Braid, Anniversary Edition

Braid Anniversary Edition is a reminder of how good the original was, with stellar visuals and puzzles that are tough yet rewarding.

92%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

optimization, grinding

96% User Score Based on 1,202 reviews

Critic Score 89%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Braid: Anniversary Edition" is a remastered version of the classic platformer, featuring updated artwork, new sound effects, and extensive audio commentary. Players can manipulate time to navigate through interconnected worlds and solve puzzles, while exploring memories and regrets. This beautifully painted game offers a fresh take on the original, with the same haunting score and challenging puzzles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,213 reviews

graphics120 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

The remastered graphics and sound significantly enhance the original experience, making it visually stunning and immersive.
The extensive developer commentary provides valuable insights into game design and development, making it a great resource for aspiring developers.
The puzzles remain challenging and inventive, offering satisfying 'aha' moments that keep players engaged.

Some players find the commentary format cumbersome, as it requires pausing gameplay to listen, which can disrupt the flow of the game.
The new levels and puzzles, while enjoyable, may not be as groundbreaking as the original content, leading some to feel the additions are underwhelming.
The game can feel dated in some aspects, with certain puzzles relying on mechanics that may not be intuitive for new players.

graphics
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The graphics in "Braid: Anniversary Edition" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual upgrades, which enhance the original's already beautiful art style. Players appreciate the ability to toggle between the remastered and original graphics, showcasing the significant improvements in detail and vibrancy. Overall, the remaster successfully modernizes the visuals while maintaining the game's artistic integrity, making it a visually captivating experience for both new and returning players.
- “The new graphics and resolution are nice, and the music is still amazing.”
- “The updated graphics look how I remember it in my head when it first launched on the Xbox 360, a masterclass of game design.”
- “The visuals pop in an amazing way, with the watercolor look still beautiful, & even have the option to swap back to the original visuals.”
- “While some may find the graphics a bit simplistic, the artistic style is beautiful and occasionally reminiscent of recognized works of art.”
- “Also, if you have the original version of the game, it may not be worth it to get this since it's mostly just updated graphics and commentary.”
- “It looks exactly how you remember it, until you switch to the old graphics and realize how much of that is nostalgia, and how age has not been kind.”
gameplay
197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The gameplay of Braid is characterized by its innovative time-manipulation mechanics, which are intricately woven into the puzzle design, offering players a unique and challenging experience. While the puzzles can be rewarding and clever, some players find the high dexterity required for execution frustrating, and certain solutions may feel obscure or absurd. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals, engaging level design, and the ability to experiment with mechanics, making it a standout puzzle platformer that remains captivating despite its age.
- “The gameplay is innovative and doesn't get old; it gives you the freedom to solve the puzzles in creative ways, plus the art style is just gorgeous!”
- “The core mechanic of time manipulation is exceptionally well implemented, applying physical and mathematical concepts that enhance the gameplay experience.”
- “The time control mechanics are mind-bendingly satisfying to play with, and the puzzles are wickedly inventive.”
- “While the puzzles are intriguing and somewhat challenging, they do require high dexterity to execute successfully most of the time, which is frustrating. I still find such elements of gameplay tedious and unfitting in a puzzle-oriented game.”
- “A small mistake can mean starting completely over on certain challenges, which I enjoy in precision platformers, but in this more puzzle-oriented style where the moment-to-moment gameplay isn't exactly thrilling, it can become frustrating or boring quickly.”
- “Primary reason is that here it's incredibly disorganized; it's spammed all over the levels, there's doors within doors that sometimes open up portals that sometimes open up sequential doors. Basically, it's hard to understand what is even meant to be communicated and any train of thought is merged with the gameplay it's being presented alongside.”
music
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and how it enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the remastered soundtrack and its emotional resonance, others find the music's integration with gameplay mechanics—such as time manipulation—frustrating at times. Overall, the remastered music is seen as a significant improvement over the original, contributing to a more immersive and engaging experience.
- “The music, it's just fitting so perfectly to the whole atmosphere and feeling of the game; it's just beautiful.”
- “The soundtrack jumps from peaceful and calming to haunting on a slow curve that fits each stage.”
- “Its unique time-manipulation mechanics, beautiful visuals, and enchanting soundtrack create an unforgettable experience.”
- “The platforming was bland, music annoying and the game felt soulless.”
- “While the gameplay is clever and challenging, one frustrating aspect is the way the music rewinds along with time, which can become quite irritating during repeated puzzle attempts.”
- “I'm not sure the updated sound effects and music add a lot to the experience, and would recommend you play through the game with its original visuals and music first.”
story
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The story of Braid is presented through cryptic texts and books found throughout the game, exploring themes of reflection, consequence, and the complexities of relationships. While some players find the narrative profound and intricately tied to the gameplay mechanics, others criticize it as convoluted and lacking in engaging writing. Overall, the story is seen as a thought-provoking backdrop that enhances the puzzle-solving experience, though its abstract nature may not resonate with everyone.
- “Braid tells a story about committing mistakes and learning from them while in a relationship.”
- “The ongoing story with the books between each world was shockingly profound, virtually all the puzzles are an excellent balance between too difficult and too easy, the different time dynamics of each world are absolutely fascinating (my favorite part), and the game world itself is so vibrant and rich.”
- “Braid's clever time-manipulation puzzles and its deep, philosophical story still hold up beautifully.”
