Braid

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 486 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 400 out of 486
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 486
  3. Negative: 45 out of 486

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  1. ScreenS
    Aug 17, 2023
    4
    I finally got around to playing this recently, and I have to say I was quite disappointed. Starting with the positives; for a game made in 2006 by one man it’s impressive both how well it controls, and how deep the puzzle mechanics go. And the fact that this game decided to forgo the life counter when major studios (Nintendo) are still using them in 2023 means it aged quite well.

    The    I finally got around to playing this recently, and I have to say I was quite disappointed. Starting with the positives; for a game made in 2006 by one man it’s impressive both how well it controls, and how deep the puzzle mechanics go. And the fact that this game decided to forgo the life counter when major studios (Nintendo) are still using them in 2023 means it aged quite well.

    The problems however is its non-committal attitude to collectibles. The fact that the only real gameplay is getting collectibles which can be skipped almost entirely would be ok if the leveled featured any kind of content to beat them. And a game that favors completionists over casuals would be fine if it also didn’t punish them by having unskilled and mind numbing sections that just waste your time. The only group of people who would enjoy this would be someone willing to give up after 99% completion.    … Expand
  2. edxtan
    Nov 27, 2022
    6
    Braid's puzzles can be pretty clever, but the mechanics you have to solve them with are sluggish. Also, the fact that each world has its own unique rules can make the game feel unintuitive.
  3. B00tador
    Nov 28, 2021
    7
    Pretty good for the time, not something I'd replay in a hurry though. Original.
  4. badmuchachob
    Aug 13, 2021
    4
    Gameplay and art style is on point, however I am baffled as why people call this a "masterclass in level design". The puzzle pieces are disguised as optional collectables... until you beat all of the worlds and realize you need to collect every single one to reach the final world. It also doesn't help that some of the puzzles are impossible to figure out without a walkthrough. I can alsoGameplay and art style is on point, however I am baffled as why people call this a "masterclass in level design". The puzzle pieces are disguised as optional collectables... until you beat all of the worlds and realize you need to collect every single one to reach the final world. It also doesn't help that some of the puzzles are impossible to figure out without a walkthrough. I can also appreciate it draws inspiration from older platformers like Super Mario Bros., but I feel like it borrows too much. Overall - a great idea executed poorly.… Expand
  5. neiklot
    Dec 24, 2020
    10
    One of the best games I've played in my whole life. Please, do yourself a favour and play it.
  6. kvnd
    May 16, 2020
    7
    Beautiful looking and sounding game, a little bit pretentious in its narrative, but expertly designed and crafted. Braid is one of those games that makes you feel like a genius after you've solved a puzzle, even though the puzzle's creator Jonathon Blow is the real genius. Although my score isn't sky high, I'm not really a fan of puzzle games, and I completed Braid in its entirety, so thatBeautiful looking and sounding game, a little bit pretentious in its narrative, but expertly designed and crafted. Braid is one of those games that makes you feel like a genius after you've solved a puzzle, even though the puzzle's creator Jonathon Blow is the real genius. Although my score isn't sky high, I'm not really a fan of puzzle games, and I completed Braid in its entirety, so that says something… Expand
  7. ConsoleJacques
    Nov 2, 2019
    9
    Excellent and beautiful game. Really enjoyable to play, or even just to watch.
  8. MusashiAX
    May 10, 2019
    8
    Braid es un plataformero con puzzles muy inteligentes que utilizan la manipulación del tiempo como motor principal. posee un total de 6 mundos y cada uno es único al utilizar el tiempo de una forma diferente.
    - Rebobinar el tiempo
    - Ralentizar el tiempo - Puertas, llaves y enemigos atemporales - Clones de dimensiones paralelas que repetiran lo que hiciste en tu anterior rebobinacion -    Braid es un plataformero con puzzles muy inteligentes que utilizan la manipulación del tiempo como motor principal. posee un total de 6 mundos y cada uno es único al utilizar el tiempo de una forma diferente.
    - Rebobinar el tiempo
    - Ralentizar el tiempo
    - Puertas, llaves y enemigos atemporales
    - Clones de dimensiones paralelas que repetiran lo que hiciste en tu anterior rebobinacion
    - Moverse en una cinte de tiempo, el cual ira avanzara al futuro cuando vayas a la derecha y al pasado si vas a la izquierda,
    - El tiempo va en reversa.

