Break the Game
- July 15, 2019
- Simon Fredholm
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Break the Game" is a rhythm-based puzzle platformer where players must exploit glitches to progress. By manipulating the game's code and bugs to their advantage, players navigate through levels filled with obstacles and enemies. The game encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, as breaking the rules is the key to success.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging story that effectively breaks the fourth wall, drawing players into its narrative.
- The soundtrack is well-produced and enhances the overall experience, with many players praising its quality.
- The characters are interesting and memorable, with distinct personalities that resonate with players.
- The game suffers from excessively long and unskippable cutscenes, which disrupt gameplay and can lead to boredom.
- The humor often falls flat, relying on outdated jokes and references that may not appeal to all players.
- Gameplay can feel simplistic and lacks challenge, with some players expressing disappointment in the overall execution.
- story446 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its unique, meta narrative and humor, while others criticize its pacing and lengthy, unskippable cutscenes that detract from the overall experience. Some find the plot engaging and emotionally resonant, while others feel it lacks coherence and depth, often resorting to childish humor and awkward dialogue. Overall, the game is heavily story-driven, appealing to those who enjoy narrative-focused experiences, but may frustrate players seeking more dynamic gameplay.
“It's one of the best storytelling I've ever seen in a game and it demonstrates that you don't need fancy graphics to have fun.”
“The story itself was engaging and interesting.”
“I really liked the story this game takes you through, a mix between hilarious and sad at the same time but also a little challenging.”
“The story is also really weirdly paced, and doesn't ultimately do much in respect to other aspects of the game with the 'breaking out of the game' theme it's going for.”
“The plot is boring, makes no sense and is completely disconnected from itself.”
“The story had way too many long cut scenes that just dragged on and on for no reason, which had me begging for a skip button.”
- gameplay218 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and straightforward, often overshadowed by lengthy, unskippable cutscenes and dialogue that disrupt the flow of play. While some players found the mechanics enjoyable and the platforming elements competent, many criticized the overall experience for being shallow and overly focused on narrative rather than engaging gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as a mix of fun moments and frustrating interruptions, with a significant portion dedicated to story rather than action.
“I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the gameplay and getting 100% achievements is pretty easy.”
“Writing was entertaining and the gameplay was simple but engaging.”
“Witty dialogue, fun gameplay, I felt engrossed in the game the whole time.”
“The gameplay continued for 10 seconds only to continue with a cutscene.”
“I have a timer, let’s see how long this takes… the funky wall… 5 minutes for an imaginary wall… I have not had any gameplay in the past half hour.”
“Barely any gameplay, and the cutscenes were unbearable.”
- humor208 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highly polarizing, with many players finding it a mix of childish, random internet meme jokes and meta-humor that often falls flat. While some appreciate the quirky dialogue and occasional funny moments, others criticize the lengthy cutscenes and repetitive jokes that detract from the overall experience. Ultimately, humor is subjective, and players' enjoyment largely depends on their personal taste in comedic styles.
“The game was fun, it had its clunky controller moments or a lot of unskippable dialogue to go through, but overall I enjoyed its meta humor and the ending left me conflicted.”
“I thought everything has been done already in terms of old school style video games, but this game is very humorous, creative, and imaginative.”
“Honestly, it's just hilarious, all the dialogue and text, mmm, it's very good and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a great time.”
“The jokes are always explained which makes all the jokes inherently unfunny.”
“Most cutscenes are annoyingly long or so unfunny it's cringeworthy, or both.”
“I understand there is good/bad humor, funny/unfunny jokes, but you have none of these here.”
- music92 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to fit the mood and enhance gameplay, particularly during boss fights where it syncs with attacks. While some noted that the soundtrack may not be entirely original, it is described as diverse, engaging, and a standout feature of the game, often elevating the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest elements, with requests for its release on music platforms.
“Every song fits the mood to a T.”
“The soundtrack is amazing, at no point is there awkward silence or unfitting music (unless it's for comedic effect), there aren't any game-breaking glitches (at least I haven't experienced them) and the story and plot, even though short, is amazing with great characters and a very interesting ending.”
“The music is surprisingly great at many places, especially where it syncs with boss attacks.”
“So when I finish this review and tab back in, I'll just be watching myself float through space and listening to bad music because I can't even alt-tab this game to do something when the game has forced you into a 10+ minute window where you can't play the damn game.”
“The tone is uneven; the Steam store page says lite horror, the unsettling missives aimed at the player in the first minute of gameplay hint at horror, and ultimately melt away to happy royalty-free music and omg squees from offscreen characters.”
“The music is bland.”
- graphics66 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a deliberately glitchy art style that aligns with its narrative themes, though opinions are mixed on its execution. While some players appreciate the minimalist and unobtrusive visuals, others find them overwhelming or lacking in impact, particularly during key gameplay moments. Overall, the graphics are seen as fitting the indie aesthetic, with options to disable certain effects for those sensitive to motion sickness.
