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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.
78%Game Brain Score
graphics, gameplay
grinding, monetization
84% User Score Based on 3,480 reviews
Critic Score 64%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

PCXboxWii UPlaystation 3Playstation 4WindowsPlayStationNintendo SwitchPlaystation VitaLinuxMac OSXbox OneXbox 360WiiSteam Deck

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."

The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
The Bridge screenshot
+8

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,480 reviews
graphics469 positive mentions
grinding52 negative mentions

  • The game features a unique and beautiful art style inspired by M.C. Escher, creating a surreal atmosphere.
  • Puzzles are cleverly designed, requiring players to think outside the box and manipulate gravity and perspective.
  • The rewind mechanic allows players to correct mistakes without restarting levels, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
  • The gameplay can feel slow and tedious, with sluggish character movement and long loading times between levels.
  • Some puzzles rely heavily on trial and error rather than logical reasoning, which can lead to frustration.
  • The story is minimal and vague, lacking depth and failing to engage players beyond the puzzles themselves.
  • graphics
    896 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "The Bridge" 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 aesthetic's ability to enhance 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 itself.

    • “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 absolutely beautiful, including the soundtrack.”
    • “The hand-drawn black and white artwork is gorgeous and the visual design leads to some very interesting (and physically impossible) levels and mind-bending puzzles.”
    • “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.”
    • “I appreciate the art style of this is pencil drawing, but unfortunately the black and white and lack of character in the levels makes it very bland.”
  • gameplay
    826 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The Bridge" is characterized by its unique gravity manipulation and perspective-shifting mechanics, which create challenging puzzles that often require trial and error to solve. While the art style is praised for its beauty and the gradual introduction of new mechanics keeps the experience fresh, many players find the gameplay to be slow, clunky, and at times frustrating due to poorly explained mechanics and a lack of intuitive design. Overall, the game offers a mix of innovative ideas and aesthetic appeal, but its execution can lead to confusion and a reliance on guesswork rather than logical problem-solving.

    • “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.”
    • “New mechanics are introduced gradually so the player has a chance to get used to how they work, and every time you think you have seen everything the game has to offer they throw a new twist at you!”
    • “Still all of that pales in comparison to the clunky, slow, and finicky gameplay.”
    • “Was pulled in by the art style, pushed away by the gameplay - the problem is that the gravity switch is not an immediate switch at all but a slow weight/counterweight situation, which turns puzzles into fiddly to-and-fro affairs where it's never clear whether your solution didn't work or your balance was off.”
    • “The puzzle mechanic, though, is not very well thought out and requires more trial and error trying to get the weird physics used to work right than it does actual puzzle solving.”
  • story
    410 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "The Bridge" is often described as minimalistic and vague, with many players finding it difficult to engage with or understand. While some appreciate the philosophical undertones and artistic presentation, the narrative is generally seen as lacking depth and coherence, leading to a sense of disconnection from the gameplay. Overall, the game is more focused on its unique puzzle mechanics than on delivering a compelling story, which may disappoint those seeking a rich narrative experience.

    • “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 but feels incomplete.”
    • “There's basically no story here.”
    • “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 music is fairly boring and uninspired, and the story is essentially non-existent and dull.”
  • music
    403 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as soothing and fitting for the atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience with its calming and sometimes eerie tones. However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive and uninspired, leading to a desire for more variety and depth. While some appreciate the music's role in creating an immersive environment, others feel it becomes tedious over time, detracting from the gameplay.

    • “The music isn't obtrusive and is pleasant background noise while you mull over the puzzle and the visuals are cute enough to look at.”
    • “The soundtrack helps create a wonderful atmosphere and the visuals, despite being black and white, are stunning.”
    • “The music is very fitting, the art style is superb and the game mechanics are really well made.”
    • “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 is fairly boring and uninspired, and the story is essentially non-existent and dull.”
  • atmosphere
    134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 players appreciate how the aesthetic elements, including the use of black and white visuals, contribute to a surreal and captivating experience, although some find the atmosphere can be inconsistent or lacking depth. Overall, the combination of art, music, and design creates a compelling backdrop that draws players into the game's world, making it a standout feature for many.

    • “The game's hand-drawn graphics create an immersive and atmospheric experience that will keep you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “The game's minimalist presentation, accompanied by a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that draws players into its surreal world.”
    • “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.”
    • “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
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for its tediousness, with many players noting that puzzles often rely on trial and error rather than genuine problem-solving. The slow controls and repetitive mechanics contribute to a frustrating experience, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge. While some puzzles are enjoyable, the overall sentiment suggests that the game can become monotonous and lacks the stimulating elements needed to maintain interest.

    • “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
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting high replay value due to clever puzzles, mirrored levels, and achievements, while others find it limited due to its short playtime and lack of additional content. Many agree that once the initial excitement fades, the game offers little incentive to replay, making it more suitable for a single playthrough. Overall, while there are elements that can enhance replayability, such as inverted missions and hidden challenges, the consensus leans towards a generally low 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.”
    • “The replayability is decent, as it includes mirrored versions of the original levels; this provides new challenges to old levels.”
    • “No replay value, but definitely worth the money if on sale.”
    • “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
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as quirky and entertaining, with a mix of absurdity and clever narration that keeps players engaged and laughing, particularly during chaotic moments. While some reviewers noted that it may not reach the comedic heights of other classics like "Portal," the game still delivers enjoyable and funny puzzle-solving experiences that can appeal to a wide audience, including younger players. Overall, the humor is a highlight, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “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.”
  • emotional
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game evokes a mix of emotions, from frustration at challenging puzzles to appreciation for its touching story and beautiful visuals. While it features unique artistic elements, some players felt a lack of emotional connection to the characters and gameplay, leading to a sense of inadequacy rather than accomplishment. Overall, it offers a visually stunning experience but may leave players feeling disconnected from its emotional core.

    • “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.”
    • “Even though I did get stuck sometimes (but only when I played it late at night, wishing for sleep), the game never made me feel smart for beating it.”
  • monetization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has received criticism for its heavy reliance on ads, which slow down gameplay and lead to penalty points for players. While there are elements of replayability through inverted missions and achievements, the frequent ad interruptions detract from the overall experience.

    • “There are penalty points for ads and requests for reviews in-game.”
    • “The game is so slow and filled with ads.”
    • “The replayability is hindered by the constant ads, especially with inverted missions and achievements.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is minimal, with some elements present but not enough to satisfy those seeking a rich narrative. The focus is primarily on puzzles that demand careful thought and understanding of mechanics, while the character and environment design is described as simple yet thoughtful.

    • “The environment and character design are simple yet thoughtful.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users expressing concerns about performance issues. However, players appreciate the variety in achievements, which include both completion and performance-based challenges that require skill and clever puzzle-solving.

    • “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 depend on how cleverly you work the puzzles out, while others require a little gameplay skill (or a bit of luck!).”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, with well-designed mechanics and physics that function smoothly, resulting in no reported bugs or glitches.

Buy The Bridge

6h Median play time
5h Average play time
4h Main story
8h Completionist
2-8h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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