Quell Zen

About

Quell Zen is a meditative puzzle game featuring serene music and stunning visuals. The player navigates a droplet through 140 levels by sliding it to collect teardrops while avoiding obstacles. With no time limits or penalties, Quell Zen encourages a relaxed, contemplative approach to problem-solving.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

story5 positive mentions

replayability1 negative mentions

Quell Zen offers a relaxing and meditative experience with clever puzzles that gradually introduce new mechanics, making it enjoyable for fans of peaceful puzzle games.
The game features stunning visuals and a soothing soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere, creating a charming and immersive environment.
With over 200 levels, Quell Zen provides plenty of content and challenges, making it a worthy addition to the Quell series for both new players and returning fans.

Some players found the game to be repetitive and less enjoyable compared to earlier entries in the series, feeling that the complexity and number of moves required for solutions detracted from the fun.
The story and presentation were criticized for being less engaging than in previous games, with some players feeling that the new mechanics were frustrating rather than enjoyable.
While the game introduces new elements, the difficulty curve can be inconsistent, leading to levels that feel tedious or overly complex compared to the more balanced challenges of earlier titles.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The story in the game is described as bittersweet and personal, resonating with players on an emotional level, particularly through its unique presentation via written letters. While some reviewers found the narrative to be secondary to the puzzle-solving experience, others appreciated its intimate themes of love and perseverance, making it a meaningful addition to the gameplay. Overall, the story enhances the atmosphere of the game, though opinions vary on its depth and execution.
- “The overarching story is a rather bittersweet one as well, something I can personally relate to.”
- “Regardless of my personal feelings, I still recommend this game for those who want to play simple yet challenging puzzles while experiencing a touching story.”
- “It's an absolutely beautiful story of love.”
- “The story, such as it was, didn't do much for me, but fortunately this isn't about the story; it's about finding your way through a variety of labyrinths, from easy to fiendish, following a simple set of clearly-explained rules applied in interesting ways.”
- “The 'story' was about as useless as in Memento, but now the competent voice acting is replaced with badly-written letters.”
- “This is the only Quell game with a story, which is conveyed not through the backgrounds or voiceless pictures, but through the written letters.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
25%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and soothing qualities, enhancing the serene atmosphere and immersion while solving puzzles. Reviewers note the soundtrack's ability to evoke a sense of tranquility and melancholy, with some highlighting its continuity from previous titles, though a few express a desire for a more culturally fitting composition. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's calming experience.
- “The puzzles are clever, requiring thought without causing frustration, and the art and music create a wonderfully serene atmosphere.”
- “The simple but pleasing visual style is unobtrusive, while the gorgeous soundtrack infuses the game with a degree of melancholy.”
- “The serene soundtrack from before is still there, augmented with a superb new title track, ultimately giving you one hell of a fluffy duvet of a game.”
- “Unfortunately, the music doesn't seem at all Japanese to me.”
- “It's still soft, soothing background music for solving puzzles, but I would think they would choose something more fitting to the theme.”
- “There are just some meditation-related buzzwords like 'tranquility' and 'zen' as well as pseudo-literary texts (that are completely unrelated to the actual game) thrown in, and the very good sound design includes soothing background music.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is characterized by a gradual introduction of unique mechanics across diverse levels, creating a soothing yet challenging puzzle experience. While some players appreciate the variety and new gameplay modes, others find the complexity overwhelming compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, the game combines stunning visuals with a relaxing atmosphere, making it appealing for fans of intricate puzzle games.
- “Each level feels like its own little world, with new mechanics introduced gradually to keep things interesting.”
- “Quite a few different gameplay modes, including those that fans will be familiar with along with new ways of playing that are revealed as the game is played.”
- “The gameplay is as I’ve come to expect, a soothing and relaxing puzzle experience.”
- “The complexity is just too much – in theory it'd be great: more levels, fancy overarching theme and all the mechanics from the predecessors.”
- “This game again adds new mechanics to the series, but unfortunately ones I mostly did not enjoy.”
- “With all of the combined mechanics from the previous titles (plus a few new ones, I believe) there's a huge amount to cover and figure out, leaving very little repetition across the stack.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals and relaxing aesthetic, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience. While some users expressed dissatisfaction with the new Asian theme, the overall presentation is considered aesthetically pleasing, complemented by a soothing soundtrack.
- “Nice, relaxing graphics and soothing soundtrack mixed with truly challenging spatial puzzles.”
- “Stunning visuals and relaxing gameplay.”
- “As usual, Fallen Tree Games has outdone themselves with their smooth and stunning visuals.”
- “I didn't like the new Asian theme and aesthetic; Memento is easily better looking.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere in "Quell Zen" is highly praised for its serene and refined qualities, enhanced by beautiful art and music that complement its Japanese theme. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to create a captivating environment that pairs well with its clever puzzles, making it one of the most atmospheric puzzle games available. The combination of a heartfelt story and a suitable difficulty level further enriches the overall experience.
- “The puzzles are clever, requiring thought without causing frustration, and the art and music create a wonderfully serene atmosphere.”
- “Complete with a simple but heartfully told little story, Quell Zen is one of the most atmospheric puzzle games I've ever played, with a difficulty level matching my capabilities and attention span well.”
- “The puzzles have been tough, yet the atmosphere is gorgeous.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively combines simple yet challenging puzzles with a touching narrative, allowing players to engage emotionally as they progress through the story revealed in a series of letters. Many users recommend it for its ability to evoke feelings while providing an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “Regardless of my personal feelings, I still recommend this game for those who want to play simple yet challenging puzzles while experiencing a touching story.”
- “Complete each section and, in a series of letters, a touching story unfolds.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers limited replayability after achieving 100% completion, but players can revisit it occasionally for a relaxing experience.
- “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.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find that while some levels in the game are cleverly designed, many others are either mediocre or frustratingly tedious, leading to a mixed experience with grinding.
- “A few levels are undoubtedly quite smart, the majority is decent if uninspired, but sadly there are quite a few bad apples that are just tedious and frustrating.”
- “The grinding feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel more like a job than a game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users express dissatisfaction with the monetization strategy, particularly criticizing the advertisements for failing to deliver on their promises and lacking uniqueness, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “I have a small problem with the advertisements; they are not 'the embodiment of relaxation' or 'an unforgettable journey.' In fact, they feel quite generic.”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constant interruptions.”
- “It's frustrating that the game seems designed to push players towards spending money rather than focusing on gameplay.”