LIMBO

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 10,986 reviews
  • atmosphere
  • story
  • graphics
LIMBO Game Cover
Limbo is a beautifully designed masterpiece of a platform game, that will chill, challenge and charm in equal measure.
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Limbo is a dark, atmospheric puzzle-platformer. The game follows a boy's journey through a treacherous world filled with dangerous traps and hostile creatures. With its moody black-and-white visuals and haunting soundtrack, Limbo offers a unique and immersive gaming experience.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Android
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,986 reviews
atmosphere1,350 positive mentions
replayability34 negative mentions
  • atmosphere1,982 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Limbo" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, achieved through its minimalist black-and-white art style and effective sound design. Players describe the game as having a deeply eerie and melancholic ambiance that enhances the overall experience, drawing them into a world filled with tension and mystery. While some critiques mention a decline in atmospheric impact in later levels, the initial sections are noted for their captivating and unsettling atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression.

    • “Filled with decent puzzles, but the real thing that keeps you engaged is the creepy and melancholy atmosphere.”
    • “It's incredible how they managed to create such a strong atmosphere with just black and white colors, which perfectly fit the vibe of the game.”
    • “The dark atmosphere is immersive, the elements work together, unifying everything, the music, the puzzles and the story ideas beyond what the game shows.”
    • “The only thing the game has is atmosphere, but that is just not a substitute for everything else being so below average.”
    • “The atmosphere weakens so much that the increasingly difficult puzzles begin to feel like a chore.”
    • “I wasn't able to connect with the atmosphere or the story as much as I wanted to and to be perfectly honest, I thought it was boring.”
  • story1,662 mentions

    The story in "Limbo" is minimalistic and largely open to interpretation, with players controlling a boy on a quest to find his sister in a dark, eerie world. Many reviews highlight the lack of explicit narrative, relying instead on environmental storytelling and player imagination to piece together the plot, which can leave some feeling unsatisfied or confused. While the atmosphere and visual design are praised, the story's ambiguity and abrupt ending have led to mixed feelings among players, with some appreciating the depth it offers while others find it lacking.

    • “Limbo is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling and minimalist design.”
    • “What truly sets Limbo apart is its ability to convey profound emotions and a gripping story without a single line of dialogue.”
    • “The music, the ambiance, the art style, the quiet storytelling, the environment; everything about this game lends to the message it is trying to send.”
    • “And if you are going into this game expecting a story or something, you'd be disappointed.”
    • “In fact, the description of the game on Steam's store page tells you more about the story than the actual game.”
    • “There was no story, it felt like there were random ideas they had that were thrown together to form some mix of forest, machinery, and savage children.”
  • graphics1,593 mentions

    The graphics of "Limbo" are widely praised for their unique and haunting black-and-white art style, which effectively creates an eerie atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. Many reviewers appreciate the minimalist design, noting that it complements the game's themes of isolation and danger, while also contributing to its overall aesthetic appeal. However, some players find the dark visuals can make it difficult to distinguish between interactable objects and the background, leading to frustration during gameplay.

    • “The graphics, sound effects, and ambience are unique and well-done.”
    • “The black-and-white art style is hauntingly beautiful, pulling you into its minimalist yet disturbingly detailed world.”
    • “The visuals perfectly complement the game's tone, enhancing the overall experience and leaving a lasting impression.”
    • “Definitively a good game, it has good puzzles and good art direction, but unfortunately, it's not for me. The game explores the gore silhouette aesthetic which makes me uncomfortable sometimes; it has rotting corpses, painful deaths, and gross creatures.”
    • “I can understand the desire to use a black and white scheme, but with no music and simple backgrounds, the grayscale aesthetic was generic and boring.”
    • “The black and white aesthetic gets extremely boring after the first few chapters, and while the game explores a few different environments (e.g., forest, hydro plant, etc.), they all blended together aesthetically, making the game visually uninteresting.”
  • gameplay1,231 mentions

    The gameplay of "Limbo" is characterized by its minimalist mechanics, focusing on platforming and puzzle-solving within a dark, atmospheric world. While many players appreciate the clever design of the puzzles and the seamless integration of new mechanics, others find the trial-and-error nature of the gameplay frustrating, leading to repetitive deaths. Overall, the game offers a unique experience that balances simplicity with engaging challenges, though its short length and reliance on basic mechanics may leave some players wanting more.

