Playdead's LIMBO Reviews

by Rjh19820813rjh

Wanted to love this game, but ended up deleting after about an hour of gameplay (before completion - no idea how long the game is). Here’s the deal: it’s gorgeous scenery and great concept, but really bad implementation. The puzzles are hard to solve without any clues or hints. It harkens back to Zack & Wiki model of try-and-die where you have to guess your way through these obstacles, jumps, pushing or pulling items you can’t even see, or else die trying and redo the whole thing over again. The controls could be fine, but lagginess means that you may or may not make that perfectly timed jump to move on. Further making things difficult are the random spikes and traps to kill you for no good reason. It’s pretty ruthless and not fun. That’s coming from a guy who loves puzzle and adventure games. Limbo is a huge miss for me. Totally overrated. Stick with Where’s my Water, King Rabbit or Plants vs Zombies.

by Bleuz Meats

Echoing the previous reviews that gripe about the controls - I'm on an iPhone 6s+, and there are many time sensitive and accuracy puzzles where I knew exactly what I needed to do, but had to retry dozens of times to get through because of the terrible interface. This is not challenging and fun as you develop hand-eye coordination, it's frustrating and dumb when the little guy gets stuck or stops running because the touch screen won't respond to small finger movements. And often if you have to switch directions you can't even see the kid until you lift your finger and reposition it. Replace the stupid touch-and-drag with left / right / jump buttons and this would be way more fun.

by ZooberDude

I gave this 4 stars because there is obviously a lot of effort and love that went into this game. The art is nice, though it’s kind of subtly gory.

However, if don’t like the idea that the game’s physics and possibilities are never clear, and so you just end up jumping from puzzle to puzzle without knowing what you’re even supposed to do, then stay away from this game. There are no hints, and then new ways of interacting with the world are constantly being introduced. So instead of actually solving a puzzle logically, you just end up trying to figure out what the game wants your solution to be. There is only ever one solution to each puzzle even though logically you could think of multiple ways to solve it if you were the protagonist yourself in real life. That might not be a problem if the game didn’t try so hard to illicit an anthropomorphic response. So it gets kind of frustrating that instead of thinking the problem through you just end up guessing what the game expects of you.

by Jus' Groovin'

I agree with many other reviewers: this is an excellent game. You are left to your own imagination to figure out what to do as you travel through Limbo. There are plenty of obstacles blocking your path. There are also optional ways available to get around them, if only you can discover them. This part is very enjoyable.

Also, as others have mentioned, control is sluggish at times. Your finger on a touchscreen does not provide the positive control of a joystick, and there are many maneuvers that could benefit by that. I wish the gameplay was a little more forgiving because my finger's moisture level changes over time and I believe that affects the recognition of subtle inputs.

by Koetto

I loved this game, right up until I beat the last saw with the gravity trap and fell through the glass. After that, nothing happens, he just lays there dead while the game sounds keep going. Restarting the game does nothing. I’ve beaten it a half a dozen times by now, but I guess that’s just the end of the game: kid dies stupidly in limbo trying to find his sister.

I read a lot of comments about the terrible controls on the iPhone and I’d also like to agree. There were sections that took way more time than they needed to because I had to swap between seeing the character and controlling the character.

by InjektedOne

If you’ve played Unravel, you’ll notice a lot of similarities in Limbo; a cute character in an unknown world, solving puzzles to progress through the beautiful, dream-like landscape. The difference here is that Limbo takes it one step further and let’s you die. Now, I don’t mean die like “oops I messed up and have to go back to try again. I mean like, “caught in a bear trap with blood splattering” die. The thing is... it’s beautiful. It’s not red blood and gore, but you definitely have moments where you say, “oh wow.”

I’ve only been playing for less than two hours, and I’m in love with the game. My ONLY complaint is that the controls feel too touchy. To move, you slightly drag your finger in the direction you want to move. But there are times when you need to get close to harmful items to move them, but you accidentally nudge too much and end up dying. I feel like an option to have a small directional pad in the corner of the screen would be easier. However, this is a minor annoyance rather than a game-breaker.

