Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils

About

"Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils" is a charming puzzle adventure game that follows the story of a skilled cat burglar, Belle. With various tools and skills, Belle must navigate through treacherous environments to steal valuable treasures while evading security and solving ingenious puzzles. This game combines wit, charm, and humor in a captivating tale of feline larceny and redemption.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils screenshot

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 416 reviews

story36 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Curse Crackers features tight and responsive controls, allowing for fluid movement and acrobatic gameplay that feels rewarding to master.
The game is packed with content, including numerous secrets, collectibles, and side quests, providing a rich experience for completionists.
The charming art style and catchy soundtrack evoke nostalgia for Game Boy Color games, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.

Some players have reported frustrating difficulty spikes, particularly in later levels and boss fights, which can detract from the overall experience.
The game's camera can feel too zoomed in, leading to unseen hazards and making precise platforming more challenging.
There are occasional issues with input errors and hitbox inconsistencies that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during more complex maneuvers.

story
206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
80%
3%
The story of "Curse Crackers" revolves around Belle, who embarks on a quest to rescue her boyfriend Clyde from her rival Bonnie, providing a simple yet charming narrative backdrop. While the main plot is straightforward and occasionally feels rushed, the game is enriched by a wealth of side quests, NPC interactions, and hidden lore that deepen the world-building and character development. Overall, players find the story engaging, though it may not be the primary focus, as the gameplay and exploration take center stage.
- “The story is entertaining, and the platforming is challenging without feeling unfair.”
- “It's a simple story that's more of a pretext to set up a colorful world filled to the brim with interesting characters, locations, secrets, and lore.”
- “The lore and story are also very fun, the lore being great to analyze but if that isn't really your thing, the story is a fun romp, albeit rather simple.”
- “None of this even touches on the story, which at first glance is pretty vapid; essentially you're trying to rescue your boyfriend from Bowsette.”
- “Curse Crackers, on the other hand, wraps up its story hastily and leaves many loose ends unaddressed.”
- “The plot falls relatively flat in the mid-game and seemed to be almost non-existent, just to be spiced up at the later section of the story.”
music
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and varied chiptune soundtrack, with many standout tracks that enhance the overall gaming experience. Reviewers noted that the melodies are memorable and fitting for the game's aesthetic, often evoking nostalgia for retro gaming. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, with some players even purchasing it separately due to its quality and appeal.
- “The soundtrack is impeccable with a great mix of tunes that get stuck in my head after a play session.”
- “The ost is legendary, ranking up there with the all-time indie osts like Super Meat Boy and Undertale.”
- “Moreover, the fitting soundtrack enhances the gaming experience, complementing the pixelated charm with a melodic backdrop.”
- “The soundtrack starts off a little weak but gets better throughout the game.”
- “Fun movement but there's screen crunch so it's hard to use it properly, a ton of content but most of the content is secret hidden stuff, the sprites look great but the low detail makes it hard to see stuff sometimes; the only thing that doesn't have an issue is the soundtrack.”
- “The game doesn't strictly tell you what world you are in, however, when moving around the world map screen, the music changes depending on the area your character is on the map, and there's a clear design structure for each world in the map screen.”
gameplay
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The gameplay in "Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils" is widely praised for its smooth controls, clever platforming mechanics, and engaging level design, offering a delightful blend of speed and acrobatics. Players appreciate the game's responsive movement and the integration of worldbuilding through NPC interactions, while some minor issues with hitboxes and difficulty spikes are noted. Overall, the game is characterized as a charming and fun platformer that encourages exploration and mastery of its mechanics, making it a standout title for fans of the genre.
- “The core gameplay is simply a delight.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, giving the player lots of movement options that feel really good to play around with.”
- “Curse Crackers: From Whom the Belle Toils is a wholesome platformer that puts a lot of attention towards world building, character development, and optional content (such as hidden stages and sidequests/unlockables) all while benefiting from excellent gameplay coupled with a remarkable soundtrack that ranges from cozy acapella BGMs to dramatic chiptunes and an unexpectedly jaw-dropping final boss theme.”
- “Honestly, some of the postgame stuff has an uneven level of difficulty not from the fights or areas themselves, but more like the game mechanics not keeping up with the content they design, like some minor hitbox issues or artifacts they designed for use in the challenge being a bit undercooked.”
- “It's not a huge deal, but the game's movement mechanics are built for continuous flow, so it feels kind of at odds with itself.”
- “Game has items that would mix up the gameplay, like a balloon that makes you float, or a fireball that destroys certain blocks but just refuses to use them (in fact, these items were only used once and never again). There is a B-side world with more challenging levels, but you have to find the way into it.”
graphics
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The graphics of "Curse Crackers" are widely praised for their charming and vibrant Game Boy Color aesthetic, effectively capturing the nostalgic feel of retro platformers. The colorful sprites, unique character designs, and meticulous attention to detail create an engaging visual experience that complements the gameplay. While some players note that the graphics may not stand out in a broader context, they are considered delightful and well-executed, making the game a must-play for fans of pixel art and retro styles.
