The Pedestrian

The Pedestrian is visually, audibly, and almost completely mechanically sound. Be warned, though, there isn't much in terms of hints along the way. But in the end, you'll be surprised at how far you can make it with drive and a little brainpower.

84%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

replayability, grinding

96% User Score Based on 4,349 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.82

Buy NowGet on Steam€19.50

Buy NowGet on itch.io Store

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Buy NowGet on PS Store$19.99

About

"The Pedestrian" is a 2D side-scrolling puzzle-platformer game. Players rearrange and connect street signs to guide a pedestrian through various levels. The game features physics-based puzzles and a unique art style, creating a distinctive and engaging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+10

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,363 reviews

gameplay451 positive mentions

replayability12 negative mentions

The game features a unique and creative concept, blending 2D puzzles with a 3D environment.
The puzzles are well-designed, gradually increasing in difficulty and providing satisfying 'aha' moments.
The visuals and soundtrack are stunning, creating an immersive and charming atmosphere.

The game is relatively short, typically taking around 3-5 hours to complete, which some players feel does not justify the full price.
Some mechanics introduced later in the game can be confusing and lack clear explanations.
There is little replay value, as the game does not offer additional content or challenges after completion.

gameplay
1,306 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The gameplay of "The Pedestrian" is characterized by its innovative mechanics and engaging puzzle design, offering around 4-5 hours of playtime. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of new mechanics that keep the experience fresh, although some later mechanics lack sufficient explanation, leading to confusion. While the game is visually stunning and features a charming aesthetic, many players express a desire for more content, particularly in utilizing the intriguing mechanics introduced towards the end.
- “An incredibly delightful puzzle game that wrings more ideas and mechanics than you'd expect out of the basic premise of 'street sign guy comes to life.'”
- “The puzzles are unique and show new game mechanics as you progress.”
- “The pedestrian is a fantastic puzzle game that consistently mixes in new mechanics to keep you on your toes.”
- “This year, after seeing so many recommendations, I decided to 100% it to really understand what this game has so special and I am sorry to say but getting to the end was a pain, not because of the difficulty of the puzzle but because of the boring repetitiveness of the puzzle mechanics. Some of them were twistedly over-designed, which was breaking the rhythm when playing.”
- “The puzzles are relatively few and are poor at teaching new mechanics/methods; instead, the difficulty randomly spikes on certain puzzles that require you to employ fiddly solutions that it hasn't built you up to understand.”
- “The new mechanics, as you progress through the game, are given zero explanation.”
music
922 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The music in "The Pedestrian" is widely praised for its enchanting and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. However, many players noted that the background music often stops during puzzle-solving, leading to awkward silences that detract from the immersion. Despite this, the soundtrack is described as top-notch, with a mix of jazz and orchestral elements that complement the game's charming visuals and atmosphere.
- “An absolutely delightful puzzle game with an enchanting OST and charming graphics.”
- “The game also augments the experience with a calming cafe jazz soundtrack, mixed with cityscape white noise.”
- “The music and atmosphere are top tier.”
- “It happens frequently that the background music just stops.”
- “My one complaint is the lack of music looping; up until the penultimate puzzle, you will eventually meet silence if you take too long on a puzzle.”
- “The worst thing about the game is the repetitive music--it's good enough to set a chill atmosphere for those times when you just wanna relax and solve puzzles.”
graphics
728 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
34%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique art style, blending simple 2D elements with richly detailed 3D environments. Players appreciate the charming aesthetics, atmospheric lighting, and the overall immersive experience that enhances the gameplay. While some noted that the foreground graphics are minimalist, the beautifully crafted backgrounds and attention to detail create a captivating atmosphere that complements the puzzle mechanics effectively.
- “The graphics are very nice, the setting is unique and compelling, and the atmosphere is on point.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the puzzles are challenging and a bit of a storyline emerges towards the end of the game.”
- “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The art style is quite polished, but in terms of gameplay, there is as much content as I would expect from a free flash game.”
- “The graphics are very simple in the foreground, only two colors are used in the boards where you solve the puzzles, but the backgrounds are 2.5D and very detailed, realistic and dynamic, with great lighting, effects like rain, and objects moving.”
- “The graphics of the real world background are lacking, but not so much that it takes away from the experience.”
story
374 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
73%
5%
The game's story is often described as minimal and subtle, with many players noting that it unfolds primarily through environmental storytelling rather than traditional narrative elements. While some appreciate the atmospheric and thought-provoking aspects of the story, others feel it lacks depth and clarity, leaving them wanting more. Overall, the game is recognized for its engaging puzzles and unique mechanics, but opinions vary on the effectiveness and presence of a cohesive storyline.
- “Loved the concept, and the game skillfully develops a lore and story in the background—simple yet charming—without just being a series of puzzles.”
- “Even though the story is pushed into the background, it rewards you with a beautiful thought and denouement at the end.”
- “This is not just a simple puzzler - look carefully and a rich story is being told underneath, which leads to a totally unexpected emotional climax that literally has you sailing away into the sunset with a smile on your face.”
- “However, the game for 6 hours including lunch break and without plot cannot cost $20.”
- “There isn't really any story or plot for this game, you just move your 'stick man figure' from one location to the next, no explanation was given.”
- “The 'story', if you can call it that, is mostly ambiguous and dreamlike metaphor decorating the edges of the experience, but the focus is really on the puzzles.”
atmosphere
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
22%
1%
