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Unbound: Worlds Apart is a challenging, metroidvania-style platformer with a unique twist. Using dimension-shifting abilities, players solve puzzles and defeat enemies across multiple worlds. With intricate level design, beautiful hand-drawn art, and a haunting soundtrack, Unbound offers a captivating adventure filled with mystery and discovery.

Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
Unbound:Worlds Apart screenshot
+7
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,232 reviews
gameplay272 positive mentions
stability26 negative mentions

  • Beautiful hand-drawn art style and captivating soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • Unique portal mechanics provide engaging puzzles and platforming challenges.
  • The game offers a fair difficulty curve with frequent checkpoints, making it accessible for players.
  • The game can feel overly linear, lacking the depth and exploration typical of metroidvanias.
  • Some difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially in later levels and optional challenges.
  • The story and character development are minimal, leaving some players wanting more narrative depth.
  • gameplay
    624 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Unbound: Worlds Apart" is characterized by its unique portal mechanics that introduce a variety of puzzle-solving and platforming challenges, making it engaging and often rewarding. While many players appreciate the creative level design and the fluidity of the mechanics, some have noted issues with precision and clarity, leading to frustration in certain sections. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable platforming and innovative mechanics, though it may not reach the same heights as other titles in the genre like "Hollow Knight" or "Celeste."

    • “The platforming and metroidvania aspect is okay, but the additional dimension-swapping puzzle mechanic really sets this game apart.”
    • “Each new mechanic was interesting and didn't overstay its welcome.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and often times extremely challenging.”
    • “The mechanics are frustrating, the story isn't engaging, and the abilities are very basic and take a long time to unlock.”
    • “The game is not much fun, it's not terrible but it's not fun enough and the reason is the simplicity and how repetitive the level design is; the puzzles are often so obvious that they are not puzzles, also the gameplay is a bit too simple.”
    • “I feel like the devs had more they wanted to do; there's a couple mechanics that show up once, maybe twice, and then disappear again, and it makes me feel like the game is incomplete.”
  • story
    436 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Unbound: Worlds Apart" is generally viewed as underwhelming, with many players finding it predictable, simplistic, and lacking depth. While some appreciate the charming art style and the potential for lore through collectibles, others criticize the delivery and character development as uninspired and disconnected. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling element, leading to mixed feelings about its significance in the overall experience.

    • “The storytelling is immersive and the mechanics are very efficient.”
    • “The story is good enough to keep me invested without feeling overbearing.”
    • “The game has high quality gameplay and story.”
    • “The story is delivered in the driest way possible; basically every character you talk to is talking like they are quoting from a book, they don't feel like real characters at all.”
    • “The story in particular lacks the gravitas the game is trying to sell to the player - again, it feels slightly rushed and lacking some extra thought that would really make it shine.”
    • “The story was weak and forgettable; I found myself forgetting the point of what I was doing and not at all invested in the game, or even my own progress.”
  • graphics
    290 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and polished visuals, often drawing comparisons to titles like "Ori" and "Hollow Knight." Many reviewers highlighted the smooth transitions between worlds and the overall aesthetic appeal, although some noted that certain elements felt unpolished or derivative. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience, making it a standout feature for players.

    • “The graphics are very polished and the transitions between the worlds are very smooth.”
    • “Breathtaking graphics and nice OST.”
    • “The graphics are incredible and the game mechanics are creative and unique.”
    • “The graphics are okay, but there are some areas of just walking through uninteresting screens to get from A to B.”
    • “This game does feel like it has the art style of Ori 1 but significantly cheaper looking. For the most part, it looks decent, though a lot of the enemies and spikes, really anything with multiple layers, looked unfinished or unpolished.”
    • “My biggest issue with this game is honestly the art style.”
  • music
    252 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and atmospheric qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and lacks variety, occasionally disrupting the mood with abrupt changes in volume or intensity. Overall, while the music is generally well-received for its charm and fitting ambiance, it may not stand out as particularly memorable for all players.

    • “The soundtrack is beautiful, and the studio's attention to detail shows their dedication and love for this game.”
    • “The music is wonderful, the controls are amazing and the graphics are some of the best out there - take your time and really look at the background, both within and outside of your little portal.”
    • “The soundtrack captures you right away and always pulls you back in while giving you a distinct sense of calm even when facing boss monsters.”
    • “The downside comes with the music, which is too simple and repetitive, especially for this kind of game, and the animation, which is honestly pretty bad at times, only passable the rest of the time.”
    • “The background music was kinda just there and never really felt like it contributed properly to the setting.”
    • “The music was pretty in the beginning, but in some places it got very repetitive and messed with my concentration so I turned it off.”
  • atmosphere
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and beautiful design, featuring gorgeous artwork and a compelling soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique environments and the emotional depth conveyed through the game's ambiance, which effectively draws them into its world. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating, with a blend of charm, mystery, and engaging storytelling that resonates with players.