“Graphically, this game is great.”
“I find it very cute and loved the graphics and design of the game.”
“The music is very good and while the graphics aren't amazing, they fit very well with the theme of the game, and honestly the visual effects are the focus here.”
“The visuals are often just too much and it's impossible to see anything (especially in the sound core fight).”
“Graphically, I'm disappointed.”
“It continues to be done to death here, where breaking the cores has no impact on the game at all, except for graphics.”
- emotional30 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback; while many players found it to be a deeply touching experience that evoked strong feelings, some criticized the pacing and execution of emotional moments, suggesting they felt rushed or overshadowed by drawn-out comedic bits. Overall, the game successfully engages players emotionally, even with unconventional characters like shapes, but could benefit from better timing in its emotional beats.
“Long story short - not many games manage to make me this emotional.”
“It's a unique, engrossing, surprising, emotional experience that's definitely worth the purchase.”
“Personally, I found the story quite touching.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is polarizing, with some players appreciating the blend of humor and engaging gameplay, while others feel that the comedic elements undermine the tension and overall ambiance. Many reviews highlight the game's polished levels and enjoyable interactions, but the reliance on jokes and references can detract from the intended atmosphere, particularly in more serious moments. Overall, the effectiveness of the atmosphere seems to hinge on the balance between humor and the game's darker themes.
“Such a great game! The storyline is nice, the characters are funny, and the way they interact with the player creates a fantastic atmosphere!”
“The levels had a great atmosphere, and the controls are easy to use, leading to fun gameplay.”
“On top of that, a great amount of polish is added to this game that really helps build the atmosphere.”
“The dialogue keeps getting more 'trying to be funny.' It tries to treat everything like a joke, which really hurts the atmosphere.”
“Kevin just gave me the nickname 'banana,' further making me question my choices and ruining any sense of atmosphere or tension.”
“The game mostly consists of jokes and references but tries to build somewhat of an atmosphere at the same time (comedy and horror don't work together, at least not that way).”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, highlighting long, tedious cutscenes and excessive dialogue that detracts from gameplay. Many find these sections boring and unengaging, often lasting over 30 minutes without contributing to the story or offering challenges, leading to a sense of monotony and frustration. The inability to skip these segments further exacerbates the grinding experience.
“There are a few parts in the middle of the game where the cut scenes are extremely long and tedious.”
“It is not exaggerating to say these sections last 30+ minutes and they are tedious, boring, and do not progress the story or provide any challenges.”
“My biggest issue is that there is way too much text, with long, tedious sections of zero gameplay and only talking.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is generally positive, with no major game-breaking glitches reported by players. While some criticize the visual glitches as mere graphical filters lacking functional purpose, others appreciate the ability to disable them for a smoother experience. The game also includes accessibility features to accommodate players who may find the glitches distracting.
“All form, no function to the glitches in a game about glitches = big no no from me.”
“In Pony Island, the glitches felt 'real' - like the game was really breaking apart - this is just a graphics filter on top of a traditional platform.”
“I'll update this review when I've played more, but I wanted to write and say that there are several accessibility features involving the visual glitches in the game that allow players who can't play with those (or just don't want to) to turn them off.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while there are some extra secrets to discover, many players find the lengthy cutscenes and slow dialogue tedious, which can lead to boredom and confusion. Some reviewers express disappointment in the lack of substantial replay value, suggesting that watching a playthrough online might be more engaging than replaying the game itself. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, but it may not be enough to keep players returning.
“Replayability-wise, you can find some extra secrets, though you also need to sit through all of the cutscenes. Even with the dialogue being sped up using a button (check the options), I recommend you don't skip too much in your first playthrough.”
“It makes for good replayability, but I could see a lot of people getting confused and/or bored and quitting before the story becomes clear.”
“I don't know if the devs planned to make DLC or something, but I was really hoping for some more replayability.”
“You could just watch a YouTube playthrough of this game because it has no replay value, so there isn't much to go back for.”
“Replayability-wise, you can find some extra secrets, though you also need to sit through all of the cutscenes. Even with the dialogue being sped up using a button, sitting around doing nothing while waiting for all the text to scroll by can get a bit boring.”
- character development6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and effectiveness, particularly through engaging dialogue, despite the simplistic character design that features only basic shapes and colors. While some find the design lacking and the romantic trope overused, the overall narrative and character interactions elevate the experience, making it memorable and enjoyable.
“A great 4th-wall-breaking adventure with awesome music, nifty little secrets, and well-done character development, all expressed brilliantly with just a pair of eyes.”
“The character design is just different shapes with slightly different eyes and colors, but it's in line with the 'lore', so it's good enough.”
“Although the character design leaves much to be desired, and the 'blue thing loving the pink thing' flash game trope is really overdone, the dialogue between the characters really saves this game and makes it something different.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally regarded as good for a single-player experience, but many users feel that the value does not justify the price of €8, especially given the limited playtime of around five hours.
