FORM

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,449 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
FORM Game Cover
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"FORM is a single-player adventure game with exceptional mechanics, visuals, and soundtrack, set in the human mind. As Dr. Devin Eli, a physicist with superhuman powers, follow a mysterious signal from the Obelisk and unlock puzzles within dream-like memories. Despite its low replayability and grind, FORM offers a beautiful, highly emotional atmosphere."

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Oculus VR
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,449 reviews
graphics306 positive mentions
replayability16 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and immersive atmosphere that transport players to another world.
  • Engaging and intuitive puzzles that make good use of VR mechanics.
  • High production quality with excellent sound design and music.
  • Very short gameplay, typically around 1 hour, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • Puzzles can be overly simplistic and lack challenge, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness.
  • The story is vague and lacks depth, leaving players wanting more narrative development.
  • graphics444 mentions

    The graphics in this game are widely praised for their stunning quality and immersive design, often described as breathtaking and top-notch. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful art style, fluid animations, and effective use of lighting, which contribute to a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While the visuals are a major selling point, some players note that the gameplay can feel short and the puzzles relatively easy, suggesting that the game is more about the aesthetic journey than challenging gameplay.

    • “The visuals in this game are nothing short of breathtaking (*really* captures that 'first human trapped in an alien puzzle cube' feel!), and the puzzles are among the most fun I've played with in VR yet.”
    • “The jaw-dropping visuals combined with the blissful auditory experience on display was like nothing I had ever experienced before and I cannot recommend Form enough!”
    • “Absolutely gorgeous artwork and sound design that makes you believe you are there.”
    • “The visuals or audio left no lasting impression on me.”
    • “Even with a reasonably powerful PC (one that can run Half-Life: Alyx with no issue), it was extremely laggy on all but the lowest graphics setting, which are all presets with no advanced fiddling of individual settings.”
    • “The visuals alone weren't enough to keep me interested and by the end I kind of wanted it to be over.”
  • story292 mentions

    The game's story is widely criticized for being minimal, vague, and lacking depth, often feeling like an afterthought to the gameplay. Many players noted that while there are attempts to establish a narrative, it ultimately fails to develop or provide a satisfying conclusion, leaving them wanting more. Overall, the focus remains on the puzzles rather than a compelling storyline, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The story was simple, but served as a through line for the journey.”
    • “The story is decent and the visuals/soundscape are good for a game that was published 3 years ago.”
    • “The music, the visuals, and the storytelling... my god, top notch.”
    • “The story felt shallow and unnecessary.”
    • “Story is almost non-existent, puzzles are either too easy, more tedious than it has to be, or it's a game of Simon Says.”
    • “The game doesn't overstay its welcome, it runs without hitches or glitches, but the puzzle elements are too simple and the story and the ending feel unfinished.”
  • gameplay172 mentions

    The gameplay in this VR puzzle game is characterized by its unique and satisfying mechanics, though many players find the puzzles to be relatively simple and lacking in challenge. While the immersive environment and smooth interaction are praised, the overall experience is short, typically lasting around an hour, which some feel does not justify the price. Despite its brevity, the game is noted for its beautiful graphics and engaging atmosphere, making it a worthwhile experience for newcomers to VR.

    • “Puzzles are simple but very satisfying to complete - some nice mechanics that I've not seen in other VR games to date.”
    • “The game is very well put together; you feel like you are there, and they use all of the VR mechanics to their fullest extent.”
    • “The gameplay is intuitive and engaging, and progressing through each section instilled a feeling of feverish enlightenment.”
    • “Gameplay wise, it really goes nowhere and that's such a shame.”
    • “My only gripe is that it only took just over an hour to complete and for the money I would have expected longer gameplay.”
    • “But as for the gameplay and story, I was left wanting.”
  • music138 mentions

    The music in the game has been widely praised for its atmospheric quality, perfectly complementing the stunning visuals and enhancing the overall experience. Many players found the soundtrack to be both beautiful and immersive, with some noting that it evokes strong emotional responses, particularly during specific musical puzzles. While the interactive music feature adds an engaging layer, some users felt that the audio puzzles could be challenging for those less musically inclined.

    • “The music is just perfect for the sci-fi setting, and the level design fits equally.”
    • “The visuals and soundtrack tie perfectly together and will send chills down your spine.”
    • “Sound -- the environmental sound and especially the music are every bit as beautiful as the visuals, reaching a peak during a certain musical puzzle late in the game that moved me to tears.”
    • “Some might find the audio puzzles near the end hard if you're not musically inclined.”
    • “The soundtrack made me feel a bit strange though.”
    • “[/strike] there's not even anything else beyond being able to play with the game's interactive soundtrack, compounding my issues with the game's style over substance.”
  • atmosphere123 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and captivating environments, creating a unique and otherworldly experience. Many players noted that while the puzzles may be simplistic, the overall aesthetic and atmospheric elements significantly enhance the gameplay, making it a worthwhile experience despite its brevity. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both beautiful and engaging, often leaving players eager to revisit the game for its sensory appeal.

