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Quell Zen

It’s not my favorite in the series, but Quell Zen is a game that puzzle fans should enjoy. It manages to be simultaneously relaxing and quite challenging.
Quell Zen Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
story, music
gameplay, grinding
100% User Score Based on 39 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCTabletAndroidPhoneiPadSteam DeckMobile PlatformiPhoneWindows
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Quell Zen Game Cover

About

Quell Zen is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by Fallen Tree Games Ltd and was released on July 14, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

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.

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Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
Quell Zen screenshot
+5
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100%
Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews
story5 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Quell Zen offers a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere with stunning visuals and a soothing soundtrack, making it a perfect game for winding down.
  • The game features a wide variety of clever puzzles that gradually introduce new mechanics, providing a satisfying challenge without causing frustration.
  • With over 200 levels, Quell Zen provides plenty of content for players, ensuring hours of engaging gameplay for both fans of the series and newcomers.
  • Some players feel that Quell Zen is the weakest entry in the series, citing repetitive gameplay and a lack of innovation compared to its predecessors.
  • The increased complexity and difficulty of puzzles, with many requiring 30+ moves, can lead to frustration and detract from the enjoyment of the game.
  • The story and thematic elements, while present, are considered less impactful and engaging than in previous games, with some players finding the new mechanics less enjoyable.
  • story
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 and heartfelt nature, making it a significant aspect of the game. Overall, the story adds a layer of depth to the gameplay, enhancing the overall atmosphere and engagement for those who connect with it.

    • “The story is pretty good as per usual of the series.”
    • “It's an absolutely beautiful story of love.”
    • “Complete each section and, in a series of letters, a touching story unfolds.”
    • “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

    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 feelings of tranquility and melancholy, with some highlighting its continuity from previous titles, though a few express a desire for a more culturally relevant musical theme. Overall, the soundtrack 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, and the very good sound design includes soothing background music.”
  • gameplay
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 engaging mechanics, making it a compelling choice for fans of relaxing 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

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals and aesthetically pleasing presentation, contributing to a relaxing gameplay experience. However, some users expressed dissatisfaction with the new Asian theme, preferring previous aesthetics. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and soothing soundtracks enhances the challenge of the spatial puzzles.

    • “Stunning visuals and relaxing gameplay.”
    • “As usual, Fallen Tree Games has outdone themselves with their smooth and stunning visuals.”
    • “Nice, relaxing graphics and soothing soundtrack mixed with truly challenging spatial puzzles.”
    • “I didn't like the new Asian theme and aesthetic; Memento is easily better looking.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Quell Zen" is highly praised for its serene and refined qualities, enhanced by a Japanese theme, beautiful art, and soothing music. Reviewers appreciate how the game combines clever puzzles with a heartfelt story, creating an immersive experience that balances challenge and tranquility. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most atmospheric puzzle games available.

    • “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.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find that while some levels in the game are cleverly designed, many are merely average, and a significant number are considered tedious and frustrating, contributing to a grinding experience that detracts from overall enjoyment.

    • “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.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game compelling, as it intertwines simple yet challenging puzzles with a touching narrative revealed through a series of letters. This combination enhances the overall experience, making it a recommended choice for those seeking both gameplay and emotional depth.

    • “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

    The game offers limited replayability after achieving 100% completion, but players can still return to 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.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express dissatisfaction with the monetization strategy, particularly criticizing the advertisements for being unremarkable and not aligning with the game's intended relaxing experience.

    • “I do have a small problem with the advertisements though: this is not 'the embodiment of relaxation' or 'an unforgettable journey'; in fact, it is not special at all.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Quell Zen is a puzzle game.

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

Quell Zen was released on July 14, 2016.

Quell Zen was developed by Fallen Tree Games Ltd.

Quell Zen has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Quell Zen is a single player game.

Similar games include Quell Reflect, Quell, The Room: Old Sins, Quell Memento, Linelight and others.