Ballex

About

Ballex is a 3D action-puzzle game where players control a ball that can change between different physical states to overcome challenges across various weather conditions and sky gardens. The game features a map editor for creating and sharing custom levels through Steam Workshop, and the 1.1 update introduces a new chapter with increased difficulty and optimized performance. Players can remap controls for a comfortable gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game is a visually pleasing remake of the original Ballance, with modern graphics and a variety of new mechanics.
The physics engine and soundtrack are well-received, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.
The mod support and level editor allow for a wealth of user-generated content, enhancing replayability and creativity.

Level design is often criticized for being poor, with excessive backtracking, visual obstructions, and frustrating mechanics.
The game is considered overly difficult, especially in later levels, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
There is too much visual noise and generic sound design, which detracts from the overall experience.

gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The gameplay of ballex is characterized by its challenging mechanics that require precision and mastery, particularly in navigating narrow pathways and utilizing various ball types with distinct properties. Players appreciate the blend of classic ballance elements with modern graphics and expanded mechanics, including a level editor and innovative puzzles, which enhance replayability and engagement. While the game offers a relaxed atmosphere, some players find certain mechanics frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
- “ballex is a solid 'play ball' game with crisp and clean presentation, solid mechanics, and near infinite replayability.”
- “Challenging gameplay with a relaxed atmosphere.”
- “With time, learning the mechanics makes playing the game possible, but certain mechanics of both official and player-made stages require intense precision and little to no room for error.”
- “I'm not sure if some of the 'traps' are meant to be jokes, but ruining progress through some janky mechanic at the end of a level is definitely not difficulty, but rather straight-up annoying.”
- “The ball moving mechanics convey the right amount of weight and inertia of the ball based on the material it's made of, and the soothing soundtrack seeks to calm you down when you're frustratingly trying to nail a jump or a puzzle.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The graphics of the game have received positive feedback for their aesthetic appeal and modernized design, successfully blending nostalgia with contemporary visuals. Players appreciate the smooth performance even on lower settings, highlighting the game's ability to evoke memories of the original while enhancing the overall experience with improved graphics and effects. The inclusion of a map creator further enriches the visual experience by allowing users to recreate classic levels.
- “Thanks a ton to the devs for Mac compatibility; it runs perfectly smooth in 1080p60 with 'low' fidelity (which still looks good) on my '18 MacBook Pro 13' even without dedicated graphics.”
- “I absolutely love the fact that it feels very much like the original but with modernized graphics, expanded mechanics, and music + sounds!”
- “If I had to describe the art style of this game, it would be 'Unreal Engine slop.'”
- “The graphics and the music are beautiful, and the gameplay is addictive.”
- “Aesthetically pleasing remake of the original Ballance.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players find it generic and annoying, others appreciate its soothing and refreshing qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. The soundtrack is noted for complementing the physics engine well, providing a calming backdrop during challenging moments. Overall, the music is seen as a positive aspect by many, contributing to the game's aesthetic appeal.
- “The ball moving mechanics convey the right amount of weight and inertia of the ball based on the material it's made of, and the soothing soundtrack seeks to calm you down when you're frustratingly trying to nail a jump or a puzzle.”
- “Music is pretty as well, it feels relaxing and refreshing.”
- “I absolutely love the fact that it feels very much like the original but with modernized graphics, expanded mechanics, and music + sounds!”
- “Generic sound and music that annoys me.”
- “The music and sound are lacking in variety and creativity.”
- “The music feels repetitive and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game "ballex" offers near infinite replayability, primarily driven by its engaging mechanics, level editor, and various gameplay modes such as score and time attacks. Players can enhance their experience by improving run times and scores, making it appealing for those who enjoy challenges and custom content. Overall, the replay value is highly regarded among users.
- “Replay value hinges on whether you are interested in improving your run times, run scores, and playing custom levels.”
- “Ballex is a solid 'play ball' game with crisp and clean presentation, solid mechanics, and near infinite replayability.”
- “Ballex is an amazing little play ball platformer with near infinite replay value and very high quality.”
- “Replay value is lacking; once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return.”
- “The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough, diminishing its replayability.”
- “While the initial experience is enjoyable, the lack of varied content makes replaying less appealing.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating and tedious, often requiring them to repeat lengthy puzzles due to issues like collision errors. This repetitive nature detracts from the overall experience, overshadowing the potential of the game.
- “I've completed some of these long, tedious puzzles only to be tripped up by a wonky collision and have to do the last 15 minutes all over again.”
- “It is so frustrating because there is a good game buried in here somewhere but ruined by how stupidly grindy it is.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is perceived as frustrating, particularly due to the sparse distribution of checkpoints, which detracts from the overall experience. Players feel that the map designers' attempts at humor may lead to more annoyance than amusement.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique blend of challenging gameplay set against a relaxed and inviting backdrop, creating an engaging experience that balances intensity with tranquility.
- “Challenging gameplay with a relaxed atmosphere.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game is noted for its strong optimization, providing a smooth and efficient performance across various hardware configurations. Players have reported minimal issues, indicating that the developers have effectively fine-tuned the game for an enjoyable experience.
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I love how the developers have focused on optimization; it really enhances the overall experience and performance.”
- “The game's optimization is impressive, making it accessible for a wider range of players without sacrificing quality.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite having a high-end PC, I still experience significant lag due to the lack of proper optimization.”
- “The optimization is so bad that it feels like I'm playing on a potato, even with the settings adjusted to low.”