Braid, Anniversary Edition

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 962 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Braid, Anniversary Edition Game Cover
Braid Anniversary Edition is a reminder of how good the original was, with stellar visuals and puzzles that are tough yet rewarding.
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"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 962 reviews
graphics107 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous art style and stunning world.
  • Challenging and well-crafted puzzles that provide a satisfying experience.
  • Extensive and insightful developer commentary that enhances the understanding of game design.
  • Some puzzles can feel overly complicated or rely on mechanics not introduced earlier.
  • The commentary can be disorganized and requires players to engage with it actively, which may detract from the gameplay experience.
  • The game is relatively short, and some players may feel it doesn't offer enough new content compared to the original.
  • graphics227 mentions

    The graphics in the remastered version of Braid have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual upgrades, which enhance the already beautiful art style of the original game. Players appreciate the ability to toggle between the new and old graphics, allowing them to see the significant improvements in detail and vibrancy. Overall, the remaster successfully modernizes the visuals while maintaining the nostalgic feel of the original, making it a visually captivating experience for both new and returning players.

    • “The artwork and graphics are even more beautiful than the original, which was already incredible.”
    • “When I played the anniversary edition, I was so enraptured by the upgraded 'living painting' graphics that I spent that hour just admiring the visual craftsmanship.”
    • “The updated graphics look how I remember it in my head when it first launched on the Xbox 360, a masterclass of game design.”
    • “Coming back to the game now, actually paying attention to the story and solving the puzzles by yourself feels nostalgic yet mostly new, and the game looks spectacular - kind of like you remember a game from your childhood in your head (and then usually find out the graphics have aged poorly).”
    • “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.”
    • “You *have* to like Jon Blow's voice to go through hours of his 'oh here I left a clever reference' commentary and the visual redesign is technically top-notch but mostly misses the whole point, (for example, turning with a key in your hands makes much more sense in the original graphics.)”
  • gameplay150 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its innovative time-manipulation mechanics and clever puzzle design, offering a rewarding experience that challenges players to think outside the box. While the visuals and audio have been enhanced, some players find the gameplay occasionally janky or frustrating, particularly with later levels that introduce complex mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its unique approach to puzzles and platforming, making it a standout title in the genre.

    • “The gameplay can feel really rewarding and the puzzles can be brilliant at times.”
    • “It's as great as ever, excellent puzzle platformer with a unique time rewind mechanic that becomes more and more complex as you clear the different worlds.”
    • “The game’s time-manipulation mechanics and complex puzzles are anything but pointless – they’re ingeniously designed to challenge and intrigue players in ways that many games fail to achieve.”
    • “My main issue with the game is the puzzles/gameplay.”
    • “The look is much improved, but the gameplay feels a bit janky in places after so many years of games taking things a notch further.”
    • “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.”
  • music140 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and quality, with many reviewers noting the remastered soundtrack enhances the overall experience. The peaceful and orchestrated compositions effectively complement the gameplay, helping players focus during challenging puzzles. While some players appreciated the new music, others felt that certain changes detracted from the original's emotional impact, particularly in key moments.

    • “The music was one of my favorite parts - absolutely beautiful and is still constantly playing in my head days after I finished.”
    • “Its unique time-manipulation mechanics, beautiful visuals, and enchanting soundtrack create an unforgettable experience.”
    • “The remastered music and sound effects greatly enhance the mood, especially in the later parts of the game.”
    • “The music sounds the same to my ears, but I assume it has been upgraded.”
    • “The music and sound changes are mostly an upgrade, but I thought the epilogue felt a lot more impactful when it was silent.”
    • “Now there's some music over it, which changes the unique stark feeling of it.”
  • story125 mentions

    The story of Braid is a complex and philosophical narrative that unfolds through cryptic texts found in books before each level, which some players find intriguing while others consider it convoluted and lacking depth. While it offers a unique subversion of classic video game tropes and engages players with its themes of reflection and consequence, the storytelling approach can leave some feeling disconnected or confused. Overall, the narrative is appreciated for its artistic expression and integration with gameplay, though opinions vary on its clarity and impact.

    • “Braid's clever time-manipulation puzzles and its deep, philosophical story still hold up beautifully.”
    • “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.”
    • “The 'main story line' is very captivating and the way the devs wrote game mechanics into each chapter in a way that made sense both story and gameplay wise is just masterful.”
    • “The story is my favorite part of any game, and I'm no stranger to games with complex and multi-faceted narratives, but the creator of Braid was clearly trying to cover way too much territory with too little concrete support behind it, either in terms of storytelling and gameplay. If you want that kind of story, the puzzle genre is probably not your best option.”
    • “Lots of text of what seems to be unrelated, vague, or indirect story until you reach the ending.”
    • “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 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.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted through Jonathan Blow's self-aware commentary and the absurdity of gameplay mechanics, particularly the endless use of the time-rewinding feature. Players find amusement in both the protagonist's quirky design and the ironic situations that arise during gameplay, making for a blend of thoughtful and entertaining moments. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to provoke laughter while exploring deeper themes in game design.

    • “Fascinating and hilarious.”
    • “A beautiful remaster, with hours of thoughtful, often funny commentary on the nature of designing games like Braid.”
    • “The clip of Soulja Boy laughing at Braid while Blow sits in a black room from that documentary lives rent-free in my head.”
  • optimization11 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while it features a significant visual and performance overhaul, users report notable performance issues on the Steam Deck that can be temporarily resolved by restarting the game. Some players appreciate the potential for optimization and creative gameplay, but others criticize it as poorly optimized, labeling it a money grab. Overall, the game maintains its original charm while enhancing various aspects, though optimization remains a concern.

    • “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 beat 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.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, particularly when repeatedly using the rewind feature and solving puzzles that lack simplicity and coherence with the overall design. The commentary world introduces additional challenges that feel awkward and unnecessarily complex, detracting from the enjoyment of the gameplay experience. Overall, the repetitive nature of these tasks can diminish the fun and engagement players expect.

    • “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.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dreamy and immersive quality, enhanced by evocative graphics and music that complement the unfolding story. Reviewers highlight the emotional depth conveyed through character expressions and the unique puzzle-solving experience that contributes to the overall ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both captivating and integral to the game's charm.

    • “The sadly atmospheric story unveiled over time - just by the look of the face of the main character, I can feel the tone of the story.”
    • “All the graphics, music, puzzles, atmosphere are all perfect.”
    • “The original game is great fun, with a dreamy atmosphere as well as unique puzzle solving that you will not get anywhere else.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its profound impact on players, with many expressing surprise at its depth and resonance. While some found elements of the narrative to be overly pretentious, the combination of unique gameplay, level design, and music contributes to a rich emotional experience that resonates deeply with others. Overall, the game evokes a strong emotional response, making it memorable for many players.

    • “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.”
    • “The unique gameplay, the level design, the music, the emotional and philosophical resonance of the story... what a game.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is viewed as needing improvement, with suggestions for increased visibility through advertisements in other games to attract players over time. While the game is not perceived as a low-effort cash grab, its overall value as a complete package is questioned, indicating that it may not justify its price for many players.

    • “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.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game currently exhibits some stability issues, including minor bugs and stuttering, 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.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The consensus among users is that the game lacks replayability, with many stating it does not offer enough incentive or variation to warrant multiple playthroughs.

    • “To be clear, it's not replayable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

89% average critic score

Buy Braid, Anniversary Edition

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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