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What Lies in the Multiverse

What Lies in the Multiverse is a sublime puzzle platformer. The puzzles are engaging and the story balances comedy and drama with aplomb.
What Lies in the Multiverse Game Cover
91%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
91% User Score Based on 298 reviews
Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

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What Lies in the Multiverse Game Cover

About

What Lies in the Multiverse is a single player casual platformer game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Untold Tales and was released on January 25, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

What Lies in the Multiverse is a story-driven 2D adventure that one could call a dramatic comedy. Filled to the brim with hilarious, cartoonish hijinks, the narrative also presents the player with mature and deep themes like death, envy, and obsession.

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What Lies in the Multiverse screenshot
What Lies in the Multiverse screenshot
What Lies in the Multiverse screenshot
What Lies in the Multiverse screenshot
What Lies in the Multiverse screenshot
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 298 reviews
story118 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • Engaging and emotionally impactful story with memorable characters and a good mix of humor and darker themes that resonate with players.
  • Clever and varied puzzle mechanics centered around switching between universes, keeping gameplay fresh throughout the chapters.
  • High-quality pixel art, animations, and an excellent soundtrack that adapt musically to the different universes, enhancing atmosphere and immersion.
  • Slow character movement and lack of a run/sprint button make progressing through puzzles and platforming tedious at times.
  • Excessive and unskippable dialogue and cutscenes can hinder pacing and reduce replayability, frustrating players who want more gameplay.
  • The game suffers from bugs, glitches, occasional softlocks, and sometimes inconsistent use of the main universe-switching mechanic.
  • story
    226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in this puzzle platformer is widely praised for its captivating, well-paced narrative that skillfully blends humor, emotional depth, and dark themes. Players highlight the memorable, nuanced characters and clever integration of storytelling with gameplay mechanics, creating an engaging and sometimes moving experience. Although some find the dialogue-heavy segments lengthy or occasionally confusing, the story remains the game's standout feature, often described as heartfelt, inventive, and a compelling reason to play.

    • “I knew what I was expecting, but everything about this game's storytelling was built so well that no matter how long has it been, the ending still made me cry.”
    • “The game itself does a wonderful job of telling its story and introducing its characters, each of whom plays an important role in one way or the other.”
    • “The story is wonderful from start to finish with memorizing characters and themes of fear and responsibility.”
    • “A large component of the porcine cosmetics here is a crappy, badly written 'multiverse' story, the upshot of which means before you get to play the crap 2D retro pixel platformer, you have to sit through hours of crap 2D retro pixel e-book/visual novel walls of text.”
    • “The story is where it all falls apart.”
    • “My few criticisms with the game have to do with certain aspects of the narrative that I think could have been handled better, in particular, some of the tone shifts feel very abrupt and somewhat pointless in the grand scheme of the story (like the game gets surprisingly dark at some point, but there isn't any proper payoff for it and it happens very abruptly with the game not giving you enough time to take some of it in), also the ending kind of felt like it came out of nowhere.”
  • gameplay
    109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay centers on switching between multiple universes to solve puzzles, offering a fresh mechanic that evolves with each chapter and integrates well with the story. While many find the puzzles enjoyable and the mechanics consistently implemented, some criticize the slow pacing, inconsistent use of the universe-switching ability, and occasional lack of polish, which can make progression feel tedious. Overall, the gameplay is straightforward and charming but may occasionally drag or feel underutilized.

    • “The mechanics are fun and simple; switching between alternate universes to solve puzzles and advance in the story.”
    • “Every chapter had a new hook and mechanics and made it an overall phenomenal game.”
    • “The gameplay is a solid combination of puzzles and platforming, neither of them super difficult but work great when mixed together.”
    • “I found the gameplay kinda painfully slow, which made progressing more tedious than it should be, and I know this is a puzzle game and it's not meant to be fast paced, but I think a run button at least wouldn't hurt.”
    • “-The main mechanic is of course swapping universes in real time, and it would be fine if it was consistent, but almost half of the levels in the game do not allow swapping universes, thus you have to sit through a whole level just to use it again.”
    • “It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed. Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing or polish done.”
  • humor
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for being witty, quirky, and well-integrated with the story, often eliciting genuine laughter and emotional attachment to characters. It balances light, absurd comedy with darker, more serious themes toward the end, though some find this tonal shift awkward or immersion-breaking. Overall, the humor enhances the narrative and character development, making the game both funny and emotionally engaging.

    • “The dialogue between the main characters is quite funny and the chapter-by-chapter reveal of Eve’s past (that old man on the cover) was interesting.”
    • “While playing this game and reading the dialogues, I burst out laughing at many moments, and some honestly brought tears to my eyes.”
    • “The puzzles aren’t too hard but still clever, the writing and timing of the comedy really had me laughing out loud at times.”
  • music
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, emotional depth, and effective thematic shifts between dimensions, enhancing the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to engage players actively, with dynamic changes that complement the worlds visited and elevate the gameplay experience. Although some find it occasionally generic or jarring, the consensus is that the music is a standout feature that significantly enriches the game's immersive and nostalgic appeal.

