BOXBOY!

BOXBOY! is just so pure, so perfect a puzzler that I wish it had existed way back when, so that in some alternate timeline I would have been able to play decades' worth of sequels to it by now. It's that good. [Issue #15; May/June 2015, p.25]

This is the sort of game that seems destined to go down as a cult classic, but should really be enjoyed by anyone with a 3DS system. It’s a true triumph of gameplay over spectacle, and a hugely engaging experience from start to finish.

Boxboy! is confident, assured programming. It’s brave to make a puzzle game in which players control a box with two little slits for eyes. It requires the confidence of the entire development team that they’re going to be able to imbue character into the experience despite the minimalism, and that the level design and puzzles would be interesting enough in their own right to maintain the player’s interest.

If you crave a digestible and portable puzzle-based diversion, look no further than HAL's Box Boy. Its outright friendliness helps combat the patience-testing nature of most puzzle games, and those minutes-long levels allow players to make some degree of progress, even if they don't have much time to spare.

Simply put, Boxboy is an excellent puzzle platform game and a great addition to the HAL library of games.

Boxboy is another 3DS eShop gem that, if we’re lucky, will be the start of a new downloadable series in the same vein as Pushmo.

If you're a puzzle fan, you must get BOXBOY! Even if you're not the biggest puzzle fan, but you're a fan of a good challenge, BOXBOY! is for you.

It's minimalistic style and simple concept entertains us level after level. In all it s simplicity, BoxBoy's key characters surprises us with his charm. We would have liked the learning curve to be a little bit more steep.

Simple, clever and packed with a great balance of progression and challenge. BOXBOY! is the true new gem of the 3DS eShop.

Boxboy is an easy-to-overlook entry in the 3DS digital library. It’s inexpensive and doesn’t have a particularly remarkable look about it, but its well-designed puzzles continue to surprise, making it absolutely worth playing.

Box Boy! is a game that reminds us of the golden age of the Game Boy. Its level and gameplay design really shine and remind us the reasons why Nintendo became a leader in this market at various stages of its history.

It might not look like much, but BoxBoy is one of the cleverest puzzle platformers I’ve ever played.

Boxboy! is an addictive videogame, flavored with original and interesting puzzle moments. It's quite short, but the low price is really inviting.

Deceptively simple. [June 2015, p.123]

When I started BoxBoy!, I thought it would be a game for kids. In the end, it felt like a game especially made for me.

Boxboy is a fun and addictive puzzle game that is certain to keep players around it for some time, not just because of its mechanics but also because it introduces new ideas and challenges at a very high pace. It only suffers from its washed away visual style, which could have used more work, even for a game of this genre.

Boxboy is the ideal game for breaks. The simple design, short levels and learning curve are great. It is addictive, fun and very easy to play when waiting on the bus, so a good game to release on 3DS.

While not a thoroughly outstanding game, BOXBOY! is an eminently pleasant, breezy little puzzle-platformer that offers some moderate challenge and focuses more on just having a nice time. A fuss-free, no-pressure adventure that takes a plain gimmick and showcases just how versatile it can be.

HAL Laboratory demonstrates their talent making a minimalist and interesting puzzle game that is as simplistic as charming.

BoxBoy! is a little, clever puzzle game full of ideas and tagged with a really interesting price.

The constant reinvention reminded me of Donkey Kong for the Gameboy, another devious puzzle game from Nintendo that repeatedly introduced new ideas throughout.

A slick and fun puzzle experience from start to finish, BOXBOY! will please anyone looking for a great new pick-up-and-play adventure. Just don't expect too much challenge until you dive into the optional areas of the game.

While a good game, it would have been nice to see some more complex puzzles around the mid-way point to up the challenge a bit more.

It’s fun, but if you really stick with it, then it turns into something a lot more challenging and enjoyable.

BOXBOY! is a fun puzzle platformer that gets a lot of mileage with a simple concept.

What BOXBOY! lacks in visuals and style, it makes up for with complex level design and intricate gameplay that will keep your brain churning for hours. It may not replace any of the bigger puzzle games out there, but HAL Laboratory’s little box opus brings some good, easily addictive puzzle entertainment.

A decent puzzle game that doesn't overstay its welcome.

Those hoping for 90° Kirby won’t get it in BoxBoy, but those looking for BoxBoy—puzzle-solving, muted box-making extraordinaire—need not look any further. Kirby is not up to this task. Unless, of course, Kirby eats BoxBoy and acquires his powers. Then Kirby might do just fine.

BOXBOX! is not only a tribute to puzzle games of the past, its minimalist design unfolding into more elaborated forms thanks to a clever incubation at HAL Laboratory.

BOXBOY! is a solid puzzle game with touches of platforming mixed in that puzzle game fans should check out. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel of the genre or leave a lasting impression, but it’s a fun way to tease your brain and enjoy some clever puzzle designs.

BOXBOY! works, but it fails to surprise, and takes way too long to get to the interesting challenges.

Boxboy! is not one of the little gems the Nintendo online store sometimes publishes but just a nice concept, well packed, that does not achieve greatness.

BOXBOY! will surely find an audience among those who are deeply in love with the Game Boy's sensibilities, but this writer is finding it increasingly difficult to be nostalgic for a style that never goes away. What's left, then, is a polished puzzler with surprisingly dull tendencies.