The concept of an infinite loop has been masterfully visualized in this first-person puzzle game, creating a visually mesmerizing experience. It’s definitely worth playing, but keep in mind that the puzzles are of a high difficulty level, and some players might get motion sickness, too.
Manifold Garden is very original, and not only gameplay-wise but also when it comes to its art and arquitectural design. However, we feel like its design needs some work to bring it up there with the greatest puzzle games.
It's more than just puzzles. It's a mindblowingly abstract art piece. Skingcrawingly vast spaces, awe-inspiring soundscapes and music and the visuals will simply trip you out of your mind.
Amazing experience.
This game has a concept so different to, basically, everything I've ever played. The aesthetic is amazing, and kinda reminds me to another puzzle game, Antichamber, so I started playing thinking it would be something similar to that game. To my surprise, as I said, is a whole different thing. The game immerses you into this universe in which every piece of it's intricate architecture is repeated infinitely, and its main big mechanic is that gravity can be changed depending on the pov of the player. There's no up or down.
The puzzles can be kinda overwhelming, especially at first. That's because, unlike the typical linear puzzle games that have very marked limits, you can go ANYWHERE in the map IN EVERY direction possible, so you need to find where to go and you will maybe get lost until you realize what to do. And as ive seen in youtube videos, there's more than one way to solve a puzzle which is a cool thing.
Another aspect I really liked is the music, it's beautiful and goes hand to hand with the aesthetics.
If I had to pick something I didn't like too much, it's the puzzles involving those giant colored blocks. they doesn't make you feel you are in control of them, and is very tiresome to wait till you finally stack them well. The other puzzle mechanics (the trees, the cubes, water, non euclidean geometry, etc) are really good.
I feel this review is kinda rushed but I recommend the game to everyone that likes to discover new experiences and ways to play.
It has one good idea around its gravity and mirror world, but it is not enough to make this a good enjoyable puzzle game, there should have been more to draw you in
SummaryManifold Garden is a first-person exploration game. Rediscover gravity and explore an Escher-esque world of impossible architecture. Witness infinity in first person, and master its rules to solve physics-defying puzzles. Cultivate a garden to open new paths forward, where an eternal expanse awaits.