    El juego también posee jefes con los que deberás utilizar el efecto del mundo para ganar.

    En el tramo final el juego aprovecha de una excelente forma la kinesica del juego y el efecto del mapa para revelarnos la conclusión. Aunque no todo esta contado kinesicamente, que hubiese sido lo ideal, algunas partes tienes que leerlas en libros opcionales.

    El apartado visual es decente y la jugabilidad sencilla, pero que brilla por lo creativo del diseño de niveles y lo distintivo de los retos a cumplir por la manipulacion del tiempo. El juego es algo corto, pero muy bueno.    … Expand
  9. CenkAlp
    Jan 3, 2018
    5
    Hikaye = 6
    Oynanış = 8
    Grafikler = 5
    Sesler = 7
    Keyif = 5
    Atmosfer = 5
    Süre = 5
  10. Broyax
    Sep 16, 2017
    0
    Dans l'indé puant du jour, on a le petit jeu de plate-forme 2D 256 couleurs avec un petit bonhomme qui saute et grimpe des échelles -du classique- mais il ne porte ni la casquette ni la moustache, ce qui est vraiment regrettable.

    On note également l'absence de champignons magiques, ce qui est fort dommageable parce qu'il faut en bouffer des champis pour jouer à ce truc-là ! En effet,    Dans l'indé puant du jour, on a le petit jeu de plate-forme 2D 256 couleurs avec un petit bonhomme qui saute et grimpe des échelles -du classique- mais il ne porte ni la casquette ni la moustache, ce qui est vraiment regrettable.

    On note également l'absence de champignons magiques, ce qui est fort dommageable parce qu'il faut en bouffer des champis pour jouer à ce truc-là ! En effet, aucune personne sensée ne peut "jouer" à un truc pareil, un truc qui ferait mourir de honte une vieille Gameboy Color. Avec les bruitages prout-prout et surtout l'ignoble musique sirupeuse qui dégouline de partout !

    Innovation incroyable cependant avec la possibilité de revenir en arrière dans le temps ! de quoi faire tout le "jeu" en moonwalk pour les plus persévérants mais là, les champis ne suffisent plus, il faut aussi fumer toute la moquette.

