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Marble It Up! Ultra

Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Marble It Up! Ultra Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
stability, grinding
93% User Score Based on 966 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCMac OSXboxSteam DeckWindows
Marble It Up! Ultra Game Cover

About

Marble It Up! Ultra is a single player and multiplayer casual racing game. It was developed by Arcturus Interactive and was released on November 16, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Marble It Up!" is a physics-based platformer game where you control a marble navigating through challenging obstacle courses. With stunning 3D graphics and vibrant levels, your goal is to reach the finish line as fast as possible while collecting valuable gems. With a level editor included, the possibilities for marble rolling are endless!

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93%
Audience ScoreBased on 966 reviews
music52 positive mentions
stability14 negative mentions

  • Marble It Up! offers tight controls and satisfying physics, making it a joy to navigate through levels.
  • The game features a variety of well-designed levels and hidden collectibles, providing a good mix of challenge and exploration.
  • The addition of Steam Workshop support allows for endless custom levels, enhancing replayability and community engagement.
  • The game can feel short on content, with some players expressing disappointment over the limited number of official levels at launch.
  • There are technical issues, such as bugs with audio and controls, that can detract from the overall experience.
  • The multiplayer mode is currently lacking and has not met the expectations of some players, leading to frustration.
  • music
    97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others find it repetitive or disappointing compared to previous titles in the franchise. Some players appreciate the variety and fitting nature of the soundtrack, while a few express a preference for older soundtracks or criticize the current music as generic. Overall, the soundtrack is generally seen as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its vibrant aesthetics and gameplay.

    • “Amazing soundtrack.”
    • “Overall, this feels like a timeless experience that is executed super well: controls, physics, challenge, visuals, and of course the music.”
    • “Great game, soundtrack isn't the same as marble blast, but I like to treat it as an entirely different franchise, as that is what it feels like.”
    • “The music is disappointing.”
    • “The music is very generic sounding and not memorable like Marble Blast.”
    • “It feels like most of the music is the same style of 'happy electric pop', and I end up completely tuning it out most of the time.”
  • gameplay
    92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is highly praised for its smooth mechanics, addictive nature, and variety of level designs that encourage replayability and optimization. While some players find certain mechanics, like gem collecting, frustrating, the overall experience is described as fun and engaging, with a good balance of challenge and creativity. The game successfully retains the charm of its predecessors while introducing new elements, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.

    • “Weekly challenges shuffle up the mechanics if you want a change of pace.”
    • “The gameplay feels smooth, even smoother than Marble Blast Ultra.”
    • “Simple movement and mechanics with a lot of tech and techniques to master make this a satisfying game to play for a long haul.”
    • “The game ultimately leaves me frustrated because the core mechanics seem fleshed out and the ideas you see in each level are diverse and creative, but the actual tuning of each level to the physics of the ball makes for one of the more unpleasant platformers that I've played.”
    • “The gem collecting mechanics to open the level endpoint is annoying.”
    • “This game's better level design and array of gameplay gimmicks don't make up for that setback, in my opinion.”
  • graphics
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and appealing art style, with many reviewers noting the stunning level designs and cohesive aesthetics that enhance the gameplay experience. While some minor graphical issues were mentioned, such as anti-aliasing problems, the overall visual presentation is considered a significant improvement over previous titles in the series, combining cartoony textures with realistic elements. The bright colors and engaging visuals contribute to a fun and immersive atmosphere, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The levels are gorgeously rendered and have a very cohesive structure and art style.”
    • “The art style of this game is absolutely stunning, and the music is great too.”
    • “The graphics are really satisfying to look at because the textures are high quality, the lighting doesn't look weird, and there's a lot of reflections.”
    • “The graphics on Steam Deck are horrible, too fuzzy.”
    • “Power-ups are constantly disappearing, game eats inputs, graphical bugs appear frequently.”
    • “Aside from some graphical annoyances like a lack of any good anti-aliasing, I really don't have anything to say against it that wouldn't be nitpicking.”
  • replayability
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability due to its engaging gameplay mechanics, encouraging players to improve their times and explore various paths in levels. With features like custom level support, weekly challenges, and a competitive multiplayer mode, players can continuously find new ways to enjoy the game. Overall, it offers a wealth of content and challenges that keep players coming back for more, making it a standout in terms of replay value.

    • “The levels are not very enclosed at all, and many will give you lots of replayability to get better and better times by finding new paths or different ways of completing the level.”
    • “The game encourages you to complete each level as fast as possible, this is really good for replayability, and I often restarted levels purely because I knew I could do it faster.”
    • “But except for those stages, this was a super fun experience and I'm hoping that they will release some DLC with new stages, or perhaps something that adds replayability to existing stages.”
    • “For the average person, I say hold off on getting it until they add more content and work out a few small kinks as all the levels can be completed in about 2 hours; there's also replayability to improve your times and find trophies, though.”
    • “With the new and difficult chapter 6, and close to 300 custom levels, this game has so much replayability.”
  • stability
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs, particularly in multiplayer modes, including rubber banding and UI glitches. While some players note improvements since launch, issues like crashes, lag spikes, and buggy keybindings persist, leading to a generally unstable experience. Despite these problems, players still find enjoyment in the game, suggesting that ongoing updates may eventually resolve these stability concerns.

