BattleBlock Theater

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"BattleBlock Theater" is a quirky platformer game where you play as a prisoner forced to perform in a theater run by cats. Your goal is to rescue your friends by fighting through hundreds of levels filled with puzzles and battles. The game features co-op gameplay, both online and local, as well as arenas with various game modes for up to four players. You can also create and share your own levels with the level editor.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 22,721 reviews

humor4,363 positive mentions

grinding44 negative mentions

humor
4,375 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Battleblock Theater" is widely praised for its absurdity and charm, with many players highlighting the hilarious narration by Will Stamper as a standout feature. The game's quirky storyline, filled with dark and juvenile humor, keeps players engaged and laughing, especially during cooperative play where friendly sabotage adds to the fun. Overall, the combination of witty dialogue, funny cutscenes, and chaotic gameplay creates a memorable and entertaining experience that resonates well with fans of comedic platformers.
- “Battleblock Theater is a quirky platformer with a hilarious story centered around shipwrecked prisoners forced to perform in deadly theater shows run by evil cats.”
- “The real star is the narrator, Will Stamper, whose over-the-top, sarcastic commentary adds endless humor and charm throughout the game.”
- “This game bursts with personality, offering a dazzling array of challenging levels brimming with quirky puzzles, frantic action, and irrepressible humor.”
- “This 'story' is unfunny and bland to say the least.”
- “Uugh this game is honestly really unfunny and the humor is just repetitive random, yet the creators would still act above the whole random humor thing if you made fun of it for them today, as if they have some moral high ground.”
- “Boring, repetitive, not funny, and worst of all it's too late to get a refund.”
story
2,131 mentions
50 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of *Battleblock Theater* is a quirky and humorous narrative that revolves around a group of friends who become prisoners of evil cats, forced to perform in a deadly theater. While the plot is often described as absurd and nonsensical, it is delivered with a comedic flair through the engaging narration of Will Stamper, which adds to the game's charm. Players appreciate the lightheartedness of the story, though some feel it lacks depth and can become repetitive, yet it remains a significant draw for both solo and co-op gameplay.
- “Battleblock Theater is a quirky platformer with a hilarious story centered around shipwrecked prisoners forced to perform in deadly theater shows run by evil cats.”
- “Both single player and multiplayer, the story is charming and the music is amazing!”
- “The story is a true masterpiece in every sense of the word, with incredible gameplay, stunning graphics, and a hilarious storyline that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.”
- “The story isn't interesting, the challenges aren't exciting, the animation isn't spectacular.”
- “Sure, it's pretty funny, but it fails as a satisfying conclusion or payoff for the rest of the story that I was genuinely invested in.”
- “The story is also somewhat weak, sadly :(”
gameplay
1,397 mentions
54 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of BattleBlock Theater is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, humorous narration, and cooperative elements, making it a standout platformer. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and absurdity, with levels that introduce new mechanics progressively, though some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of tight controls, clever level design, and comedic storytelling creates a fun and memorable experience, especially when played with friends.
- “I love how they combine strategic, skill-heavy gameplay with absolute nuisance and chaotic humor.”
- “The game’s distinctive art style and fluid gameplay create an engaging and often chaotic experience.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive and the levels are diverse and engaging.”
- “The gameplay itself is incredibly tedious and boring, even in co-op and especially towards the end.”
- “The gameplay is far too simple and repetitive that it gets boring really fast and everything in the game is already found elsewhere.”
- “I went into ‘Battleblock Theater’ with high expectations but was hugely disappointed that the repetitive gameplay didn’t match up to the quality of its fascinating presentation.”
music
1,011 mentions
61 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in BattleBlock Theater is widely praised for its catchy, upbeat tracks that enhance the game's whimsical and chaotic atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to get stuck in their heads, with specific mention of memorable songs like "Buckle Your Pants" and the unique themes for secret levels. Overall, the combination of humorous narration and vibrant music contributes significantly to the game's charm and replayability, making it a standout feature for players.
- “The vibrant, hand-drawn art style and infectious soundtrack create an immersive playground where every death is met with laughter and every victory feels like a triumph.”
