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THE IMPOSSIBLE

85%Game Brain Score
music, story
gameplay, graphics
85% User Score Based on 150 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCTabletMac OSPhoneSteam DeckWindows

About

"THE IMPOSSIBLE" is a minimalist perspective puzzle game, where you navigate a small square through challenging levels, inspired by M.C. Escher's impossible shapes. The game offers 30 levels with a dark mode, simple controls, and a hint system. It also includes achievements, trading cards, and cloud support for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS systems. Watch out, as they are watching you!

THE IMPOSSIBLE screenshot
THE IMPOSSIBLE screenshot
THE IMPOSSIBLE screenshot
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 150 reviews
music7 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions

  • The game features clever mechanics and Escher-like puzzles that provide a unique and engaging experience.
  • The minimalist design and relaxing soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere that enhances gameplay.
  • The fourth-wall-breaking AI adds humor and charm, making the game more enjoyable despite its short length.
  • The game is very short, typically taking less than an hour to complete, which may not justify its price for some players.
  • Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, especially when using a keyboard, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • Some players found the puzzles to be too easy or repetitive, lacking the depth and challenge expected from a puzzle game.
  • gameplay
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its minimalist design and clever mechanics, offering a rewarding experience for problem-solvers, though some players find it repetitive and lacking depth. While the intuitive controls and immersive atmosphere enhance enjoyment, the game is criticized for its short length and limited variety, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite some innovative elements, many reviewers feel it falls short of being remarkable, with comparisons to other titles highlighting its derivative nature.

    • “Its minimalist design, clever mechanics, and increasingly difficult levels create a rewarding experience for players who love problem-solving and precision.”
    • “The controls are intuitive, and the relaxing soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, creating an immersive and enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “From the immersive world-building to the finely tuned gameplay mechanics, every aspect feels meticulously crafted.”
    • “The only mechanic is the occasional color change to match the one for the exit.”
    • “Gameplay is very simple; use the slightly convoluted controls to move a cube around one of those skewed perspective line drawings, which might seem amazing until you consider you're just following lines around and not moving in 3D space, so it's nothing remarkable at all. In fact, this is so shallow it makes the kids' maze at the back of the newspaper look like Dwarf Fortress.”
    • “The game could use more variety of mechanics - it took me 45 minutes to beat the game and the gameplay already got a bit repetitive.”
  • music
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received positive feedback for its relaxing and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the gameplay and atmosphere. Users appreciate the variety in the soundtrack, noting its ability to enhance both calming and dramatic moments, although some found it a bit repetitive. Overall, the music, along with the narration, contributes significantly to the game's emotional impact and player experience.

    • “The controls are intuitive, and the relaxing soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, creating an immersive and enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “It's a lovely game with even more lovely music.”
    • “I also love the music that accompanies the game; it's not annoying like some game music can be.”
    • “Music got a bit repetitive, but I turned it down, kept the sound effects, and played it over Spotify, no problems.”
    • “The voice and music were just okay, and the game had a couple pretty good surprises.”
    • “The commentary from Patch and the music were both really unsettling, although the game is pretty short if you are really good.”
  • story
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it captivating and engaging, while others feel it lacks depth and coherence. While the narrative adds a layer of intrigue to the puzzle-solving experience, many reviewers noted that it could benefit from more development and variety in character and dialogue. Overall, the story enhances the gameplay for some, but may leave others wanting more.

    • “I started out playing this game using a guide for a quick 100%, but stayed for the story and atmosphere!”
    • “The storyline is captivating, keeping me on the edge of my seat with its twists and turns.”
    • “A tough game that makes you think, with a story twist you aren't expecting.”
    • “The only thing that sets this game apart is the story content, but I honestly couldn't make sense of it.”
    • “There were so few voice lines that much of the 'story' repeats throughout the levels and the game's attempt at glitching just felt like the game broke or froze for a second rather than the intended effect.”
    • “If you were hoping for a huge plot twist or mind-bending ending, then you will be disappointed.”
  • graphics
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally described as minimalistic and simplistic, resembling hand-drawn aesthetics, which some players appreciate for their charm. However, others criticize the low-quality visuals and confusing elements that can hinder gameplay, particularly in a PC gaming context where higher standards are expected. Overall, while the graphics may not be a focal point, they evoke mixed feelings among players regarding their effectiveness and clarity.

