The Bridge

About

"The Bridge is a single-player fantasy platformer game, known for its great plot, amazing mechanics, and hand-drawn, black-and-white graphics. Players manipulate gravity and explore increasingly complex puzzles in M.C. Escher-inspired worlds, with 48 unique levels and an alternate version of the game available after completion."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,744 reviews

graphics235 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

The game features a unique art style inspired by M.C. Escher, creating a visually stunning experience.
Puzzles are cleverly designed, requiring players to think outside the box and manipulate gravity to solve them.
The rewind mechanic allows players to correct mistakes without restarting the entire level, enhancing the gameplay experience.

The character movement and world rotation are slow, which can lead to frustration and a tedious gameplay experience.
Some puzzles rely heavily on trial and error rather than logical reasoning, diminishing the satisfaction of solving them.
The story is minimal and vague, lacking depth and failing to engage players beyond the puzzles themselves.

graphics
450 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
47%
1%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique hand-drawn art style, heavily inspired by the works of M.C. Escher, creating a surreal and immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the monochromatic aesthetic, which enhances the puzzle-solving experience, although some find the lack of color monotonous. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite mixed feelings about the gameplay mechanics.
- “The game's hand-drawn graphics create an immersive and atmospheric experience that will keep you hooked from start to finish.”
- “The art style is beautiful to look at because it resembles hand-drawn black and white paintings of Escher.”
- “The art style, particularly in the animations and how they are drawn, are wonderful.”
- “Graphics are... well... graphics.”
- “The graphics, better described as visual art, are beautiful and they, coupled with the simplicity of the game, are why so many people recommend this game.”
- “The puzzles just aren't that enjoyable to solve, it takes too much time to do things once you know the solution, and the art style is not really for me.”
gameplay
414 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique gravity manipulation and perspective-shifting mechanics, which create challenging and mind-bending puzzles. While many players appreciate the innovative design and gradual introduction of new mechanics, some find the controls clunky and the lack of clear explanations for certain mechanics frustrating, leading to a reliance on trial and error. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning experience with a mix of simple and complex gameplay elements, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its pacing and difficulty.
- “The game's use of gravity manipulation and perspective shifting provides a fresh and challenging twist on traditional puzzle mechanics.”
- “I love the Escheresque architecture, gravity manipulation, and time mechanics all working beautifully together to create mind-bending puzzles.”
- “The mechanics are simple yet create enjoyable and unique challenges.”
- “Still all of that pales in comparison to the clunky, slow, and finicky gameplay.”
- “The gameplay was also very slow.”
- “The mechanics don't make sense, like a professor giving a lecture on color who's colorblind.”
story
205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
72%
10%
The story in "The Bridge" is often described as minimal, vague, and lacking depth, with many players finding it difficult to engage with or understand. While some appreciate the artistic and philosophical elements woven into the gameplay, the narrative is generally seen as an afterthought, providing little motivation to progress through the puzzles. Overall, the game is recommended more for its unique puzzle mechanics and visual style than for its storytelling.
- “I loved the hand-drawn art style and the enigmatic story.”
- “The bridge is a stylistically beautiful game that combines clever puzzles with a curious story.”
- “The story is interesting, if a bit whimsical.”
- “Without an overarching meaning or story to drive it forward and with overall dissatisfying puzzle design, there simply isn't enough left for me to have any real reason to recommend playing this over a multitude of other, better puzzle games.”
- “What little story there is in this game is not nearly enough to push you to want to finish the game; it's barely noticeable and had no impact on me.”
- “The story is non-existent, and the ending is anticlimactic.”
music
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
51%
8%
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and fitting, creating a calming atmosphere that complements the visuals and puzzle mechanics. However, many reviewers noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and uninspired over time, leading some players to turn it off in favor of their own music. While the art style and overall ambiance are praised, the lack of variety in the music is seen as a missed opportunity to enhance the gaming experience.
- “A chilled game with meaningful music.”
- “The music complements the game perfectly without overshadowing it even at the more intense puzzles.”
- “The soundtrack helps create a wonderful atmosphere and the visuals, despite being black and white, are stunning.”
- “The music is extremely repetitive, sleepy, and dull.”
- “The only bad thing about the game is the music; it feels really weak, and you barely remember the tune after closing the game.”
- “The music gets you in the mood to solve the puzzles, but the soundtrack is a bit limited.”
atmosphere
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by hand-drawn graphics, a haunting soundtrack, and unique art styles that evoke feelings of eeriness and intrigue. Many reviewers highlight how the combination of visuals and music creates a captivating environment that complements the puzzle mechanics, making the experience both engaging and thought-provoking. However, some players feel that the atmosphere can be inconsistent or overly simplistic, which may detract from the overall experience.
- “The game's hand-drawn graphics create an immersive and atmospheric experience that will keep you hooked from start to finish.”
- “The art style, the music, the cryptic 'story' bits, the puzzle mechanic, the menace - all add up to create a special atmosphere, cozy and eerie at the same time.”