- “The music is equally fitting, blending upbeat, zany tracks with strange sound effects, enhancing the chaotic vibe.”
- “The soundtrack is awesome, I love all of the tracks.”
- “The controls are finicky, jumps unclear and level designs that are generic, screws you over with its fake difficulty and is a nightmare to A+. The music was lacking, voice over was alright to begin with, then it got annoying and repetitive.”
- “The only cons I've encountered thus far is that occasionally the music seems to stop for no reason.”
- “The music fits the game very well, that in conjunction with the narrator's voice will compel you and make you laugh instead of getting mad whenever you die (well, sometimes you'll get mad anyway but it's a part of the game!).”
graphics
825 mentions
54 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Battleblock Theater" are widely praised for their vibrant, hand-drawn art style that captures a whimsical and humorous aesthetic, reminiscent of classic platformers. Players appreciate the charming cartoonish visuals, which are complemented by a catchy soundtrack and engaging animations, creating an immersive experience that enhances the game's comedic narrative. Despite some comments on the simplicity of the graphics, the overall consensus is that the art style effectively supports the game's playful tone and is a significant draw for players.
- “The vibrant, hand-drawn art style and infectious soundtrack create an immersive playground where every death is met with laughter and every victory feels like a triumph.”
- “With its vibrant graphics, endearing characters, and boundless activities, this game captivates players from start to finish.”
- “The art style is colorful and vibrant, complemented by a catchy soundtrack that perfectly captures the whimsical atmosphere.”
- “I've experienced weird graphical glitches that no amount of reinstalling or cache clearing can fix.”
- “The visuals are extremely bland and repetitive, and they too feel like they were made in flash.”
- “The graphics may not matter, but in this case, it improves.”
replayability
185 mentions
54 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its robust level editor and the ability to create and share custom levels, which keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the variety of challenges, collectibles, and modes available, allowing for repeated playthroughs to improve scores and unlock new content. While some users note limited replay value in the main campaign, the community-driven content significantly enhances the overall experience.
- “The level editor allows for endless replayability.”
- “The puzzles are smartly designed, there are hundreds of characters, and there are plenty of other modes to keep the replay value up.”
- “Battleblock Theater's level variety in the story mode, combined with the ability to create your own levels, gives this game high replay value.”
- “However, it has fairly low replay value, relatively few unlockables and the occasional inconsistencies in difficulty curve.”
- “The multiplayer is pretty fun, but after you beat the game there isn't very much replay value in it.”
- “Unfortunately, the game doesn't have much replay value, as nothing new is unlocked upon completion; however, you can go back to any level to try to best your time or obtain every collectible.”
emotional
83 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-2 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from laughter to tears, often within the same session. Players describe the story as both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, with many citing the ending as particularly impactful, leading to genuine emotional responses. The combination of humor, challenging gameplay, and a touching narrative creates an engaging emotional rollercoaster that resonates deeply with players.
- “I cried at the end.”
- “This game made me cry and made me smile, and the intro or trailer is so funny, it's perfect.”
- “The co-op is great but can also burn bridges faster than a gasoline dragon; the game also has a fun and interesting storyline, with hilarious but also heart-wrenching moments.”
- “The emotional moments felt forced and lacked genuine impact, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I found the attempts at emotional depth to be superficial, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story.”
- “The game tried to evoke feelings but ended up feeling manipulative rather than heartfelt.”
grinding
72 mentions
4 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
61 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to replay levels multiple times to collect items or achieve high scores. Many reviewers express frustration with the game's design, noting that certain puzzles and challenges become barriers rather than enjoyable experiences, leading to a sense of burnout, especially in later chapters. While some players find enjoyment in co-op play, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the game's initial charm and fun.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Medium level of grinding.”
- “Grinding isn't necessary to progress.”
- “The most terrible and tedious thing is to run 2 or even 3 times through the level to pass it with all the gems, yarn, and good time.”
- “This level is the single biggest middle finger I have ever seen from the devs to players; spend an hour grinding for good RNG and still did not finish that level.”
