Black Baby

About

Black Baby is a single player casual action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by santaclos and was released on February 23, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "Black Baby," players navigate an underground maze as a lost child, battling enormous creatures, avoiding enemies, and using collected keys to escapelayers must bring light to dark areas, attack enemies and absorb their souls to restore health, and utilize various controls for movement, attack, and item management to survive and find freedom.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 143 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Black Baby offers a unique and emotional journey, blending platforming, puzzles, and storytelling in a beautifully crafted world.
The game features clever mechanics involving light and shadow that enhance gameplay and keep players engaged.
With its minimal yet stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack, Black Baby creates a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.

Some puzzles can feel too easy, and certain side characters lack depth, which detracts from the overall experience.
The game suffers from bugs and performance issues, including crashes and slow movement that can hinder gameplay.
The final boss encounter is frustratingly difficult and poorly designed, leading to a disappointing conclusion for some players.

gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
48%
14%
The gameplay in "Black Baby" is praised for its innovative mechanics and challenging combat, offering a rich and engaging experience that combines roguelike and soulslike elements. While some players appreciate the intricate puzzle design and depth of combat, others note issues such as janky mechanics and a lack of content. Overall, the game is recognized for its unique gameplay style, though opinions vary on its execution and balance.
- “This mechanic is used again and again in creative ways, and every new area introduces a twist that kept me interested.”
- “Black baby is a masterclass in roguelike and soulslike gameplay; it excels at being a challenging game and also a fun one.”
- “Each puzzle is intricately designed to stimulate the mind while progressing the narrative, ensuring a balanced gameplay experience.”
- “The gameplay is extremely janky, there's about 15 minutes of content, some achievements are literally impossible, and the final boss fight is terrible.”
- “The mechanic of throwing your axe and getting the timing and positioning just right is crazy hard.”
- “The graphics are actually better, but the gameplay is worse.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's story is a heartfelt exploration of themes like difference, loneliness, and connection, centered around a baby seeking its identity. While the narrative is simple and encourages personal interpretation, it is enriched by replayability and emotional depth. Although some players note a lack of extensive storyline, the storytelling is praised for its cinematic quality and the potential for future expansions.
- “The story is simple at first: a strange baby wakes up alone and wants to find out what it is and where it belongs.”
- “It is a warm, gentle story about difference, loneliness, and connection.”
- “The game seamlessly weaves together multiple storylines, filled with depth, symbolism, and surprising twists.”
- “The game does lack a long storyline, but the difficulty and gameplay will keep you at it for hours.”
- “I rate the game 8.5/10; with the lack of a storyline, it could be boring to some people, but this also gives Santa Claus a lot of leg room for a well-written sequel, which we shall look forward to.”
- “The storytelling in 'Black Baby' is one of its greatest strengths.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth and ability to evoke strong feelings through simple yet impactful storytelling and visuals. Players describe it as a charming journey that builds emotional weight over time, encouraging self-reflection and confronting fears. The haunting soundtrack and beautiful world contribute to a profound emotional experience, making it a memorable and thought-provoking adventure.
- “It is a weird, charming, sometimes emotional journey with a deep message hiding under its simple look.”
- “Black Baby is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking game that takes players on an emotional rollercoaster through a hauntingly beautiful world.”
- “The hauntingly beautiful visuals, coupled with a haunting soundtrack, set the tone for an emotionally charged journey.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's graphics are praised for their emotional impact and ability to create a haunting atmosphere, effectively complementing its unique narrative. Players appreciate the surreal and disturbing visuals that enhance the overall experience, although some note a decline in gameplay quality despite improvements in graphics.
- “With its unique narrative and stunning visuals, the game immerses players in a dark and mysterious atmosphere, offering a memorable gaming experience.”
- “The hauntingly beautiful visuals, coupled with a haunting soundtrack, set the tone for an emotionally charged journey.”
- “The surreal world it immerses you in, with its disturbing visuals and cryptic narrative, forced me to confront uncomfortable truths about society and my own understanding of the world.”
- “The graphics are actually better, but the gameplay is worse.”
- “I liked how the game did not need high-end graphics to feel emotional.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, making the world feel vibrant and meaningful. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a powerful emotional force, with one noting it even had a profound impact on their personal experience. The combination of haunting visuals and evocative music creates an emotionally charged journey for players.
- “The hauntingly beautiful visuals, coupled with a haunting soundtrack, set the tone for an emotionally charged journey.”
- “The music makes the world feel alive and full of meaning.”
- “The soundtrack surprised me the most.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The atmosphere of "black baby" is highly praised for its emotional depth and quiet beauty, creating a dark and mysterious environment that immerses players in a unique narrative. The stunning visuals and atmospheric design contribute significantly to a memorable gaming experience.
- “If you enjoy games with emotion, atmosphere, and quiet beauty, then this one is worth your time.”
- “With its unique narrative and stunning visuals, Black Baby immerses players in a dark and mysterious atmosphere, offering a memorable gaming experience.”
- “One of the standout aspects of Black Baby is its atmospheric design.”
- “The music feels repetitive and fails to enhance the atmosphere, making the game feel dull.”
- “The overall atmosphere lacks depth, leaving the environment feeling empty and uninspired.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich atmosphere, the game falls flat with generic sound design and uninspired visuals.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted to be hit-or-miss, with some players finding amusement in the chaotic ragdoll physics, while others feel the overall experience falls flat. Suggestions for improvement include enhancing visibility for key items to avoid frustration.
- “(This is where funny ragdolls happen since they get clumped up, which is very amusing.)”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is enjoyable but suffers from numerous bugs that affect its stability.
- “Very fun, but very buggy.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of defeating certain enemies to obtain keys. Suggestions include clearer indicators for key-holding enemies and providing more efficient tools, like additional axes, to streamline the process and reduce frustration.
- “To fix the problem of not knowing which enemy has the key, perhaps add a necklace with the key on it for the three enemies that have this feature for indication. Alternatively, give the player more axes to kill them all easier instead of having to tediously throw the axe, run out, kite them, and make your way back onto the platform at the center of the room to do it again however many times.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game provides a full experience without the need for additional purchases, such as mods, DLCs, or microtransactions, setting it apart from many modern AAA titles.
- “This game offers a complete experience right out of the box, with no modding, DLCs, or microtransactions - unlike contemporary AAA titles.”