Bulb Boy

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 514 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Bulb Boy Game Cover
While relatively short in length, Bulb Boy helps fill out the Switch’s line-up with something refreshingly different… and weird
Starting at $0.93Buy now
Get on Steam

"Bulb Boy" is a horror-adventure puzzle game where you play as a boy with a light bulb for a head. Explore your home to uncover the mystery of a monstrous invasion, using your abilities to solve puzzles and evade enemies. The game features hand-drawn art and a unique, creepy atmosphere.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 514 reviews
graphics94 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • Bulb Boy features a unique and charming art style that blends cuteness with grotesque elements, creating a visually captivating experience.
  • The game offers a fun and engaging point-and-click adventure with clever puzzles that, while easy, provide a satisfying experience.
  • The story is heartwarming and can be interpreted in multiple ways, making it a memorable journey despite its short length.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking only 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, which may not justify its price for some players.
  • Some players found the puzzles to be overly simplistic, lacking the challenge expected from a point-and-click adventure.
  • There are reports of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with soft-locking during critical moments.
  • graphics181 mentions

    The graphics of "Bulb Boy" are widely praised for their unique and imaginative art style, which blends cute and grotesque elements reminiscent of 90s cartoons. Players appreciate the hand-drawn visuals and the game's ability to create an unsettling yet charming atmosphere, although some note that the animations can be lengthy and the overall gameplay is relatively short. The aesthetic is described as both visually appealing and thematically rich, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The meticulously designed visuals walk a fine line between repulsion and fascination, creating an atmosphere that's both unsettling and strangely alluring.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeously grotesque, like Ren and Stimpy's worst nightmares, but the characterization is so touchingly sweet and gameplay dynamics intuitively intriguing and ingenious that I had to play this through in one sitting.”
    • “Charming (and creepy) characters, great graphics, smooth gameplay, good soundtrack and what a wonderful ability to tell stories and direct the story without any use of words.”
    • “It's a point and click that lives entirely on its aesthetic and doesn't have that much of a narrative to remain interesting or much puzzle solving to speak of.”
    • “Boring, casual and I disliked the overall visuals and audio.”
    • “Points for the soundtrack, the art style, and the death animations are rather unique but I kept getting turned off by the game's attempts to 'gross you out' rather than actually scare you.”
  • story102 mentions

    The game's story is a mix of charming and grotesque elements, featuring a quest to save a flying puppy and grandfather while confronting bizarre monsters. While some players appreciate the unique storytelling approach and warm themes, others criticize the narrative for being lackluster, overly simplistic, or too short, with some plot holes. Overall, the art style and atmosphere enhance the experience, but the story's execution leaves room for improvement.

    • “As he embarks on a quest to save his flying puppy and grandfather, he must confront grotesque monsters that have invaded his home.”
    • “This game does an amazing job of combining cute and creepy and does a great job telling a story with its cut-scenes and thought bubbles.”
    • “I particularly liked how they managed to tell every bit of the story without any words, just like in classic animation.”
    • “This game has no story.”
    • “The story of the game is also pretty lackluster - it starts off intriguing, but I started scratching my head when I realized that the second boss - the poop mask demon - doesn't come from any happy memory like the rest of the bosses do, so what gives?”
    • “Rather than being an extremely smart point-and-click adventure with mind-bending puzzles and a clever-but-creepy storyline, it instead strings together a handful of simple scenarios that do not hold the attention for long, and barely offer any challenge - unless awkward controls and long reloads count.”
  • gameplay94 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as simple and repetitive, often relying on mouse controls and lacking depth, with many players noting its short duration of 1-3 hours. While some appreciate the clever puzzles and unique mechanics, others find the experience bland and low on replay value. The art style and overall atmosphere are praised, but many feel the gameplay does not fully deliver on its potential, leaving a mixed impression.

    • “The graphics are gorgeously grotesque, like Ren and Stimpy's worst nightmares, but the characterization is so touchingly sweet and gameplay dynamics intuitively intriguing and ingenious that I had to play this through in one sitting.”
    • “Charming (and creepy) characters, great graphics, smooth gameplay, good soundtrack and what a wonderful ability to tell stories and direct the story without any use of words.”
    • “The puzzles are clever, the gameplay is more diverse than you would expect from a game of this style, the art is this nice blend of cute/creepy... until it's not.”
    • “The gameplay is absolutely repetitive; you basically do the same things level after level.”
    • “What I got: a gross-out fest with incredibly counterintuitive gameplay and lots of gratuitous references to other, better games I could be playing instead of this one.”
    • “If you're expecting challenging puzzles or hours on hours of gameplay, you won't find it here.”
  • music74 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and emotional depth of the experience. The soundtrack is described as well-crafted, fitting the game's unique art style and tone, and is often considered a standout feature. Overall, players appreciate the high-quality audio design, which complements the charming and sometimes creepy visuals, making for an engaging point-and-click adventure.

