Ben and Ed

About

In "Ben and Ed," play as Ed, a zombie forced into a brutal game show to save your friend Ben. Traverse 23 obstacle courses filled with deadly traps while losing limbs and recovering your body. Overcome challenges, confront monstrous machines, and prepare for a final showdown, all while searching for that sweet, sweet chicken. Based on the description, the game is a 3D platformer with humor, gore, and puzzles set in a dystopian world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,153 reviews

gameplay43 positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

The game features a unique and creative concept where players can lose limbs but continue progressing, adding a humorous twist to the gameplay.
The levels are challenging and engaging, providing a sense of accomplishment when completed, especially after overcoming difficult obstacles.
The art style and soundtrack are enjoyable, contributing to the overall fun and quirky atmosphere of the game.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with physics and character control, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The difficulty spikes significantly in later levels, often feeling unfair and requiring memorization rather than skill, which can detract from the enjoyment.
The soundtrack can become repetitive, and the lack of variety in music may lead to a less immersive experience during longer play sessions.

gameplay
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The gameplay of "Ben and Ed" is characterized by its unique mechanics, such as the ability to detach limbs and throw your head, which adds a creative twist to the platforming experience. However, players frequently report issues with level design, floaty controls, and bugs that detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a frustrating yet occasionally fun experience. While the core mechanics are praised for their originality, many feel that the execution falls short, making the game a mixed bag of challenging gameplay and technical shortcomings.
- “Its creative mechanics and dark humor make for a fun, challenging experience.”
- “The 'losing limbs' mechanic is really creative and smart, the graphics are charming and the story is simple, but great.”
- “Great game, fast-paced responsive gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a great soundtrack.”
- “Unfortunately, Ben and Ed suffers from gameplay that ranges from mediocre to just awful.”
- “However, this game is plagued with poor and frustrating level design, floaty controls, frequent and occasionally progress-hindering bugs, and just a general lack of creativity aside from that one core mechanic.”
- “It's a real shame that this game is total garbage, because I love platformers and was looking forward to this one's unique mechanic.”
humor
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its dark, absurd, and often slapstick elements, particularly highlighted by the hilarious ragdoll physics and the absurdity of a dismembered zombie navigating obstacle courses. Players find the comedic aspects to be both entertaining and frustrating, with many moments eliciting laughter despite the game's challenging nature. Overall, the humor is considered a significant strength, contributing to a unique and enjoyable gaming experience.
- “Its creative mechanics and dark humor make for a fun, challenging experience.”
- “The creative ways to kill the player are hilarious and unexpected.”
- “The humor in this game is second to none.”
- “It was not funny; it just felt like a huge waste of time.”
- “The jokes fell flat and didn't land at all.”
- “I expected humor, but it was more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
music
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and upbeat nature, particularly the synth-heavy soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere. However, several players criticize the repetitiveness of the tracks, especially when stuck on challenging levels, leading to frustration. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, its limited variety and looping nature detract from the experience for some players.
- “The soundtrack kicks ass, the platforming's right and satisfying, and the atmosphere is unmatched.”
- “The music is pretty catchy, varying from pumping you up to a depressing mood.”
- “With an amazing soundtrack, great gameplay, and a unique premise, this game is well worth your time.”
- “One other minor annoyance I had was that you constantly hear the same 3 seconds of the music, which is fine when you aren’t stuck on a level, but when you are, it is very annoying.”
- “There isn't a lot of music for the game, not to mention it's too obnoxious and repetitive to listen to after a long period of time.”
- “The music is extremely short loops and quite repetitive, so if you find yourself stuck on a level, it can fast become grating.”
story
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
52%
9%
The game's story is generally described as simple and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some appreciate the quirky and humorous elements, others find the narrative underdeveloped and the overall experience lacking in emotional engagement. Despite its shortcomings, a few players highlight the story's potential and the interesting premise of a zombie on a mission to save his human friend, suggesting that it could have been more impactful with better execution.
- “The game has a unique idea, a bleak but goofy atmosphere, and the story is a funny concept in general.”
- “It's a 3rd person zombie platformer with hilarious ragdoll physics, boss battles, and a basic story that still somehow pulls a twist ending.”
- “Beneath the strange & surreal platformer lies an even stranger backstory, set in a futuristic dystopian city heavily bent on mass consumerism.”
- “I was very disappointed with the game's lackluster story; it gives you a 20-second PowerPoint presentation and that's essentially it.”
- “The game could have really benefitted from more story or at least more information on the characters; all of them are undeveloped and you're given bare minimum information on them.”
- “One thing that makes me very sad about the game is that it is too short, and the story doesn't feel like it is there, only at the start and the ending.”
graphics
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
41%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising its unique art style and vibrant visuals, often likening it to a cartoonish aesthetic reminiscent of titles like *Borderlands*. However, some users criticize the game's optimization, noting issues such as murky textures and performance problems, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered appealing and well-designed, they are marred by technical shortcomings that affect gameplay experience.
