Bit.Trip Runner

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,132 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Bit.Trip Runner Game Cover
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"BIT.TRIP RUNNER is a single-player Science Fiction Platformer game with perfect mechanics, fantastic graphics, and a phenomenal soundtrack. As CommanderVideo, players race, jump, slide, and kick through over 50 levels of exhilarating music/rhythm-based action, with the chiptune group Anamanaguchi making a guest appearance. Leaderboards and achievements add to the excitement on Steam, along with Easy and Hard Modes for an extra challenge."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Nintendo 3ds
  • Wii
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,132 reviews
music207 positive mentions
story4 negative mentions
  • The game features a catchy soundtrack that evolves as you progress, enhancing the gameplay experience.
  • The retro graphics and unique art style create a charming atmosphere that appeals to fans of classic games.
  • The gameplay is addictive and challenging, providing a sense of satisfaction when completing difficult levels.
  • The lack of checkpoints means that players must restart entire levels after a single mistake, leading to frustration.
  • The difficulty spikes, particularly in later levels, can feel unfair and may deter casual players.
  • The visuals can be overwhelming at times, making it hard to distinguish between obstacles and the background.
  • music444 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, upbeat nature and its integration with gameplay, where player actions contribute to the evolving soundtrack. However, some players criticize the repetitiveness of the tracks and the lack of variety, which can lead to frustration during extended play sessions. Overall, while the soundtrack is a highlight for many, its effectiveness as a rhythm game is debated, with some feeling that the music does not align well with the timing of gameplay actions.

    • “The music is great, the rest, not so much.”
    • “The way the music stems from your actions, hit or miss, is where this game really shines.”
    • “The music is awesome to listen to, and coincides with correctly timed maneuvers.”
    • “The music is annoyingly repetitive.”
    • “The soundtrack sucks, the levels are bullshit (so you'll hear the same boring soundtrack over and over as the last 12 levels), and there's absolutely nothing to make this game make sense.”
    • “The music doesn't quite line up with the actions you're supposed to take either -- like, the beats will line up with when you pass over obstacles rather than when you're supposed to initiate the jump.”
  • graphics131 mentions

    The graphics of the game evoke a retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of pixel art, featuring colorful environments and charming visuals. However, some players find the visuals disorienting and difficult to parse, especially on larger screens, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, while the graphics are praised for their nostalgic charm, they can also be overwhelming and may hinder gameplay clarity.

    • “The charming graphics, the catchy music, and the fluid gameplay all come together to make a wonderful game everyone should try.”
    • “Trip Runner is a rhythmic gem that blends retro aesthetics, challenging gameplay, and an infectious soundtrack into pure pixelated bliss.”
    • “The graphics are surprisingly enjoyable (I'm not usually a fan of pixel art), and I really enjoyed the music, though it could use more variety.”
    • “The bad thing is that graphics look awful on bigger screens, so if you've more than a 24" full HD display, I'd highly recommend playing it windowed; otherwise, it's an undiscernible mess of colors on the screen and nothing more.”
    • “Worse, artsy graphics can hinder player accuracy from their lack of clarity.”
    • “Not only that effect is going to tire out your eyes if you play this game for long periods of time, but it might also cause you to fail at certain points of the game because the game's art style doesn't stand out very much — obstacles and items tend to blend in with each other, it's hard to tell them apart sometimes, and the continuous blur doesn't help at all.”
  • gameplay106 mentions

    The gameplay of "Bit Trip Runner" is characterized by its rhythmic, fast-paced mechanics that blend simple controls with challenging obstacles, creating a mix of fun and frustration. While many players appreciate the catchy soundtrack and retro aesthetics, some criticize the trial-and-error nature and lack of checkpoints, which can lead to repetitive and tedious gameplay experiences. Overall, the game offers a satisfying challenge for those who enjoy precision platforming and rhythm-based mechanics, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its steep difficulty curve.

    • “The charming graphics, the catchy music, and the fluid gameplay all come together to make a wonderful game everyone should try.”
    • “Trip Runner is a rhythmic gem that blends retro aesthetics, challenging gameplay, and an infectious soundtrack into pure pixelated bliss.”
    • “The gameplay offers tight and responsive controls that make this a delight to play, and except for a few artificial points in the game, it offers a well-thought-out level design that provides plenty of challenge.”
    • “I admittedly liked this mechanic originally, until world 3 and particularly 3-2, which rips the fun out of the experience by forcing players to repeat a level with a jump that has around 0.1 seconds of error time five times. It took me 2 hours to complete and was just dreadful.”
    • “It doesn't help that mechanics and physics aren't always applied consistently or give a deceptively small window for failure, which can be brutal in a game where almost everything kills you.”
    • “The gameplay became too fast and stressful, and after 75 minutes of play, I was tired of starting level 1-6 again and again due to missing on 'jump_row' elements.”
  • story15 mentions

    The game's story is described as abstract and minimal, with some players noting that it requires prior knowledge from earlier titles to fully appreciate the narrative. While it features colorful elements and easter eggs, many reviews emphasize that the gameplay prioritizes mechanics and music over a substantial storyline, with only brief cutscenes present. Overall, the story is considered secondary to the core gameplay experience.

