Gish

About

"Gish" is a comedy platformer game where you play as a ball of tar on a mission to save your girlfriend in the underground sewers of Dross. The game features dynamically changing physics and lighting, destructible environments, and various game modes including single-player, co-op, and PvP. With over 34 story levels, 20 collection levels, and additional player-made levels available for download, Gish offers a unique and challenging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 298 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Gish features innovative physics-based gameplay that allows players to manipulate the character's properties, providing a unique platforming experience.
The game has a charming aesthetic and humor, with creative level design that encourages experimentation and problem-solving.
Local multiplayer modes add fun and competitive elements, making it enjoyable to play with friends.

The controls are clunky and frustrating, making precise movements and jumps difficult, which can lead to a frustrating gameplay experience.
The recent 15th anniversary update removed many features, such as the level editor and difficulty selection, and broke achievements, significantly diminishing the game's value.
The game suffers from outdated graphics and repetitive music, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
13%
The gameplay of "Gish" is characterized by its innovative physics-based mechanics, allowing players to creatively solve puzzles and navigate levels using the protagonist's sticky properties. While many players appreciate the unique and emergent gameplay experience, some criticize the controls and level design as clunky and inconsistent, leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the platforming genre, though its execution can be polarizing among players.
- “Gish stands out because physics is not just a gimmick here, but the core of the gameplay.”
- “Gish gives players the freedom to choose how to solve problems, making the gameplay unique for everyone.”
- “With its inventive gameplay, atmospheric world, and memorable protagonist, 'Gish' offers a platforming experience that's as unique as it is enjoyable.”
- “Didn't like the physics, mechanics, controls, and level design.”
- “The idea of mechanics in Gish are innovative and creative, but the controls and implementation are absolutely horrible.”
- “The controls, mechanics, and physics are the worst I've ever experienced in a game.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
11%
The graphics of "gish" feature a unique "cute-gross" art style that some players appreciate, but many reviews highlight that the visuals are dated, blurry, and lack engagement. While the dynamic lighting and atmospheric elements contribute to an immersive experience, the overall presentation is often described as mediocre and repetitive, with calls for a remaster to enhance the visual quality. Despite these criticisms, the game's physics and character designs receive some praise, indicating a mixed reception regarding its graphical execution.
- “The graphics in Gish, although three-dimensional, are displayed in a flat format, creating a clear picture with dynamic lighting and shadows.”
- “Combined with its moody art style and atmospheric soundtrack, Gish creates an immersive experience that's as captivating as it is challenging.”
- “This is a really good game, fairly challenging, nice graphics; it's made by the creators of Super Meat Boy, Binding of Isaac, etc., although it's very different from those, I would recommend it.”
- “It deserves a proper remaster, since the graphics appear blurry.”
- “Even the presentation is pretty meh; gish is animated really well but the rest of the visuals are fairly dull and repetitive, and frankly so is the music.”
- “The graphics are mediocre at best, and the audio is not very memorable.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
24%
33%
The music in "Gish" receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric quality and unique contributions from credited musicians, while others find it repetitive and annoying, particularly due to its looping nature. While some players appreciate the gritty soundtrack that enhances the game's charm, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, describing it as simple and unrefined. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect of the game's immersive atmosphere, though opinions on its quality vary widely.
- “Combined with its moody art style and atmospheric soundtrack, 'Gish' creates an immersive experience that's as captivating as it is challenging.”
- “The soundtrack is an absolute banger, and how can I not be on-board with diving into the sewer to save my goth girlfriend?”
- “Gish has a lot of charm, but not that of the cutesy type; it's really gritty, which combined with the excellent soundtrack makes for a hell of an experience that you'll remember long after first playing it.”
- “The music is annoying and repetitive, since the tracks always start over once you die.”
- “Gish unfortunately shows its age with simple music (which can be especially annoying after a while when it loops after 30 seconds) and an unrefined physics control system.”
- “The music gets repetitive, as it remains the same for several levels without changing.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The story of the game revolves around a sentient ball of tar on a quest to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, Brea, from a cloaked figure in the underworld. While the premise is intriguing, many players find the narrative to be typical and underdeveloped, with tedious segments and a lack of meaningful connection to the gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as a weak point, offering little depth or engagement despite some entertaining moments.
- “The game's distinctive premise, starring a sentient ball of tar on a quest to rescue his lady friend, immediately piqued my interest.”
