Braid
Jan 11, 2011 16 years ago
Braid is a puzzle-platformer, drawn in a painterly style, where you can manipulate the flow of time in strange and unusual ways. From a house in the city, journey to a series of worlds and solve puzzles to rescue an abducted princess. In each world, you have a different power to affect the way time behaves, and it is time's strangeness that creates the puzzles. The time behaviors include: the ability to rewind, objects that are immune to being rewound, time that is tied to space, parallel realities, time dilation, and perhaps more. Braid treats your time and attention as precious; there is no filler in this game. Every puzzle shows you something new and interesting about the game world.
What it’s like
Braid is a meticulously crafted puzzle-platformer that treats time not just as a mechanic, but as the central narrative device. You guide Tim through six distinct worlds, each governed by unique temporal rules like rewinding, parallel realities, and time dilation. The experience is defined by its painterly aesthetic and atmospheric sound design, creating a dreamlike yet precise environment. While the surface premise involves rescuing a princess, the game subverts traditional storytelling tropes through non-linear narrative fragments and environmental clues. It challenges players to think laterally about cause and effect, rewarding patience and observation over reflexes. The structure is tight and deliberate, with no filler content; every level introduces a new conceptual twist that recontextualizes previous mechanics. This approach results in a profound emotional and intellectual payoff, blending the satisfaction of mechanical mastery with a poignant, ambiguous exploration of regret and consequence.
Strong in Atmosphere / MoodAudio / MusicGameplay / MechanicsPacingPolish / PerformanceStory / NarrativeVisuals / ArtDifficulty / ChallengeProgression / ReplayabilitySystems Depth / Build VarietyWriting / Dialogue
Keep in mind The puzzles can be exceptionally obtuse, often requiring hours of trial-and-error or external hints to solve, which may frustrate players seeking immediate progression. Additionally, the narrative is deliberately abstract and open to interpretation, lacking explicit exposition for those who prefer clear, direct storytelling.
AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from metacritic.com, ft.com, thegamer.com, toucharcade.com, en.wikipedia.org.
Screenshots
Releases
| Platform | Region | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox 360 | Worldwide | Full release | Aug 06, 200818 years ago |
| PC (Microsoft Windows) | Worldwide | Full release | Apr 10, 200917 years ago |
| PlayStation 3 | Worldwide | Full release | Dec 17, 200917 years ago |
| Linux | Worldwide | Full release | Dec 14, 201016 years ago |
| Mac | Worldwide | Full release | Jan 11, 201116 years ago |
