Zup! 5

About

Zup! 5 is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Quiet River and was released on June 13, 2017. It received very positive reviews from players.

Zup! 5 is a physics-based puzzle game with over 60 levels and 2100 achievements. Players solve increasingly difficult puzzles by triggering explosions to move objects and activate switches. The game features Steam trading cards, emoticons, and credits, and is built on the Clickteam Fusion 2.5 engine, with extended panel designs inspired by Aevoa. The game's minimalistic aesthetic and physics-based gameplay are based on an example by Sergio Andre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 767 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Easy to learn and play, making it accessible for all players.
Offers a relaxing experience with a chill atmosphere and satisfying gameplay.
Features a large number of Steam achievements that are easy to unlock, enhancing the sense of accomplishment.

Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with many levels being too easy.
The excessive number of achievements can detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a spam game.
Some levels rely on luck rather than skill, leading to frustration.

gameplay
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
74%
3%
The gameplay in "zup! 5" is characterized by a blend of familiar mechanics and new elements, such as the introduction of portals, which enhance the puzzle-solving experience while maintaining a minimalist design. Players appreciate the straightforward, physics-based mechanics that allow for enjoyable, albeit sometimes simplistic, trial-and-error gameplay. While the game offers engaging puzzles and a relaxing atmosphere, some reviewers note that the overall challenge may not evolve significantly, leading to a mixed perception of its replay value.
- “Gameplay-wise, it has this mix of familiar elements and small twists that keep things from feeling stale.”
- “The game’s premise is easy to grasp, but the satisfaction comes from mastering the subtle mechanics of momentum, positioning, and timing.”
- “5 embodies the spirit of minimalist game design—small in scale, simple in purpose, and focused on the pure mechanics of interaction and cause-and-effect.”
- “The puzzles are not difficult; they rarely introduce new mechanics. The only reason to buy this game is for the spam achievements.”
- “The gameplay is easy, relaxing, and takes very simple mechanics throughout the levels of the game with few changes.”
- “5 introduces a new mechanic of portals in this outing, but the dreadfully simplistic level design throughout fails to maximize their potential, leaving each of the 60+ levels feeling very underwhelming indeed.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The music in the game is generally described as calming and ambient, effectively complementing the minimalist aesthetic and enhancing the gameplay experience without being intrusive. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive and simplistic, with a lack of audio controls being a notable drawback. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, its limited variety may detract from long-term enjoyment.
- “The soft, ambient background music contrasts with the sharp 'pop' and 'bang' of explosions, giving the game a rhythmic energy.”
- “While the music never takes center stage, it complements the minimalist aesthetic perfectly—it is meditative rather than intrusive, helping the player settle into a rhythm of trial and error, experimentation, and success.”
- “All in all, I think this part is by far the best, mostly because of the soundtrack, which completes the whole game and the new functions are very nice and diversified.”
- “Background music is nothing special, as can be expected from such games in this genre.”
- “Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying background music; you'll need to alt+tab out and stop the music using the Windows sound mixer.”
- “The music is annoyingly repetitive and simplistic, but the puzzles are mindless fun to go through and get a dopamine rush from as you blow things up all over the place and watch objects fly like some demented marble run game.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic aesthetic that some players find clean and meditative, enhancing the overall experience of trial and error gameplay. However, others criticize the visuals as overly simplistic and lacking in detail, particularly for a PC game, with limited options for resolution and customization. While the art style serves its purpose, it may not impress those seeking high-quality visuals.
- “Every part of the game — the visuals, the sound, the pacing — kind of blends into this feeling that you’re actually inside its world, even if you’re just casually playing.”
- “5 retains the same stark and clean aesthetic that has defined the series since its inception.”
- “It’s perfect for moments when you want to challenge your brain in short bursts while enjoying clean visuals and smooth gameplay.”
- “⚠️ Graphics may feel overly simplistic to some players.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The reviews indicate a largely negative perception of the game's story, with many users stating there is little to no narrative present. Some express disappointment, comparing it unfavorably to other stories, while a few see potential in the game's creativity and suggest improvements like a mission editor to enhance engagement.
- “I started to think: hmm this game has potential :D, and I give it a thumbs up for its creativity.”
- “Please, if you read this, consider adding a mission editor mode; even if the price of the game would increase, it will bring more players to it.”
- “☑ no story”
- “What story?”
- “☐ twilight was a better love story than this”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
8%
67%
The grinding aspect of the game is described as somewhat excessive, particularly for completionists who may feel the need for a "second life" to manage the achievement farming. While some players find the grinding manageable with a medium level of effort, others suggest it can be tedious, requiring significant time investment and possibly even macros to streamline the process. Overall, the game features a mix of easy achievement grinding and well-designed puzzles, but the grind remains a notable aspect for many players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding if you are a completionist.”
- “A little grindy.”
- “Medium level of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life, maybe some macros, & a will to live for grinding.”
- “Many people call these games out, citing that they're card farming games.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the diverse puzzles that encourage multiple playthroughs, others note significant limitations due to its short length and minimal replay value. Overall, it offers engaging content but lacks depth for extended replay.
- “✅ High replayability due to diverse puzzles.”
- “It's a nice puzzle game with a bit of replayability.”
- “If we focus purely on the content itself and ignore the glaring issues regarding achievements, the game is fairly engaging and will get you thinking at some points (although there is practically zero replay value).”
- “The only negatives are how short it is, and its replay value.”
- “This, as with the other titles in the series, has modest replay value, some decent puzzles (primarily reflected on proper timing) and a relaxing soundtrack.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as both funny and relaxing, with a mix of subtle jokes that may require a background in theoretical physics to fully appreciate. While the gameplay is enjoyable and not overly lengthy, the humor adds depth and interest, making it a rewarding experience for those who grasp its nuances. Overall, players find the game to be a delightful blend of humor and achievement.
- “It won't take a long time to play through it, but it's very funny!”
- “The humor is extremely subtle, and without a solid grasp of theoretical physics, most of the jokes will go over a typical viewer's head.”
- “This is a funny game; the achievements are the fun!”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express mixed feelings about the monetization aspect, noting that while the game has a cohesive vision, it can sometimes feel like a cash grab, leading to negative perceptions. Overall, the monetization strategy may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- “This is simply a cash grab, and I will always score it negatively.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is praised for its lightweight design and smooth performance across various systems, making it ideal for casual players seeking quick gameplay sessions. The intuitive interface and restart-friendly structure further enhance the overall experience.
- “It is lightweight, optimized for all systems, and perfectly suited for short bursts of play.”
- “The performance is smooth, the interface is intuitive, and the restart-friendly structure makes it an excellent choice for casual players looking for quick mental stimulation.”
- “Performance has been mostly fine.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers highlight the game's atmosphere as a standout feature, particularly praising the atmospheric space backgrounds that enhance the overall immersive experience.
- “Atmospheric space backgrounds.”
- “The first thing I noticed is the atmosphere.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game experiences occasional visual glitches and small stability issues, but these do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “⚠️ Occasional visual glitches.”
- “☐ Small glitches.”