The Basement Collection

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 978 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
The Basement Collection Game Cover
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"The Basement Collection" is a compilation of various games and prototypes created by Edmund McMillen. It includes popular titles like "Aether," "Grey-Matter," and "Spewer," as well as unreleased games and additional content. This collection offers a unique insight into the developer's creative process and provides hours of entertainment through its eclectic mix of games.

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  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 978 reviews
music34 positive mentions
optimization9 negative mentions
  • A diverse collection of games showcasing Edmund McMillen's unique art style and creativity.
  • Includes a wealth of bonus content such as developer commentary, sketches, and behind-the-scenes insights.
  • Great value for the price, especially for fans of McMillen's work like Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac.
  • Many games suffer from performance issues and lag, making them frustrating to play.
  • Some games feel unfinished or lack polish compared to more recent titles.
  • Most of the games are available for free online, which may make the purchase feel less justified.
  • music72 mentions

    The music in Edmund McMillen's games is widely praised for its quality and creativity, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtracks as a standout feature that enhances the overall gaming experience. Composers like Danny Baranowsky and Kaada are frequently mentioned for their exceptional work, contributing to the unique atmosphere of each game. While some players found certain tracks annoying or lacking, the majority appreciate the diverse and engaging soundscapes that accompany the gameplay, making the soundtracks a significant draw for fans of indie games.

    • “All of these games are so fun to play and all of their soundtracks are more than awesome.”
    • “The soundtrack that comes with the collection is amazingly generous, with audio from every game but one of them, and a selection of unofficial fan-made tracks as well.”
    • “The music is amazing.”
    • “The music in this is pretty shit.”
    • “Also, the music is really annoying.”
    • “It reminded me of Portal, except it was much more disturbing with all the creepy voices and the creepy music.”
  • gameplay56 mentions

    The gameplay across the collection is a mixed bag, featuring a range of puzzle platformers with unique mechanics and creative concepts, particularly highlighted by "Time fcuk" and "Spewer." While some games offer engaging and inventive experiences, others suffer from mechanical issues, steep difficulty spikes, and performance problems, leading to a generally uneven quality. Overall, the collection provides a nostalgic glimpse into early indie game design, appealing to fans of experimental gameplay despite its flaws.

    • “Pure gameplay, pure creativity and fun.”
    • “Time fcuk is a puzzle platformer with surprisingly deep mechanics; the game holds up the best out of the bunch.”
    • “The basement collection is an excellent selection of games, showcasing Edmund McMillen's inventiveness with diverse mechanics, aesthetics, and gameplay styles.”
    • “The collection as a whole unfortunately I cannot recommend because of its performance issues, gameplay mediocrity, and price tag.”
    • “The basement collection is certainly a fascinating insight into the works that came before Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac, but from a gameplay perspective, it is completely primitive and tiresome.”
    • “Gameplay wise, they are all rough prototypes, so each game in this collection is relatively short in content, but a few can really be a pleasant time sink.”
  • story52 mentions

    The story aspect of the games reviewed is varied, with some titles like "Coil" and "Time fcuk" offering intriguing, albeit sometimes confusing narratives that encourage player interpretation. While some games focus heavily on storytelling, others, such as "Super Meat Boy," have minimal plots, relying more on gameplay and art style. Overall, the collection showcases a mix of unique stories and gameplay experiences, often reflecting the distinctive style of developer Edmund McMillen, appealing to fans of quirky and experimental narratives.

    • “If you are a fan of Edmund McMillen and his strange sense of humor, storytelling, and the difficulty he puts in his games, get this game.”
    • “A beautiful story of a little boy who, with a monster, goes through planets, exploring space, helping each other out.”
    • “Coil was really awesome, a new take on interactive storytelling/poetry.”
    • “Coil is a pretty weird game with a kind of confusing story, but it has good puzzles and good art.”
    • “It’s very short, doesn’t hold your hand, and the story is open to interpretation.”
    • “There is no real story to it besides the fact you can play a lot of games.”
  • graphics51 mentions

    The graphics in this collection of games showcase Edmund McMillen's distinctive art style, characterized by creative and stylized visuals that resonate with fans of indie games. While some players noted minor glitches and a few bland visuals, the overall aesthetic is appreciated for its uniqueness and charm, with many games offering unlockable artwork and behind-the-scenes content. Despite some performance issues on lower-end systems, the collection is generally well-received for its artistic design and engaging gameplay.

