Thomas Was Alone

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 359 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 276 out of 359
  2. Mixed: 57 out of 359
  3. Negative: 26 out of 359
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  1. Aeon
    Jun 6, 2013
    7
    This game is great. It shows perfectly how you can have fun with just a few blocks. There are a lot of puzzles in this game, but the downside is the difficulty of the game. the re-playability is also quite low.
  2. TitaniumDragon
    Aug 27, 2013
    7
    Thomas Was Alone is a very simple game with a solid narrative and very good voice acting on the part of the narrator. Unfortunately, the game itself is extremely simple, with later levels failing to really live up to their potential, and the game is very short, a mere three hours long and if it were any longer it would be bad indeed.
    The game is a very reasonable use of your time, but    Thomas Was Alone is a very simple game with a solid narrative and very good voice acting on the part of the narrator. Unfortunately, the game itself is extremely simple, with later levels failing to really live up to their potential, and the game is very short, a mere three hours long and if it were any longer it would be bad indeed.
    The game is a very reasonable use of your time, but you should pay a price commensurate with the idea that you will play it once, for about three hours, then never play it again once you have played it, there is no reason to ever play it again.    … Expand
  3. mckw
    May 31, 2013
    6
    Simplistic, artistic and enjoyable. This game is clean and simple but really beautiful, with simplistic but likable characters with a decent narration. The narration to me was just okay and not as great as what others have rated it to be, at times funny and witty. Apart from that the soundtrack helps immerse yourself into this world and felt really good with the game. One thing I did notSimplistic, artistic and enjoyable. This game is clean and simple but really beautiful, with simplistic but likable characters with a decent narration. The narration to me was just okay and not as great as what others have rated it to be, at times funny and witty. Apart from that the soundtrack helps immerse yourself into this world and felt really good with the game. One thing I did not like was that it did not have as much puzzle aspects as I would like it to have, having some well-timed-or-else-you-are-dead scenarios which annoyed me a bit. Overall, would recommend as a simple game.… Expand
  4. Etellex
    Aug 22, 2013
    5
    I'm sorry. I kept telling myself I was enjoying it, I kept telling myself I was having a good time, but I was not. This game just has generic platformer gameplay with some decent dialogue on the side. Portal 2 for example has amazing gameplay and amazing dialogue. Sure it wasn't an indie game, but we have seen *cough*minecraft*cough* that indie games can have incredible gameplay. I suggestI'm sorry. I kept telling myself I was enjoying it, I kept telling myself I was having a good time, but I was not. This game just has generic platformer gameplay with some decent dialogue on the side. Portal 2 for example has amazing gameplay and amazing dialogue. Sure it wasn't an indie game, but we have seen *cough*minecraft*cough* that indie games can have incredible gameplay. I suggest you try this game out because many people enjoy it, I am in no way saying you should not get this game, I am simply saying I don't like it myself.… Expand
  5. BonPhire
    Aug 4, 2013
    5
    3 to 5 hour game, 100% done, mediocre story that’s supposed to be deep but just comes off as pretentious, and gameplay that gets old if you’re used to 2d platformers, the voice acting’s very good but not enough to hold up the game. 4.5/10
  6. Blaine
    Mar 24, 2013
    7
    Leading this fellowship of square and rectangles, each with their unique skill and character, through the 90 levels was certainly a fascinating video-game experience. Loved the visuals and the soundtrack. Simple and captivating storytelling. Although the game mechanics gets repetitive soon and the puzzle are honestly too easy for an average gamer, a really positive impression, definitelyLeading this fellowship of square and rectangles, each with their unique skill and character, through the 90 levels was certainly a fascinating video-game experience. Loved the visuals and the soundtrack. Simple and captivating storytelling. Although the game mechanics gets repetitive soon and the puzzle are honestly too easy for an average gamer, a really positive impression, definitely worth the money.… Expand
  7. JimCorbett
    May 29, 2013
    5
    In Thomas Was Alone, you basically solve a few simplistic puzzles while a British guy narrates some sort of story to you and explains how the boxes you control somehow have feelings and you should care about them. It doesn't work very well. Half way through the game, I gave up trying to figure out what the guy was saying and piece it all together. I was left with an extremely genericIn Thomas Was Alone, you basically solve a few simplistic puzzles while a British guy narrates some sort of story to you and explains how the boxes you control somehow have feelings and you should care about them. It doesn't work very well. Half way through the game, I gave up trying to figure out what the guy was saying and piece it all together. I was left with an extremely generic puzzle-platformer. Each puzzle is basically the same, you use the boxes to jump on each other in one order or another until you get to the end. It's boring and uninspiring. The graphics are very simple, just blocks and really no texture at all. The music is just ambiance playing in the background, which is easily the best part of the game. On top of it all, you're gonna be paying $10 for a 3-4 hour long game with no replay value whatsoever. It wasn't a bad game per se, just totally unoriginal and bland. Only diehard puzzle-platformer fans should think about giving this game a go.… Expand
  8. AWG
    Jun 30, 2013
    7
    Thomas Was Alone has great graphics and outstanding music but also a very frustrating gameplay (you spend most of your time switching among characters rather than actually trying to solve the puzzles). The story seems to be very interesting but since only English language is supported I missed it almost entirely (too busy switching among characters, couldn't get enough attention to the subtitles).
  9. kezzyhko
    Aug 4, 2020
    7
    ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
  10. GordothEnodious
    Aug 5, 2020
    7
    Hello there everyone, I am the borderline disabled Gordoth Enodious, and today I’ll be talking about Thomas Was Alone. I am a gameplay designer and a writer so I got the credentials to talk.

