Mushroom 11

About

Mushroom 11 is a unique puzzle-platformer where you guide an amoeba-like organism by pruning its cells, causing new ones to grow. Traverse a mysterious world, solve brain-twisting obstacles, and discover the origins of your strange existence, all while accompanied by an atmospheric soundtrack by The Future Sound of London. This innovative game has received accolades from multiple sources, including Rock, Paper, Shotgun, IGN, and The Guardian.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+22

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 521 reviews

gameplay89 positive mentions

grinding27 negative mentions

Mushroom 11 features a unique gameplay mechanic where players control a blob by erasing parts of it, allowing for creative puzzle-solving.
The game has beautiful visuals and a captivating atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
The level design is clever and varied, with interesting boss fights that challenge players in unique ways.

The difficulty spikes significantly in the later levels, leading to frustration as some puzzles rely heavily on luck rather than skill.
The controls can feel imprecise, making it challenging to execute certain movements, especially in more complex puzzles.
The game lacks a substantial narrative, which may leave players wanting more context and story development.

gameplay
264 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
64%
3%
The gameplay of Mushroom 11 is characterized by its unique mechanic of manipulating a blob by erasing parts of it to allow for regrowth, creating a fresh and innovative puzzle platforming experience. While many players appreciate the creativity and variety of challenges presented, some express frustration with the game's reliance on trial-and-error and the occasional lack of control over the mechanics, particularly in later levels. Overall, the game offers a compelling mix of fun and frustration, with a strong emphasis on exploration and problem-solving through its distinctive gameplay.
- “A fun and occasionally quite challenging puzzle game with a very unique 'negative space' gameplay mechanic.”
- “The mechanic of erasing to grow is executed wonderfully, and there are varied applications in consistently new puzzles throughout the game.”
- “The unique core mechanic of this game is not just a gimmick but actually does result in some pretty interesting gameplay.”
- “My biggest complaint is during the later stages, the difficulty is more set on finicky and precise moves which I guess is the logical conclusion to take with regards to the central mechanic, but man, does it get frustrating (and not the good type either).”
- “The gameplay seems to rely more on trial and error than technique.”
- “The fun of the early levels gives way to the frustration and trial-and-error gameplay of the later ones, and while the game is certainly a very interesting and novel concept, at times it gets so caught up with the fact that it can do something that it loses sight of whether or not it should be doing it.”
music
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. While some describe it as relaxing and fitting for the game's themes, a few find it somewhat forgettable or repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong complement to the beautiful art design and innovative gameplay, contributing significantly to the game's immersive environment.
- “The atmosphere and soundtrack add a lot to the experience, but the control mechanic is what makes this game stand out.”
- “Beautiful art and music, gives off a cool dystopian apocalypse feel.”
- “The soundtrack by 'The Future Sound of London' is really frickin' good and perfect for Mushroom 11!”
- “I wouldn't say the music is bad in this game, but it's basically just techno music that's easily forgettable.”
- “The music in the game is alright, it’s nothing too special and I mostly found myself putting on my own playlist of music when playing through the game.”
- “Developers went with electronic ambient music.”
graphics
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
23%
4%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and effectiveness, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning artwork, vibrant colors, and atmospheric design that enhance the post-apocalyptic setting. While some noted minor glitches and a few areas lacking polish, the overall visual presentation is described as captivating and immersive, contributing significantly to the gameplay experience. The combination of impressive visuals and a fitting soundtrack creates a compelling aesthetic that resonates well with players.
- “The parallax background artwork of a varying devastated landscape, as well as some creepy fungus organisms, is stunning.”
- “The visuals are flawless, as is the soundtrack, the perfect ether to immerse you in the practical aspect of the mechanics and puzzles.”
- “They really do everything right - a perfect blend of beautifully-crafted visuals, a soundtrack that meshes with the decaying atmosphere.”
- “Although the visuals are simple, they're also effective.”
- “- I'm a fan of post-apocalyptic art styles, but this one was a bit... unpolished and overdone.”
- “Graphic style is okay, nothing special; music soothes the atmosphere.”
story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
60%
14%
The game's story is largely conveyed through atmospheric and environmental storytelling, with many players appreciating the intriguing post-apocalyptic setting and visual hints about the world’s past. However, there is a consensus that the narrative is underdeveloped, lacking explicit plot elements, dialogue, or cutscenes, which leaves players wanting more context and depth. While some enjoy piecing together the implied backstory, others find the minimal storytelling insufficient to maintain engagement throughout the gameplay.
- “This game tells a good story with atmospheric storytelling; it has good puzzles that aren't too hard, but do take skill sometimes.”
- “Beautiful audio and visuals, and a great example of passive storytelling through world/environment design.”
- “A great puzzler with a satisfying story and ending.”
- “Nothing in m11 explicitly tells a story, except for an ending cutscene.”
- “So in the end, we have a game with little to no story, shallow puzzles and terrible controls, lasting around 4-5 hours with a $15 asking price.”
- “It pretty much totally lacks a story, and while it does have the post-apocalyptic world, it felt like you could have re-skinned it with anything.”
