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Quell

I’m a bit more hesitant to recommend at full price, if only because the superior 3DS version is still available to buy. But the Quell series is enjoyable, and everyone should play (and replay) at least one of these relaxing puzzlers. You may find yourself hooked.
Quell Game Cover
93%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:story, replayability
98% User Score Based on 222 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCTabletAndroidPhoneiPadMobile PlatformiPhoneWindows
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Quell Game Cover

About Quell

Quell is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Fallen Tree Games Ltd and was released on May 14, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

An enchanting game of logic and relaxation.

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Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
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Games Like Quell

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Reviews

98%Audience ScoreBased on 222 reviews
music32 positive mentions
monetization1 negative mentions
  • Elegant and thoughtfully designed puzzle mechanics that gradually increase in complexity, offering a satisfying challenge without frustration.
  • Relaxing and calming atmosphere enhanced by minimalistic visuals and a beautiful, soothing soundtrack.
  • Strong replay value through optimizing solutions for fewer moves and finding hidden gems on each level, appealing to completionists and casual players alike.
  • Late-game puzzles can become excessively complex and rely heavily on trial and error, which may frustrate some players.
  • Lack of convenient features such as a retry button after failing or finishing a level perfectly, causing unnecessary menu navigation.
  • Being a mobile port, graphical fidelity and control customization are limited compared to typical PC standards.

  • music

    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    41% positive mentions, 55% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The game's music, primarily composed by Steven Cravis, is widely praised for its calming, soothing piano melodies and ambient arrangements that create a peaceful, meditative atmosphere perfectly complementing the puzzles. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to reduce frustration and enhance concentration, making the experience relaxing and immersive, with many considering it a standout feature alongside the game's visuals. While some note the music is somewhat repetitive and lack of a separate OST is a minor drawback, overall the soundtrack is regarded as beautiful, tranquil, and integral to the game's charm.

    • “The audio design further elevates the experience through a beautiful soundtrack composed by Steven Cravis.”
    • “The relaxing piano melodies and ambient musical arrangements create a peaceful mood that transforms each puzzle into a calming mental exercise.”
    • “Quell delivers a soothing puzzle solving experience with its combination of simple gameplay mechanics and mesmerizingly relaxing soundtrack.”
    • “The music is adequate.”
    • “And the music while somewhat repetitive is pleasant background filler.”
    • “Sadly, there is no separate OST for this series, and it's actually the only big negative point here - the soundtrack is extremely relaxing and tranquil here, and very good for meditation.”

  • gameplay

    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    19% positive mentions, 76% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions

    Quell features simple, momentum-based mechanics that are easy to grasp but offer deep, thoughtful puzzle challenges through gradual introduction of diverse elements like teleporters, spikes, and switches. The gameplay emphasizes careful planning and mastering combined mechanics, delivering a relaxing and well-paced experience with minimal trial and error. While some find the mechanics repetitive over time, the game's refined design, steady difficulty ramp, and tranquil atmosphere make it a rewarding puzzle adventure for fans of thoughtful, serene gameplay.

    • “Although the mechanics are easy to grasp, mastering the game's many stages requires careful planning, logical thinking, and a willingness to experiment with every possible move.”
    • “There are many mechanics like rings that teleport the drop, spikes that destroy it but can be rotated with a switch, platforms that pop up after you moved by them, etc. In the end, you have to remember all of them to finish the hardest levels.”
    • “New mechanics are introduced once in a while, including wrapping around the edge of the screen, turnable spikes, activated one-way blocks, blocks that dissolve when combined, and teleporters.”
    • “There aren't much mechanics so it gets repetitive.”
    • “I must say some levels were just a bunch of plain trial and error as there is a button that lets you undo your last move and it was the best way to check all the possible moves when you are stuck as some levels really require you to use so many mechanics that you can be sure you forget about one of them.”
    • “~5-6 hours with little replay value, basic graphics, basic puzzle mechanics - it's a decent way to pass your time, but after a dozen levels I usually took a break because I was already bored.”

  • graphics

    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    27% positive mentions, 66% neutral mentions, 7% negative mentions

    The graphics in Quell are minimalist, clean, and calming, complementing the game's tranquil atmosphere without being flashy or distracting. While some find the 2D visuals basic or dated, the understated art style effectively supports the puzzle gameplay and peaceful mood. Overall, the graphics are well-crafted to enhance relaxation and immersion, though they may lack the polish or complexity expected by some PC gamers.

    • “Even after many hours, the minimalist aesthetic retains its charm because every visual element serves a clear purpose, reinforcing the game's tranquil identity instead of overwhelming it with excessive detail.”
    • “Oddly for a simple puzzle game about sliding a water droplet around, there's actually a tale to tell—or show, rather, as it's understated and expressed almost entirely through the ambient visuals, including how they change as you move on, as well as through the names of the individual puzzles and, if you heed closely, the arrangement of obstacles and gimmicks in each individual puzzle's respective layout.”
    • “From its artwork, to its music, to the pure level of polish this game has, it is by far one of the best puzzle games available.”
    • “The mobile app features somewhat lazy, simplistic 2D graphics, of the type you normally expect to see in low effort flash/browser games and mobile apps.”
    • “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lacklustre 2D visuals.”
    • “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”

  • story

    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    15% positive mentions, 70% neutral mentions, 15% negative mentions

    The story in the Quell series is subtle and primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling, background images, and level themes, offering a quiet, emotional experience without explicit narration. While some entries introduce a light narrative and voiceovers, others are essentially story-free, focusing more on puzzle mechanics and ambiance. This understated approach may appeal to players who appreciate thoughtful design and relaxed pacing but may feel lacking to those seeking a more defined or engaging storyline.