    Gameplay. Thomas Was Alone has some very simple gameplay. All you do is move around, which is not inherently a bad thing. Seeing as the game, itself, is a puzzle platformer, I don’t think that    Hello there everyone, I am the borderline disabled Gordoth Enodious, and today I’ll be talking about Thomas Was Alone. I am a gameplay designer and a writer so I got the credentials to talk.

    Gameplay.

    Thomas Was Alone has some very simple gameplay. All you do is move around, which is not inherently a bad thing. Seeing as the game, itself, is a puzzle platformer, I don’t think that having only one way of interacting with the environment is too bad. A bonus to this whole thing is the fact that the control is very smooth - it feels as if you are directing every one of the characters just as you intended, with the exceptions of some purposefully implemented mechanics which make everything unsteady.
    The player, which is you, has the task to get some rectangular shapes to a certain set of outlines. Most of those outlines are through some walls or on top of hard to reach places, so the player has to move the shapes and align them in such a way that they can jump on top of each other and reach the outlines. A simple enough premise, with a decent execution, but due to the fact that it is so simple, I feel as if it would be wrong to give this game an excellent rating in this field, and so my rating, for the gameplay, is a ⅔.

    Presentation.

    The way the game looks is very pleasant for the eyes. It is smooth, gentle, somewhat stylized and very, very appropriate for the 2D platformer that it is. The characters pop out of the drab backgrounds, thanks to their bright colors, yet they are not too bright so as to make one’s eyes hurt if they stare at them too long. The enemies, or rather the malicious forces, are all dark colors, allowing the player to easily make the distinction, which is very good.
    As simple as the graphical presentation is, due to the fact that everything is a square, it manages to look really good, and, for a game as old as Thomas Was Alone, this is quite the compliment.
    On the other side, the sound effects are few and far between, as there isn’t much happening. Whenever the player jumps, the rectangular shapes make a nice little noise, and that’s the most memorable thing about the sound effects. This is acceptable, for I don’t think a sound effect, in a game, has ever been especially memorable to me, or has changed my opinion of the game, even though some examples of AMAZING sound effects come to mind, they do not really affect my rating of the game.
    However, if the lackluster sound effects are coupled with a score, musical score, that is, then we have a problem. I’m afraid none of the musical pieces in the game were really memorable for me, safe for the main theme, which plays when the player is observing the main menu. I don’t think that really helps the game, so I’ll keep that into account.
    As a whole, the presentation of Thomas Was Alone is great, but it could have been better. Thus, I am giving it a ⅔.

    Story.
    Now, this is where things get interesting. All throughout the game there is one voice, a narrator, who keeps going on about things, telling the story of the game. It is a little disconnected at first, safe for certain moments in the game itself, after something is completed, but whenever a new character is introduced, that being another rectangular shape, the narrator is there to talk all about it.
    Interestingly enough, the narrator goes on to describe complex relationships between the rectangular shapes, details their own thoughts, in levels which have the player exclusively controlling one or two characters, and makes the player care for those rectangles.
    However, the main plot of the story is a bit forgettable. There is some system that starts spawning entities, those being the rectangular shapes, then it keeps going and anomalous shapes keep appearing, and then it starts deleting everything. The ending is a little morose and saddening, but I would not say it was unexpected.
    The story is rich in philosophical themes and I can appreciate that. I dare say it is the best thing about Thomas Was Alone, and so I am giving it the rating 3/3.

    Legendary Point.
    Does this tiny puzzle platformer warrant the legendary point? No. Even though I enjoyed Thomas Was Alone, it didn’t spark something within me. I clearly remember the visuals, so maybe they stuck, but I wouldn’t say that’s something to brag about, seeing as they were so simple, I’d be hard pressed not to be able to remember them. The game is fun, and I would recommend it, as it isn’t too difficult, but I would not go on to brag about its greatness.

    Conclusion.
    We have come to the point where I rate the game and do some maths for those who are too lazy. Thomas Was Alone, as a game, gets a 7/10 from me.

