Game: Bob’s Crystals
Genre: Adventure, Indie, Strategy, Action
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer|Publisher: RedFlare Game Studios
Controller Support: Yes
Price: US $14.99 | UK £12.79 | EU € 14,79
Release Date: September 1st, 2025
A review code was provided, thanks to RedFlare Game Studios.
What is Bob’s Crystals about?
Bob’s Crystals is a quirky adventure game where a hidden-object puzzle suddenly becomes the key to saving an entire planet. Kind of intense, right?
You play as Bob, a robot and the last of his kind. Bob wakes up, triggered by a mysterious signal that basically screams, “The Earth is doomed!” So, being the kind-hearted robot that he is, Bob sets out to save humanity by reactivating an ancient planetary defense mechanism powered by alien tech.
Did someone say “main character energy”? “I’m the last hope of humanity” vibes? Yep, exactly. That’s what we’re going for.
The Gameplay of Bob’s Crystals
First off, there’s a scoreboard for competitive players. To take part, you’ll need to submit a request form with your email and the name you want to appear on the board.
There’s also a Level Builder section, where you can refresh your memory on the controls, whether you’re playing with a controller or a keyboard. The dev team strongly recommends using a controller, and honestly, I’d agree.
Then there’s the Crystal Marker Game, a fast-paced mini-game where Bob is attacked by multiple enemies and must take them down before they reach him. Basically, it’s a top-down shooter. After each wave, you can upgrade your weapons, boost your defense, increase your damage… all that good stuff.
It’s perfect for players who don’t have much time. Just hop in, shoot some enemies, and hop out. Just like Bob : get in, save the world, move on.
Online Levels
Oh, and there’s also an Online Levels section on the main menu. It allows players to create their own custom levels using handpicked landscapes and then share them with the rest of the world. After completing a community level, you’re asked to rate your experience, so budding level designers can get feedback and improve their creations. It doesn’t fundamentally change the core experience, but it’s a lovely little bonus. Especially, for players who enjoy seeing what others come up with (or trying their hand at designing something themselves).
Under the Settings menu, you can toggle sound effects and music on or off, and choose whether to play in full screen. The devs mention that more comfort-oriented settings are planned for future updates. Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
There are 58 levels in the game so far. Thankfully, your progress is saved after each one. And I say thankfully because, trust me, you’ll die a lot. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
The game starts with a short cinematic that introduces the lore of Bob’s Crystals in more detail.
At its core, the gameplay is tile-based: your mission is to explore various (sometimes hostile) locations to find “marker parts”, essential pieces to bring Earth’s defense system back online.
The difficulty curve is smooth. It’s not overly hard, but it keeps you on your toes. And since dying doesn’t erase your progress, you can retry levels as many times as needed to dodge traps, avoid obstacles, and survive the many delightful surprises waiting around each corner.
A real highlight is Bob’s sarcastic AI companion, who follows you around and offers “helpful” commentary at every level. It’s genuinely funny and adds a great layer of personality to the world.
As for potential concerns, I’ll note some lagging at times when a new landscape was charging. It didn’t last long; it’s not a detriment to the enjoyment of the game whatsoever, but it was still enough for me to notice it.
The camera controls with the mouse were frustrating. Clunky enough that I avoided them altogether. Thankfully, the quick-retry mechanics softened the blow, but it’s definitely something that needs tightening up. Last bit, as of now, there is no steam success.
Art and Sound of Bob’s Crystals
When the game starts, you’re greeted with a surprise: a full-on pop song. Instruments, melody, a singer, the whole package. It caught me off guard, but honestly? Weirdly refreshing. As the game goes on, the soundtrack leans into pop and electro. It brings a nice sense of energy that fits well with the game’s quirky, colorful world.
And Bob? Look at him! Can a robot get any cuter? His design feels like a throwback to 90s sci-fi movies, and I love it.
Each level’s environment is nicely crafted, with a variety of settings. (I was particularly obsessed with some of the tile textures, but that might just be a me thing.)
Conclusion
I think it’s pretty obvious by now, but let me spell it out: I really like playing Bob’s Crystals.
It’s simple, but always changing. You’d think the story was just a pretext, but the devs find clever ways to deepen it as you go. (I love the AI’s monologues, they make me want to stick around just to hear what’s next.) The puzzles are fun and really make you think about the best path to take.
Bob’s Crystal is a great game for puzzle fans who enjoy a narrative, players who like a little challenge, completists (you’ll have a field day here) and everyone in between.
Final verdict: I Like it a Lot 
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