    Bref, le néant vidéo-ludique opportuniste pour joueurs Télérama en somme (mé cé tro frais tavu !).    … Expand
  11. Xonatron
    Jun 27, 2016
    10
    One of my favorite games of the last 10..15 years on any platform. Highly recommended. Do not look at spoilers and finish the game to fully appreciate it!
  12. RShackleford
    Oct 31, 2015
    10
    This game is a wonderful and clever puzzle-solving platformer. If you're a fan of portal, buy this game, it's a treat. This game is proof positive that 2-D games do indeed have a place in modern gaming.
  13. Termin8ter
    Apr 1, 2015
    9
    Braid is just awesome. There's nothing wrong about it that I can think of. It's like Mario, except its more complex, you can go back in time and its set somewhere in the 1920's-30's. I found that Braid is actually much more challenging than Mario, in Mario you die only by having a lack of skill. In Braid, you die by having a lack of a brain. You actually have to use your brain. Buy this game.
  14. FREEMAN0905
    Feb 8, 2015
    0
    Los superdotados intelectuales deberían meterse a científicos y arreglarnos la vida a todos, en lugar de ponerse a diseñar videojuegos y perpetrar mamonadas como esta. Es un juego seguramente IMPOSIBLE para la mayoría de los mortales. Algunos puzles son difíciles de hacer incluso mirando la solución en internet. Y para colmo es uno de los juegos indies más cortos. Algo no cuadra: o casiLos superdotados intelectuales deberían meterse a científicos y arreglarnos la vida a todos, en lugar de ponerse a diseñar videojuegos y perpetrar mamonadas como esta. Es un juego seguramente IMPOSIBLE para la mayoría de los mortales. Algunos puzles son difíciles de hacer incluso mirando la solución en internet. Y para colmo es uno de los juegos indies más cortos. Algo no cuadra: o casi todos los que hacen críticas de juegos en la prensa son inteligentísimos (ja) o había alguien muy interesado en vendernos la burra. Por mí, Jonathan Blowjo... puede meterse The Witness por donde le quepa. Y no, no soy un tonto amante del gatillo fácil ni un superdotado, pero por lo menos, me acabo sin problemas y sin guías juegos como Limbo o Shadow of the Colossus.… Expand
  15. Winterspark
    Jan 15, 2015
    5
    Neither a good platform game nor a good puzzle game. Don't get me wrong it has its moments but compared to the rather large number of 10/10 reviews here, I genuinely wondered if I was playing the same game.
  16. squarewindow
    Jan 7, 2015
    10
    Some videogames contain certain "moments". Moments which are forever memorable because they proffer a gameplay mechanic which thinks outside the box and challenges the very preconceived design ideas that developers themselves, let alone gamers, take for granted as gospel. Think the moment when the visuals start pulsing in time with the beat and the rumble of the joypad the first time youSome videogames contain certain "moments". Moments which are forever memorable because they proffer a gameplay mechanic which thinks outside the box and challenges the very preconceived design ideas that developers themselves, let alone gamers, take for granted as gospel. Think the moment when the visuals start pulsing in time with the beat and the rumble of the joypad the first time you played Rez, making your brain momentarily unsure which of your senses was being engaged. Or that moment in Portal when you learned that you could create your own orange and blue doorways to navigate around the level, and that thinking with portals was going to be absolutely necessary in order to make any progress through the game. The classics are usually the games which bestow upon you the experience of one of these moments. Well, its possible to finish Braid within 45 minutes and yet it manages to pack in not one, but about six of these moments.

    Time and space are truly intertwined within the fabric of Braid like in no other game I can think of. The puzzles in each of the six different worlds are centred around a specific space-time law, and the joy of discovering how each one of these abstract rules works is what I'm referring to when I describe these special moments.

    The first world introduces the ability to rewind time, which, apart from being of crucial puzzle-navigating importance, also has an additional advantage. It means that the hero, Tim, can never die, since you are able to simply revert back to before the point when his "death" occurred. This is just a cleverly-disguised way of enabling you to retry - totally on your own terms, without having to start again from an arbitrary checkpoint. It feels more natural and certainly less of a hindrance compared with how death is handled in almost every other videogame. After all, how many games will end in absolute failure when your character dies? Very few. Therefore Braid benefits enormously from this approach to demise.

    Subsequent worlds' innovations include objects unaffected by the reversal of time, interactive shadows triggered by the rewinding of time, the warping of time around a localised point and, brilliantly, the linking of the passage of time relative to Tim's location on the horizontal plane. When this world's trick became apparent to me it felt as if 20 years' worth of videogame conventions were being blown away right before my eyes, and a brand new part of my brain that I didn't know even existed started to whirr up into operation. Taking on board each of these rules and then applying the knowledge of their workings to solve each conundrum is an immensely satisfying undertaking, especially with the trickier puzzles. This is how it should be, this is videogaming as its own reward. No lazy "collect x number of things" objectives. Although you do receive a jigsaw piece after completing each puzzle, these are not meaningless trinkets, being both incorporated into the story and even spectacularly in one instance being a component of another, wider puzzle themselves.