    • “I often recognize the music in a game while I'm playing it, but I found myself actively listening to the music throughout this game.”
    • “The composers behind the What Lies in the Multiverse soundtrack did a fantastic job.”
    • “Overall, I was extremely impressed by the soundtrack and music in this game.”
    • “The graphics and music are a bit generic too.”
    • “Soundtrack: 6/10”
    • “The music didn't especially mark me (I'm quite into deeper music theory), but definitely did the job.”
  • graphics
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics feature a charming and well-executed pixel art style that many reviewers found visually appealing and fitting for the story and gameplay. While some noted the visuals are simple and retro, others appreciated the cohesive atmosphere and distinctive contrast between dimensions. Overall, the pixel graphics effectively complement the mood, puzzles, and narrative, though a few felt the visuals lacked innovation or refinement beyond scaling options.

    • “However, I enjoyed exploring the lovely world, accompanied by a stunning soundtrack and high-quality visuals and animations.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, and I adore how each dimension contrasts while still feeling connected with each other.”
    • “Clever puzzle platformer with gorgeous pixel graphics and a story that keeps you hooked!”
    • “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
    • “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lacklustre 2D visuals.”
  • emotional
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game delivers a deeply emotional experience, blending heartfelt storytelling, charming characters, and touching moments that resonate strongly with players. Its mix of humor, poignant writing, and fitting music creates a memorable and moving journey that has left many players visibly moved or even in tears.

    • “I knew what I was expecting, but everything about this game's storytelling was built so well that no matter how long it has been, the ending still made me cry.”
    • “Some beautifully hilarious and emotional writing has gone into the dialogue, character development made me very invested, and the procedural mechanics of the game, with each chapter boasting a different effect between universe swapping, is such a fantastic feature.”
    • “What Lies in the Multiverse has got to be the best platformer game and the dialogues and story almost made me cry; it is a truly amazing puzzle and strategy game that makes it amazing when put together.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from frequent bugs, glitches, and softlocks that disrupt immersion and gameplay, with issues occurring as often as every few puzzles. While these stability problems are a significant drawback, the game's humor and world-building still manage to earn it a cautious recommendation from some players.

    • “I softlocked myself numerous times and encountered bugs and glitches very frequently.”
    • “No, but it's extremely annoying and breaks the immersion when every third puzzle is filled with bugs, glitches or softlocks.”
    • “The game excels in all the areas I mentioned, but bugs, glitches and softlocks prevent it from shining throughout the entire journey.”
  • grinding
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect slow and tedious, especially due to the character’s slow movement and lengthy, unnecessary dialogue that disrupts pacing. While the gameplay and story can be satisfying, repeated playthroughs and backtracking for achievements often feel frustratingly drawn-out and slow.

    • “I found the gameplay painfully slow, making progression more tedious than necessary. Although it's a puzzle game and not meant to be fast-paced, a run button would have helped.”
    • “Playing through the game was satisfying, but returning for achievements felt tedious.”
    • “The puzzles and gameplay are glacially slow and tedious to play, and the dialogue becomes excessive in the final chapter.”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its compelling design, effective dimensional shifts accompanied by fitting musical changes, and richly detailed pixel art. It creates an immersive experience filled with secrets, nuanced characters, and humor, making it especially appealing for players seeking strong story and ambiance in a puzzle-platformer. Overall, the stellar atmosphere and sound significantly elevate the gameplay experience.

    • “The design, pacing, and overall atmosphere make it far more compelling than typical puzzle-platformers.”
    • “Underneath the creative puzzle mechanics, rich atmosphere filled with secrets and easter eggs, lovable and nuanced cast, and genuinely funny story sequences lies a tale of the indomitable human spirit in the face of nihilism.”
    • “The atmosphere and sound are absolutely stellar.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is praised for its engaging personalities, adorable and diverse designs, and emotionally impactful writing. The interplay of character traits, complemented by dynamic visual elements and humor, creates a deeply invested experience. Overall, thoughtful and creative character progression enhances the game's emotional and comedic appeal.

    • “Some beautifully hilarious and emotional writing has gone into the dialogue, character development made me very invested and the procedural mechanics of the game, with each chapter boasting a different effect between universe swapping, is such a fantastic feature to this.”
    • “Their personalities mashed really well together and so did their character designs.”
    • “From the diverse character designs to the music to even how the backgrounds of the sprites change color depending on the tone or mood of the character, there was always something that just demonstrated the care put into this game.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users criticize the monetization of games made with Gamemaker Studio, viewing many as overpriced cash grabs, such as "What Lies in the Multiverse" priced at $15 USD, which they feel is steep compared to the value of older AAA titles.

    • “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
    • “"What Lies in the Multiverse" has a cash grab price of $15 USD, for which you could easily get any number of older AAA games.”
  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Replayability is limited due to a significant portion of the game being unskippable story cutscenes, which can hinder players' desire to replay.

    • “One-third of the game consists of unskippable story cutscenes, which significantly reduces the replayability if you want to play the game again.”
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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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12h Median play time
12h Average play time
12-12h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

What Lies in the Multiverse is a casual platformer game with comedy theme.

What Lies in the Multiverse is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 12 hours playing What Lies in the Multiverse.

What Lies in the Multiverse was released on January 25, 2022.

What Lies in the Multiverse was developed by Untold Tales.

What Lies in the Multiverse has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked What Lies in the Multiverse for its story but disliked it for its stability.

What Lies in the Multiverse is a single player game.

Similar games include What Lies in the Multiverse, Horace, The Messenger, Owlboy, Stick it to The Man! and others.