Balan Wonderworld

 Switch
Balan Wonderworld Image
Metascore
36

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 311 Ratings

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  • Summary: Balan Wonderworld is a wondrous action-platformer game themed around a mysterious musical theatre. The stars of the show will use special abilities from a multitude of characterful costumes as they adventure in the bizarre and imaginary land of Wonderworld. Here memories and vistas from theBalan Wonderworld is a wondrous action-platformer game themed around a mysterious musical theatre. The stars of the show will use special abilities from a multitude of characterful costumes as they adventure in the bizarre and imaginary land of Wonderworld. Here memories and vistas from the real world mix with the things that people hold dear. Twelve different tales await our stars in Wonderworld, each with their own unique quirks. They will explore all corners of these labyrinthine stages, using all the tricks and gimmicks hidden along the way, to get to the heart of each touching story.… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 6 out of 9
  1. Digitally Downloaded
    Apr 7, 2021
    70
    I genuinely love Balan Wonderworld because it caught me at just the right moment to indulge its whimsy. I don't for a second think it's a great game or platformer, but then I also just don't care. It offers something much more viscerally engaging; raw creative energy, and I would rather a hundred games fall flat like this one has and at least give me something different than play yet another highly refined copy of something I've already played a hundred times. Sometimes, just sometimes, raw creativity is enough in itself.
  2. XGN
    Apr 16, 2021
    55
    Balan Wonderworld looks great but feels incomplete. The game lets you journey through six different stories while collecting golden statues and morphing from one outfit to another. There are 80 different outfits in the game, but some of them feel double or not useful at all. Where the game is great to play alone, the multiplayer feels rushed, where player two doesn't get to do all the things player one can. That being said, the game feels like a great way for kids to spend time.
  3. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 17, 2021
    50
    This game is far too undercooked. [Issue #52 – May/June 2021, p. 73]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Digital Trends
    Mar 29, 2021
    30
    Balan Wonderworld is a hodge-podge of half-formed platforming ideas that squander a whole lot of charm.
  5. Siliconera
    Apr 9, 2021
    30
    Balan Wonderworld is not comfortable or fun to play. It isn’t memorable. If you want to understand everything happening, you have to buy the ebook and go to that outside source for an explanation. It is bland, repetitious, and has design choices that are the opposite of ensuring a good quality of life. It is a clear example of a situation where you should read the book, rather than play the game. There are times when it feels like a fever dream, something too weird to actually be true, as it fades from your mind. But then you look at that icon in your system’s Home menu and know it really happened.
  6. NintendoWorldReport
    Mar 31, 2021
    30
    Balan Wonderworld will leave you with a sense of wonder. A nagging sort of wonder. The kind of wonder that makes you wonder. Wonder how a game could so masterfully miss literally every opportunity to treat its players with a modicum of respect. Wonder how a very well known publisher could stomach having it in their library. Wonder what in the world happened with the Switch version. Wonder where your $60 went.
  7. Pocket Tactics
    Mar 29, 2021
    20
    Balan Wonderworld is an otherworldly disaster: tedious to play, visually repellent, and – at least on Switch – stomach-churning to control.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 181
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 181
  3. Negative: 114 out of 181
  1. Iamconfusion
    Apr 3, 2023
    10
    2nd best game ever made, I am very trustworthy ;) As you should expect, the creators of Sonic 06 have delivered the 2nd best game ever made,2nd best game ever made, I am very trustworthy ;) As you should expect, the creators of Sonic 06 have delivered the 2nd best game ever made, behind Sonic 06.… Expand
  2. Eddie-Bim
    Mar 28, 2021
    10
    The most lovely and charming platform game made.
    I'll suggest everyone to play this wonderful game
  4. Olony
    Mar 27, 2021
    10
    The first thing I value in a game is undoubtedly its gameplay.
    And in that, Balan Wonderworld is promoted with the highest rating, imho.
    A    The first thing I value in a game is undoubtedly its gameplay.
    And in that, Balan Wonderworld is promoted with the highest rating, imho.
    A large part of the levels created in this game seem to be created in a bizarre way, but at the same time in an extremely clever way.
    Hidden passages, secret streets and intriguing maps accompany this work that winks at the classic games of past generations, in a good way.
    (especially if you love games like NiGHTS or Croc, you will also love this Balan Wonderworld)

    I can be more than satisfied, despite everything.
    And I would say that I can confidently recommend it.
    Especially if you are looking for an intriguing and surprising platformer.

    P.S .: the game's soundtrack is great.    … Expand
  5. Glasso
    Mar 31, 2021
    1
    Wow! Wow! Wow! what a sad attempt by the publisher/ developer to put a load of fake user ratings here on metacritic. This "game" is anWow! Wow! Wow! what a sad attempt by the publisher/ developer to put a load of fake user ratings here on metacritic. This "game" is an atrocity and a literal waste of data storage space.… Expand
  6. HypnoTheSpy
    Mar 4, 2023
    0
    Yeah, what do you want me to say? This game is just plainly bad and it baffles me how industry veterans like Yuji Naka were able to createYeah, what do you want me to say? This game is just plainly bad and it baffles me how industry veterans like Yuji Naka were able to create something like this. Don't buy it, even for the joke.… Expand
  7. deeznuts76
    Apr 19, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this game **** sucks. Sonic mother**** Forces did better than the **** stain that is balan in his ****ty ass wonderworld they need to die die DIE this game **** sucks. Sonic mother**** Forces did better than the **** stain that is balan in his ****ty ass wonderworld they need to die die DIE this game **** sucks. Sonic mother**** Forces did better than the **** stain that is balan in his ****ty ass wonderworld they need to die die DIE this game **** sucks. Sonic mother**** Forces did better than the **** stain that is balan in his ****ty ass wonderworld they need to die die DIE… Expand
  8. Phlaveeoh
    Mar 28, 2021
    0
    The game barely works well, biggest flop of the current gen.
    Not to mention the problems of EPILEPSY that causes the final boss fight

See all 181 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021