    • “The visuals are a feast for the eyes, and the soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “The visuals are minimalistic and resemble hand-drawings.”
    • “Music was relaxing and visuals were very simplistic (in a good way).”
    • “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
    • “Confusing graphics (hard to distinguish some edges), crappy controls and some intentional bugs.”
    • “Normal but gave up due to bad controls and boring graphics.”
  • humor
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating its unique and quirky attempts at comedy throughout the gameplay. The funny puzzles and amusing dialogue contribute to a lighthearted experience, making it enjoyable despite its short length. Overall, the game effectively delivers humor that consistently brings smiles to players' faces.

    • “The humor really shines through, and it's always amusing to see such unique attempts in gameplay.”
    • “While not long, it delivers funny dialog and a unique and quirky experience that puts a smile on your face.”
    • “The game isn't super hard to beat, very short but very funny.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by a relaxing soundtrack and visually appealing graphics. While it effectively creates a captivating and sometimes creepy ambiance, some players feel it lacks a satisfying payoff in terms of tension and resolution. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that keeps players engaged, even if the gameplay duration feels short for the price.

    • “The controls are intuitive, and the relaxing soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, creating an immersive and enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “I started out playing this game using a guide for a quick 100%, but stayed for the story and atmosphere!”
    • “The visuals are a feast for the eyes, and the soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “Short interesting puzzle game with a bit of a creepy atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere was also a bit more lively thanks to the antics of Patch.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many users noting its repetitive nature and lack of designed levels, leading to a feeling of monotony. While some find it infinitely replayable, the consensus leans towards a short experience that does not encourage repeated play.

    • “🔲 Infinitely replayable.”
    • “The game offers a unique experience each time, making it highly replayable.”
    • “There aren't user-designed levels, so the replay value comes from revisiting the same levels with different strategies.”
    • “I wouldn't really pay any more than $2-$3 as the game is repetitive, short, and has zero replay value.”
    • “There aren’t user-designed levels, so replay value amounts to revisiting the same levels.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to its sliding mechanics that can feel cumbersome. The controls also contribute to the frustration, as the keyboard is preferred over the less responsive gamepad and mouse options. Additionally, some users note the necessity of extra lives to effectively manage the grinding process.

    • “It's a sliding game but not exactly wall to wall, making things more tedious than they have to be sometimes.”
    • “The keyboard works best for me; the gamepad didn't work for some reason, and the mouse required clicking and dragging, which can be tedious after a while.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is intentionally compromised, featuring a variety of designed glitches and disruptions that enhance the experience rather than detract from it. Players encounter issues like unresponsive controls and screen resizing, which are part of the narrative rather than technical flaws, creating a unique and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the stability is a blend of intentional design choices that contribute to the game's unsettling tone.

    • “Sometimes moving the cube won’t work or the window will randomly resize - guess what, these are not glitches, it’s just the impossible’s GLaDOS (called patch) attempting to disrupt you from your work.”
    • “Sometimes moving the cube won’t work or the window will randomly resize - guess what, these are not glitches, it’s just the impossible's GLaDOS (called Patch) attempting to disrupt you from your work.”
    • “You'll encounter intentional glitches, screen flashes, and lag as your omnipresent companion attempts to prevent your completion, all the while asking you a haunting rhetorical question: 'If you complete me, will you delete me?' paired with dissonant music straight out of a horror movie, it absolutely will make your hair stand on end.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization of the game is criticized for being exploitative, with a price point of around $5 USD deemed unrealistic given the product's defects and the availability of superior free alternatives on platforms like Steam. Users perceive it as a cash grab, particularly in the context of low-quality retro-style games.

    • “The impossible has the completely unrealistic cash grab price of around $5 USD. It's not worth it given the defects and shortcomings with the product, especially considering the sheer number of completely free, much higher quality games on Steam.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is primarily optimized for gamepad use, featuring extensive reliance on diagonal directions for controls, which may affect the experience for keyboard and mouse players.

    • “It appears the game was optimized for a gamepad, as it makes abundant use of diagonal directions.”
    • “It appears the game was optimized for a gamepad, because it makes abundant use of diagonal directions.”
    • “The performance issues are frustrating; the game often lags and stutters, making it hard to enjoy.”
    • “I found the controls to be unresponsive at times, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
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1h Median play time
1h Average play time
1-1h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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