- “The game's minimalist presentation, accompanied by a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that draws players into its surreal world.”
- “Whereas here, the only dialogue is just the main character thinking about the mathematicians he met - just as bland as the rest of the atmosphere!”
- “However, the atmosphere is too thin and too monotonous to really persuade me to come back to it.”
- “And I really don't like the atmosphere of this game, even if it is well drawn.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for its tedious and frustrating puzzles, which often rely on trial and error rather than genuine problem-solving. Players note that the slow controls and repetitive mechanics contribute to a sense of monotony, making the experience feel more like a grind than an engaging challenge. While some puzzles are enjoyable, many reviewers feel that the overall pacing and lack of stimulating elements detract from the game's potential.
- “However, the way this game is set up makes it tedious, and you would just end up doing permutations rather than finding an algorithmic solution.”
- “The weakest points are the tedious repetitive puzzles that on occasions have nothing to do with figuring things out, and everything with mindless trial and error and copious use of the rewind button.”
- “It feels so tedious that I quit halfway when I noticed that the next chapters were the same as before, but mirrored.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting high replay value due to clever puzzles, mirrored levels, and achievements, while others criticize its limited playtime and lack of substantial content for multiple playthroughs. Although there are additional challenges and modes that can enhance replayability, many agree that once the initial excitement fades, the game may feel more like a one-time experience. Overall, it offers decent replay value for those who enjoy revisiting puzzles, but it may not satisfy players seeking extensive replay options.
- “The challenge lengthens the game and the achievements give it replay value.”
- “The mirrored levels provided after the base game is completed, as well as numerous little challenges and hidden secrets keep the game very replayable, but only if you actively look for them.”
- “The game is short but satisfying, and mirrored mode offers a good replay value, with some really mind-twisting levels.”
- “This game really needs control speed customization and a map editor; it would really up the replay value and actually get my recommendation.”
- “The game is quite short, which can be finished within a day, and there's not much replay value.”
- “I think one of the driving factors against it would be its limited playtime, which many puzzle games suffer from - there's not a lot of replayability here, so it's more-or-less a one-and-done game.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
33%
The humor in the game is described as both hilarious and quirky, with a mix of playful narration and amusing scenarios that evoke nostalgia for classic cartoons. While some users find the humor to be a highlight, others feel it lacks the depth of storytelling seen in other titles, though it still provides moments of laughter, especially during challenging puzzles. Overall, the game successfully elicits smiles and laughter, making it enjoyable for players of all ages.
- “Absolutely hilarious stage because it uses a tune that makes me think of a cartoon about two mice who want to take over the world, while the narrator mocks you between waves of monster invasion, cacodemon fireballs thrown around like fireworks, what a joy.”
- “Had my 8-year-old grandson and I laughing.”
- “Some puzzles are hard but funny to achieve.”
- “I know you smile now, but if you liked it, please mark this review as useful, not funny. :) Thank you.”
- “The humor fell flat and often felt forced, making it more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- “I expected clever jokes, but instead, I got tired clichés that didn't land at all.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally engaging due to its touching story and beautiful visuals, though some express frustration with the puzzles that can lead to feelings of inadequacy. While the artistic elements are praised, the emotional connection to the characters and gameplay mechanics is perceived as lacking, leaving some players feeling disconnected despite the game's unique challenges.
- “A touching story and beautiful visuals.”
- “The artistic challenges and implementations were so well done that I used it in a presentation for games, but it did not capture some of the loveableness of the Braid characters and did not connect you emotionally to the physics insanities of its levels.”
- “Even though I did get stuck sometimes (but only when I played it late at night, deep in wishes for sleep), the game never made me feel smart for beating it.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has received criticism for its heavy reliance on ads, which slow down gameplay and lead to player frustration. Additionally, in-game requests for reviews and the presence of penalty points further detract from the experience, despite some replayability offered through inverted missions and achievements.
- “There are penalty points for ads and requests for reviews in-game.”
- “The game is so slow and filled with ads.”
- “There is some replayability with inverted missions, but don't forget that achievements always come with ads in this game!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is minimal, with limited story progression and depth, making it less suitable for those seeking quick action. However, the character and environment design are noted for their simplicity and thoughtfulness, contributing to the overall experience.
- “The environment and character design are simple yet thoughtful.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting performance issues that detract from the overall experience. However, the game also offers a variety of achievements that encourage both skillful gameplay and clever puzzle-solving, adding depth to the experience despite the performance concerns.
- “I also love that while some of the achievements are completion-based, some are performance-based, how cleverly you work the puzzles out, and some require a little gameplay skill (or a bit of luck!).”
- “My final complaint is performance.”
- “I also love that while some of the achievements are completion-based, some are performance-based and require clever puzzle-solving skills, along with a bit of luck.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's mechanics and physics are highly praised for their solid design, with players reporting a stable experience free from bugs or glitches.