Ballpoint Universe: Infinite

About

Ballpoint Universe: Infinite is a unique platformer adventure game where you build your own levels using a ballpoint pen. Explore a hand-drawn universe, solve puzzles, and unlock new abilities as you journey through an ever-changing world. With a variety of challenges and secrets to uncover, Ballpoint Universe: Infinite offers a creative and engaging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 216 reviews

graphics46 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game features a unique and beautiful art style, entirely drawn in ballpoint pen, which creates a charming and immersive atmosphere.
The gameplay combines engaging shoot 'em up mechanics with interesting ship customization options, allowing for a variety of playstyles.
Despite some minor bugs, the game offers great replay value and is enjoyable for casual play, making it a good value for its price.

The platforming sections are often frustrating due to awkward controls and imprecise mechanics, making them less enjoyable compared to the shooting segments.
The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it lacks depth in terms of story and content.
There are occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as getting stuck in objects or issues with the achievement system.

graphics
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique hand-drawn art style, reminiscent of ballpoint pen sketches, which creates a charming and immersive atmosphere. While the visuals are generally considered beautiful and imaginative, some players noted occasional clarity issues during gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout experience for those who appreciate artistic design.
- “The artwork is amazing and keeps awing me, giving the game a very unique atmosphere which I really enjoy.”
- “This game offers a very unique graphic style (completely hand drawn in ballpoint pen) and mixes platforming with space combat for an entertaining package well worth the sub $5 asking price.”
- “The graphics are so detailed and you can really see how much love and passion has gone into making the game.”
- “I don't know if this is also a bug or if it's part of the game's graphical design, but in rare cases, during the transitions from one background to another (when you're crossing bridges), there seems to be some sort of overlapping error between two transitioning backgrounds.”
- “The game is graphically pleasing with the entire universe being drawn out of ballpoint pen, however there is a sharpness lacking at 1366x768 resolution.”
- “Clever visuals wasted on a boring game, waste of talent.”
story
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
78%
3%
The game's story is generally described as simple and concise, with some players finding it enjoyable yet not particularly deep or challenging. While the narrative features a charming premise involving doodles battling evil counterparts, it is often overshadowed by the gameplay, which is more engaging for many. Overall, the story serves its purpose in complementing the gameplay experience, but those seeking a complex plot may find it lacking.
- “The story is complex and will absorb you with little to no trouble despite how concise it is.”
- “The world is gorgeous, the characters are likeable, the story is thoughtful, and the gameplay is way more fun than I thought it would be.”
- “If I were to try and explain the story, I would probably say that it is basically about a doodle who is helping his fellow doodles in the fight against the evil doodles, which in the game are called logicians.”
- “The story mode is short (it took me 3 hours to get gold on every level) and the plot itself is fairly simple.”
- “As for the story, there is some, but for hardcore story fans, it might be too little of it. This isn't the kind of game that would need a really heavy story.”
- “The story is so-so, and the platforming elements between worlds were frustrating and easy to get lost in -- but the core gameplay is solid, with a unique twist on the genre in the way melee and shields are included in your arsenal of weapons.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
5%
The gameplay is a blend of simple mechanics and engaging challenges, combining 2D exploration with shoot 'em up elements, making it accessible for casual players while still offering depth for enthusiasts. While some players find the controls a bit floaty and the platforming sections frustrating, the overall experience is enhanced by beautiful visuals and customization options. Despite its simplicity, the game provides a satisfying and enjoyable experience, particularly for those looking for a low-stress gaming session.
- “This game is awesome with amazing gameplay, beautiful art style, and an easy-to-follow story. Overall, it's a great shoot 'em up.”
- “The fun gameplay, well-crafted story, and low price make this game a wise purchase for indie game enthusiasts.”
- “The gameplay is a mix of 2D adventure platforming and a shoot 'em-up, making it fun for casual play to wind down after a long day at work.”
- “The gameplay itself might not be very varied or complicated, and at times I've wondered whether it can really be all there is to the game.”
- “I wish there was more to do between levels in the platforming environment; it feels a bit like a very complex menu system to drive the side-scrolling shooter gameplay.”
- “The controls aren't very good; the character slips and slides across the ground, and you will quickly discover that the real challenge during these sections is mastering the floaty gameplay.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
17%
10%
The music in the game is widely praised for its lovely, cute, and relaxing qualities, effectively complementing the art style and enhancing the overall experience. While some reviewers noted a lack of variety in the tracks, the soundtrack's electronic elements and engaging melodies contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the music is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, though some players expressed a desire for better sound options.
- “The music is fantastic and fits the game perfectly.”
- “The cool electronic soundtrack could even be sold separately.”
- “Not very much variety in the enemies, NPCs, or music.”
- “I however wish there was better sound options here; one slider for music and one for effects would be nice, both from a gaming perspective and for YouTube (content ID issues).”
- “I should take the chance to note that the music, while being the game's strongest aspect, drives home the relaxed pace of these levels.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game offers significant replayability despite its relatively short length, particularly for players interested in achieving 100% completion or exploring the infinite mode. While some repetitiveness is noted, the engaging art style and soundtrack enhance the overall experience, encouraging players to return.
- “It is relatively short, but has great replay value.”
- “Plenty of replayability if you want to get each and every achievement, as long as you don't mind some repetitiveness.”
- “The game's infinite mode is where all the replay value lies.”
- “I guess that makes for some replayability.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits several minor glitches and bugs, particularly with achievements not registering correctly, which detracts from the overall experience. Players express a desire for developer updates to address these issues and enhance stability, indicating that while the game has potential, its current state is hampered by these technical problems.
- “However, the only issue I have with this game is the needless platforming. Since you move with the mouse in and out of the ship, platforming precisely has become an immense pain. The achievements are a little buggy too; sometimes they don't even appear when you complete a mission perfectly.”
- “Ballpoint Universe has a lot of potential, but the game is buggy.”
- “There are some minor glitches, and I'd love to know if the developer is working on improvements and/or additional levels (or a whole new title!).”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its incredible uniqueness, largely attributed to its stunning artwork that captivates players and enhances their overall experience.
- “Incredibly unique atmosphere”
- “The artwork is amazing and keeps awing me, giving the game a very unique atmosphere that I really enjoy.”