    Much like Tim himself, Braid skips merrily along to the tune of its beautifully melancholy soundtrack, doffing its cap to some of its influences as it goes, in search of the princess who always seems to be in another castle. Never recycling ideas, although sometimes reusing settings, but only in the context of a new space-time rule, essentially meaning a completely new puzzle. At times it might feel a bit pretentious, but it deserves to be. It's better than almost everything else out there. It was also the game that gave the recent indie revolution some undeniable clout.

    Jonathan Blow is a genius but whatever he goes on to achieve in his career he will never top Braid.    … Expand
  17. envoy83
    Jan 1, 2015
    10
    Braid is my favourite platform game of all time. There are longer, more classic and difficult games out there, but this is the most complete and potent game I have played in 30 years of doing not much else.

    The mechanics and story mingle to create a game which is as deep as you are willing to go. I still sit there staring at the home screen thinking about what this game is really    Braid is my favourite platform game of all time. There are longer, more classic and difficult games out there, but this is the most complete and potent game I have played in 30 years of doing not much else.

    The mechanics and story mingle to create a game which is as deep as you are willing to go. I still sit there staring at the home screen thinking about what this game is really saying.

    Even a straight run through with no pause to consider the meaning of the game will give you some of the most technically accomplished puzzles ever put out. There isnt a platformer I can name as diverse as Braid, with each world possesing its own set of rules and opportunities for toying with time. It has made me sit back and clap myself for completing the puzzle. Self congratulating moments are earned in this game but it really does make you feel smarter than you are. Clever, clever game.

    The twist will truly mess with your head. As for replayability, after completing the game you can search out for impossibly hidden stars which are sometimes just as hard to reach even once they're located. They alter the final stage piece by piece, allowing for some time bending tricks which unlock a secret ending if you attempt to do something which would seemingly break the game. This in itself gives new answers and new questions to the player.

