I’m a big fan of good puzzle games. I love the satisfying feeling of finally solving a hard puzzle, and sometimes the game just looks amazing (like The Talos Principle). Orbyss felt like a really fresh take on the puzzle genre, but it doesn’t really introduce something we haven’t seen yet. It features over 40 hand-crafted rooms set across different chapters in a strange, surreal universe. This game is all about thinking hard to solve problems instead of focusing on action, and it succeeds because it truly understands what makes puzzles fun.
Easy to Learn, Difficult to Master
The first thing you notice when you start playing is how beautiful the game looks. The world is an abstract place of light and shadow, where evil is slowly creeping in, breaking the peace and spreading darkness. The game tells this story wonderfully through its environments and various cut scenes. In general, playing it feels like a calm, meditative journey as you work to save the world. There is no pressure or time limit, allowing you to play at your own pace. The game simply offers hints and gets you solving puzzles that become more difficult as you continue playing.
Although the game is linear, meaning you move from one room or chapter to the next, it constantly introduces something new. These changes include things like switching orbs, freezing time, lining up geometric anomalies, rerouting energy, starting chain reactions, or even flying drones for precise deliveries. In fact, Orbyss introduces these ideas well; it doesn’t just throw everything at you at once. Instead, you get an easy starting level for each new mechanic, and then more complex layers are added as you keep playing.
Solving Puzzles with Music and Rhythm
I won’t lie, some puzzles made me stumble quite a bit, especially in the later chapters of the game. Like I said, there are hints you can use, ranging from simple text messages to visual guides showing you where to place orbs. Also, controlling the orbs is intuitive: you can either pull them toward you or order them to move, but they have a range limit. Since you can switch between different balls, you always have to keep that mechanic in mind. Sadly, there aren’t many different ways to solve the puzzles; there seemed to be only one perfect solution, so I didn’t spend much time experimenting.
Orbyss is also a very forgiving game. If you fail a puzzle, you can easily restart just the room without being forced to go back to the beginning of the entire chapter. Plus, you can always choose which chapter or level you want to play from the main menu, making it easy to replay any part. My favorite part, though, is how sound and music are key to solving the puzzles. For example, you might have to correctly match a sound you hear to move through loops and play a rhythm to open new paths.
Highly Recommended
Once you finish the main game, there are still achievements to collect, such as finding the small red creatures hidden throughout the levels. The developer also mentioned special challenges that force you to complete a level using as few switches as possible to unlock certain rewards. In total, the game has about eight chapters, and you will have a lot of fun playing through them. If you do happen to struggle with a puzzle, I highly recommend not giving up, as the correct answer will eventually come to you.
Were there any major issues? Not really. The game ran very smoothly, I didn’t run into any bugs, glitches, or drops in FPS. My only minor critique is that some puzzles could have been explained a little better, or maybe the hints should have made figuring them out slightly easier.
In the end, I was really surprised by how great the atmosphere, sound design, and mechanics of Orbyss are. It’s not just that the mechanics are good; everything in the game fits together perfectly. While the art style is mostly the same and the look might feel repetitive sometimes, the sheer effort put into this game is clearly visible. If you are a fan of puzzle games, you should definitely pick this one up. It’s also a great choice if you are looking for a game that is not too simple, yet is relaxing and easy to understand.
Pros
- Beautiful Art & Atmosphere: Striking use of light and shadow creates a serene, abstract world with a strong narrative presence.
- Relaxing & Meditative Gameplay: No time limits or pressure, allowing players to enjoy puzzles at their own pace.
- Evolving Puzzle Design: Constantly introduces new mechanics like orb switching, freezing time, and energy rerouting, all taught naturally.
- Sound-Based Puzzles: Creative integration of music and sound cues into puzzle-solving adds depth and immersion.
- Polished Experience: Smooth performance, intuitive controls, and forgiving checkpoints make it accessible and frustration-free.
Cons
- Limited Puzzle Guidance: Some puzzles lack clear explanations or offer only one rigid solution, reducing experimentation.
Review copy provided by the publisher
4.5