    • “The gameplay is straightforward yet challenging as the player must go from left to right through a series of puzzles and obstacles, interacting with the game's environment.”
    • “The puzzles are cleverly designed, requiring players to think creatively and experiment with the game's physics and mechanics.”
    • “Limbo's gameplay is a well-balanced blend of platforming and puzzle-solving.”
    • “I wouldn't care for the lack of story normally, but when the gameplay and puzzles are so abhorrently terrible, I wish there was at least something to enjoy about the game.”
    • “The gameplay is so irritating.”
    • “The puzzles are janky and confusing, the mechanics are inconsistent and don't behave how you'd expect.”
  • music638 mentions

    The music in the game is characterized by its minimalist and ambient approach, often described as haunting and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the eerie and immersive experience. While some players appreciate the sparse use of music, noting that it contributes to the game's unsettling atmosphere, others find it lacking and wish for a more pronounced soundtrack. Overall, the sound design, including ambient noises and occasional musical cues, plays a crucial role in creating a sense of dread and emotional depth throughout the gameplay.

    • “The dark atmosphere is immersive, the elements work together, unifying everything: the music, the puzzles, and the story ideas beyond what the game shows.”
    • “The music, the ambiance, the art style, the quiet storytelling, the environment; everything about this game lends to the message it is trying to send.”
    • “The atmosphere and the background music were amazing.”
    • “In a game with minimalist gameplay, minimalist art design, minimalist soundtrack, and minimalist story, there isn't exactly much room for depth.”
    • “The game hardly has any music, but when the music kicks in, the dark, industrial ambience of each song heightens the sense of emptiness and existential dread the atmosphere makes the player feel.”
    • “There is no music at all in this game, just 'ambient sound.' Different music for each environment could have been used to create a sense of intrigue or distinguish between different areas.”
  • replayability166 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally considered low, primarily due to its short playtime of around 2-5 hours and a linear gameplay structure. While some players find value in chasing achievements or collectibles, many reviewers note that once completed, the game offers little incentive to replay, making it more of a one-time experience. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate its artistic elements and atmosphere, but not for those seeking extensive replay value.

    • “Extremely replayable, gruesome and beautiful, and I personally love ambiguous endings, so it worked for me.”
    • “Its replayability adds to its value, and the game’s minimalist narrative and sound design create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that stays with the player after the game is over.”
    • “The overall game is relatively short, clocking in at a handful of hours, but there's plenty of replay value found in secret hunting if you so desire.”
    • “There's only 3 hours of gameplay with almost no replay value, and the music isn't anything special—it just does its job for setting the atmosphere, which is the only good thing about this game.”
    • “The replayability is minimal unless you want to unlock all the achievements.”
    • “The game is challenging, and can make you chuckle with a few easter eggs, but it lacks some replayability and doesn't have a story other than you're a boy looking for his sister.”
  • grinding126 mentions

    The reviews overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with many players expressing that the puzzles become increasingly repetitive and annoying as the game progresses. While some puzzles are noted to be clever and engaging, the overall experience is marred by slow controls, trial-and-error mechanics, and a lack of meaningful progression, leading to a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction. Many players feel that the game requires excessive grinding without sufficient reward, making it a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Super tedious and annoying, it gets worse and worse as the game goes on.”
    • “The game consists of 90% tedious timing puzzles with slow movement and the remaining 10% features beautiful surroundings.”
    • “The deaths were shocking at first, but eventually they dulled and angered me; I felt like I was grinding without making any progress, and everything became a waste of time.”
  • emotional119 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a significant point of discussion among players, with many highlighting its ability to evoke deep feelings through minimalist storytelling, haunting visuals, and a poignant soundtrack. While some players felt disconnected due to challenging puzzles and a lack of character development, others found the experience profoundly moving, often leading to tears and a strong emotional connection to the protagonist's journey. Overall, the game is praised for its unique capacity to convey complex emotions without dialogue, creating a haunting yet beautiful narrative that resonates with players long after completion.