The atmosphere of "The Pedestrian" is widely praised for its beautiful visuals, calming music, and immersive environments, creating a relaxing and contemplative experience. Reviewers highlight the game's thoughtful level design and the seamless integration of its 2D gameplay within a richly detailed 3D world, enhancing the sense of exploration. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics and a soothing soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The atmosphere in this game is just phenomenal.”
- “The unique art style, blending simple 2D elements with immersive 3D environments, is visually stunning, and every setting is richly detailed, creating a captivating atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and soundtrack of the entire game immersed me completely.”
- “Although the 3D environments have actually nothing to do with the gameplay, they give it a strong atmosphere and a sense of exploration.”
- “The atmosphere was also nailed and feels very natural; from the underground to the city area and night construction sites, the lively and untidy parts of the world make me feel as if I'm in the game.”
- “Would I pay for this? Probably if there was a better/more memorable soundtrack and at a price of a cheap lunch maybe. I paid more than a cheap lunch for this and the soundtrack, while it adds to the atmosphere and is relaxing, is not definitive unlike, say, Undertale.”
replayability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
69%
19%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with most players noting that it can be completed in under 4 hours and lacks significant content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some users mention the potential for replay value if puzzles are forgotten or if community features like Steam Workshop support are added, the consensus is that the game feels short and static, making a second playthrough unlikely without updates or new content.
- “Despite the short time it took me to complete the story (between 3 and 4 hours), this game is remarkably replayable as every puzzle, though not forgettable, takes time to cognate the solution.”
- “There are some doors you can't seem to access the first time around, so maybe there's more replay value there.”
- “That way, the game has more replay value than its 2-5 hours campaign, and more ideas can be explored by the community.”
- “But as a consumer, I think the price is a bit steep for something that is fun, yet short and doesn't have a lot of replay value.”
- “The entire game takes less than 4 hours to complete, and there's no replay value whatsoever.”
- “It's quite a solid puzzle game but it takes about 3-5 hours to fully complete this game and there's no replayability, so a second playthrough is very unlikely.”
grinding
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
15%
83%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with many describing certain puzzles as tedious and repetitive, particularly towards the end. While some appreciate the challenge and pacing of the puzzles, others feel that the mechanics can become uninteresting and overly simplistic, leading to a lack of engagement. The final puzzles, in particular, are often noted for their convoluted nature, contributing to a sense of frustration rather than enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If your age is over 10, you would quickly find the puzzles to be simply tedious and boring due to how simple they are, and there's little to no learning curve either.”
- “At the very end of the game, you're presented with an incredibly tedious final puzzle where you're required to support your 2D stick figure in a 3D space. Even though that sounds exciting, I was honestly relieved for it to end when I solved it.”
- “The rest was walking down empty or trivial corridors, watching screen transitions, getting back to where I died, and most of all, pausing, dragging things around, unpausing, moving a bit, pausing, dragging things around, unpausing, moving a bit, pausing... the game is just slow, tedious, and repetitive.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users noting smooth performance and stability, even on lower-end hardware. However, some players experienced occasional frame drops and suggested that further optimization could enhance the experience, particularly for high-definition settings. Despite these minor issues, the game's high fidelity visuals and creative maps are well-received.
- “The game runs smoothly and is very optimized.”
- “The most incredible thing about the high fidelity visuals, however, is that they don't make the game unplayable on lower end hardware; this game is incredibly well optimized.”
- “Also worth mentioning is the rock solid stability and performance.”
- “Yet I must note that this kind of feels like another unoptimized Unity game (framedrops here and there), but this didn't bother me - core gameplay stayed smooth.”
- “Now with everything I love about the game, I will say the performance has had some hiccups all throughout.”
- “I suspect this is likely an issue of the game's optimization, and if the devs were to consider looking into this, I think it would be very beneficial, because I would love to experience this game in its intended higher definition.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a calm and wholesome atmosphere that culminates in a heartwarming twist. Players appreciate the clever puzzles and the rich narrative that unfolds, leading to an unexpected emotional climax that leaves a lasting impression. However, some feel that the game occasionally tries too hard to evoke emotions, though overall, it is regarded as a beautiful and charming experience.
- “Clever, heartfelt puzzle game with exceptional charm.”
- “Beautiful little puzzle game with a heart-warming twist in the end...”
- “This is not just a simple puzzler - look carefully and a rich story is being told underneath, which leads to a totally unexpected emotional climax that literally has you sailing away into the sunset with a smile on your face.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever and hidden humor, which enhances the overall experience, particularly in its engaging environments and surprising puzzle mechanics. Players appreciate the blend of fun and challenge, with a memorable and amusing ending that showcases a mix of sci-fi logic and cliches. Overall, the humor is a significant aspect that contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The environments are full of life and hidden humor.”
- “And the ending puzzle had me laughing in surprise several times when figuring out how it worked.”
- “This was a delightful, very fun, and decently challenging puzzle platform with a great atmosphere, very unique visuals, and a good sense of humor in the background.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report minimal technical issues and commend its performance on various systems, others note that it still has some bugs that need addressing. However, a few users highlight the game's polished nature, experiencing no crashes or glitches.
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “Runs great on integrated graphics (Intel Iris Pro 580).”
- “Still a bit buggy but seems nice. Let me know when the game is patched up.”
- “This is an indie game, and so I was surprised to see how few technical problems I ran into.”
- “I haven't played a well-polished game like this in years; it has 0 bugs, 0 glitches, and 0 crashes.”