Black the Fall

If you can push through some frustrating moments during the opening hour, Black The Fall offers challenging puzzles with a thought-provoking narrative.

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"Black the Fall" is a puzzle-platformer game set in a bleak, totalitarian society. As an old machinist, you'll sneak and deceive your way through various challenges, using both your own wits and the help of a small robot companion. The game features a dark, atmospheric world with unique mechanics and a focus on exploration and problem-solving. The Collector's Edition includes a digital soundtrack and artbook.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 307 reviews

gameplay27 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted atmosphere reminiscent of Limbo and Inside, with stunning visuals and a haunting sound design.
Puzzles are varied and can be both easy and challenging, providing a satisfying experience for players who enjoy problem-solving.
The narrative, inspired by the Romanian communist regime, adds depth and context to the gameplay, making it more engaging for those familiar with the historical background.

The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during precise platforming sections.
Some puzzles are overly obtuse or lack clear guidance, which can result in players needing to rely on walkthroughs to progress.
The game is relatively short, with many players feeling that it doesn't offer enough content for its price, leading to concerns about replayability.

gameplay
100 mentions
27 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of clever puzzles and platforming mechanics that can be both rewarding and frustrating. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics and atmospheric design, others criticize the janky controls, lack of clear instructions, and trial-and-error nature of the puzzles. Overall, the game offers a decent challenge but may leave some players feeling stuck or confused due to its one-solution approach and inconsistent mechanics.
- “The gameplay presents a good challenge, with clever puzzles, but never frustrating (for me, at least).”
- “New mechanics are always well introduced and the difficulty never strays past tough-but-fair territory and into overwhelmingly frustrating.”
- “The prodigious range of puzzles and platforming mechanics present rival that of a game ten times longer than it, and the visual and auditory treat on offer elevates that gameplay to an incredibly high standard.”
- “The gameplay is janky.”
- “Some of the most frustrating mechanics and unintuitive objectives/solutions I have ever experienced.”
- “Nice design and an okay story (if there is any), but you consistently die because the controls are awful and there are no introductions to the many mechanics in the game.”
graphics
75 mentions
51 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their atmospheric and artistic qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the unique art style and compelling visuals that enhance the dystopian setting. While some games, like *Inside*, are noted for their personality and creativity, others, such as *Black the Fall*, are criticized for feeling like uninspired replicas despite having decent aesthetics. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's mood and storytelling, though some players express a desire for more graphical options and detail.
- “The brutal, mechanical world is boldly brought to life through the graphics; the puzzle set-pieces are plausible, and the robot buddy you meet along the way is charming.”
- “The graphics are fantastic, and the mood/atmosphere is really cleverly done.”
- “Gorgeous visuals, great atmosphere, and fun/smart puzzles.”
- “While 'Inside' and 'Black the Fall' both have minimal looking visuals and graphics, 'Black the Fall's' visuals look and feel like an uninspired replica, while 'Inside's' has loads of personality.”
- “The visuals are basic, the soundtrack is basic, the puzzles are uninteresting and basic.”
- “There aren't enough graphics settings to optimize performance.”
story
72 mentions
42 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its atmospheric and environmental storytelling, effectively conveying themes related to communism and dystopian experiences, particularly resonating with those familiar with Romania's past. While some players found the narrative compelling and engaging, others criticized it for being vague or lacking depth, with mixed opinions on its execution and relevance. Overall, the story is seen as a significant aspect of the game, though its appeal may be limited to specific audiences.
- “Inside's environmental storytelling and design incites wonder and fascination, with the player coming to their own conclusions about the game's ambiguous lore.”
- “The game is quite memorable with a great story to be told and the ending was quite satisfying.”
- “The lore and the story are nice; unlike Limbo and the like, you get an idea of what is actually going on and the ending gives you a feeling of closure, which I personally see as a plus.”
- “I am extremely disappointed that the background story of the hero and world itself was completely neglected.”
- “Also, the neglect to provide any story is severely disappointing.”
- “The story was very weak.”
atmosphere
71 mentions
62 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, oppressive, and immersive qualities, often drawing comparisons to acclaimed titles like "Inside" and "Limbo." Players appreciate the combination of stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and a compelling narrative that reflects themes of totalitarianism and dystopia. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is strong, the gameplay mechanics and puzzle design can detract from the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is grim sometimes, but very captivating.”