    • “It has a story, very abstract but colorful and charming, with easter eggs and secrets.”
    • “Bit Trip Runner is an amazing game with very complicated puzzles and an amazing story.”
    • “His story continues after finding his core and place in the world.”
    • “Play the first three games before this one to get the full story and experience.”
    • “There isn't much story to it, but the game really doesn't need one.”
    • “Story is very minimal, with a few cutscenes at the start of each world and for the ending.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its silly graphics, amusing music, and a lighthearted design that resonates well with players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend humor with challenge, making it both entertaining and enjoyable. Overall, the game is praised for its comedic elements and playful aesthetic.

    • “A platform with funny music, silly graphics, and lots of keyboards smashed on its back...”
    • “It's really funny; it's a simple design but actually good.”
    • “Not really hard but really funny and well done!”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and repetitive, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. While some players appreciate the potential payoff and the game's art style, many find the lack of checkpoints and simplistic gameplay to be major drawbacks that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant negative, making the game feel unforgiving and boring.

    • “Incredibly simplistic gameplay, boring, tedious, and lacking anything to keep you playing.”
    • “Do not buy this game; it is unforgiving, tedious, and the sequel is 1000x better.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but after playing three sessions across 2 hours, the game really started to drive my patience; and it's not because it's difficult, on the contrary, I like difficulty in my games, but because it's tedious and repetitive.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers strong replayability through its level design and challenging achievements that encourage skillful play rather than typical collection tasks. While some bonus levels may feel repetitive, the overall experience remains engaging, making it worthwhile for players seeking to complete all levels and achievements.

    • “For those who want more challenge, there is a fair amount of replayability thanks to interesting, challenging achievements - not the typical 'collect 1000 boxes' or 'kill 500 zombies', but the 'play better' kind of achievements.”
    • “It would have to be replayable to get through all the levels!”
    • “This is an example of level design that favors replayability rather than variety.”
    • “The majority of the game is 'just challenging enough', and there is a lot of replay value if one has the skill to complete all of the achievements.”
    • “Replayable: it would have to be to get through all the levels!”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is well-optimized, running smoothly while allowing players to adjust settings, such as turning off vocaloid performances for improved feedback. Additionally, both music and visuals enhance in quality based on the game's performance, contributing to a seamless experience.

    • “Imagine playing the latest Hatsune Miku game where you could just turn off the Vocaloid performance during the game and get better feedback from the game.”
    • “The music in this game is pretty good and it runs smoothly.”
    • “Imagine playing the latest Hatsune Miku game where you could just turn off the Vocaloid performance during the game and get better feedback from the gameplay.”
    • “The music and visuals scale upwards with your game performance.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere effectively blends nostalgic 80s simplicity with modern appeal, creating a fun and engaging experience. The combination of motivating background music, sound effects, and vibrant visuals enhances the overall enjoyment, encouraging players to keep progressing through the levels.

    • “This game throws me back to the 80s with its simplicity, but it retains a modern gaming appeal and atmosphere that will keep you coming back for more and more... and more.”
    • “This game is great fun to play, combining background music with sound generated by your actions to create a motivating atmosphere to just go on and on and on with the levels.”
    • “The visuals are also pretty rad, and the atmosphere of the game is teeming with an air of fun.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I was hoping for.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the atmosphere is dull and fails to engage the player.”
    • “The game’s environment feels lifeless, making it hard to stay invested in the experience.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization in the sequel is user-friendly, featuring optional checkpoints and collectible skins without any microtransactions. While ads are present, they do not detract from the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The sequel adds optional checkpoints, several new mechanics, and collectible skins (no microtransactions!).”
    • “The ads do not even begin to capture the immense gameplay that could make a grown man cry.”
    • “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than they should to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending money.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, highlighting feelings of happiness and a profound connection to the story, particularly noting that the ending evokes tears and is unforgettable.

    • “I cried at the incredible ending you can't miss.”
    • “This game made me feel happy.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is appreciated for its retro aesthetic and simple design, which resonates with players. The main character, CommanderVideo, has inspired a personal connection, leading to the creation of custom memorabilia that enhances the player's engagement with the character.

    • “The retro look-and-feel of the game, along with the simple character design, has made it a game I've enjoyed for quite a long time. The wide variety of controls adds to the experience, and I even have a custom set of novelty items revolving around CommanderVideo, the main character. Most of this memorabilia I still have, although I'm pretty sure it was custom stuff my dad made for me one Christmas, as some of the items included my name.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices in character progression; it feels like you're just going through the motions.”
    • “The characters don't evolve in a way that feels rewarding, and their arcs are predictable and uninspired.”
  • stability1 mentions

    While the game features vibrant graphics and colors, players have reported occasional glitches that affect overall stability.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

15hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
3-44hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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