    Braid tests your execution and understanding of your environment. The more you can develop these, the better the game gets. 10/10    … Expand
  18. ragekoi
    Jul 19, 2013
    9
    A digital marvel. Provides mind-boggling puzzles with a somewhat challenging learning curve. The design is incredibly intuitive. It never treats the player like someone who has never played a game before. That being said, an inexperienced and non-exploratory player might not experience the game to it's fullest potential on their first playthrough, for most of the puzzle pieces areA digital marvel. Provides mind-boggling puzzles with a somewhat challenging learning curve. The design is incredibly intuitive. It never treats the player like someone who has never played a game before. That being said, an inexperienced and non-exploratory player might not experience the game to it's fullest potential on their first playthrough, for most of the puzzle pieces are optional and easily skippable. The art direction is fantastic. It's simplistic yet stunning all at the same time. The story is somewhat non-existent. It's possible to play through the entire game and emerge completely oblivious to the plot. For the curious and inquisitive players, the story is a chore to figure out, but once you do, you will find that it's actually quite saddening The atmosphere was somber enough, but if you possess knowledge of the plot, Braid will seem that much more depressing. If I had to have one gripe, it would be that sometimes the game puts too much trust into the player. The game often treats the player like a genius, when in reality the player is not. Some of the puzzle pieces and another type of secret (which I shall not spoil) are extremely hard to reach and force the player to end up giving into using a walkthrough. At that point, the level of immersion is heavily lowered, as you are taken out of the game completely. Other than that, Braid is a fantastic experience that exploits the exquisite potential of indie games worldwide, and also paves the way for more mature and respectful video games to come.… Expand
  19. koopa009
    Jul 18, 2013
    2
    Puzzles on a vertical difficulty slope and gimmicks that are not explained nor fleshed out in any detail make this game a pile of over-hyped, over-priced, over-flogged nonsense.
  20. electriclight41
    Jun 3, 2013
    8
    A modern interpretation of Mario, Braid is among the most visually stunning games you'll find. When combined with the pleasant soundtrack and minimalistic story, it creates a pleasantly unique ambiance. The gameplay in general isn't innovative, but it works. And the time-changing mechanism is nice when executed properly. Overall, I think Braid is short and overrated, but it's definitelyA modern interpretation of Mario, Braid is among the most visually stunning games you'll find. When combined with the pleasant soundtrack and minimalistic story, it creates a pleasantly unique ambiance. The gameplay in general isn't innovative, but it works. And the time-changing mechanism is nice when executed properly. Overall, I think Braid is short and overrated, but it's definitely worth playing.… Expand
  21. drlowdon
    Apr 20, 2013
    8
    A 2D platformer that makes clever use of time control mechanics, such as rewinding and speeding up time, to create some well thought out puzzles. The subtle hints as to what is actually going on in terms of plot will also intrigue most players enough to have them looking on forums for other peoples thoughts.
  22. Derkamite
    Apr 1, 2013
    9
    *9.4* Music and visuals create an atmosphere that is spot on. Puzzles that push your mind out of its comfort zone. A story that is left to interpretation and an ending that is presented better than any game before it.
  23. star_gazing
    Feb 18, 2013
    10
    for those looking for an interactive story, play Braid. For those who want a unique and original game, play Braid. for those looking for a challenge of the mind, play Braid. This is absolutely one of the more beautiful games for how simple it is to play and yet so complicated. The music is some of the best, the artwork is beautiful, and just overall You can't stop saying praises. It's afor those looking for an interactive story, play Braid. For those who want a unique and original game, play Braid. for those looking for a challenge of the mind, play Braid. This is absolutely one of the more beautiful games for how simple it is to play and yet so complicated. The music is some of the best, the artwork is beautiful, and just overall You can't stop saying praises. It's a challenging platformer with it's own twist.… Expand
  24. hammus
    Feb 6, 2013
    10
    It's Braid's moving, off-beat narrative and matching soundtrack that make it brilliant. The Van Gogh-esque visuals are stunning and Jami Seiber's haunting cello runs through the game like a Seam.
  25. Flynwik
    Nov 13, 2012
    10
    To review this game, I had to read other user reviews done on this site. And to be honest, I realized something: every person who gave this game a negative or even mixed review is just not getting the concept of the game or too simple to solve it's puzzles. But let me talk about the game itself. The graphics are real simple yet so beautiful. It really is a soothing game to look at. As forTo review this game, I had to read other user reviews done on this site. And to be honest, I realized something: every person who gave this game a negative or even mixed review is just not getting the concept of the game or too simple to solve it's puzzles. But let me talk about the game itself. The graphics are real simple yet so beautiful. It really is a soothing game to look at. As for the music, it makes me feel lost in the game. Famous developers now a days don't concentrate on music and forget that music is part of the whole experience (Not all though, Music in Skyrim is awesome). The music in Braid just makes me feel like I'm in a different plain all together. Honestly, even if the gameplay was crap I'd still give it a 9 just because of the music (sorry for the exaggeration). But, fortunately, the gameplay is anything BUT crap. I found some people referring to it as a Super Mario clone. That is just WRONG. Some other people say that the game lacks fun. Have fun playing Call Of Duty because this game is not for simpletons like you. I had immense fun playing this game and challenging my brain. And I will be honest. THIS GAME IS HARD. I found myself pounding my head and screaming at the screen at some points of the game where the puzzles get so crazy. But did that ever make me quit? Never. I didn't quit any Point and Click adventure in my life so I am not quiting this. The gameplay is mostly platforming and jumping on enemies. Then it introduces Time Manipulation in a brilliant way. And every world has a theme to it, like one world is all about rewinding time, the other is about stopping and forwarding...etc. The game is beautiful to say the least. As for the story, it feels more or less like a poem. It was MEANT to be misleading and hard to get. Although I still don't fully grasp the story, It still is an interesting one. But If I wanted to rate a story I would review a Point And Click adventure not Braid. Did Limbo have an amazing story? Exactly. I gave this game a 10 because it deserves it. And it is not over-rated at all. This game deserves the support of everyone and to rate it lower than a 9 is saying that you are a Call Of Duty fan. Which means: Don't rate our games you gamer wanna-bes.… Expand
  26. drunkenmuse
    Nov 1, 2012
    10
    Using some new and a few rare game play elements, Braid plays like few other games. There's also a lot of thought put into this game - the layered story and increasingly complex puzzles makes this a game great for anyone looking for more intellectual content in games as well as someone just wanting a puzzling platformer.
  27. ibleepedadog
    Aug 16, 2012
    10
    The first time I downloaded this I had a bad experience ( I kind of had to pay twice ), but that didn't put me off this fantastic game. The way this game is so artistic and beautiful really pulls you in to the unique puzzles and storyline. The music in this game is also extremely atmospheric and fits in well with the game as a whole. You will find it hard not to fall in love with thisThe first time I downloaded this I had a bad experience ( I kind of had to pay twice ), but that didn't put me off this fantastic game. The way this game is so artistic and beautiful really pulls you in to the unique puzzles and storyline. The music in this game is also extremely atmospheric and fits in well with the game as a whole. You will find it hard not to fall in love with this extremely poetic and well made game.… Expand
  28. PlanByHero
    Apr 26, 2012
    10
    One of the most unusual, enjoyable, original games I've ever played. Wonderful. I would have liked it to be longer but whats there is flawless.

