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Quell

98%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
story, atmosphere
98% User Score Based on 484 reviews

Platforms

PCAndroidiPhoneWindowsNintendo SwitchMobile PlatformiPadiPadPhoneTabletTablet
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About

Quell is a popular and relaxing puzzle game with over 80 levels, known for its calming atmosphere, beautiful art, and challenging puzzles that require lateral thinking. It boasts a perfectly balanced difficulty curve, GameCenter achievements, and iCloud integration for syncing progress across devices. This universal app also supports HD and Retina displays.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot
Quell screenshot

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 484 reviews
music60 positive mentions
story6 negative mentions
  • Quell features beautifully designed puzzles that offer just the right amount of challenge, creating a relaxing and calming atmosphere with its visuals and soundtrack.
  • The game gradually introduces new mechanics, keeping the gameplay engaging and allowing for a satisfying mental workout.
  • It provides a good value for its price, with a decent number of levels and optional challenges like finding hidden gems and completing puzzles in the least number of moves.
  • Some levels can become overly complex, leading to frustration and requiring trial and error to solve, especially in the later stages.
  • The automatic progression to the next puzzle after completing one can be annoying, as it forces players to navigate back to the main menu to retry specific puzzles.
  • The graphics and overall presentation may feel basic or dated, which could detract from the experience for some players.
  • music
    146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in this puzzle game is widely praised for its soothing and calming qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere of the gameplay. Many players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack, which complements the visuals and helps create a meditative experience, although some express disappointment over the lack of a separate soundtrack release. Overall, the combination of gentle melodies and minimalist design contributes significantly to the game's appeal as a tranquil escape.

    • “The music is a spellbinding soundtrack that pulls you deeper into the game.”
    • “The soundtrack to this puzzle game is so amazing and soothing!”
    • “The artwork, animations, and music make this a really relaxing, calming experience.”
    • “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.”
    • “I didn't listen to the music, so if you really care about the music of your puzzle games, check some of the other reviews.”
    • “It also comes with background music and although it's only a single continuous loop, it works wondrously with the combination of other game sounds to create a relaxing atmosphere.”
  • gameplay
    96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Quell is characterized by its simple mechanics that gradually introduce new elements, keeping the experience dynamic and engaging. Players appreciate the blend of relaxing music and challenging puzzles, which require strategic thinking and mastery of various mechanics. While some find the gameplay repetitive after a while, the overall design offers a satisfying challenge with a steady difficulty curve and opportunities for optimization in solving puzzles.

    • “The game introduces some mechanics as you progress, making the game more dynamic and challenging.”
    • “Quell delivers a soothing puzzle-solving experience with its combination of simple gameplay mechanics and a mesmerizingly relaxing soundtrack.”
    • “Working out the optimal pathing to shave off excess moves in order to get the perfect score is highly gratifying, especially when the levels are misleading or have occasional twists in their mechanics.”
    • “There aren't many 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
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally described as basic and simplistic, reminiscent of low-effort mobile or flash games, which may disappoint PC gamers seeking higher visual quality. However, the calming art style, pastel backgrounds, and ambient visuals effectively contribute to a relaxing atmosphere that complements the gameplay. While the visuals may lack depth, they are considered pleasant and well-integrated with the soothing soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The visuals and gentle soundtrack create a peaceful atmosphere that makes it easy to get lost in.”
    • “The artwork, animations, and music make this a really relaxing, calming experience.”
    • “The biggest advantages of the game are graphical and musical layers, which combine perfectly with puzzles - making the game not frustrating, but very relaxing.”
    • “The graphics are basic.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the mobile app, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the mobile app, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
    • “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
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is polarizing; while some players appreciate the heartwarming narratives revealed through puzzle-solving, others find the storytelling minimal or non-existent. Each game in the series features its own unique story, often conveyed through visuals rather than words, but opinions vary on the effectiveness and depth of these narratives. Overall, while some players enjoy the emotional undertones and personal stories hinted at in the backgrounds, others feel that the lack of a traditional story detracts from the experience.

    • “As you solve puzzles, you'll uncover a heartwarming story that adds depth to your journey.”
    • “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.”
    • “Accompanied by a soft and relaxing soundtrack, there's a slight hint of a personal story being told by the background images and specific year dates.”
    • “There's no story here.”
    • “Games of this series are the only completely story-free puzzle games ever that have managed to keep me entertained for more than a few minutes.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its peaceful and relaxing qualities, enhanced by gentle visuals and a soothing soundtrack. Players appreciate the cozy design and player-friendly controls, which contribute to an immersive experience that encourages replayability. Overall, the harmonious ambiance complements the puzzle mechanics, making it easy for players to become absorbed in the game.

    • “The visuals and gentle soundtrack create a peaceful atmosphere that makes it easy to get lost in.”
    • “Quell is a quite challenging puzzle game with a harmonic atmosphere.”
    • “It also comes with background music and although it's only a single continuous loop, it works wondrously with the combination of other game sounds to create a relaxing atmosphere.”
    • “The overall design and style of the game itself both also create a very cozy atmosphere, which adds some points for the replayability.”
  • replayability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game offers limited replayability, with most players finding little incentive to return after completing it 100%. While the cozy atmosphere and some challenging features like jewels and "par" scores can provide occasional enjoyment, many reviewers noted that the experience can feel repetitive after a short playtime, making it more suitable for infrequent, casual revisits rather than sustained engagement.

    • “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 overall design and style of the game itself create a very cozy atmosphere, which adds some points for the replayability.”
    • “Limited immediate replay value, though with a long enough break, some of the more difficult puzzles could feel fresh again.”
    • “Not much replayability after completing it 100%, but you can go back to it every couple of months or years and still relax and enjoy it.”
    • “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, either this or its mobile ports to anyone who wants a 'simple' game they could just relax to after a long, hard day at work.”
    • “~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.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game compelling, as solving puzzles reveals a heartwarming story that enriches the overall experience. The narrative adds depth to the gameplay, making the journey more meaningful as players navigate challenges.

    • “As you solve puzzles, you'll uncover a heartwarming story that adds depth to your journey.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users find the humor in the game to be exceptionally entertaining, often highlighting its ability to elicit laughter consistently. The comedic elements are described as effective and enjoyable, contributing positively to the overall experience.

    • “I don't know about you, but that's just too funny!”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization of Quell has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it is a poorly ported mobile app rather than a legitimate PC game. The simplistic nature of the game further contributes to the perception of it being a money-making scheme by developers.

    • “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.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it necessitates perfecting each level and replaying them to discover hidden collectibles, which can feel repetitive and time-consuming.

    • “Achievements are tedious, requiring you to perfect each level and play it a second time to find a hidden jewel.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report that the game's controls are occasionally buggy, particularly due to its design for touchpad use while relying on mouse pointer swipes instead of traditional arrow keys. This inconsistency can lead to a frustrating gameplay experience.

    • “The controls are sometimes buggy; the game is made for touchpad but it uses mouse pointer swipe instead of arrow keys.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers a well-optimized experience for players, featuring optimization challenges that cater to perfectionists and hidden gems for those who enjoy exploration. This dual focus enhances replayability and encourages players to refine their skills.

    • “A simple puzzle game with a lot of extra challenges for perfectionists and those who enjoy hunting for hidden gems in every stage.”

Buy Quell

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
4-4h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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