- “He can also become a soft ball of tar and then slither through tiny cracks and small pipes in the hope of finding his beloved Brea, who, as the story goes, was kidnapped by a cloaked figure while they were out for a walk in the park. That abductor then took her down into the murky depths of the underworld, where most of Gish's story will unfold if you ever buy this game.”
- “On top of that, the style and story are equally refreshing.”
- “The story is typical (someone stole your girl) but the levels aren't really related to that and aren't that unique.”
- “With budget graphics and low payoff for a story that doesn't take itself too seriously, Gish is highly unsatisfying.”
- “The story is nearly nonexistent, and the few parts where you are given a bit of background information on the character cut off prematurely, without giving you a real chance to read it.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Gish is characterized by its charming parodies and hilarious concepts that initially evoke laughter, though the comedic appeal diminishes as the game progresses. Players find the local multiplayer mode particularly entertaining, as the shared experience of navigating the game's challenging controls and design can lead to amusing moments. Overall, while the humor starts strong, it may not sustain its impact throughout the entire game.
- “Gish is filled with humor and parodies that add charm to the game.”
- “Hilarious concept that would leave you laughing for hours.”
- “Plus, there are the local versus multiplayer and collection modes, with multiplayer possibly being where Gish may shine, as two people suffering through the horrible controls, physics, concept, and design might actually be funny.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized for its janky physics, leading to frustrating and often instant deaths from unexpected hazards and enemy spam. While some players report minor graphic glitches, the overall experience is marred by excessive bugs that detract from enjoyment.
- “It feels like every level after a while is just filled with spots that really bring out the janky physics and can kill you instantly (especially with the buggy squish physics), be it a lava pit you didn't see coming, a hearty dose of enemy spam (and combat is already clunky by itself), or just an incredibly tedious environmental puzzle.”
- “It is overly buggy.”
- “Pretty fun, until you realize how frustrating this game is due to buggy deaths.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of "gish" is characterized by its dark, immersive levels, complemented by a moody art style and an engaging soundtrack. This combination creates a captivating experience that enhances the inventive gameplay and memorable protagonist, making it a unique and enjoyable platforming adventure.
- “As I delved deeper into its dark and atmospheric levels, I discovered a world teeming with creativity and challenge.”
- “Combined with its moody art style and atmospheric soundtrack, 'Gish' creates an immersive experience that's as captivating as it is challenging.”
- “With its inventive gameplay, atmospheric world, and memorable protagonist, 'Gish' offers a platforming experience that's as unique as it is enjoyable.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often encountering janky physics and unexpected hazards that lead to instant deaths. While the story mode has enjoyable moments, many feel that the repetitive nature of the gameplay and environmental puzzles detracts from the overall experience.
- “It feels like every level after a while is just filled with spots that really bring out the janky physics and can kill you instantly (especially with the buggy squish physics), be it a lava pit you didn't see coming, a hearty dose of enemy spam (and combat is already clunky by itself), or just an incredibly tedious environmental puzzle.”
- “I've gone through the story mode, and it is fun, although some parts can get tedious as hell.”
- “Everything about this game is a tedious chore.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game offers limited replayability due to the absence of a level select screen, which can be frustrating for players. However, many still find it enjoyable enough to recommend, particularly when purchased on sale.
- “Epic game to play, a bit frustrating at times, and not much replay value, especially since there's no level select screen, but worth it to buy on sale.”
- “Not much replayability but still a winner in my opinion.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
While the character designs are appreciated for their aesthetic appeal, the overall character development is criticized for being uninspiring and lacking depth, detracting from the game's narrative experience.
- “I really enjoy the aesthetic and character designs.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
- “I found the characters to be one-dimensional, with little to no growth throughout the story.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development left me feeling disconnected from the narrative.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating mechanics, such as being immobilized when touching the ground, which detracts from the overall experience and suggests a lack of polish from the developers.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that updates are insincere and primarily designed to extract money rather than enhance the gaming experience.
- “This feels like a fake update cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the Steam version of the game suffers from significant control and performance issues, suggesting that optimization is lacking and has not been adequately addressed.
- “There are plenty of issues with control and performance in the Steam version that people seem fundamentally ignorant of.”
- “The optimization is so poor that it makes the game nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which severely impacted my enjoyment of the game.”