Game: Backworlds
Genre: Platformer, Puzzle
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam)
Developers | Publishers: Logic Ember Limited | Skymap Games
Age Rating: US E | EU 3+
Price: US $9.99 | UK £7.39 | EU € 8,27
Release Date: May 20th, 2021
Review code used, with many thanks to Keymailer
Backworlds is a multi-dimensional puzzle platform game in which you explore by painting, platforming and puzzling, let’s take a look at it.
A Cat..Possibly
You play as a cat with two tails, at least I think it’s a cat, anyway this cat has the ability to move between two parallel dimensions. Each with its own unique set of properties, using your paintbrush (right stick) to flow seamlessly from one to the other.
Unlike most puzzle games there is the feel of an open world to Backworlds as the game is non-linear. From the off, you can basically head whichever way you want to. Each screen is a new level, with all the screens connected, and the game lets you teleport around the map. I really like the way the game is laid out and the map is very useful to have.
As it’s so open you are free to explore anywhere you want. Get stuck and can’t solve a puzzle on one screen, then you can move on to the next. With the ability to teleport you can zip back and forward to finish puzzles you may have got stuck on.
No Story
There isn’t any story in Backworlds, though the puzzles more then make up for the lack of story. Initially, the puzzle-platforming appears quite simple. Painting in the other dimension makes some objects passable, some physical, others moveable.
However, as the levels continue, the two dimensions in play can have a variety of mechanics which range from being similar to swimming in water to high-friction surfaces that can be scaled and other surfaces having reversed gravity. It all extremely smart, yet all the gameplay remains intuitive and easy to resolve due to there only being one of these major mechanics in play per level.
Reward For Puzzling
You may be wondering what you get for completing a puzzle. Well, the reward for completing a puzzle is a splat of colour, which is specific to the four areas of the game. Collect enough splats of colour and a door will open. Behind the door, you will find a Boss!
Since Backworlds is a completely passive game you don’t fight the Boss in the same sense as you do in other games as the Boss is part of a puzzle to solve. Other enemies in the levels won’t do any harm to the Kitty either, the most that happens if they touch is Kitty is pushed back across the level. This means that the enemies become part of the puzzle themselves as you either have to avoid them or include them in solving the puzzle.
Accessible to all Ages
Backworlds is very accessible to play and would suit all ages. The game is certainly child friendly since it’s completely non-violent. In all, there are four distinct worlds to travel through, and there are usually a few ways to solve each puzzle in the game, so you can let the creativity flow in your solutions.
Controls are simple to remember as it is only a few buttons and both joysticks that are used. Backworlds has giro controls included and for the most part, they seem to work fine. Personally, I prefer to use buttons and sticks. Using the right stick for the paintbrush works exceptionally well, and you can adjust the size of the area the paintbrush covers for precision or efficiency.
To tie the whole game together, the soundtrack that accompanies the gameplay is very enjoyable to listen to while you are puzzling over how to proceed.
Conclusion
As someone who enjoys a good well thought out puzzle game, Backworlds ticks all my gaming boxes. Backworlds has intuitive controls, a great soundtrack, and is pleasant to look at and really fun to play. The puzzles are really inventive, requiring some lateral thinking without being impossibly difficult, and are never tedious.
All fans of the puzzle genre should try out Backworlds, I definitely recommend it on its new home, the Nintendo Switch!
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up 