atmosphere
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
30%
8%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of post-apocalyptic themes, vibrant and bleak visuals, and an evocative soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed backgrounds and environmental storytelling, which create a haunting yet beautiful ambiance that complements the gameplay. While some find the atmosphere to be a standout feature, others note that it doesn't fully compensate for gameplay frustrations.
- “Gameplay aside, it has a nice score, fantastic atmosphere with a style that can switch from bleak to vibrant just screens apart.”
- “Not to mention, it has a really cool post-apocalyptic atmosphere that's communicated through both music and visuals.”
- “They really do everything right - a perfect blend of beautifully-crafted visuals, a soundtrack that meshes with the decaying atmosphere.”
- “Either way, the atmosphere doesn't hold the game together, because the attitude I had most of the time was anger towards m11.”
- “The game excels in the art department; however, from the nice detailed backgrounds to the feel of the diverse biology, the post-apocalyptic atmosphere, and the ambient background music.”
- “Graphic style is okay, nothing special; music soothes the atmosphere.”
grinding
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and frustrating, particularly in later levels where puzzles often rely on awkward mechanics and trial-and-error gameplay rather than clever design. While some players find moments of achievement amidst the tedium, many express dissatisfaction with the repetitive nature of certain tasks and the lack of precision in controls, leading to a generally cumbersome experience. Overall, the enjoyment is often overshadowed by the tediousness of execution and level design.
- “Motherf***ing rockets... god damn I hate them. Only 8 levels in the game and not much gameplay for $15; playtime is from car farming.”
- “The problem is that because you cannot control where the blob grows from, you're left tediously painting the same segments again and again in hopes that it eventually goes where you want it to.”
- “While some of these puzzles are quite clever, others are quite tiresome, and worst of all, if you beat a stage and have missed some of the collectibles, they all reset – you have to get all 50 collectibles in a stage in a single run, which is very annoying given that you have no idea where you missed the collectibles and the more tedious-to-reach collectibles must be grabbed in the same tedious manner as they were the first time.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the challenge of collecting secrets and completing achievements, others find the experience less compelling after the initial playthrough. The presence of optional challenges, such as speed runs and no-death attempts, adds some value for completionists, but the game's relatively short length may limit its appeal for repeated play.
- “There is a fair amount of replayability, as you aren't merely solving the puzzles and also because there are optional things to collect and achievements to complete.”
- “Being a puzzle game at heart, it's on the short side, but between the secret collectibles, no-death runs, and just generally seeing how much you've improved, it has better replayability than the average puzzle game.”
- “Plus, if you would like to 100% it, there is a fair amount of replay value, and it's very tough to do!”
- “I'd wait for a sale if you can as it doesn't offer much replay value aside from tracking the speed and collectibles of each level.”
- “Some, I think replayability can come into question; I honestly didn't feel compelled to play levels again.”
- “There are some difficult parts that once I got through, I was like, 'I'm glad I never have to do that again.'”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its unique mechanics that evoke feelings of loss and growth, as players must sacrifice parts of their organism to progress, creating a poignant sense of transformation. The stunning atmosphere, excellent level design, and heartwarming music further enhance the emotional experience, making players feel deeply connected to the evolving gameplay. Overall, the game successfully combines challenging mechanics with an emotional narrative that resonates with players.
- “An absolutely stunning anti-platformer with a fantastic atmosphere, great level design, good music, and an all-round heartwarming feeling.”
- “Several times, the game asks you to cut your fungus in half in order for you to move on, and, since you have no control over what grows where, you'll find yourself moving smaller and smaller pieces while the half you're not touching grows bigger and bigger.”
- “You cannot move it around directly, but you do have the ability to erase cells, which causes the ball of cells to regrow said cells in some other location so long as the cells are touching a solid surface.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with reliable coding that prevents major issues despite some minor glitches. It runs smoothly on Linux and offers a visually appealing experience, though occasional visual hiccups are noted.
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game is praised for its strong optimization, delivering smooth performance even on lower-end hardware like Intel graphics. Players appreciate the combination of innovative gameplay, impressive artwork, and effective sound design, all contributing to a seamless gaming experience.
- “The game has all of these: innovative gameplay, great artwork, great music and sound, good performance even on Intel graphics, and in my opinion, just the right amount of explanation and tutorials (not much at all).”
- “The game looks and sounds great, the level designs are really cool, and maybe most importantly, it runs smoothly and quickly.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are excessively long, making it hard to stay engaged.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its playful and whimsical nature, with players enjoying the amusing antics of a gooey organism that moves in both graceful and comical ways. Many find it entertaining and worth the price, especially if they appreciate lighthearted gameplay.
- “It's simple and fun, and I think it's worth the price if you like to play with funny goo things.”
- “Your organism gloops, squeezes, and squirms around with a fluidity that is by turns graceful and hilarious.”