    It is good, better than average, and that’s what I want to see from games.
    check tumbrl for longer reviews; bby mode 5k words only inflating word counts for no reason - bah    … Expand
  11. mrnice
    Sep 4, 2013
    6
    Worth playing for the quality of the narration. Graphics are minimalistic throughout the game, there's absolutely nothing remarkable about them. The gameplay is standard-to-innovative puzzle platforming. Far from the most exciting gameplay I've played this year. Many segments seem like filler, included to make the story work. The story was good for a video game. I didn't finish the game,Worth playing for the quality of the narration. Graphics are minimalistic throughout the game, there's absolutely nothing remarkable about them. The gameplay is standard-to-innovative puzzle platforming. Far from the most exciting gameplay I've played this year. Many segments seem like filler, included to make the story work. The story was good for a video game. I didn't finish the game, but the story didn't involve me as much as expected. Maybe a second, full playthrough will reveal some quality I've missed. Slightly above mediocre game, albeit impressively original in some ways.… Expand
  12. doniell
    Jun 3, 2013
    7
    Everything storytelling, graphics, music, sound everything is very simple, but is still beautiful and works great. Now for the gameplay. It seems like the creator of this video game had endless possibilities for great puzzles, because every rectangle has a really unique ability. But the puzzles are all simple usually you don't even have to think twice. As a game, Thomas Was Alone isEverything storytelling, graphics, music, sound everything is very simple, but is still beautiful and works great. Now for the gameplay. It seems like the creator of this video game had endless possibilities for great puzzles, because every rectangle has a really unique ability. But the puzzles are all simple usually you don't even have to think twice. As a game, Thomas Was Alone is just nice, but nothing more.… Expand
  13. FR52
    Nov 28, 2013
    5
    Pros:- Minimalist design looks awesome
    - Great character development
    - A litte addictive because you want to -Very interesting and cool narrative. It's certainly a superb way to tell a story; Cons: but in the paper the story is just not that good - Boring and easy puzzles, which is where you spend most of your attention. I just find myself wanting the puzzles to end fast so I    Pros:- Minimalist design looks awesome
    - Great character development
    - A litte addictive because you want to
    -Very interesting and cool narrative. It's certainly a superb way to tell a story;

    Cons: but in the paper the story is just not that good
    - Boring and easy puzzles, which is where you spend most of your attention. I just find myself wanting the puzzles to end fast so I could know more about the story
    - No replay value
    - Controls could be better    … Expand
  14. Knightsabez
    Aug 29, 2017
    7
    I liked this game quite much, it's fun and simple, but it gets kind of deep. I don't know how a game about boxes can get deep, but i felt that the different boxes grew on me x) I spent a lot of time in this game, i explored, tried to get the achievements, but i gave up. it's worth a play.
  15. Wrathzo
    Mar 24, 2022
    7
    Thomas Was Alone is a puzzle-platform game created by Mike Bithell. In the game, the player controls one or more simple rectangles representing several out-of-control artificial intelligence entities, working with the shapes to get each to their individual end points on each level. Each shape is characterized by a unique name and personality, including the eponymous Thomas, which isThomas Was Alone is a puzzle-platform game created by Mike Bithell. In the game, the player controls one or more simple rectangles representing several out-of-control artificial intelligence entities, working with the shapes to get each to their individual end points on each level. Each shape is characterized by a unique name and personality, including the eponymous Thomas, which is conveyed to the player through the use of a narrator voiced by Danny Wallace.… Expand
  16. timmykimmel
    Sep 27, 2022
    5
    Cute, but boring. Ideas and story are nice, gameplay-wise it sucks. You sometimes get through the levels faster than the narrator has told the particular part of the story, so you wait at the exit to avoid interrupting him. This is not the only aspect that shows that the game simply lacks proper challenges.
    Technical deficits are equally disturbing: The game runs exclusively in 18:9, so    Cute, but boring. Ideas and story are nice, gameplay-wise it sucks. You sometimes get through the levels faster than the narrator has told the particular part of the story, so you wait at the exit to avoid interrupting him. This is not the only aspect that shows that the game simply lacks proper challenges.
    Technical deficits are equally disturbing: The game runs exclusively in 18:9, so on most screens the letterbox frames are part of the game. No frameless window mode, no mouse support, etc. etc. Most of this is not dramatic, but in total the unclean implementation is disturbing.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best PC Game of 2012
59
#59 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
65
#65 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Critical Hit
    Aug 29, 2013
    90
    Simple, straightforward and brilliant indie game. Pick it up at a bargain, or even pay full price; it is worth every penny. So well executed - a definite must play for any and everyone.
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  2. The Digital Fix
    Feb 25, 2013
    90
    We’ve seen several games this year past e.g. Fez, Spec Ops: The Line, which can truly be said to have advanced the medium, and I wholeheartedly include Thomas Was Alone in that group.
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  3. Thunderbolt
    Feb 19, 2013
    70
    Thomas Was Alone’s greatest strengths are in its storytelling and character. In this it fully exceeds, keeping me playing past the point of growing over familiar and dreary of the oft-repeated mechanical themes. But due to this it can be expected that many who start the adventure will never finish it, though, which is certainly a shame.
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