    Can be quite challenging at times but as the in game hints say - avoid looking up cheats/walkthroughs as it's so much more fulfilling when you have that "AHA!" moment.
  29. Meridius
    Mar 22, 2012
    10
    Simple gameplay that invites the player's inquisitiveness to explore, which is rewarded with a profound story and sophisticated puzzles put on the backdrop of impressionism and minimalism art and music. What really makes this game special is that it doesn't "hold your hand" as you play - it respects the player as someone who wants to solve problems, thus allowing them to solve the puzzlesSimple gameplay that invites the player's inquisitiveness to explore, which is rewarded with a profound story and sophisticated puzzles put on the backdrop of impressionism and minimalism art and music. What really makes this game special is that it doesn't "hold your hand" as you play - it respects the player as someone who wants to solve problems, thus allowing them to solve the puzzles if/when they want to - and shakes loose from conventions popular in video gaming, such as starting at 'World 1' or giving you objectives to complete.

    The metaphorical interpretation along with progressing the idea of 'video game' make Braid not only a great game, but a important video game in the industry's history. This is a must play for any player who wishes to see video games - at least some of them - respected as art.    … Expand
  30. THEonlyCRITIC
    Mar 6, 2012
    0
    This game is nothing but a repetitive borefest with a time travelling gimmick. The level design is extremely generic, especially for a platformer. Plus, there is absolutely no replay value. You have to 100% the game just to get to the last "world", which is actually just a cutscene. I don't know why most people think that it is one of the greatest indy games of all time, when it isThis game is nothing but a repetitive borefest with a time travelling gimmick. The level design is extremely generic, especially for a platformer. Plus, there is absolutely no replay value. You have to 100% the game just to get to the last "world", which is actually just a cutscene. I don't know why most people think that it is one of the greatest indy games of all time, when it is actually one of the worst.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
13
#13 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
16
#16 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 57
  3. Negative: 0 out of 57
  1. IGN
    88
    Imaginative, innovative, and engrossing, Braid is a spectacular achievement. If only the experience lasted a little longer and there weren't as many puzzles with singular solutions.
    Read full review
  2. X-ONE Magazine UK
    80
    You can't put a price on innovation. [Issue#34, p.116]
  3. Eurogamer
    100
    Braid is beautiful, entertaining and inspiring. It stretches both intellect and emotion, and these elements dovetail beautifully rather than chaffing against each other. Still wondering if games can be art? Here's your answer.
    Read full review
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