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Tiny Brains

Problems aside, Tiny Brains is an undeniably enjoyable experience. While it may not amaze you, it’ll definitely be worth your time if you and a few friends are looking to have a go at a co-op puzzle experience that isn’t extremely demanding.
70%Game Brain Score
story, humor
stability, replayability
75% User Score Based on 307 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

PCPCPlaystation 3Playstation 3Playstation 5Playstation 5Playstation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationSteam DeckSteam Deck
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About

"Tiny Brains" is a physics-based puzzle game where players control four super-powered lab creatures. They must work together to escape a mad scientist's experiments by solving complex puzzles using their unique abilities. The game features both single-player and multiplayer modes, with the latter encouraging co-op gameplay for up to four players.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
Tiny Brains screenshot
+10

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 307 reviews
story14 positive mentions
stability13 negative mentions
  • Short but fun to play with friends, making it a great couch co-op experience.
  • The game features clever puzzles that require teamwork and strategy, providing a humorous and engaging experience.
  • It's a charming game with a cute art style and a light-hearted story, making it enjoyable for players of all ages.
  • The online co-op functionality is broken and has not been fixed since 2014, making it unplayable for many players.
  • The game is very short, typically completed in under 3 hours, leading to concerns about its replay value.
  • There are numerous technical issues, including lag, glitches, and frustrating controls that detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is generally described as humorous and entertaining, with many players appreciating its quirky characters and clever writing. However, it is criticized for being quite short, typically taking around 2-3 hours to complete, which some feel does not justify the game's price. While the main campaign is enjoyable, players express a desire for more substantial content and additional story-based levels.

    • “The writing is really funny, and so is the overall story.”
    • “The characters are lovable and zany, and the story completely out of left field, as to be expected from indie publishers.”
    • “Though the main story campaign is pretty short, the package you get from the multiplayer is more than worth the price tag.”
    • “Of course, any game in the modern era has to have a story, and this is where Tiny Brains starts to have trouble.”
    • “The unimaginative puzzles also dampen the experience somewhat despite the actual story attached to the game being slightly bonkers with a plot twist that no one will see coming.”
    • “You will need good teamwork so I prefer you to play with friends, but the story is very short. It took me and my friends 103 minutes to complete it, so it's not really worth the money due to the short gameplay.”
  • humor
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it clever, light-hearted, and enjoyable, especially when played with friends. While some critiques mention that the humor can be hit-or-miss or overly forced at times, the overall experience is described as chaotic fun, enhanced by amusing character interactions and a quirky narrative. Despite its short playtime, the game offers a humorous and entertaining co-op experience that is particularly enjoyable in a social setting.

    • “Tiny Brains is a very funny puzzle game involving 4 main characters with different powers.”
    • “The writing is really funny, and so is the overall story.”
    • “Bought this on a whim and holy crap, it's a hilariously cute co-op that you can have a blast playing with friends or family.”
    • “These graphics are not the best, but that's what it is. It's supposed to be funny with all the scientist references and just genuine good humor. It is definitely a colorful game.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced at times, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I expected more clever jokes, but most of the humor is just silly and doesn't land well.”
  • gameplay
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by its engaging co-op mechanics and unique puzzle-solving elements that require teamwork and character-switching, reminiscent of titles like Portal and Trine. While players appreciate the colorful art style and humor, many express disappointment over the short playtime of around 2-3 hours, suggesting that the mechanics can become repetitive and the overall experience feels disjointed. Despite these critiques, the game is praised for its fun factor and intriguing multiplayer options, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy cooperative gameplay.

    • “Very fun co-op gameplay, didn't want to stop.”
    • “Refreshing puzzle mechanics with different powers per character.”
    • “Tiny Brains is a one-of-a-kind game with deep mechanics, and much fun to deliver.”
    • “If it's worth the 8 dollars for just 2 hours of gameplay, I'm not so sure... it's a bit short and I wish it was longer (though the concept is used up quickly).”
    • “This is one of those games that they put a lot of detail into look-wise but then seems to forget to extend the gameplay.”
    • “Where spearhead takes this so far however is in seemingly forgetting to design its puzzles as anything requiring involved thought or clever utilization of its awkwardly implemented mechanics.”
  • graphics
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally considered average, with some reviewers noting a charming art style and colorful visuals that contribute to its light-hearted tone. However, there are criticisms regarding graphical bugs, blandness, and a lack of polish that detract from the overall experience. While the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are complemented by a humorous narrative and enjoyable gameplay, making the game appealing in a cooperative setting.