    • “This collection stands as a reflection of this, with a collection of awesome artwork and unique indie games that are addictive as ever!”
    • “The graphic design is simple, which works.”
    • “This game is amazing and the art style of Edmund McMillen is great, as always.”
    • “The graphics aren't bad at all, and it's his usual style in all of his games.”
    • “The games are pretty bland and boring, not to say that the graphics are horrible.”
    • “The problem is that it's hard to the point where it's discouraging and turns you off, and graphically and audio-wise it's bland as hell.”
  • humor27 mentions

    The humor in the games from the Basement Collection, particularly those by Edmund McMillen, is described as a mix of crude, absurd, and darkly comedic elements that resonate well with fans of his unique style. Players appreciate the quirky storytelling and unexpected moments, such as playing as a sperm or encountering bizarre characters, which contribute to a lighthearted yet chaotic gaming experience. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant draw, enhancing the enjoyment of the games while providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

    • “Juri and Cammy's hilarious, head-scratching adventure through the basement collection: a chaos-fueled gaming odyssey!”
    • “Game made me laugh like crazy because you got to play as a sperm for that one level, and that was just literally the best thing ever.”
    • “Great humor throughout all the games, and there are unlockable comics by the artists that are amazing, about a boy who hears a dead crow talking to him.”
    • “You're not funny!”
    • “Too confusing or unfunny.”
  • optimization21 mentions

    The optimization of the game collection is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues, lag, and unresponsive controls, primarily due to the reliance on outdated Flash technology. While some games are playable, the overall experience is marred by glitches and a lack of polish, leading to a general recommendation against the collection unless specific criteria are met. Users express disappointment that the games, despite their interesting level design, suffer from poor optimization that detracts from enjoyment.

    • “However, since these are essentially older projects made with Flash, there are performance issues and glitches with some of the games, namely the Meat Boy prototype.”
    • “If not a huge fan of Edmund, maybe not, and there's some optimization issues, but overall it's a solid 7/10 experience.”
    • “The collection as a whole unfortunately I cannot recommend because of its performance issues, gameplay mediocrity, and price tag.”
    • “Some of the games work better, some of the games work worse, but unfortunately I cannot recommend this collection because it is not optimized enough.”
    • “My only complaint is that since they are coded in Flash, there seems to be some optimization issues in some games.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting significant glitches, lag, and issues with save files and achievements, particularly due to its outdated pseudo Flash format. While some players appreciate the graphics and extra content, the overall experience is marred by performance problems, leading many to recommend against purchasing the collection.

    • “I am not recommending this only because the games are in a weird pseudo flash format, which leads to lag, glitches, save files getting lost, and achievements not unlocking even after spending hours trying to get them.”
    • “However, since these are essentially older projects made with flash, there are performance issues and glitches with some of the games, namely the Meat Boy prototype.”
    • “I did enjoy some of the games in this collection, and the extra content that can be unlocked by finishing games/getting achievements, but I'm not recommending this collection because it's buggy and lags often/really badly.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of the Basement Collection is mixed; while many games offer solid replay value and unique challenges, some indie and experimental titles may lack depth and polish, resulting in lower replayability scores. However, the collection is praised for its artistic value and the abundance of secrets and bonus content that enhance the replay experience.

    • “Basement collection is an archive of exactly that, the ideas and projects that began a creative process, the classics which offer hours of replay value and solid, unique challenge.”
    • “The games themselves are also very good, most of them have plenty of replay value as well.”
    • “There are many fun little games wrapped up together, tons of secrets and bonus content, and high replay value.”
    • “Being indie and/or experimental games, not all of the content has a high amount of replay value, and some of the content is understandably rough in feel.”
    • “The game lacks the depth and variety needed to encourage multiple playthroughs, making it feel repetitive after the first run.”
    • “Once you've experienced the main storyline, there isn't much incentive to return, as the side content feels lackluster and uninspired.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and detracting from the overall enjoyment, with many describing the experience as monotonous and lacking excitement.

    • “It was just tedious and took the fun out of the game in the end.”
    • “Well, that was tedious.”
    • “It's tedious to say the least.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players appreciate the emotional depth in indie games, noting how developers infuse their creations with personal charm and connection. Titles like "Coil" and "Triachnid" evoke strong feelings, with "Coil" transforming from seemingly dull to a touching experience, while "Triachnid" offers a heartfelt journey despite its gameplay shortcomings. Overall, reviewers commend the emotional resonance that indie games can achieve, highlighting the unique storytelling capabilities of their creators.

    • “Each game has a certain charm that really accentuates the emotional connection the developer holds over his creations.”
    • “Coil: at first glance, this seems dull and messed in the head (and that's coming from me), but continue on and it turns out to be a touching and loving 'adventure;' 4/5”
    • “This is how indie games are born... kudos to McMillen for his ability to imbue his titles with his emotional genius... a genius that society has kicked out of the majority of us.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of Aether is praised for its calming music and unique storytelling, creating a delightful and immersive experience as players explore planets using the protagonist's long tongue for movement. Many users find it to be a soothing and engaging environment, enhancing the overall gameplay.

    • “Personally, I liked playing Aether; its chilling music and atmosphere are delightful.”
    • “Aether – an atmospheric game where the player explores planets using the protagonist's long tongue for movement.”
    • “Interesting atmosphere and way of telling its story.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the monetization model of the Basement Collection, highlighting the absence of ads and intrusive trailers, which enhances the overall gaming experience compared to free alternatives on platforms like Newgrounds.

    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt the gameplay experience.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no ads or annoying trailers in the game, making for a smoother experience.”
    • “The option to support the developers through purchases feels rewarding without being forced.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

15hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
15-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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