    • “Unbound: Worlds Apart is an atmospheric indie game that transcends being boxed into one genre.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the art design is beautiful, and the soundtrack perfectly matches the game.”
    • “Unbound has a strong and unique atmosphere which can easily take you out of your room to the melancholic realm of Vaiya, Sanarya, and Umbrella.”
    • “Starting in the lamp atmosphere of a colorful world where you can only jump, we gradually come to a double jump under water, followed by a double dash and instant switching of the conditions of the surrounding reality.”
    • “When taking on difficult puzzles or boss fights, these map themes often take on more intense instrumentation, driving atmosphere and immersion above all.”
    • “I love the dark atmosphere and mysterious tone, and I feel the story is compelling without being too convoluted.”
  • stability
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs and glitches affecting gameplay across various platforms, including Linux and Steam Deck. Players have experienced issues such as character respawning failures, random deaths, and frequent crashes, which significantly detract from the overall experience. While some mechanics are well-implemented, the persistent instability and lag have left many feeling frustrated and hindered their enjoyment of the game.

    • “The game can be rather buggy.”
    • “Would be a good game if it wasn't for the constant lag (even on the lowest setting, nothing else running in the background and I have well above the required system specs), screen freezes, and I keep getting fatal error messages that cause the game to crash.”
    • “There were a couple of glitches that made me need to reset the game; at one point I died and when I respawned my character disappeared, only showing the little fire on the tip of the hat, and I could not do anything or open the menu.”
  • emotional
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Unbound" has received mixed feedback, with many players feeling a lack of connection to the characters and story, which diminishes the impact of key emotional moments. While the game features an interesting narrative, the insufficient time for players to bond with the village and its inhabitants leads to a disappointing emotional payoff at the end. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on gameplay mechanics than on delivering a compelling emotional experience.

    • “Players haven't had enough time interacting and building an emotional connection with the village, then it's just gone and destroyed by demons.”
    • “The story behind it is interesting and touching.”
    • “It kind of made me feel like Limbo did, which I was not expecting.”
  • replayability
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting limited value for a one-time playthrough, while others appreciate the presence of collectibles and multiple endings that encourage exploration. Some reviews suggest a moderate replayability score, highlighting optional challenges and hidden NPCs as factors that can enhance the experience for dedicated players. However, many still feel that it lacks significant replay value compared to other titles in the genre.

    • “Many of these types of games have a darker macabre element to them, this is no exception, but it's fairly chill anyway and has great replay value.”
    • “There are additional collectibles, and different endings to increase replayability.”
    • “Not a lot of replayability, I'd say, but a short to medium duration singleplayer experience where you'll be challenged at times, while far from being the hardest platformer in the world.”
    • “There are lost villagers and other NPCs to find in the world from optional areas, and finding enough villagers can open additional challenge areas to try out, so there is some replay value if you want to find everything.”
    • “Replayability: 6/10”
  • optimization
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with players reporting extremely low frame rates (as low as 5 fps on high-end hardware) and persistent stuttering, making gameplay nearly impossible. Performance on the Steam Deck is also subpar, particularly with the default Linux installation, and various bugs further detract from the experience. Overall, while the game has potential, its current state is marred by these technical shortcomings.

    • “This could be a really good game, but it's really poorly optimized. No matter what settings I use, the game constantly stutters and there are some very annoying bugs.”
    • “My only minor gripe is with interesting performance behavior on Linux, where VRAM usage goes crazy when VSync is disabled.”
    • “The bosses also don't feel very well thought-out, requiring perfect performance for a couple of minutes at a time due to the lack of a health system.”
    • “This could be a really good game but it's really poorly optimized; no matter what settings I use, the game constantly stutters and there are some very annoying bugs.”
    • “Typically this should be a 'Steam Deck' type of game; unfortunately, the performance on the deck is not good when you follow the default installation, which is native Linux.”
    • “It sucks because I enjoyed the concept of the mechanics, but the performance issues made the platforming nearly impossible.”
  • grinding
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with some describing it as tedious and frustrating, particularly during boss fights and certain areas. While the game improves after an initial slow start, it often returns to a grind-heavy pace, especially for those aiming for 100% completion. However, some players appreciate the unique mechanics that allow for avoiding enemies, which adds a different layer to the gameplay despite the occasional tedium.

    • “The full game starts too tedious before becoming good when it hits the stride of the demo, then it returns to tediousness.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It is a little grinding at some points, and can be a little frustrating at some areas, but you don't have to worry about that too much if you aren't planning on doing a 100% run like I did.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by strong character designs, particularly for the main character and the humorous blue cat, which are complemented by diverse outfits. While the cutscenes are praised for their quality, some players feel that the overall character development is limited due to the game's short length and linear progression, leaving little room for deeper interaction or growth. The visuals and music enhance the experience, but the lack of meaningful map interaction detracts from the exploration aspect typical of the metroidvania genre.

    • “The character design is on point with the differing outfits and not one outfit for all.”
    • “The graphics are pretty and the portal concept is really awesome, and Soli (as well as the character designs in general) is very cute.”
    • “+ The level and the character design is beautiful.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted through its character design, particularly the amusing blue cat, which adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience. While some players find the game's difficulty amusingly polarizing, the humor is not the primary focus, with more emphasis placed on the engaging cutscenes and character interactions. Overall, the humor complements the game's aesthetic but does not overshadow its other elements.

    • “I think it's funny that everyone loves souls-like (I don't) but most of the reviews about the difficulty of this game are negative.”
    • “(Also, the character design was pretty cool for the main character and the funny blue cat, in general.)”
    • “(Though the cutscenes are fantastic, I'd say those would make up for the art style, but there isn't enough; the game's too short.)”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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8h Median play time
8h Average play time
4-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs
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