- “Ultimately, 100%ing the game turns into a dull, tedious grind that almost made me stop playing the game.”
optimization
59 mentions
41 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players noting that it runs smoothly even on lower-end systems, with minimal interruptions or bugs. However, some users have pointed out occasional clunkiness and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer modes, which can detract from the experience. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game's charming visuals and engaging narration contribute positively to its overall performance.
- “Everything from the level and puzzle designs to the customization and especially the performance from Will Stamper as the voice of the narrator, the game just oozes so much personality and charm.”
- “The game runs really well, no framerate drops, no crashes at all, no clunky menus, everything about this game's performance is perfect.”
- “I have a pretty slow computer, but the game runs smoothly with little to no interruptions during the game.”
- “It felt clunky and minimally optimized and created a few irritating moments.”
- “Game controls optimized for controller noobs, so fuck off consoles nobody wants you.”
- “• low level of optimization”
stability
51 mentions
8 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in online co-op modes, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some users have encountered only minor issues or none at all, others have faced game-breaking glitches that hinder progress and enjoyment. Overall, the game's stability appears to vary widely among players, with a notable number expressing a desire for more robust fixes from the developers.
- “One of my favorite games; the art is amazing, it's funny, the programming is good, little to no glitches, and the narrator makes me feel bad about myself!”
- “The mechanics are simple and easy to learn, it wasn't buggy at all, it didn't lag or crash on me, it was just a pleasant little game.”
- “The controls are very smooth and responsive and this game has little to no glitches.”
- “This can lead to some levels being near impossible to get through due to bugs and glitches, creating an unfair advantage like your buddy just floating upward for no reason to get to an inaccessible ledge.”
- “What looks like a fun platformer is actually an incredibly buggy and awful online co-op experience where half the puzzles are broken. One player has to do them alone because certain actions, like picking up rocks for puzzles, will just kill the non-host player, and sometimes it seems like both players are seeing completely different timings for things, or just bugs out and leaves your character stuck.”
- “I bought this game to play with friends, but it was so buggy that it made the experience frustrating, even if it was in a hilarious way.”
atmosphere
43 mentions
56 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant art style, whimsical sound design, and engaging narration, which together create a playful and lighthearted experience. Players appreciate the colorful visuals and catchy soundtrack that enhance the game's charm, while the humorous voice acting adds to the overall silliness and fun. However, some reviewers noted a lack of variety in atmosphere across different levels, suggesting that while the atmosphere is strong, it could benefit from more distinct themes.
- “The art style is colorful and vibrant, complemented by a catchy soundtrack that perfectly captures the whimsical atmosphere.”
- “The game's colorful visuals and whimsical sound design create a playful and lighthearted atmosphere that is infectious.”
- “Not only is this game's atmosphere charming and hilarious, its music is captivating and well constructed.”
- “The levels from chapters 1 to 5 play out exactly the same and there are no distinguishable differences in theme or atmosphere, or the methods of hindrance the cats and environmental obstacles possess between the chapters.”
- “The whole game has this very silly atmosphere, and they try to push that on early with the announcer having a silly voice and commentating lines such as 'no, no, don't die' when you die.”
- “While we're on the topic of the levels, this is where the game's charm comes in: the atmosphere and design.”
character development
15 mentions
53 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its charming and humorous character designs, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the variety of customization options and the engaging art style, noting that the character designs and animations contribute significantly to the game's appeal. The combination of neat graphics, entertaining dialogues, and a whimsical aesthetic creates a delightful atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The story, character development, controls, and artwork are amazing.”
- “I love the art of the game, and have found the character design fantastic.”
- “The character design is good, the cutscenes are fantastic to watch, and it's just all around a good game to look at.”
- “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in the character arcs; they felt predictable and uninspired.”
monetization
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback; while players appreciate the lack of microtransactions and find the advertising engaging and humorous, some feel the game is a "cash grab" due to limitations in multiplayer options and a low player base for online co-op. Overall, the game's monetization strategy seems to prioritize fun and customization over aggressive in-game purchases, but the multiplayer experience suffers as a result.
- “Controls are tight, levels are challenging, lots of fun customizations, and no microtransactions.”
- “This is a cash grab, plain and simple.”
- “Absolute cash grab.”
- “The ads, which are hilarious and made me want to try it - they are exactly what the whole game is about.”