    • “The game looks great, runs great, and feels so good to get better at it each time you load it up.”
    • “Runs great on Linux, catchy soundtrack.”
    • “The multiplayer would probably be alright for a group of friends to play while chatting, but it's a bit buggy; there's a lot of rubber banding, so any ball-to-ball interaction going on is going to be unpredictable and glitchy.”
    • “The game also launched with some serious glitches, and it seems the devs aren't keen on patch notes, since I had to find out the game was fixed over a week ago from some random person on Discord today.”
    • “But as it turns out, even with the recent patch, the game still has numerous bugs, glitches, lag spikes, and checkpoint issues.”
  • grinding
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews on the grinding aspect of the game are mixed; while many players find the process of achieving high ranks and perfecting levels enjoyable and engaging, others describe certain levels as tedious and frustrating, particularly as they progress. The game offers a substantial amount of content for those who enjoy grinding, but some players feel that the experience can become monotonous, especially in later stages or when pursuing specific achievements. Overall, the enjoyment of grinding seems to depend on individual preferences and the specific levels being tackled.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Some achievements are very time consuming and grindy.”
    • “However, once you get to the level tightrope, the levels become obnoxious and tedious slogs that suck the fun right out of it.”
    • “The zombie matches are extremely tedious and annoying.”
  • story
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game lacks a significant narrative, with some players noting the absence of a story altogether. Instead, the focus is on gameplay mechanics and challenges, particularly in speed-running and achieving high scores, reminiscent of the developers' previous work on "Marble Blast: Ultra!" and its successor, "Platinum Quest." Overall, the emphasis is on gameplay rather than storytelling.

    • “Years later, I happily stumbled across Platinum Quest -- sort of a successor with more levels.”
    • “When I hear about new games coming out soon that are supposed to have a really good story or really realistic graphics or a big open world aspect to them, I kind of think that games don't have to be technologically impressive to be good; they can be like this one, where there's an original gameplay idea and it is executed well.”
    • “The quest to shave off just a few more seconds from your time will challenge you in two different ways.”
    • “☑️ no story”
    • “☐ story?”
    • “Story goes that the team behind this game is (mostly) the same team behind Marble Blast: Ultra!”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by whimsical elements, such as funny dogs and yellow trampolines, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere. Players appreciate the comedic moments, though some feel the game could benefit from more humorous quips at the start of levels. Overall, the humor enhances the enjoyment, reminiscent of classic games like Marble Blast Ultra.

    • “I bought this game because a funny dog told me to.”
    • “One time I got a high score that was 0.001 seconds faster than my friend's old record, which was hilarious and the record is so optimized that it stands to this day.”
    • “This game is very similar to Marble Blast Ultra back on the 360 when they had that funny little compilation disc.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game excels in optimization, offering a well-balanced blend of engaging gameplay and deep physics that enhances the experience of achieving high scores. Players appreciate the meticulous planning and execution required to optimize their performance, with many noting the game's impressive graphics and overall performance as standout features.

    • “Trying to go for gold or diamond times is absolutely the way to play this game. There is so much fun in planning, executing, and optimizing that comes from the game's simple gameplay loop and deep physics.”
    • “One time I got a high score that was 0.001 seconds faster than my friend's old record, which was hilarious. The record is so optimized that it stands to this day.”
    • “The physics (gravity, speed of the marble on ground and air, etc.) are very well emulated, the graphics are good, and the game is really well optimized.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with many experiencing tears of joy and nostalgia. The game evokes strong feelings, blending moments of sadness and happiness, reminiscent of cherished past gaming experiences. Overall, it successfully resonates with players on an emotional level, making it a memorable experience.

    • “This game made me cry tears of joy, literally.”
    • “This game makes me want to cry sometimes, but I still really like it.”
    • “I had lost hope many years ago of ever seeing a marble game that would make me feel like Marble Blast Ultra did back in my Xbox days, but now this?!”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a cheerful and bright aesthetic, complemented by catchy music and a vibrant color palette. Reviewers appreciate the crisp movement and the overall immersive quality of the soundtrack, which enhances the gaming experience.

    • “It is not a remake of Marble Blast, but it offers a very similar feel and the same cheerful, bright atmosphere.”
    • “Great music and atmosphere with crisp, clean movement.”
    • “The catchy music and colorful atmosphere are a major bonus.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game is well-received, as it features no microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the full experience without additional costs. This approach has been praised for promoting fairness and accessibility.

    • “There are no microtransactions.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt gameplay.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without pushing for additional purchases.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is praised for its depth, prompting players to reflect on their own familial relationships and the complexities within them.

    • “The character development is exceptional and made me question the quality of my relationship with my family.”
    • “The depth of the characters really drew me in, making their journeys feel personal and relatable.”
    • “I was amazed at how the characters evolved throughout the game, each decision impacting their growth in meaningful ways.”
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11h Median play time
12h Average play time
8-25h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Marble It Up! Ultra is a casual racing game.

Marble It Up! Ultra is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS and others.

On average players spend around 12 hours playing Marble It Up! Ultra.

Marble It Up! Ultra was released on November 16, 2018.

Marble It Up! Ultra was developed by Arcturus Interactive.

Marble It Up! Ultra has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its stability.

Marble It Up! Ultra is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Marble Skies, N, Distance, Polyball, Rayman Legends and others.