101 Ways to Die

 Xbox One
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. XBLA Fans
    Jun 2, 2016
    60
    101 Ways to Die shines brightest when it makes players feel like an evil mastermind; however, it often struggles to maintain this feeling the further in the game players go. Bugs and crashes, similar environments and a high difficulty curve often left me feeling more akin to a child playing with Tinkertoys than a mad genius playing with tools of destruction.
  2. MondoXbox
    May 28, 2016
    73
    A quite unique puzzle game with entertaining mechanics even if sometimes frustrating. Too bad for the generic and uninspired design.
  3. Brash Games
    Apr 21, 2016
    50
    What you get here is a puzzle game with a difference, and that in itself is to be commended in an age of Portal and Minecraft clones. It’s just a shame that the execution isn’t much better, when the game backs itself into a corner with its own story premise and confines itself to boring environments and dull characters for an experience that sometimes feels as painful as some of the deaths onscreen.
  5. Gaming Nexus
    Apr 8, 2016
    80
    Even if it is a bit one-note, 101 Ways to Die is an irreverent puzzle game whose sheer fun potential outweighs its frustrations.
  6. ICXM
    Apr 4, 2016
    90
    Any fan of the physics-based puzzle genre will appreciate the care and thoughtfulness put into each and every puzzle in 101 Ways To Die. Even though the final world felt like a wrap-up, it plays like the last bite of a cheeseburger–incredible. I truly consider this game to be a highlight of the current generation.
  7. Pure Xbox
    Mar 18, 2016
    70
    An opportunity to use your creativity in dastardly ways; 101 Ways to Die's use of physics and Rube Goldberg-style chain reactions is an enjoyable entry into the puzzle genre.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 2 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. GamesXtreme
    Aug 31, 2016
    6
    Take the basic concept of Lemmings, and flip it on it's head. Got the idea? No? OK remember how Lemmings played. You had these cute littleTake the basic concept of Lemmings, and flip it on it's head. Got the idea? No? OK remember how Lemmings played. You had these cute little fellas all in danger and you had to plug gaps where they could fall to their death, or make them activate an umbrella as a parachute, dig through blockages, etc. all before time runs out.

    Now remove the time limit, and flip the concept by designing traps to stop your 'lab rats' from escaping the lab zone, You fail if just one gets away so it can take more than one attempt to succeed, but if you have a twisted enough imagination and the patience to do so, then you may well find much to enjoy and amuse you in this title.

    It is what it is, a multi room or chamber set piece with an entrance and an exit, just stop the specimens leaving the chamber. Like I said, take Lemmings and flip it on it's head and you have the game in a nutshell.

    It's not rocket science but it's not easy either. Is it fun? Yeah kind of but the novelty value may wear off for some and it only lures me back to it from time to time, so yeah fun but lacks the give me one more go factor of say Lemmings or solo play Worms or even Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare, so it's an OK kind of game but not amazing.

    It amuses, entertains but just fails to engage as much as it could/should have. It's a shame, because it could have been just a little bit more.    … Full Review »
  2. GBHBL
    Apr 27, 2016
    7
    101 Ways To Die is a game about killing but not just plain old gunshot to the head type of killing, which would be too quick and easy. It101 Ways To Die is a game about killing but not just plain old gunshot to the head type of killing, which would be too quick and easy. It gives the player the tools and challenges you to be as creative as your twisted mind possibly can be.

    In this physics based puzzle-platformer you’ll play assistant to mad scientist Professor Splattunfuder; a scientist, inventor and weapons manufacturer of questionable sanity. Nearing the end of his career, he devoted himself to a terrible “recipe book” focused on the death and destruction of his enemies, preferably using the most stylish methods possible. An unfortunate laboratory accident resulted in the destruction of the first draft and now it’s down to you to assist him piece the fragments back together.

    As each level begins, you are given the opportunity to place traps and contraptions in whatever way you see fit. There always seems to be the possibility to create a chain reaction of blood and destruction but these can be quite tough to pull off as you get further into the game. You’ll need to plan smart and visualize exactly how things will go down once the unsuspecting Splatts arrive.

    The game starts you off slow and I found the tutorial very helpful because it can be quite confusing at first. However, once you fully understand it can be extremely satisfying at times and yet a little frustrating at others. Maybe I’m just not very good at this game but I found myself replaying levels several times, trial and error was the method that worked best for me. It can be quite tedious to repeatedly fail the same level over and over just because a certain trap was placed slightly in the wrong place or a bomb explosion was timed half a second too early. Now, don’t get me wrong I understand that this is exactly what the game is all about and that it requires players to be patient.

    After a couple of levels it does get kind of samey so I would recommend playing a couple of levels here and there so it stays fresh and enjoyable.

    Still, I must admit that it is extremely satisfying to witness the carnage unfold once everything is placed perfectly. It’s just the later levels are so well designed and elaborate, you’re given so many items to place it can be kind of overwhelming. By the end of some levels, you’ll certainly get a huge kick out of seeing Splatts get maimed, sliced, burned, exploded, ripped and impaled. 101 Ways To Die requires you to think but it’s rewarding and has a dark sense of humour, it’s a lot of fun to play around with. While the visuals are nothing to write home about, I found the cartoon style fitted the game nicely.

    101 Ways To Die looks pretty simplistic on the surface but hiding beneath is a really smart, well designed puzzle platformer that is a bunch of fun in short bursts.    … Full Review »