- “The sprites are colorful, with each character having their own palette and every 'world' maintaining a unique aesthetic.”
- “The attention to detail in the visuals creates a nostalgic yet refreshing atmosphere.”
- “This game absolutely nails the GBC-like art style.”
- “The graphics are very likable but do not stand out.”
- “I couldn’t take the cutesy aesthetic or even the name of the game seriously.”
- “I can respect its commitment to the Game Boy aesthetic, but the tiny field of view leads to a lot of blind drops where the only way to know what's below you is to come to a standstill and hold down on the D-pad.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The character development in "Curse Crackers: From Whom the Belle Toils" is highly praised for its charming and unique designs, particularly of the main characters Belle and Chime, which contribute to the game's wholesome atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the attention to world-building and the inclusion of optional content that enhances character interactions, all set against a nostalgic Game Boy Color aesthetic and a catchy soundtrack. Overall, the game's character designs and development are considered standout features that enrich the player experience.
- “Curse Crackers: From Whom the Belle Toils is a wholesome platformer that puts a lot of attention towards world building, character development, and optional content (such as hidden stages and side quests/unlockables) all while benefiting from excellent gameplay coupled with a remarkable soundtrack that ranges from cozy acapella BGMs to dramatic chiptunes and an unexpectedly jaw-dropping final boss theme.”
- “The character design is one of my favorite aspects of the game, with most of them being quite unique and creative.”
- “The character designs of both Belle and Chime are incredibly well made, with both of them being very cute.”
- “Curse Crackers: From Whom the Belle Toils is a wholesome platformer that puts a lot of attention towards world building, character development, and optional content (such as hidden stages and sidequests/unlockables) all while benefiting from excellent gameplay coupled with a remarkable soundtrack that ranges from cozy acapella BGMs to dramatic chiptunes and an unexpectedly jaw-dropping final boss theme.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a personal level.”
- “While the character designs are cute, the development of their personalities and backstories is disappointingly minimal.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overwhelming, especially as it progresses, but many still enjoy the challenge and the pursuit of speedrun or no-hit medals, which adds to the game's memorability. The music, while enjoyable, also contributes to the sense of monotony during grinding sessions. Some users express a desire to return for hidden levels and arcade mode, hoping for guides to alleviate the grind for secrets.
- “It's a lot to keep track of, and becomes very tedious by the end.”
- “The music sounds great if perhaps a bit... tedious.”
- “I'll probably come back to it to do the hidden levels and arcade mode once guides are out to cut down on the grinding for secrets.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of charming and quirky characters, with dialogues that often elicit laughter. Players appreciate the cute visuals and good music, which complement the overall comedic experience, featuring a range of side characters that vary from funny to annoying.
- “The visuals are cute, the music is pretty good, and the characters are reasonably funny.”
- “Cool soundtrack and funny dialogues.”
- “During your trip, you'll be able to interact with a number of side characters, from funny to annoying, to charming, and to... wtf.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game offers high replayability due to its fun and varied levels, which encourage players to revisit them for hidden collectibles and medals. Additional post-game content, including new bosses and challenging modes for original bosses, further enhances the replay value, making it an engaging experience for players seeking to improve their skills and complete challenges.
- “The levels are super fun, have a good variety, and are very replayable.”
- “I found this to be a rather fun retro/Game Boy styled platformer with a ton to do and collect, which makes the levels replayable as you search for hidden collectibles and collect medals.”
- “Add in the additional post-game fights with some new bosses and some hard modes for the original bosses, and you get a lot of fun replayability when facing them as you go for the speed and longshot medals.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply engaging, highlighting its ability to foster genuine emotional experiences through strong storytelling, character development, and immersive world-building. The combination of excellent gameplay and a diverse soundtrack enhances the overall emotional impact, making it a memorable and heartfelt experience.
- “I've seldom found games that I can get really emotionally invested in, and by that I mean have genuine emotional experiences playing out this story. For one team to produce two games in a row that I've grown an unparalleled fondness for.”
- “Curse Crackers: From Whom the Belle Toils is a wholesome platformer that puts a lot of attention towards world building, character development, and optional content (such as hidden stages and sidequests/unlockables), all while benefiting from excellent gameplay coupled with a remarkable soundtrack that ranges from cozy acapella BGMs to dramatic chiptunes and an unexpectedly jaw-dropping final boss theme.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is characterized by a nostalgic yet refreshing quality, enhanced by meticulous visual details. Players appreciate the fun dialogue and engaging gameplay, which together create a cohesive and immersive experience.
- “The attention to detail in the visuals creates a nostalgic yet refreshing atmosphere.”
- “The dialogue is fun, the gameplay is juicy, and the atmosphere really complements this!”

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11h Median play time

11h Average play time

11-11h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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