MEANDERS
- February 6, 2018
- FraZack
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Meanders" is a single-player 3D puzzle platformer game with marvelous mechanics and beautiful visuals. The game features 40 levels of instant play with diverse challenges, including jumping, bouncing, sliding, teleporting, and cannon transportation. It also includes speedrun mode with Steam Leaderboards, an original soundtrack, and unique game modes using the Atomic Stuff.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- Meanders offers a relaxing and enjoyable gameplay experience with smooth controls and charming visuals.
- The game features a variety of unlockable modes and challenges that enhance replayability and keep the gameplay fresh.
- It's a fun and affordable puzzle platformer that provides a decent amount of content for its price, making it a great time killer.
- The game suffers from janky movement mechanics and frustrating level design that can lead to mindless backtracking.
- Many players have reported crashes and technical issues that hinder the overall experience.
- While the game is marketed as a puzzle platformer, it lacks true puzzle elements, often reducing gameplay to simple tasks without much challenge.
- gameplay41 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as intuitive and enjoyable, featuring a mix of basic mechanics and diverse objectives that keep it fresh despite its simplicity. Players appreciate the smooth controls and appealing visuals, although some feel the game can become repetitive quickly. Overall, the blend of mechanics and the introduction of new modes after completion add depth, making it a worthwhile experience for casual gamers.
“Great blend of mechanics and playstyles to choose from after you complete the game over and over again.”
“The gameplay is smooth and straightforward, and rather enjoyable.”
“A rather casual and basic game in concept, all you need to do is reach the end goal or complete some sort of basic objective on a level. There is a good amount of levels and modifiers, so the way you play changes, keeping the gameplay fresh and diverse enough.”
“No puzzles, no need to use logic, no specific mechanics aside from grabbing and throwing the ball and jumping (also you can jump through rings as an additional condition for opening the exit).”
“I may have only played 8 minutes, but in those minutes I learned the music sucks and the gameplay is very uninspiring.”
“A rather casual and basic game in concept; all you need to do is reach the end goal or complete some sort of basic objective on a level. There is a good amount of levels and modifiers, so the way you play changes, even though the level is the same. This keeps the gameplay fresh and diverse enough, but it gets old fast.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the clean, colorful, and minimalist art style that enhances the gameplay experience, while others criticize the janky movement and mediocre implementation of individual elements. Many players appreciate the ability to customize visuals and find the aesthetic appealing, though there are concerns about performance on lower-end graphics cards. Overall, the visuals are generally regarded as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's charm and engagement.
“First and foremost, this game is visually beautiful, given its minimalistic art style.”
“Graphics are very clean, neat, colorful, and pleasant to look at.”
“The game has nice crisp visuals to accompany the refreshing gameplay.”
“The movement is janky, the visuals are simultaneously minimalist and overbaked; all of the individual elements are mediocre in their implementation and don't build anything past the sum of their parts.”
“Do not recommend for budget graphics cards though for this Unreal Engine 4 game.”
“My only problem is the minimalist art style, as far too many games have this style.”
- music25 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and fitting, with a chill vibe that enhances the gameplay experience. However, many players find it repetitive and not particularly outstanding, with some preferring to mute the game and play their own music instead. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, it lacks the depth and variety that some players desire.
“It feels dreamy, playing this game is like listening to a jungle music playlist from old games or watching something like Houseki no Kuni. It's just a 3D platformer, but something about it makes it great, and I don't usually play games like this.”
“It's a very chill, relaxing speedrunning 'sandbox' where you can bounce around on jump pads, ski down mirrored surfaces, and listen to a great original soundtrack.”
“Amazing platformer with puzzles, great music, and charming graphics!”
“The music mixes between not really noticeable and kinda funky, but again it's nothing super special.”
“The worst part about it is the soundtrack.”
“With how cheap this game is, I wouldn't mind paying an extra buck or two to get some better music.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability, featuring varied level designs, multiple game modes, and unlockable content that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the inclusion of different abilities, speedrunning options, and optional achievements, which contribute to its replay value. However, some users note that the replay value may be limited for those who complete the game quickly.
“I don't remember buying this, either way it's a ton of fun and seems to have a ton of replayability.”
“A nice little platforming/parkour game, with decent replayability (different ability modes and a speedrunning option) and a nice set of optional achievements and collectibles.”
“I did not even finish the main campaign in 2+ hours, and there are multiple game modes to unlock that offer additional difficulties and plenty of replayability.”
“[i]meanders[/i] is a quite fun and moderately challenging (base game) 40-level first-person puzzle-platformer that offers plenty of replayability with unlockable content (different playing modes and increasing difficulties) and achievements.”
“- Replay value is pretty limited.”
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate its potential and non-linear paths, others feel it lacks depth and a substantial narrative. Overall, the story mode is seen as enjoyable but limited, with a desire for more background context to enhance the experience.
“Thanks for creating this game! I love it and am yet to unlock everything, but I have just finished my first run through and it has amazing potential for speed running and story.”
“The story mode was excellent.”
“- non-linear in the sense that you can pick one from multiple paths while completing the story.”
“After playing for 2+ hours straight in one sitting, I realize that there's not much in the way of a story.”
“In a game like this, a background story would be nice, but really not important at all.”
“- limited story?”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as relaxing and colorful, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate how the combination of challenges and vibrant visuals creates a cohesive and enjoyable environment, making it a worthwhile investment. Comparisons to other titles suggest that while it may lack some depth in atmosphere, it compensates with a varied gameplay experience.
“The atmosphere was relaxing and colorful.”
“The assortment of challenges, colors, and atmosphere really tie the experience together; it's well worth the asking price!”
“Meanders is a decent puzzle-platformer, matched with its relaxing atmosphere that complements its choice of style.”
“The atmosphere was relaxing, sort of colorful.”
“Meanders is a decent puzzle-platformer, matched with its relaxing atmosphere which complements its choice of style.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users noting it is well-made and enjoyable. However, some players have reported encountering small glitches, indicating that while the game is solid, it is not entirely free of issues.
“It's genuinely amazing and fun, and surprisingly very well made, even better than some AAA companies' supposed unfinished and buggy games.”
“Small glitches.”
“Good game, worth the money, but I found many glitches.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of amusing and cluttered, with some players finding the comedic text from the overseer to be overdone, while others appreciate the option to choose between encouraging and condescending tones. Overall, the game is considered a funny and enjoyable experience, despite its small size.
“It's a really funny and cheap experience that brings a lot of joy.”
“The option to choose between an encouraging or condescending tone from the overseer was hilarious to see.”
“The game's humor shines through in its quirky dialogue and comedic situations.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players report a medium level of grinding in the game, indicating that while some repetitive tasks are necessary for progression, they are not overly burdensome or excessive. This balance allows for a satisfying experience without feeling overly tedious.
“The grinding in this game feels excessive and tedious, making it hard to enjoy the overall experience.”
“I found the grinding to be a major drawback; it takes away from the fun and makes progress feel like a chore.”
“While some grinding is expected, this game takes it to an extreme, leading to burnout rather than excitement.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is enhanced by the inclusion of challenge medals, which encourage players to strive for perfection, such as never missing a shot or avoiding water, adding a layer of personal achievement and investment in the gameplay experience.