    • “Beyond its puzzle mechanics, Quell also tells a heartfelt story through understated environmental storytelling.”
    • “The story remains subtle throughout, allowing players to interpret its emotional significance while preserving the relaxing pace that defines the overall experience.”
    • “By solving the puzzles (each game has more than 100 of them, plus a bunch of hidden ones) you will reveal a story, told by backgrounds, silhouettes, things, and pictures without any use of words.”
    • “There's no story here.”
    • “I guess the balance was a little broken in Quell Reflect, since I didn't like puzzles and the story here in general and used the guide for some of them.”
    • “I didn't like the achievements as I already stated, and I found the story and cleaning off the tile to get to the stages menu just extra work I didn't want to have to do.”

  • atmosphere

    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    30% positive mentions, 70% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Quell offers a calm and peaceful atmosphere characterized by soft lighting, gentle animations, and a soothing soundtrack that enhances the reflective and thoughtful puzzle gameplay. The game's elegant, cozy design fosters relaxation and encourages patience, making it easy for players to immerse themselves and enjoy a harmonious, stress-free experience.

    • “Quell is a thoughtfully crafted puzzle game that demonstrates how elegant design and a calming atmosphere can leave a lasting impression without relying on flashy visuals or intense action.”
    • “Soft lighting, gentle animations, and carefully designed environments create an atmosphere of quiet reflection that perfectly complements the gameplay.”
    • “The visuals and gentle soundtrack create a peaceful atmosphere that makes it easy to get lost in.”

  • replayability

    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    33% positive mentions, 34% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions

    Replayability in the game is moderate, driven mainly by refining puzzle solutions, achieving challenges like jewels and "par" goals, and the game's cozy atmosphere. While the 80+ levels provide a decent amount of content, most players find little incentive to replay immediately after completion, though some return after a break for a fresh experience. Overall, it offers a relaxing, casual experience but limited lasting replay value.

    • “Replay value comes from refining puzzle solutions and revisiting earlier stages with greater efficiency.”
    • “I liked the ease of play but it also presents enough of a challenge in the later stages and adds some replay value with the jewel and 'par' features.”
    • “The game offers decent replay value with just over 80 levels to complete.”
    • “Not much replayability after completing it 100% but you can go back to it every couple months or years and still relax and enjoy it.”
    • “Limited (immediate) replay value, though with a long enough break some of the more difficult of the puzzles could feel fresh again.”
    • “Sadly, there isn't much, if any replay value to be had, after you beat the game, but it's still a title I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants a simple game to just relax to after a long, hard day at work.”

  • emotional

    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Quell delivers a subtle yet heartfelt emotional experience through its understated environmental storytelling, focusing on themes like memory, loss, love, and healing. The narrative unfolds quietly alongside relaxing gameplay, allowing players to interpret its depth without interrupting the game's soothing pace. This quiet emotional layer enriches the puzzle-solving journey, making the overall experience notably cohesive and touching.

    • “Instead of relying on lengthy dialogue or dramatic cutscenes, the game gradually reveals an emotional narrative centered on memory, loss, love, and healing.”
    • “Beyond its puzzle mechanics, Quell also tells a heartfelt story through understated environmental storytelling.”
    • “The story remains subtle throughout, allowing players to interpret its emotional significance while preserving the relaxing pace that defines the overall experience.”

  • optimization

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game offers strong optimization appeal, allowing players to solve puzzles with fewer moves and uncover hidden challenges. It caters well to perfectionists and those who enjoy refining their strategies for maximum efficiency.

    • “Players who enjoy optimizing their performance will appreciate the opportunity to complete puzzles using fewer moves while fully appreciating the elegant construction behind each level.”
    • “Simple puzzle game with a lot of extra challenge for perfectionists or those who like to hunt (optimization challenges for the former, hidden gems in every stage for the latter).”

  • humor

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Users find the humor in the game genuinely funny and enjoyable.

  • monetization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The monetization of Quell is criticized for feeling like a cash grab, as the mobile app was released on Steam without significant adaptation for PC, giving the impression of a low-effort port aimed at quick profit.

    • “Quell is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it was a real PC game (it's not)... it's a cash grab from greedy mobile devs. The game is a very simple pathing puzzle game.”

  • stability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Stability issues arise mainly from control mechanics, as the game is designed for touchpad use but relies on mouse pointer swipes rather than arrow keys, leading to occasional buggy behavior.

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Critic Reviews

70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Play Times

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
4-4h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Quell is a casual puzzle game. Common tags for Quell include indie, educational, relaxing, soundtrack, abstract and others.

Quell is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Phone, iPad and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Quell.

Quell was released on May 14, 2015.

Quell was developed by Fallen Tree Games Ltd.

Quell has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Quell for its music but disliked it for its story.

Quell is a single player game.

Similar games include Quell Reflect, Quell Memento, Golf Peaks, klocki, Lara Croft GO and others.