- “Don't think too hard about the story or meaning of the game - the creator isn't good at engaging writing, but back then everyone with a passion for the larger gaming medium was desperately looking for narrative and story that went beyond blockbuster aspirations, and so it got a lot of undue/unbalanced credit for that.”
- “The story is still the same, a back burner plot told through various books found at the start of stages that leaves itself vague and open for the player.”
- “Now the game's love loss story has become death, the destroyer of worlds... I hate the 'twist' because it doesn't really add to the main plot; it can be argued the whole thing was always really about the loss of innocence, but you have to seriously bend the meaning in some of the memories for that to make sense, so it really feels more like they made a game with two different plot lines happening alongside, except it's not in a clever way.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted through its quirky protagonist and the absurdity of the gameplay mechanics, particularly the endless use of a time-rewinding "potion." Players find amusement in the protagonist's comical appearance and the exaggerated self-importance of the game's creator, Jonathan Blow, as he discusses basic game design principles. Overall, the game combines thoughtful commentary with a lighthearted, often hilarious approach to its mechanics and design.
- “It's very funny listening to Jonathan Blow bloviate about a basic tenet of good game design he applied and acting like he's some kind of visionary genius for it lol.”
- “A beautiful remaster, with hours of thoughtful, often funny commentary on the nature of designing games like Braid.”
- “It looks like Mario in the future, and it is Mario in a business suit with his hair dyed orange and a tie on, and he just walks around jumping, but the funny part about it is he can do this, right, watch this.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
7%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dreamlike quality, enhanced by beautiful graphics, fitting music, and engaging puzzles. Reviewers note that the updated visuals and sound elevate the already gritty and emotional tone, creating a deeply immersive experience that resonates with players. Overall, the combination of art style, audio, and narrative elements contributes to a uniquely captivating atmosphere that stands out in the gaming landscape.
- “Art style, audio, and the puzzles themselves create an amazing, dreamlike atmosphere.”
- “The music fits so perfectly with the whole atmosphere and feeling of the game; it's just beautiful.”
- “I think the new graphics elevate the depressing and gritty atmosphere to the next level; much better sound quality and music than in the original release.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
46%
31%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing it as poorly optimized and a "money grab," while others appreciate the visual and performance enhancements. Performance issues, particularly on the Steam Deck, can be mitigated by restarting the game, but there are still notable hiccups. Overall, while the game retains its charm and offers potential for speedrunning through optimization techniques, it struggles with consistent performance.
- “Fantastic update of a wonderful modern platformer really bringing this new classic a well-deserved visual and performance overhaul.”
- “However, there are so many potential ways of optimization that you'll find yourself accidentally speedrunning the game just by finding new methods to beating older levels.”
- “It stays true to the original while enhancing visuals, sound, and performance.”
- “I'm gonna have to give a negative review just because of how poorly optimized this game is.”
- “Poorly optimized money grab.”
- “Sometimes performance suffers dramatically on Steam Deck, but restarting the game flushes the memory (presumably) and it performs well again for at least a handful of levels in most cases.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the high dexterity required for puzzle execution and the repetitive nature of using the rewind mechanic. While the puzzles are intriguing, many feel they lack simplicity and can become frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay experience. Additionally, the effort to engage with the commentary often feels cumbersome, further contributing to the sense of tedium.
- “Often times it feels tedious and not fun using rewind for the billionth time; it can feel quite awkward to get the timing right.”
- “Actually getting to the doors sometimes required solving puzzles, but these felt tedious.”
- “The puzzles in the commentary world (world 7), while they expand on the design space, do not really fit into Braid as a whole; some are tedious, most lack simplicity of design, and some have multiple solutions that seem unintended by the designer.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's strong emotional impact, praising its unique gameplay, level design, and music, which contribute to a profound narrative experience. However, some critics perceive elements of emotional indulgence as pretentious, leading to mixed feelings about the overall emotional resonance. Overall, the game evokes significant emotional responses, making it memorable for many players.
- “The unique gameplay, the level design, the music, the emotional and philosophical resonance of the story... what a game.”
- “Honestly, puzzles are great but what I really didn't expect is how emotional the game is.”
- “Revisiting this one has a great emotional baggage for me.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for the game is viewed as needing improvement, with suggestions for increased visibility through advertisements in other games to help attract players over time. While the reviewer acknowledges the financial pressures on developers, they feel the overall value of the game does not justify its cost, indicating it is not a low-effort cash grab but still lacks sufficient appeal.
- “There's a lot here, and it's not a low-effort cash grab... but as a complete package, it's not really worth it.”
- “There's a lot here, and it's not a low-effort cash grab... but as a complete package, it's not really worth it.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is generally considered to lack replayability, with multiple users emphasizing that it does not offer enough incentive or variation for players to return after completing it.
- “To be clear, it's not replayable.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently exhibits some stability issues, including minor bugs and stutters, particularly when manipulating time mechanics. However, it remains functional overall.
- “The game is slightly buggy right now, with stutters after playing with time, but it works well enough.”

89%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews

Buy Braid, Anniversary Edition

5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5h Main story

8h Completionist

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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