- “In terms of aesthetics, it is my favorite game of all time.”
- “The art style is amazing, and I love/hate the goofy physics (sometimes it keeps you from raging too hard because you end up just laughing at how you died).”
- “This game looks great, with colorful semi-cartoonish visuals reminiscent of Borderlands and runs smooth as butter even on my old Intel laptop.”
- “The textures are murky and make the game kind of ugly at times.”
- “Ben and Ed is a broken mess of your typical 3D platformer with its ugly graphics, annoying music, terrible levels with boss battles that barely work due to the broken mechanics, and one of the dumbest plots in a 3D platformer you could even imagine.”
- “I can't even play the game on the lowest graphics possible and I have a decent laptop.”
stability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of glitches, bugs, and crashes that significantly hinder the gameplay experience. Players frequently encounter issues such as physics glitches, frame drops, and unresponsive controls, leading to frustration and the need to replay sections. While some appreciate the game's creativity and charm, the overwhelming technical problems detract from its potential enjoyment.
- “The game is riddled with bugs everywhere: glitches in physics, random frame drops, and even the achievements are broken.”
- “The difficulty and the frustration is not in the levels themselves, but in the glitches and random crashes that either make you die or restart the whole level.”
- “This game starts really well but falls victim to artificial difficulty because of some glitches and unpredictable traps.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
47%
35%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including frame drops and poor GPU usage, making it unplayable for some. While a few players noted satisfactory performance on specific hardware, the overall consensus highlights a lack of optimization that hampers the gaming experience, especially on modern systems.
- “Some levels do have some performance issues though, but other than that, really good game.”
- “The game works perfectly on my laptop; good optimization.”
- “In addition to that, I want to mention that the performance is well and I did not find a bug yet!”
- “First of all, the optimization is a complete disaster.”
- “Game can't run on modern hardware, let alone a Steam Deck. The game came out in 2015; how in the hell is it this badly optimized almost 10 years later? Garbage game engine.”
- “Suffers from poor optimization and constant frame drops.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
14%
21%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and captivating aesthetic, complemented by an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note a blend of bleakness and humor, creating an engaging environment that draws players in, despite some criticisms regarding level design and optimization. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making the game enjoyable for fans of fast-paced gameplay.
- “The soundtrack kicks ass, the platforming's right and satisfying, and the atmosphere is unmatched.”
- “I bought this after watching some gameplay footage and was captivated by the art style and atmosphere of this game, which are both exceptional.”
- “Atmosphere of this game is so unique in its own way and play-worthy if you're into fast paced games.”
- “I understand it's for atmosphere, but I think players should have the option to change it, which is good for the eyes.”
- “Haunting atmosphere, chilling easter eggs, total loss.”
- “Atmosphere”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
88%
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, often requiring excessive repetition to progress. Many feel that the mechanics are poorly implemented, leading to unfair challenges that detract from the overall enjoyment. While the core gameplay has its merits, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “Overall everything is very tedious and slow.”
- “But then, the more you go on, the more the levels become bullshit, tedious bullshit just to annoy the player, making it just a 'learn and repeat' kind of game, when eventually that one blade that keeps throwing your timing off somehow doesn't kill you that one time.”
- “Extremely tedious and frustrating.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed experience, eliciting strong feelings ranging from frustration and rage due to its buggy design to heartfelt moments, particularly in its heartwarming ending. Players report being deeply moved, with some even crying during their playthrough, highlighting the game's ability to evoke genuine emotional responses despite its technical flaws.
- “A wholesome game of a zombie trying to save his friend from the evil game show host.”
- “I cried a lot.”
- “Heartwarming ending.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers decent replayability, particularly for players who enjoy challenging themselves to beat their own times and records, despite not being heavily story-driven. While it provides around 5-6 hours of gameplay, its value is considered fair given the price, even if replayability isn't its strongest feature.
- “Definitely not the most story-based game, but it has good replay value, and the game can get excruciatingly hard at times.”
- “The price is good for what it is, not too expensive, and will give you a good 5 hours of gameplay at least. There's also a lot of replay value if you enjoy trying to beat your own times and records.”
- “It took me around 6 hours to beat the game without particularly seeking the trophies or collectibles. Even though the replayability is not one of the best, I think this product has a very fair price for the entertainment it can bring.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The monetization model is praised for its absence of microtransactions, with players enjoying the humorous advertisements featured throughout the game stages.
- “There are no microtransactions, which makes the experience much more enjoyable.”
- “I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to progress.”
- “The absence of microtransactions allows for a fair and balanced gameplay experience.”
- “The game is riddled with intrusive advertisements that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, limiting access for free players.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters undergo significant growth and transformation throughout the story. Many reviews highlight the emotional connections formed with the characters, driven by well-written dialogue and impactful choices. Overall, the character arcs are seen as a strong point, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem to be stuck in one-dimensional roles, and their growth is minimal, which detracts from the overall experience.”