Gizmo

About

Gizmo is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Dane Winn and was released on December 5, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

Gizmo is a Saturday-morning 3D platformer inspired by 90s classics of the genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 214 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Highly polished and enjoyable 3D platformer with smooth and responsive controls, reminiscent of classic 90s platformers like Crash Bandicoot and Ratchet & Clank.
Engaging movement mechanics including rolling and spinning that enable fun speedrunning and varied playstyles.
Charming art style, well-animated characters, and humorous voice acting that create a delightful atmosphere despite being a single short level demo.

Extremely short with only one level, limiting replayability to collectibles and speedruns.
Game features one-hit deaths and sparse checkpoints, leading to some frustration and difficulty spikes, especially in challenging sections.
Some issues with hitboxes, collision detection, and the camera which can cause occasional gameplay annoyances and difficulty.

gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
- “Like Astro Bot, Gizmo uses a charming protagonist, in this case, a small robot, and offers a third-person perspective that takes full advantage of the platforming mechanics.”
- “The environments are colorful and engaging, filled with clever puzzles and a variety of obstacles that keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.”
- “One of my top games in regards to satisfying movement mechanics.”
- “The double jump mechanic, however, glitches quite often.”
- “If there is anything I'd complain about, it's the same issue as with many other modern platformers that base their mechanics in modern engines: the collision and ground detection is too unforgiving, often resulting in you doing an air jump instead of the first jump when you try to jump at the last possible moment off the surface.”
- “The clunky controls masquerading as difficulty in gameplay are really infuriating.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
23%
12%
The graphics are generally praised for their vibrant, cartoonish art style, smooth animations, and appealing aesthetic reminiscent of classic 3D platformers. While some note that textures and detail could be improved, the visuals are often described as charming, well-crafted, and complemented by fitting music and humorous voice acting. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's fun and engaging experience.
- “The animations and visuals are top notch, the visual and level design impress, and the jumping/attacking feels so good.”
- “Amazing graphics, great controls and solid level design.”
- “Sound, music and graphics are also great: love was put into this demo, and it shows.”
- “The visuals in Gizmo are vibrant and well-crafted, but they don't quite have the same level of detail or charm as its inspirations.”
- “The graphics could use a bit of improvement, mainly the lack of textures on most things, but other than that the cartoony look is fine.”
- “The crazy robot overlord guy rambles on with funny quips all the way through the level, the graphics are tolerable, there's 4k support and a couple of graphics tweaks.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its funny dialogue, especially from characters like Dr. Bolt and the eccentric robot overlord, featuring well-delivered quips and charming voice acting that add a playful and enjoyable tone. While some humor is dry or subtle, many players found the comedic moments genuinely amusing, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite its simplicity.
- “The crazy robot overlord guy rambles on with funny quips all the way through the level.”
- “There's even a funny evil doctor in the background whose voice sounds professionally done and lines are actually funny.”
- “This is one of the few 3D platformers I've played that actually made me laugh out loud.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The story is generally viewed as minimal and vague, with a promising setting about robots rebuilding a post-nuclear war world but lacking depth and continuity. While some players appreciate the thematic elements and potential, many feel the narrative is underdeveloped or absent, hoping for further expansion in future updates.
- “I love the idea of him rebuilding the world and I see so much potential in this story, world, and character.”
- “I love the graphics, the story, and the puzzle-like feature in the game so far.”
- “I love the whole theme and aesthetic and I really want to know more about the story.”
- “Aside from no actual story (despite the setting) and some minor bugs, it's hard to complain when it's completely free, short, and challenging.”
- “The lack of story and sudden end were a bit of a turnoff, but more to come... maybe... if you must play all things 3D platformer, give it a go.”
- “As I stated before, the game is actually quite decent, but the story is garbage.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The game's music is generally well-crafted and fitting, enhancing the atmosphere with a playful and exciting tone that complements the gameplay and art style. While not always standout, the soundtrack and sound effects are pleasant and show clear attention to detail and passion. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's enjoyable experience.
- “The OST (one song) is really exciting and playful, which matches the nature of the game (despite the game taking place in a snow level).”
- “Sound, music, and graphics are also great: love was put into this demo, and it shows.”
- “The game’s soundtrack and sound effects are pleasant, adding to the overall atmosphere.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Although the game is short with only one level, its interesting and rewarding achievements provide significant replayability, encouraging players to improve their scores and fully complete the content.
- “This game is cool but pretty short with only one level, but trying to get all the achievements makes it more fun and replayable.”
- “Plus, it has interesting achievements, which increases replayability a lot.”
- “For a free demo level, with replayability to improve your score, it's a win-win.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game features charming and well-designed characters that blend nostalgia with fresh, cartoonish elements. The character development is enhanced by funny voice acting and a playful atmosphere, creating an enjoyable and engaging experience.
- “Perfect balance of nostalgia and fresh ideas with well thought-out character designs and charming and funny voice acting.”
- “The whole environment and character design is cartoonish, so the humour fits perfectly well with it.”
- “I love the character design and the fun feeling you get running around as a little bot.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from frequent stability issues, including glitches shortly after starting and buggy controls that lead to misinputs. Notably, the double jump mechanic is prone to glitches, impacting gameplay consistency.
- “It glitches after 2 minutes of playing; I tried it 3 times.”
- “Very buggy at times, with misinputs causing me to die.”
- “The double jump mechanic glitches quite often.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its solid world design and top-notch overall vibe, enhanced by a pleasant but not overly distinctive soundtrack and sound effects. The immersive environment complements the gameplay effectively, creating a compelling experience.
- “Solid world design and atmosphere (as icing on the gameplay cake).”
- “The controls are simple but tight, the movement isn't restricted to a specific control scheme or area setting, and the atmosphere of the game is top-notch.”
- “The game’s soundtrack and sound effects are pleasant, adding to the overall atmosphere.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features appealing art style and interesting design, with good performance indicating solid optimization.
- “Performance is good, and the game runs smoothly even on lower-end devices.”
- “The optimization allows for a seamless experience without any noticeable lag.”
- “Efficient coding ensures that the game loads quickly and maintains steady frame rates throughout gameplay.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect is described as brief yet impactful, combining simplicity with a challenging gameplay element that creates a tense and engaging experience.