Inside the Gear

About

A physics puzzle game like no other! You are inside the big old machine. There are rusty gears and shafts all around you, along with interactive objects such as planks and cubes. Use each object and place the wheel on the platform – easy!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

30%

Audience ScoreBased on 63 reviews

emotional3 positive mentions

music4 negative mentions

Challenging puzzles that require creative problem-solving.
Simple gameplay mechanics that are easy to understand.
Atmospheric graphics that create a unique environment.

Frustrating and inconsistent physics that detract from the gameplay experience.
Awkward controls with no mouse support and limited keybinding options.
Poor sound design with annoying effects and no music, leading to a lack of engagement.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and intuitive mechanics, but is marred by imprecise controls and frustrating sound design that detracts from the experience. Players often find puzzle-solving to be more about navigating the game's flawed mechanics than engaging in logical challenges, leading to a mixed reception overall. While some appreciate the concept, many feel the execution falls short, resulting in limited and occasionally tedious gameplay.
- “Intuitive, simple gameplay.”
- “Wasn't super fancy or anything, but the idea - the gameplay - was neat.”
- “Gameplay is very simple.”
- “The controls feel imprecise, and solving puzzles becomes more of a battle with the game’s mechanics than a test of logic.”
- “As per gameplay, the physics are really out of whack.”
- “The gameplay is just ok, the background is boring and the sounds are mute-worthy.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
30%
40%
The music aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users noting the absence of music and the presence of annoying sound effects that cannot be muted. While some players found the ambient sounds to create an atmospheric experience, the lack of musical elements left many feeling disappointed and frustrated. Overall, the game's sound design is criticized for being unengaging and lacking options for customization.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The game doesn't have music; it has mechanical sounds to really get you to feel like you are inside a machine (everyone's dream come true, I'm sure).”
- “There are no options whatsoever, but I don't really feel that I'm missing something - there is no music, just the ambient sound and the occasional rolling sound of your gear.”
- “Too many of the puzzles required pixel-perfect placements; the sound and music were terrible.”
- “[*] No music, only annoying sound effects that you can't mute on the menu.”
- “Terrible music / sounds.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players describing them as basic or even horrible, while others find them decent and atmospheric. Although the visuals are not particularly impressive, they are deemed sufficient for the game's context, albeit requiring significant resources for their simplicity. Overall, the lack of graphical options and a basic UI detracts from the experience.
- “The graphics are simple, but atmospheric and relatively consistent.”
- “Graphics aren't anything special, but they are good enough for this specific game and what it's doing.”
- “Graphically, the game is okay.”
- “The game’s UI and menus are basic or non-existent: there are no graphics options and no real tutorials or hints to help you along the way if you’re stuck.”
- “But it's impressive on one aspect at least: it requires incredible resources for such relatively weak visuals.”
- “- graphics is not that good at all”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by effective sound direction and ambient sounds, creating a fluid experience as players navigate through levels. While the graphics are simple, they contribute to a consistent and immersive environment, with mist and moving gears adding to the overall ambiance, making the absence of music less impactful.
- “The game features some great sound direction; the way the movements of your cog through the level affect the atmosphere is well designed and fluid.”
- “The graphics are simple, but atmospheric and relatively consistent.”
- “With the ambient sounds and the slowly moving gears in the background, surrounded by mist or in some kind of liquid, I agree that the game is atmospheric, and I don't think the lack of music is that noticeable.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
- “Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere is surprisingly dull and fails to evoke any emotional response.”
- “The world feels lifeless, with minimal environmental details that make it hard to get lost in the experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious due to non-deterministic physics that can lead to frustrating trial and error experiences. However, successfully overcoming these challenges often results in a rewarding sense of accomplishment.
- “The main criticism is that the physics feel too non-deterministic, leading to tedious trial and error situations where I often found myself blaming the game.”
- “Grinding can be a bit tedious, but when you finally solve the level, it feels awesome.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The story emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. Players experience a narrative that mirrors this theme through gameplay that tests their patience and problem-solving skills in navigating difficult mission objectives.
- “The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or depth.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some players report a well-made game free of bugs or glitches, others find the puzzles and physics to be buggy and unfinished. This suggests that stability may vary based on individual gameplay experiences and skill levels.
- “The bad thing is that the puzzles and the physics feel buggy and unfinished.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to progress.”
- “I experienced several glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, evoking strong feelings that can lead players to tears.
- “It makes me want to cry.”
- “The story touched my heart deeply.”
- “I felt a strong connection to the characters and their struggles.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers minimal replayability, with a completion time of around 2.5 hours and no additional content such as achievements or incentives to revisit levels. Players generally express dissatisfaction with the experience, particularly during challenging moments.
- “It took me 2.5 hours to finish all the levels (I did get stuck twice and I wouldn't say I enjoyed those 2.5 hours), and there's no replay value, achievements, or anything really.”
- “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of different modes or challenges makes it feel like a one-and-done experience.”
- “After finishing the game, I found no reason to replay it. The story doesn't change, and there are no alternate endings or unlockables to keep me engaged.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization is commendable, with assets effectively programmed and refined using tools like ZBrush, suggesting a well-executed development process that enhances performance and visual quality.
- “The game must have been programmed with blueprints and assets optimized using ZBrush, resulting in stunning visuals and smooth performance.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, ensuring that the game runs seamlessly even on lower-end hardware.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive; it allows for a rich gaming experience without sacrificing frame rates or loading times.”
- “The game feels like it was programmed with blueprints, and the assets seem poorly optimized with ZBrush.”
- “Performance issues are rampant, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive.”
- “The optimization is so lacking that even high-end systems struggle to maintain a stable frame rate.”