    • “What truly stands out is the emotional depth and storytelling achieved without uttering a single word.”
    • “Through carefully crafted animations, subtle visual clues, and evocative gameplay mechanics, it weaves an ambiguous yet touching narrative of a little boy's quest to find his lost sister, leaving players to draw their own conclusions and interpretations.”
    • “Limbo is one of those games where you find yourself in the middle of an emotional storm from the beginning to the very last second.”
  • humor90 mentions

    The humor in the game is predominantly dark and macabre, with many players finding the death animations and puzzle failures to be hilariously entertaining. While the game features a mix of creepy and funny moments, some reviewers noted that the humor can become repetitive, as it often relies on the player dying in absurd ways. Overall, the blend of challenging puzzles and humorous deaths creates a unique experience that appeals to those with a taste for dark comedy.

    • “It's a 'find new hilarious ways to die simulator'.”
    • “The physics made every death hilarious, so even dying is amusing and forgivable.”
    • “Despite the ever-presence of death and at times frustrating puzzles, Limbo's gameplay and humorous death animations have set itself as being one of the greatest indie games developed.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance across a wide range of hardware, including low-end systems. The minimalist art style contributes to its efficiency, allowing it to run without significant issues or bugs. However, some users noted performance dips on specific platforms, particularly Linux, which affected playability.

    • “The minimalist art style also serves a practical purpose, ensuring that the game runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware.”
    • “Performance was solid throughout my playtime and there were no signs of bugs or glitches.”
    • “Performance wise there are absolutely no issues and the game runs smoothly on pretty much anything save a toaster.”
    • “For some reason, the game is also terribly optimized.”
    • “Fun but the optimization is so bad.”
    • “The only issue I found is the performance issues under Linux, making the game unplayable.”
  • stability21 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, particularly for frequent freezing issues that occur near the end, preventing players from completing it. While some users report solid performance throughout their playtime, many others experience significant bugs, especially during critical moments like cutscenes and final maneuvers. Overall, the game is described as feeling buggy and reminiscent of a browser game, with stability issues overshadowing its otherwise enjoyable gameplay.

    • “It runs great through Proton.”
    • “Controls are tight, functional, and the gameplay experience is bug-free.”
    • “No glitches or bugs that I saw, and everything was nice and smooth.”
    • “This game's ending cutscene breaks and freezes you in place, effectively not letting you beat it unless you sit there spamming escape 500 times.”
    • “The game freezes right near the end every single time.”
    • “I literally solve the last puzzle and the game freezes every time I am about to burst through the glass wall to end the game.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users noting that in-game purchases can be quite costly, potentially draining players' wallets. However, there are also mentions of microtransactions being implemented for a good cause, adding a positive spin to the overall monetization approach.

    • “In-game purchases will drain your wallet.”
    • “Microtransactions for a good cause.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in this game is minimal, with players not engaging deeply with the story or character arcs. The protagonist, a young boy, evokes mixed feelings of protectiveness and unease through his unique design, but overall, the focus is more on the game's aesthetic rather than character depth.

    • “I really love the concept of almost silent, serene, soothing sound and music along with the silhouette art for the level and character design.”
    • “You do not want to play this game for story, character development, or depth.”
    • “You play as a young boy whose peculiar character design brings out both a protective instinct and a feeling of unease.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
4hMain story
7hCompletionist
3-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 63 analyzed playthroughs

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