    • “The atmosphere and the sound effects will transport you inside this abstract reality like no other game.”
    • “Skillful use of light, darkness, and grand scale masterfully create an atmosphere of cosmic mystery.”
    • “The game is gorgeous and does an incredible job creating its atmosphere.”
    • “The game has amazing environments and atmosphere, but the puzzles felt lackluster sometimes.”
    • “Although it's really short, the atmosphere is extremely well done and extremely immersive.”
    • “It does atmosphere really well, but the puzzles are a little simple to be called a puzzle game.”
  • replayability44 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with most reviews noting that it can be completed in about an hour and offers little incentive to play again. While the visuals and sound design are praised, the linear gameplay and simple puzzles contribute to a consensus that the experience is not worth the full price, making it more suitable for a one-time playthrough or to showcase to others. Overall, players recommend waiting for a sale due to the minimal replay value.

    • “It's a short game (30 mins or so?) and might not have so much replay value, but it's very slick and I really haven't seen any games similar to this.”
    • “This is a visually stunning game, absolutely beautiful with amazing sound, but not much depth unfortunately, at most an hour long with little replay value other than letting someone else play it. With that being said, I loved it; it's amazing to see a developer try to tackle the 4th dimension and do it so well, but at £15 I honestly find it difficult to recommend, wait till it's on sale or at a lower price.”
    • “Replayability low to moderate.”
    • “Beautifully produced, nice visuals and sound, but as others have said it's 1 hour long with no replayability.”
    • “The puzzles are simple, the whole game only takes an hour at most to complete, and there's no replay value at all, but my god is it beautiful.”
    • “I cannot recommend paying this sort of money for a 1 hour experience with no real replayability.”
  • emotional22 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with players reporting moments of deep sadness and beauty that led to tears. While the aesthetics and ambiance are praised, some reviewers noted a lack of balance in emotional delivery, suggesting that the game's narrative could be vague. Overall, it is recognized as a meditative experience that requires emotional maturity to fully appreciate its depth.

    • “This game made me cry in my VR headset, 10/10.”
    • “Form is a beautiful, meditative sci-fi puzzle game with outstanding aesthetics and emotional weight.”
    • “Absolutely emotional and beautiful.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many puzzles lacking challenge and variety. While the visuals are praised, the gameplay often feels like a struggle due to the monotonous nature of the tasks. Some users appreciate the unique use of VR, but many agree that the experience can become boring and tiresome, especially in longer sessions.

    • “Most of the longer ones were just tedious and it was a struggle to complete the game because I was so bored with it.”
    • “Game play is simple, tedious, and repetitive.”
    • “By the end of the (less than one hour!) game, it began to feel tedious, since every puzzle involves making things match up.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly at max settings on high-end hardware, some users report high VRAM usage leading to stuttering, necessitating resolution adjustments. However, the performance remains solid for many, particularly in stationary experiences, with commendable audio-visual quality and effective reprojection on lower-end systems.

    • “Performance -- form ran smoothly with max settings on the Index at 120Hz.”
    • “Strange transforming environments, great audio and visuals, smooth performance.”
    • “Good use of 3D audio (which is rare), performance on a 980 Ti is saved by reprojection, but as it is pretty much a 'standing in place' experience, this was not an issue or experience breaking.”
    • “At a sidenote, it seems to use more VRAM than my usual games, so I had to reduce the resolution a bit to get rid of the resulting stuttering.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game is generally stable, running smoothly without major hitches or glitches. However, some users have reported minor bugs, and there are concerns about the simplicity of the puzzle elements and an unfinished story.

    • “Some glitches and bugs at the time of writing, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The game runs without hitches or glitches, but the stability is marred by some unresolved issues.”
    • “There are noticeable glitches and bugs that impact gameplay, making it less enjoyable.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game features minimal character development, with players noting a lackluster story and easy puzzles, all within a brief playtime of under an hour.

    • “Under an hour playtime, easy puzzles, no character development and story is lackluster.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is perceived as outdated, with players noting that if it had been released a decade earlier, it would have garnered more excitement, but now it feels lackluster and unremarkable.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy FORM

Play time

3hMedian play time
13hAverage play time
1-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

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