- “The game's atmosphere seems to recreate very well the overall state of mind and spirit of the Romanian population before 1990.”
- “The visuals are good, the sounds are very industrial and the atmospheric background music fits well into each of the scenes.”
- “It tries to create atmosphere, but fails miserably.”
- “You don't make an oppressive atmosphere just by turning everything dark and placing Soviet symbols around with evil NPCs talking in a Russian-like language.”
- “A strong, oppressive atmosphere can get you places, but a game of this kind still needs a good plot, and some gameplay mechanics that are more than decent.”
music
15 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others criticize it for being basic, repetitive, or even soporific. While the sound design effectively complements the art style and setting, many feel that the lack of a memorable soundtrack detracts from the game's environment and can lead to a sense of monotony. Overall, the music is seen as a significant but inconsistent aspect of the game's appeal.
- “Immersive music”
- “Game mechanics, puzzles, music - all very well blended into a very good game.”
- “The added industrialized music and hardened sound amplifies the mood perfectly.”
- “No memorable soundtrack.”
- “While its puzzles and art style are to praise, the game feels too repetitive at times and its lifespan can get too short, not to mention that the lack of music harms the overall environment.”
- “If I'm being totally honest, I did find the soundscape a little lacking, both in terms of music and sound effects.”
emotional
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its powerful storytelling and atmosphere that evoke a range of feelings, from laughter to tears. The ending is particularly impactful, described as superb and capable of eliciting strong emotional responses, including crying. Overall, the game is recognized as an emotional rollercoaster, effectively combining historical elements with personal narratives to create a memorable experience.
- “The vibe really was touching, playing as a prisoner taking a dangerous risk of escaping a communist regime.”
- “One of the few games that made me cry - in fact, the only game that made me cry like a child while still pressing keys on the controller.”
- “An emotional rollercoaster as shown by the final minutes of the game displaying areas very well known from a historical point of view from Bucharest, combined with the prisoner number of our hero and the very powerful images moments before the credits.”
replayability
9 mentions
11 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and short playtime of around four hours. While a few players found some potential for exploration and unique puzzles that could encourage a second playthrough, the consensus leans towards minimal replay value.
- “Has some unique and interesting puzzles, and there's certainly replayability value in this one. I do not want to spoil anything for anyone, but if you're the kind of player that likes exploring and then wishing you'd taken the other path, you are in for a great experience.”
- “Once completed, there is no replay value unless you want to torture yourself endlessly.”
- “Currently, there's neither freedom in gameplay nor replay value.”
- “But bear in mind there's little replay value - linear and barely any sidetracking.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its clever blend of comedy and poignancy, often catching players off guard with its political undertones. The dialogue is highlighted as both amusing and emotionally resonant, particularly for those who understand Romanian, enhancing the overall experience. Players report a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, showcasing the game's ability to evoke a deep connection.
- “I find it funny that I missed the whole political message until the very end.”
- “The dialogue and spoken lines can be both funny and sad (if you can understand Romanian, it'll feel like a bonus!).”
- “The game made me laugh, gave me goosebumps, and made me cry, and I'm not ashamed of admitting it.”
optimization
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players report excellent performance, others criticize it for being poorly optimized and lacking sufficient graphics settings to enhance performance.
- “Excellent performance”
- “My only significant complaint is that the game could have been optimized better.”
- “Gameplay was not very engaging, not to mention the fact that it's horribly optimized.”
- “There aren't enough graphics settings to optimize performance.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life. Additionally, there are mentions of collective farming, suggesting that players may need to collaborate to manage the grinding effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “And what about collective farming?”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has been noted for its stability issues, with users reporting bugs that can disrupt gameplay. Players should manage their expectations, as the experience may involve frequent deaths due to both challenging puzzles and mechanical glitches.
- “It can be a little buggy.”
- “If you're looking for a game like Limbo or Inside, this is similar; however, it is not better, so don't have your expectations high. Get ready to die hundreds of times, mainly due to working out the puzzles and sometimes due to buggy mechanics.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is presented with a decent aesthetic, featuring minimalistic visuals for character designs complemented by appealing sound effects, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's unique backstory and motivations.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with meaningful choices that impact their growth and relationships.”
- “The minimalistic visuals and sound effects enhance the character designs, making their development feel even more immersive.”