The Bridge

Escher meets Braid in a puzzle game that's weird but not weird enough. Its imaginative environments and beautiful soundtrack do mean it's worth taking a trip to this beguiling dreamworld.

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"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

Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,213 reviews

graphics144 positive mentions

grinding19 negative mentions

Beautiful hand-drawn art style reminiscent of M.C. Escher's work.
Challenging puzzles that require creative thinking and manipulation of gravity.
Unique gameplay mechanics that allow players to rotate the world and rewind time.

Controls can feel sluggish and imprecise, leading to frustration.
Some puzzles rely too heavily on trial and error rather than logical reasoning.
The story is vague and not well developed, leaving players wanting more context.

graphics
288 mentions
50 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique hand-drawn, black-and-white art style, reminiscent of M.C. Escher's work, which creates a surreal and immersive atmosphere. Many players appreciate the intricate details and the way the visuals complement the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that the monochromatic palette can become monotonous, and while the art is beautiful, it may not be enough to carry the gameplay for everyone.
- “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 bridge brings innovative level design together with gorgeous penciled graphics, largely inspired by the work of M.C. Escher.”
- “The graphics are poor and thus do not balance well with the visuals of the game.”
- “I appreciate the art style of this game as a pencil drawing, but unfortunately the black and white and lack of character in the levels makes it very bland.”
- “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
262 mentions
30 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Bridge" is characterized by its innovative mechanics, primarily revolving around gravity manipulation and perspective shifting, which create challenging and mind-bending puzzles. While the game introduces new mechanics gradually, some players find the explanations lacking, leading to frustration and reliance on trial and error. Overall, the combination of simple controls and complex puzzle design offers a unique experience, though the pacing and occasional clunkiness can detract from the enjoyment.
- “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 puzzles get increasingly difficult and the unique mechanics make solving them a mind-bender.”
- “The mechanics and physics of the game ought to be more well explained, instead of purely relying on environmental cues.”
- “I made it all the way through to the final puzzle simply by trial and error, without any real understanding of what I was doing; the game doesn't unfold with the systematic clarity essential to teach the mechanics to the player as he plays.”
- “Unfortunately the mechanics don't always work like you would think they should, so it becomes more of a trial-and-error instead of a think-about-how-to-solve-the-puzzle game.”
story
132 mentions
19 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal, vague, and lacking depth, with many players feeling it does not significantly enhance the overall experience. While some appreciate the subtlety and interpretive nature of the narrative, others find it insufficient to motivate continued play, leading to a general consensus that the puzzles overshadow the storytelling. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling element in its own right.
- “The bridge is a stylistically beautiful game that combines clever puzzles with a curious story.”
- “A touching story and beautiful visuals.”
- “The story is interesting but feels incomplete.”
- “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 very subtle (next to none I would say), so if you are not really hooked by the puzzles there is nothing that will prevent you from stopping playing.”
- “Just know that if you're looking for plot or character, it's not here.”
music
124 mentions
40 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it soothing and fitting for the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and dull over time. Some appreciate the calming and immersive qualities of the soundtrack, which complements the game's art style, but others feel it lacks variety and can become tedious, leading them to turn it off in favor of their own music. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, its repetitiveness detracts from the experience for some players.
- “A chilled game with meaningful music.”
- “The art style, music, and atmosphere are all beautifully done.”
- “The music is very soothing and adds to the whole enigma feeling of the game.”
- “The music is extremely repetitive, sleepy, and dull.”
- “The only thing that detracted from the experience was a completely avoidable lack of non-repetitive music.”
- “The music fits but is repetitive, so it becomes boring over time.”
atmosphere
45 mentions
60 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive hand-drawn graphics, eerie soundtracks, and unique art style, which collectively create a captivating and mysterious environment. While some players find the atmosphere engaging and integral to the experience, others feel it can be monotonous or lacking depth. Overall, the combination of aesthetics, music, and pacing contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the puzzle genre.
- “The game's hand-drawn graphics create an immersive and atmospheric experience that will keep you hooked from start to finish.”
- “Amazing art, mind-bending puzzles, and a very immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is intriguing, inspired, and somehow mysterious.”
- “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
19 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that while the game features enjoyable puzzles, many players find the grinding aspect tedious and frustrating, often relying on trial and error rather than strategic thinking. The sluggish controls and repetitive mechanics contribute to a sense of monotony, leading some to abandon the game altogether. Overall, the experience is marred by a lack of engaging stimulation, making the grinding feel more like a chore than a challenge.
- “Some levels (notably the triad and some others) are more tedious than challenging, which I think is more irritating than fun.”
- “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
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally considered high, primarily due to clever puzzles, mirrored levels, and various challenges that encourage players to revisit completed content. While some users note a lack of replay value after finishing the main game, features like inverted missions and achievements can enhance the experience for those seeking additional challenges. Overall, the game offers a satisfying mix of replayable elements, especially for players willing to explore hidden secrets and alternative solutions.
- “The challenge lengthens the game and the achievements give it replay value.”
- “Then once you've completed all the levels, there's still the expert challenge of a mirror mode, adding to the 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.”
- “This game really needs control speed customization and a map editor; it would really up the replay value and actually get my recommendation.”
- “No replay value, but definitely worth the money if on sale.”
- “The replayability is decent, as it includes mirrored versions of the original levels; this provides new challenge to old levels.”
humor
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
-40 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as absolutely hilarious, featuring a playful narrator and amusing scenarios that evoke nostalgia, such as references to classic cartoons. Players find joy in both the comedic elements of the gameplay and the challenges, with moments that elicit laughter across different age groups.
- “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, with cacodemon fireballs thrown around like fireworks. What a joy!”
- “Some puzzles are hard but funny to achieve.”
- “Had my 8-year-old grandson and I laughing.”
- “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
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it features a touching story and beautiful visuals that resonate with players, some find it disorienting and lacking in character connection. The puzzles evoke feelings of frustration and confusion, detracting from the overall emotional engagement. Overall, the game's artistic elements are praised, but they do not fully capture the emotional depth found in other titles.
- “A touching story and beautiful visuals.”
- “The artistic challenges and implementations were so well done; 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.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy includes penalties for ads and in-game review requests, which some users find intrusive. However, the presence of replayable inverted missions and achievements adds value to the experience, potentially justifying the monetization approach.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, with constant ads and frequent prompts to leave reviews.”
- “The game has some replayability with inverted missions, but the monetization tactics overshadow the fun.”
- “The achievements are a nice touch, but they are overshadowed by the intrusive monetization elements.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
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.”
- “Some achievements are completion-based, while others are performance-based or depend on how cleverly you solve the puzzles, requiring a bit of gameplay skill (or a bit of luck!).”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is minimal, with users noting a lack of substantial story progression or character growth. While there are some elements of development, the focus is primarily on puzzle-solving and understanding game mechanics rather than on narrative depth.
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's mechanics and physics are highly praised for their design, with users reporting a stable experience free from bugs or glitches.