Wired

About

Wired is a single player action game. It was developed by University of Cambridge Engineering Department and was released on July 23, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

Wire up electrical circuits and make your way through a derelict building to keep your appointment with a mysterious professor who lives at the top.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 96 reviews

story13 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Wired offers an engaging blend of puzzle-solving and educational content, effectively teaching players about electrical circuits and concepts like voltage and current.
The game features vibrant graphics and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the immersive experience, making it enjoyable to play.
As a free game, Wired provides significant value, with a compelling story that gradually unfolds alongside the puzzles, appealing to both casual gamers and those interested in learning.

Some players found the pacing slow, particularly in the early levels, which may lead to boredom and a lack of engagement.
The game has been criticized for technical issues, including bugs that can disrupt gameplay and frustrating control mechanics, particularly during platforming sections.
While the educational aspect is appreciated, some reviewers felt that the puzzles could become repetitive and lacked sufficient complexity as the game progressed.

story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
8%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it touching and beautifully intertwined with the puzzles, while others describe it as slow, confusing, or skippable. Despite cheesy acting in cutscenes, many appreciate the emotional depth and educational elements related to electrical circuitry. Overall, the narrative adds a whimsical layer to the gameplay, though its execution may not resonate with everyone.
- “The story is touching and actually kind of sad, even though the acting in the cutscenes was cheesy at times.”
- “The puzzles are engaging, the story is beautiful and amazing, and I had the drive to complete it except for the end.”
- “The story had me intrigued from the beginning as well, and it wrapped up nicely after some obvious and not-so-obvious foreshadowing.”
- “The story is a bit boring and confusing.”
- “There's a background story unfolding throughout the game, although it seems to serve more as window dressing.”
- “My main problem with this game was that useful information was spread too sparse and through video, that wouldn't be a problem if the story segments weren't video also.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is heavily centered around a wiring mechanic that becomes repetitive, with players often redoing the same tasks multiple times without significant variation. While it gradually introduces new mechanics related to electricity, the overall experience is marred by tedious cutscenes and awkward controls, leading to a lack of engagement. Despite its free price point, the gameplay feels stretched and lacks the depth expected from a well-designed puzzle game.
- “It plays like a typical puzzle game, but the mechanics to solve the puzzles are related to electricity.”
- “It rather slowly and gradually introduces new mechanics, interspersed with story snippets (most of which are skippable if you're that way inclined).”
- “To my surprise, the mechanic introduced after that mostly lent itself to much easier puzzles, right up to the last couple.”
- “Progress hinges entirely on this wiring mechanic, all for the underwhelming goal of reaching the professor supposedly waiting at the building's summit... and for a bit of fun, there are laughable FMV sequences with that guy.”
- “Since he also needed to stretch out the game, every mechanic will be followed by between 5 to 10 stages of the exact same mechanic, without any form of twist at all.”
- “This game should have completely scrapped the terminal system, because when you're already forcing the players to redo the exact same mechanic 5-10 times in a row, artificially increasing the length those takes is simply not a good way to go.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The graphics in the game are a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the nostalgic 2000s aesthetic, others find them outdated and lacking in quality. Overall, the visuals are seen as appealing yet in need of improvement to enhance the game's atmosphere.
- “The graphics in this game are really quite good, which makes the game look more appealing.”
- “And while it's vital for any game to have impressive visuals (gaming is a visual medium, after all), there's more to a game than just the graphics.”
- “The graphics are outdated, giving it a nostalgic 2000s feel.”
- “The graphics are bad, but they are bad at an exact level to give me a heavy nostalgia for the games that I used to play when I was a kid.”
- “Needs work on the visuals so it can create a better atmosphere.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as good, calming, and relaxing, effectively complementing the fun gameplay and engaging story. Players appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, particularly in various environments.
- “A very fun game with a simple premise that opens up into a great story backed by solid music and puzzles.”
- “The different environments were cool, and the music is calm and relaxing.”
- “Good music (what I could hear anyway)”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is negatively impacted by poor design choices, such as awkward controls and lengthy cutscenes that disrupt gameplay flow. Players find the experience tedious, as they are forced to wait through these cutscenes instead of engaging with the game. Overall, the grinding feels unnecessarily prolonged and frustrating.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The game forces you into a grind that feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the gameplay.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively combines humor with educational elements, featuring a charismatic high school teacher character that adds a hilarious touch to the storyline. Players appreciate the engaging and funny narrative, which enhances the puzzle-solving experience while also providing insights into electrical engineering concepts. Overall, the humor is seen as a standout aspect that makes the game both entertaining and informative.
- “This game packs in electrical engineering and problem-solving skills to challenge your mind with puzzles in a humorous way. The storyline has a cool high school teacher vibe, and the professor plays his character so well; it's hilarious!”
- “Anyways, 10/10 because this game is so underrated. It definitely needs some polish, but I see the reminiscence of an educational indie sci-fi game well fit into the hilarious plot involving Professor Late's wife.”
- “Wow, I just love it! It's really engaging, funny, and at the same time, educational.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The atmosphere is generally praised for its calm and relaxing qualities, enhanced by a compelling story and excellent acting, particularly highlighted by the evocative 70s decor. However, some users feel that improvements in visuals are necessary to further enhance the overall atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere is nice; it's calm and relaxing.”
- “The setting is atmospheric (down to the impressively dire 70s decor), and I found the story rather compelling (and the acting was excellent).”
- “The visuals need improvement to enhance the overall atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and lacks the depth needed to immerse players.”
- “There's a distinct absence of mood and ambiance, making the game feel lifeless.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game's story to be deeply touching and memorable, despite some cheesy acting in the cutscenes. The emotional impact is highlighted by a poignant ending that resonates with personal experiences and lessons learned, making it a game that many will cherish and hope for a sequel.
- “Even though the acting in the cutscenes was cheesy at times, the story is touching and actually kind of sad.”
- “A game I'll never forget; it taught me everything I learned in my entire university experience from a different point of view. The ending of the game was very emotional; it was so hard, but really fun. I hope you can launch another game like this, maybe on different topics or the same ones as well. Thank you and congratulations, it's a great game.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some users find it highly enjoyable and recommend it for multiple playthroughs, others feel it lacks sufficient value to warrant replaying.
- “Very well executed and replayable, highly recommended.”
- “This really hurts replay value.”