    • “Umm, the shining star of the game, which is its soundtrack, is simply just awesome.”
    • “Great art direction with a stellar soundtrack.”
    • “The music and art were very charming, and I enjoyed the characters and environments; they were creative, unique, and well-made.”
    • “However, I did not find them as interesting as the rest of the game, and with the relaxed music accompanying them, they took me out of the atmosphere.”
    • “Points for the soundtrack, the art style, and the death animations are rather unique, but I kept getting turned off by the game's attempts to 'gross you out' rather than actually scare you.”
    • “The soundtracks are dark and fit the game well, which also makes the humor even darker.”
  • humor72 mentions

    The humor in the game is a unique blend of dark, grotesque, and whimsical elements, often combining creepy horror with light-hearted, childish jokes. Players appreciate the morbidly funny and bizarre art style, as well as the clever puzzles that enhance the comedic experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy twisted humor and quirky aesthetics, making it a memorable and entertaining point-and-click adventure.

    • “I didn't think it was possible for a game to be cute, scary, funny, and disgusting all at the same time, but Bulb Boy has proved me wrong!”
    • “The humor is morbidly funny, and the game is fairly short.”
    • “A great game full of dark, crude humor.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as a unique blend of unsettling and charming, featuring meticulously designed visuals that evoke both repulsion and fascination. Players appreciate the spooky, beautifully animated environment, though some feel that certain flashback sequences detract from the overall creepy ambiance. Overall, the game's atmosphere is praised for its sweetness and creepiness, enhanced by fitting music and engaging puzzles.

    • “The meticulously designed visuals walk a fine line between repulsion and fascination, creating an atmosphere that's both unsettling and strangely alluring.”
    • “This game has a unique and amazing atmosphere, is sweet and creepy at the same time.”
    • “The controls are simple since it's just a point and click game but the puzzles are challenging enough to be interesting and the whole atmosphere of the game is just amazing.”
    • “I would appreciate more events inside the house with monsters and less flashbacks that ruin the very well done sick atmosphere of the game.”
    • “However, I did not find them as interesting as the rest of the game, and with the relaxed music accompanying them, they took me out of the atmosphere.”
    • “Bulb Boy is a small horror adventure with charming characters and a creepy atmosphere.”
  • emotional17 mentions

    The game effectively blends horror with heartwarming moments, creating an emotional experience that resonates with players. Users appreciate the touching character development and the balance of grotesque visuals with sweet storytelling, making it both engaging and memorable. Overall, it evokes a range of emotions, from fear to warmth, resulting in a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “The game is truly scary, but the flashbacks and memories of Bulb Boy, along with the ending after the final boss, are just the most heartwarming things I've experienced.”
    • “It also helps that I found myself emotionally invested in the characters too.”
    • “Heartwarming moments are mixed with gross-out details without any friction.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the character development is marked by unique and intriguing designs that evoke a sense of eeriness, complemented by fitting voice acting. While the character designs stand out as a strong aspect of the game, the overall depth of character development remains less emphasized in the feedback.

    • “Their character design was that intriguing and eerie.”
    • “The character designs are strange and wonderful.”
    • “[*] unique art and character design”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players encountering numerous glitches and bugs that necessitated restarts, while others found the overall craftsmanship to be solid. Despite its charming design and unique setting, the presence of technical issues detracts from the experience for some users.

    • “The game is not buggy at all, nor is it flawed in terms of craftsmanship.”
    • “The designs are really unique and well done, contributing to a stable gaming experience.”
    • “The setting is very personal, adding to the overall stability of the game's presentation.”
    • “Despite being an offputtingly charming game, it doesn’t really have much going for it, and I ran into many glitches as well as vexing timing puzzles along the way.”
    • “There were some glitches here and there, so I had to restart the game a couple of times.”
    • “The graphic settings are buggy.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game is criticized for its limited replayability, with players noting that it offers only 1-2 hours of gameplay and lacks incentives to revisit it. Overall, the consensus is that the short duration significantly diminishes its replay value.

    • “It is short and does not have that much replay value in my opinion.”
    • “1-2 hours worth of gameplay with no replay value.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often likening it to a prolonged game of Simon Says that requires excessive button mashing and waiting. While some sound design elements are appreciated, the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging content, with only a small portion of the game deemed enjoyable.

    • “I would argue that only 30 minutes of the entire game are quality; the rest is a tedious game of Simon Says, where you have to click and wait for a random period of time and/or repeat an action until something else happens.”
    • “If you want the definition of tedious, take the final boss: you mash a button as fast as you can, then you stop when you see an animation and repeat this over a 5+ minute interval.”
    • “The sound design was nice in places (like the grinding of your head as you roll across the ground) but felt unpolished in others (most vocalizations in the game felt like this).”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Bulb Boy

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News