the game's appeal and humor, contributing to its cult following. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia and serve as a distinctive element that sets the game apart from mainstream titles.
“The graphics are peak.”
“Great game, great graphics.”
“I love the 'cursed,' dithered aesthetic.”
“Another thing I kind of find stupid is because of the graphics. I understand that's the style of the game, but it still doesn't really need to look like an indie game made in 3 days, knowing this is a paid version.”
“The graphics are bad, pixelated, poorly colored, and lacking detail on purpose, and because of the nature of the game, it wouldn't work any other way.”
“Otherwise, for new players, it's a game with crappy graphics and too much that doesn't make sense, as well as not having any story.”
- replayability77 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its randomly generated maps, diverse characters, and frequent updates, which keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. Many players highlight the fun and chaotic nature of the game, suggesting that its replay value is enhanced by the variety of modes and the potential for modding. While some users note that the replayability may diminish over time without additional content, the overall consensus is that the game offers a compelling and enjoyable experience that encourages repeated play.
“The randomly generated levels, large cast of characters, and different items put this game's replayability to the max. The game is both funny and creepy at the same time, which allows for an interesting feel to the game.”
“This game generates a random schoolhouse to play in every time, which leads to way more replayability!”
“The vast replayability, via multiple game modes, random seeds (and the option to enter seeds!), a colorful cast of characters, etc., makes this a good long-term game as well as a short-term game.”
“It gets old fast in its current state, but the price is good enough. When it gets more updates that add way more replay value, I might consider buying the game again. But if your purchases are really small indie projects, get this one. If you need to keep those 5 bucks, then don't.”
“Overall, it still holds up pretty well even in 2023, and unlike the original, this one has more variety and replayability, albeit at the cost of it getting a little boring after a few levels.”
“The fact that the maps are randomly generated and how the game feels super smooth gives it a lot of replayability.”
- story59 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's story is largely absent or underdeveloped, with many players noting a lack of a traditional narrative. While some appreciate the quirky setting and characters, they feel the gameplay overshadows any potential storyline. A few users express hope for future story content, particularly in remastered versions, but overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over storytelling.
“Its success highlights the growing trend of indie games challenging conventional norms and resonating with audiences through innovative storytelling and gameplay mechanics.”
“Not only is Baldi's Basics Plus a cinematic masterpiece with a story unlike any other, but it has saved not only my marriage, but my life.”
“The main story isn't even in the game yet, but seeing what the developer has done with Classic Remastered, I am really looking forward to it.”
“Your silly meta story isn't clever, it's the same bore.”
“The game is nice, however there is no story mode in this game, and there is no collecting sticks and placing them in the fire in first person in field trip mode.”
“However, it kind of feels like all the modes in the game should be side modes to a non-existent 'story mode'.”
- grinding23 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with multiple users expressing that it requires an excessive time commitment, likening it to needing "a second life." While some minigames, like hide and seek, are well-received, others, particularly the camping and farming activities, are viewed as tedious and lacking depth. Overall, players feel that the grinding detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This is a very fun game, but the camping trip and the farming trip are boring. They're not the real versions, but the trailer of this game has the real version of the camping and farming game.”
“The camping mode is a little hard, but the farming mode is where I have the most struggle.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchy and engaging nature, likening it to the quality of soundtracks from games like Undertale. However, others have found certain sound effects overwhelming or annoying, leading to negative experiences. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its creativity and contribution to the game's atmosphere, it can also be polarizing among players.
“He sings a little song for you if you beat hide-and-seek 😭”
“The soundtracks are really on fire 🔥 but seriously, they really are like Undertale.”
“The gameplay is great, and the music is wonderful.”
“The music and sound effects gave me a migraine headache.”
“The moment you stop hearing the cheerful music after the countdown, you know you are fucked.”
“Every time I go outside, I hear Playtime's music.”
- stability17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, such as issues with controls and visual elements. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these problems, others express frustration with the frequency and severity of the glitches. Overall, many acknowledge that the game is still in early access, which may account for its instability, but they remain optimistic about future improvements.
“Despite being developed by a single person, the game is surprisingly stable and not very buggy.”
“The game's stability is impressive, especially considering it was created by just one developer.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the game is, given that it has only one developer behind it.”
“Bit buggy and the sprint and map buttons are shift and tab, so it opens the friends list, which causes pauses. Sometimes the whole school goes invisible and I can only see the skybox.”
“I don't have much time to play this game due to the glitches.”
“I do encounter glitches sometimes as well.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to Baldi, describing him as a wholesome character that evokes feelings of both joy and sadness. The game's narrative and challenges elicit deep emotional responses, with some players even feeling moved to tears. Overall, Baldi is portrayed as a character that makes players feel special and appreciated.
“Baldi made me feel special.”
“Made me cry myself to sleep trying to escape Dr. Reflex.”
“Baldi is a wholesome nice guy.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has received mixed feedback, with some users advocating for a transition to a free-to-play model with in-app purchases, while others criticize the inclusion of irrelevant content and microtransactions that detract from the overall experience. There are calls for a more thoughtful approach to monetization, suggesting that the game should focus on quality content rather than cash grabs.
“The monetization model is good, but it would be better if it transitioned to a free-to-play format with in-app purchases.”
“Microtransactions are well-implemented, offering a variety of in-game purchases.”
“Microtransactions are well-implemented, offering a variety of in-game purchases.”
“Good but it should become a free-to-play match-3 with in-app purchases.”
“Also, those random photos that appear on walls are just some random rich spoiled child doing a pose, some annoying YouTuber self-advertising, and the worst memes ever. Please remove these pieces of trash and only include content that actually fits in the game. 'But it's a Kickstarter bonus, I can't remove the 3-year pedo bait.' Give them some free merch instead or something; don't ruin the game for people.”
“[i] Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players noting a significant drop in performance and gameplay quality, while others found certain moments, like the performance after beating the game, to be surprisingly engaging. Overall, it appears that optimization issues detract from the overall experience.
“Specifically, the performance boost you receive after beating it is incredible; I seriously jumped with excitement!”
“The optimization in gameplay is impressive, making for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“The game runs flawlessly, showcasing excellent optimization that enhances overall performance.”
“Performance or gameplay falls significantly below the passing mark.”
“Specifically, the performance balance after beating the game is seriously lacking.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as ominous and immersive, effectively instilling genuine fear during gameplay, particularly when players are pursued by Baldi after collecting notebooks. This captivating environment enhances the overall tension and engagement, making the experience more intense.
“You can experience genuine fear after collecting all the notebooks on the floor and desperately trying to run away from Baldi, thanks to the ominous atmosphere and the challenge of gathering them.”
“Immersive atmosphere - captivating environment.”
“You can genuinely feel fear after collecting all the notebooks on the floor and desperately trying to escape from Baldi, thanks to the ominous atmosphere and the difficulty of gathering them.”
“The atmosphere is so bland and uninspired that it fails to immerse you in the game world, making every moment feel tedious.”
“Despite the game's premise, the atmosphere lacks tension and excitement, leaving players feeling disconnected and unengaged.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character designs and gimmicks are praised for their creativity, reviewers feel that the game lacks depth in character development, which affects its overall replayability.
“The character designs and the unique abilities are amazing, making the gameplay very enjoyable.”
“The character development is engaging, with each character having distinct traits that enhance the overall experience.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, adding depth and making me care about their journeys.”
