iO | Game Brain — video game discovery

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iO is a single-player platformer game where you control a ball and use mechanics such as changing its size to affect speed and weight, allowing you to solve puzzles and reach the exit quickly. The game features 225 challenging levels, crafty mechanics including inverted gravity and portals, and leaderboards to compete against other players. Earn bronze, silver, and gold medals and support for dual stick controllers.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 138 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Addictive gameplay with a unique mechanic of growing and shrinking the ball, providing a fresh take on puzzle platformers.
Challenging levels that require skill and strategy, making it rewarding to complete and improve times.
Minimalist graphics and a soothing soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.

Controls can be finicky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustration during gameplay.
Some levels may feel inconsistently difficult, with trivial puzzles mixed in with more challenging ones.
Lack of additional features like a level editor or competitive leaderboards limits replayability and community engagement.

gameplay
56 mentions
36 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Io is characterized by its unique mechanic of growing and shrinking, which affects speed and momentum, adding depth to the puzzle platforming experience. While the controls are generally intuitive, some players find the mechanics inconsistent at times, and there is a desire for greater variety in gameplay elements and environments. Overall, the game offers a solid and addictive experience with well-designed levels that encourage experimentation and mastery.
- “In a nutshell, Io is the spiritual successor of the flash game Wone, improving upon it with the introduction of a unique mechanic: the ability to grow or shrink your wheel.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive to learn, and most of the mechanics are very intuitive (though some will require some practice to get used to), and you will also spend time trying to beat puzzles through trial and error.”
- “The levels use physics to give it a lot of depth and keep the gameplay new.”
- “However, I can't help but feel that even though the game is aiming for a more minimalist approach in graphics and gameplay, it just never felt like enough.”
- “Sometimes the mechanics didn't seem to work, like you are supposed to grow when going down and shrink when going up, but shrinking actually slowed me down sometimes and growing slowed me down sometimes, so more consistency could have been nice.”
- “Core gameplay is a bit lacking.”
graphics
20 mentions
35 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a minimalist and abstract style that many players find aesthetically pleasing and relaxing, complementing the gameplay well. While some users feel the graphics could be more substantial, the overall consensus is that the visuals are polished and effective for the genre, running smoothly on a variety of systems. The combination of elegant graphics and serene music enhances the gaming experience, making it enjoyable for players.
- “As the levels get progressively harder and more complex, it never fails to keep its relaxing atmosphere with its elegant graphics and serene music.”
- “Beautiful minimalistic graphics and audio, but most importantly, enjoyable and creative physics-based puzzle platformer.”
- “The sharp, minimalist visuals of io were the first thing that caught my attention when I checked out the Steam store page.”
- “However, I can't help but feel that even though the game is aiming for a more minimalist approach in graphics and gameplay, it just never felt like enough.”
- “I like the game, but I got a new computer with an NVIDIA GTX 1070, and for some reason, it ran better on integrated graphics. Any suggestions?”
- “With the pretty simplistic game graphics and mechanics, a level editor will be a really nice addition to the game at a later stage, allowing the community to go nuts, but for now, I think trying to ace the 150 levels is more than enough.”
music
19 mentions
42 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and immersive quality, effectively complementing the gameplay without being intrusive. Many players appreciate the abstract and soothing soundtracks, which enhance the overall atmosphere, while some note the frequent changes in music tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack fits well for the game and doesn't get in the way.”
- “As the levels get progressively harder and more complex, it never fails to keep its relaxing atmosphere with its elegant graphics and serene music.”
- “Immersive soundtracks, and super challenging levels definitely make this game worth its money.”
- “- music - the game really really loves to change music tracks.”
- “The music is abstract and fitting, the sound effects are not that much, but still reasonable.”
- “Audio-wise it’s also very minimalist with some decent background music and basic sounds.”
story
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's narrative emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, suggesting that perseverance can lead to unexpected outcomes. However, it lacks a defined story or lore, focusing instead on the player's personal journey without a structured narrative framework.
- “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.”
- “You can probably guess that this game harkens back to video games only being video games in this way: there is no stated story or lore.”
- “---{story}---”
- “☑ story?”
grinding
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; some players find it addictive and enjoyable, relishing the challenge of farming for gold medals, while others describe it as tedious and frustrating, with issues like illogical physics and lack of controller support. Overall, the experience seems to cater to those who appreciate grinding, but may deter players looking for a more streamlined gameplay experience.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Nice try, but it didn't work for me. It's tedious, has illogical physics, and the controller is not supported.”
- “If you enjoy grinding out your gameplay, then this is for you.”
replayability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
While the game features numerous levels and a tiered system for time challenges, many users note that the overall replayability is low.
- “The replay value is impressive; there are a lot of levels in this game, and each level features a tiered system of times to beat.”
- “The game offers a high level of replayability, encouraging players to return and improve their scores.”
- “With multiple paths and challenges, the replayability keeps the experience fresh and engaging.”
- “Low replayability though.”
- “There are a lot of levels in this game, and in each level, there is a tiered system of times to beat, but it doesn't add much to replay value.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game maintains a consistently relaxing atmosphere throughout its increasingly challenging levels, thanks to its elegant graphics and serene music, which together create a calming and enjoyable experience.
- “As the levels get progressively harder and more complex, it never fails to keep its relaxing atmosphere with its elegant graphics and serene music.”
- “The combination creates a very good and chill atmosphere.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be extremely funny, often highlighting it as a favorite for casual play during their free time.
- “It's a super funny game, love to play it in my free time! :D”
- “The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious and keeps me coming back for more!”
- “I can't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and clever jokes throughout the game!”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, with a notably slow level progression that detracts from the overall experience, leading to a generally unfavorable impression.
- “It's badly optimized; level progression is extremely slow, and overall, it's just not a great game.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it frustrating to play.”
- “Performance drops significantly in certain areas, which ruins the experience.”