    • “I loved the puzzles, the rooms, the different abilities, the co-op required with multiple abilities and the graphics.”
    • “Nice colorful visuals.”
    • “It's light-hearted and funny, has a cute art style and can be quite challenging at times.”
    • “The graphics, of course, leave a lot to be desired.”
    • “Lousy graphical appearance.”
    • “It tries to hit the same spark that Portal did all those years ago, but is held back with strange and sometimes buggy graphics and programming, not to mention finicky collision boxes and sub-par voice acting.”
  • stability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of Tiny Brains is frequently criticized, with players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in online co-op mode, which can lead to disconnections and unplayable experiences. While some enjoy the game when it functions properly, many express frustration over constant freezes, lag, and visual issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game's stability issues hinder its potential as a fun multiplayer puzzler.

    • “Got this to play online co-op but had some serious glitches that made it unplayable.”
    • “Online co-op is quite buggy at times though, with teammates dropping out between stages and challenges starting before everyone's connected.”
    • “This game has great potential to be an amazing puzzler, the only problem I have had with it was incredible lag and bugginess in multiplayer, to the point where it was unplayable.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is limited, primarily due to its short campaign and lack of substantial content for solo play. However, it offers some replay value through local co-op and competitive modes, making it enjoyable for group play, especially during game nights. Players may find more longevity in the mini-games and hardcore mode, but the experience is best when shared with friends.

    • “Absolutely love this for local co-operative play, it is heaps of fun and has some great puzzles and mini games for replayability, great for kids.”
    • “Replayability comes in the form of competitive game modes where you try to move the ball as far through a level, or play the campaign in hardcore mode where you only have 1 life available.”
    • “[local co-op, moderate to high replayability, simple to grasp]”
    • “Being a puzzle game, the campaign doesn't have much replay value, and I'm yet to try the minigames.”
    • “The only flaw is that the game is a bit on the short side and it will only have replayability if you can get at least one friend to play it with you on repeat sessions.”
    • “Probably finished the entirety with 4 people in about 2.5 hours and no replay value as far as I can tell, so I wouldn't advise paying more than a couple of dollars for this.”
  • music
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received high praise for its charm and catchy soundtrack, with many players expressing a desire for a standalone soundtrack release. Composed by Samuel Laflamme, known for his work on Outlast, the music complements the game's polished humor and engaging gameplay, reminiscent of titles like Portal and Trine. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “Not to mention one of the best ending songs I've heard in a game.”
    • “Music is very cool and I would like to see them make a DLC for only the songs, music created by Samuel Laflamme (he also did the Outlast music).”
    • “It's charming, packs a killer ear-wormy soundtrack, and offers brain-teasing gameplay that will no doubt remind you of Portal.”
    • “The music is charming and features a killer ear-wormy soundtrack, but it can become repetitive over time.”
    • “The soundtrack is enjoyable, but it lacks variety and can feel monotonous during extended play sessions.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it offers enjoyable gameplay, particularly in local co-op, performance issues hinder the online experience, leading to inconsistent smoothness. Players have reported bugs and performance-related incidents that detract from the overall enjoyment, suggesting it may be best to purchase on sale, especially for local play.

    • “The game has 4 chapters, each populated with rooms that contain puzzles. After finishing the main story, there are side modes and a challenge mode where you have to complete shorter levels in the most efficient way, earning up to 3 stars based on your performance.”
    • “The concept is simplistic, but the game is very short, taking around 3 hours to finish, which prevents any feelings of boredom or repetitiveness while playing.”
    • “You get 4 characters with different abilities, allowing for strategic gameplay. You can switch characters with a button press when playing solo, and in co-op, each player can control a different character to work together.”
    • “I would recommend it on sale if you play it locally, but definitely not at full price. The performance is poor for online play.”
    • “Performance and bug-related incidents are a significant issue.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of wholesome enjoyment suitable for families, juxtaposed with moments that evoke heartbreak, creating a poignant and impactful experience.

    • “Which is heart breaking </3”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when switching between characters in a multiplayer setting, as it can disrupt the flow of gameplay.

    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over just to level up, which quickly became boring.”
    • “The amount of time required to grind for resources is frustrating and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”

65%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews

Buy Tiny Brains

4h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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