Unless

About

Unless is a multiplayer action adventure game. It was developed by Bellwood Studios and was released on January 10, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Unless is an action-packed game featuring 66 finely-tuned levels designed for both newcomers and speed-runners, with local co-op and split-screen multiplayer for two players. Collect Golden Leaves and Crystal Berries to unlock bonus content, race against the clock in Speedrun Mode, and enjoy customizable gameplay with accessibility options. The game boasts good mechanics, pretty visuals, and a sensational soundtrack.

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

music15 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

Unless features tight controls and well-designed levels, making it a highly enjoyable platformer for both casual and speedrunning players.
The game offers a variety of accessibility options and a unique co-op mechanic with a helper bird, enhancing the experience for players of all skill levels.
With beautiful pixel art and a catchy soundtrack, the game provides a charming aesthetic that complements its engaging gameplay.

The game is relatively short, with a main playtime of about 1-2 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Achieving S ranks can be extremely challenging, potentially discouraging players who are not focused on speedrunning.
The story is minimal and lacks depth, which may not appeal to players looking for a narrative-driven experience.

music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
10%
15%
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its retro charm and enjoyable soundtrack that complements the beautiful pixel art. While some reviews mention that the music is merely "alright," others highlight it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, particularly in the context of the game's engaging platforming mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack is described as fun, pleasant, and a fitting accompaniment to the game's aesthetic.
- “The art is beautiful, the music is fun and retro, and the platforming is satisfying.”
- “The pixel art is great, and the controls are tight, but I do think the music is just alright.”
- “The game is also absolutely gorgeous for a $5 pixel art game, and the soundtrack is the cherry on top.”
- “Artistically, it’s gorgeous, boasting detailed pixel art, sleek interfaces, and captivating chiptune music.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The gameplay in "Unless" is highly praised for its responsive and tight platforming mechanics, appealing to both casual and hardcore gamers. Players appreciate the engaging level design, variety of mechanics, and the effective difficulty progression that encourages replayability for better rankings. The game successfully teaches its mechanics intuitively, making for a satisfying experience, though some players wished for more diverse abilities beyond the initial mechanics introduced.
- “The platforming and mechanics feel good, and the game has tons of quality of life features to make grinding for new times easy.”
- “All of the mechanics are really tight - if you die, you almost always get the sense that it was on you and not because the game behaved in an unexpected way.”
- “Difficulty progression feels really well done, as the first few levels will slowly add new hazards to watch out for or mechanics to use.”
- “But, if you want to S-rank levels, you must know advanced 'hidden' platformer mechanics.”
- “The only things that bothered me about the game were how the initial bird-freeze mechanic was introduced for the first world, which gave me the impression there'd be more 'abilities' like it, or that the game would use more of it.”
- “Story is close to non-existent, so it's mainly just for gameplay and finishing levels as fast as you can to get better ranks.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's story is minimal and basic, serving primarily as a backdrop for the platforming gameplay rather than a focal point. Players note that the narrative is shallow, with only a few lines of dialogue providing vague context, which may not satisfy those seeking a deeper story experience. Overall, the simplicity of the plot does not detract from the enjoyment of the game, which is primarily centered on gameplay.
- “The plot follows Mari, who is tasked with gathering leaves and restoring trees.”
- “The story is a little simple, but it doesn't get in the way of the game.”
- “I can say it's worth checking out and playing, but do not expect a very nice story; it's a retro game with minimal story, delivering an overall good gaming experience.”
- “Personally, I never really thought about the story, and I think it is pretty shallow, which is probably my main critique.”
- “The game's not really about story; don't expect anything - it's just a few lines of dialogue that sort of, kind of, give a vague reason as to why you're in this world.”
- “Story is close to non-existent, so it's mainly just for gameplay and finishing levels as fast as you can to get better ranks.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
82%
9%
9%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and artistic style, featuring high-detail backgrounds and a charming pixel art aesthetic. Reviewers appreciate the combination of stunning visuals with excellent platforming physics and a fitting soundtrack, making the overall experience enjoyable. While some note a lack of groundbreaking elements, the graphics are considered a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal, especially given its low price point.
- “It's a very tightly-controlled platformer with probably the best set of accessibility, control, and graphics options I've ever seen.”
- “Beautiful artwork, amazing platforming physics, and great accessibility make it more than worth $5, in my opinion.”
- “Art style is super cool, really enjoy the high detail to the background and foreground, and the sound effects and music are a good fit for each area!”
- “There's unfortunately not a whole lot noteworthy here, other than the fact that the graphics are very pretty at times.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game offers strong replayability due to its fast-paced platforming mechanics and built-in randomization features, such as shuffle mode, which encourage players to engage in speedrunning. This design inherently promotes repeated playthroughs, enhancing the overall replay value.
- “Super fun, fast-paced platformer with speedrunning as a forethought and randomization built in with shuffle mode, giving strong replayability vibes.”
- “Of course, the nature of a game that wants you to speedrun it means there is inherently some replay value built in.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is highly praised for its approachable level design and features that encourage players to improve their performance, such as personal best tracking and straightforward ranking systems based on completion times. This design fosters a competitive environment, making it easy for players to engage in iterative gameplay to achieve better results.
- “I enjoy trying to iteratively improve my performance in platform games, so this really scratched an itch for me.”
- “Much like Neon White, it has approachable level design and tons of optimizations that make it easy to get into trying to set a new personal best for each level, especially aiming to get all the S rank times.”
- “At the end of each stage, and at the end of a full gameplay run, you'll be given an overall ranking for your performance; the ranking, also keeping it simple, is based on how fast you beat the stage.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its vibrant and colorful design, which enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- “I love the vibrant and immersive atmosphere of the game!”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly engaging and draws you in completely.”
- “The combination of stunning visuals and sound design creates a captivating atmosphere.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's environmental theme, describing it as wholesome and emotionally uplifting.
- “The environmental theme of the game is quite wholesome.”
- “The characters' journeys evoke a deep sense of empathy and connection.”
- “I was moved to tears by the heartfelt storytelling and emotional depth.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the smooth platforming mechanics and numerous quality-of-life features that enhance the grinding experience for achieving better times. The game encourages extended play, making it enjoyable to invest time in perfecting levels.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is likened to the quirky challenges found in "Sonic Frontiers," suggesting a playful and lighthearted tone that resonates with players.
- “As funny as it may sound, it reminds me a lot of the 'cyberspace' challenges in Sonic Frontiers.”