Braid, Anniversary Edition

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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 601 reviews

graphics58 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The remastered graphics and sound significantly enhance the original experience, making it visually stunning and immersive.
The extensive developer commentary provides deep insights into the game's design and development process, making it a valuable resource for aspiring game developers.
The puzzles remain clever and challenging, with new levels and mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

Some players find the commentary format cumbersome, as it interrupts gameplay and can feel disorganized.
The new puzzles, while enjoyable, may not be as challenging or innovative as the original, leading to disappointment for some fans.
The game may feel dated in some aspects, with certain puzzles relying on mechanics that can be frustrating or obscure.

graphics
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The graphics in the remastered version of the game 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 new and original graphics seamlessly, highlighting the significant improvements in detail and vibrancy. Overall, the updated visuals, combined with enhanced sound and developer commentary, create a captivating and immersive experience that resonates with both new players and fans of the original.
- “The new graphics elevate the depressing and gritty atmosphere to the next level; much better sound quality and music than in the original release.”
- “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 ability to switch between old and new graphics on the fly is interesting.”
- “The art style always turned me off, but I thought I'd give the remaster a try and pay homage to the game that started Xbox Arcade and indie all those years ago... I have 47 minutes in this game at the time of review and managed to complete and solve world 2.”
- “While some may find the graphics a bit simplistic, the artistic style is beautiful and occasionally reminiscent of recognized works of art.”
- “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 damn point, (for example, turning with a key in your hands makes much more sense in the original graphics.)”
gameplay
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its innovative time-manipulation mechanics, which are intricately woven into the puzzle design, offering players a unique and challenging experience. While some players find the puzzles rewarding and the mechanics engaging, others express frustration with the high dexterity required and occasional lack of clarity in puzzle solutions. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals, clever level design, and the way it encourages creative problem-solving, making it a standout in the puzzle platformer genre.
- “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 gameplay felt great, with the perfect pacing, simple gameplay with just the right difficulty, and the lovely aesthetics of both the visual art and music making for such a tight and enjoyable package.”
- “While the puzzles are intriguing and somewhat challenging, they do require high dexterity to execute successfully most of the time, which is frustrating. I 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.”
- “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.”
music
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and how it enhances the atmosphere and gameplay, particularly during puzzle-solving. While some players appreciate the remastered soundtrack and improved sound quality, others find the music can become irritating when it rewinds with time manipulation or feel that the original version was superior. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as enchanting and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's emotional and immersive experience.
- “The music fits so perfectly with 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
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The story of Braid is a complex and philosophical narrative that unfolds through cryptic texts found in books before each level, exploring themes of mistakes, relationships, and the consequences of actions. While some players appreciate its depth and the way it intertwines with gameplay mechanics, others find it convoluted and lacking in engaging writing. Overall, the story is seen as both a profound and abstract experience that invites personal interpretation, though it 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.”
- “Braid is a brilliant game with challenging puzzles and a captivating story.”
- “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.”
- “I find it pretentious, intellectual (I like intelligent people, not intellectual people, makes sense?), snob and very, very abstract: there is a story in there, but it is all written in books, with pompous and philosophical prose... basically, nothing for me.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted through its quirky protagonist and the absurdity of its mechanics, particularly the endless use of the time-rewinding ability. Players find amusement in the juxtaposition of serious game design discussions with the lighthearted, almost silly nature of the gameplay, likening it to a humorous take on classic platformers like Mario. Overall, the game combines thoughtful commentary with a playful, comedic tone that resonates with players.
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dreamlike quality, enhanced by beautiful graphics and fitting music that elevate the emotional depth and tone of the story. Reviewers highlight the combination of art style, audio, and innovative puzzles as key elements that create a captivating and immersive experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both haunting and beautiful, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “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.”
- “The new graphics elevate the depressing and gritty atmosphere to the next level; the sound quality and music are much better than in the original release.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the high dexterity required for puzzle execution and the repetitive nature of using the rewind mechanic. While the commentary adds depth, the step-by-step navigation to access it can feel laborious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. Many feel that the puzzles, especially in the commentary world, lack the simplicity and coherence expected in a puzzle-oriented game, leading to frustration rather than fun.
- “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.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the visual and performance enhancements, others criticize it as poorly optimized, particularly on the Steam Deck where performance can fluctuate dramatically. Despite these issues, players have noted that creative gameplay can lead to unintentional speedrunning, suggesting that there are still opportunities for optimization.
- “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.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its unique gameplay, level design, and music, which together create a profound emotional and philosophical resonance. While many players find the emotional depth impactful and surprising, some critics perceive it as overly indulgent or pretentious. Overall, the game evokes a strong emotional response, making it a memorable experience for many.
- “The unique gameplay, the level design, the music, the emotional and philosophical resonance of the story... what a game.”
- “Honestly, the 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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express that monetization strategies for games can be complex, often requiring time for players to engage and invest in them. While some suggest that increased visibility through advertisements could help, they also acknowledge the financial pressures on developers and the potential for a game's value to evolve over time, despite concerns that the overall package may not justify its cost.
- “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
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is generally considered to lack replayability, with users indicating that it does not offer enough incentive or variation to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “To be clear, it's not replayable.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits some stability issues, including minor bugs and stutters when manipulating time, but overall functions adequately.
- “The game is slightly buggy right now, with stutters after playing with time, but it works well enough.”