I hope you enjoy the game as much as I am!

by Sarajsh

Brilliant game. I absolutely love it except I don't know if to a bug in the game or my iPad. I have to delete and reinstall the game every time I play it in order to get the sound back. The sound is great the whole time I'm playing. I go to another app or turn my iPad off, go back to Limbo and there's no sound. So far I haven't noticed any of my other apps losing their sound. It takes less than half a minute to delete and reinstall, but still. Even so, I think this game is worth every penny and much, much better than Monument Valley I or II. Wish there were more like this!

by RobbyRotten

LIMBO is a amazing twisted puzzle game. You take the role of a boy in the woods, not knowing why you are there. I currently have played the entirety of the game 2 times, since I enjoyed it so much. The game is even beer with it’s element of creepiness. For example, in one part of the game you are wrapped up by a spider, and you have to escape. And then it chases you! It has you wondering every second what will happen next and having wanting to play more. I definitely recommend this, especially to people who love horror or puzzle games.

by Pane Kudkshcuue

I don’t normally do horror type games, but this is the best game I’ve ever played. I’m only halfway through it and I like how I have to do puzzles to get to the next level. It’s entertaining and it keeps me on the edge of my seat when I play it because there are speed runs in levels. Like the spider ones, that was fun and scary to me lol. I like how their are also like memory based puzzles. Over all this is a very fun game. 5 stars from me, it’s perfectly programmed and great gameplay also. I would highly recommend this to anybody who likes these kind of games.

by CamNYC78

I felt compelled you write this after seeing the first review of PlaydeadsLIMBO Store competing the similarities between “Limbo” and “Unravel”.

That’s clearly a review from a guy who for whatever reason played Unravel first. But let us be clear: Limbo isn’t “pushing Unravel further...” Limbo came out a full SIX years before Unravel!

Which isn’t to say you shouldn’t play either game. They’re both great. And Limbo *continues* to be great after so many others that copied its beautiful and poetic visual style, the waltz of the sweet and the darkly violent elements that will shock you by its beauty, and horrify you through its poetry. Because really, there’s nothing there that’s truly graphically obscene, and there’s more violence in PG movies these days, one might argue. But the violence and dark elements of Limbo are a triumph exactly because it manages to remain poetic and tame enough to have wide appeal , but to also shock and terrify through its poetry; the shadows of what is suggested more creepy and brutal than what one actually clearly sees.

And when you got that beauty and genre defining style in service of a very solid puzzler/platformer and story, you got yourself a treat you cannot miss.

So if you haven’t yet had the pleasure of experiencing Limbo, do yourself a favor and start right now! You’ll be glad you did!

by KG6EAR

Don’t know why I had such a time getting to pull the metal elevator box left on the very first puzzle.. it works fine now.. but before the little guy would pull and pull and nothing! Creepy game gets harder as it goes but not too much harder. Think I will finish it same day maybe. Graphics are stellar. Animation and system of autonomous animation triggers is superb and very unnerving st times (creepy). The Shelob-like spider creature is way over the top! Arachnophobes be advised you will jump out of your skin at points if not smash your phone reflexively so better sit this one out.

by Bluepurpleyellow

Nowadays where PlaydeadsLIMBO Store is dominated by throwaway apps, very few games truly stand out as masterpieces. I have only encountered maybe 5-10 such games in the past 10 years of the iPhone's existence. This is one of them. This game is incredibly simplistic yet refreshingly complex. It represents a challenge well worth the effort it takes to complete it. The game is beautiful and actually has a storyline that adds a personal touch to the quest. One of the best games I've ever played for its content, design, purpose, and execution. There's a reason this is one of the essentials.

by Zaboater

^Ok, that might not be saying much, since my game ‘catalogue’ consists mainly of Angry Birds, various other strategy games, and Blendoku...but this game had me from the very start. Pure magic to play, the music, sound design, b&w theme, and elegantly simple yet challenging puzzles pull you irreversibly into this mesmerizing story world. The only major drawback is that if you are persistent and clever enough to make it to the end, it only leaves you wanting more.
Serious BRAVO to the designers—this game was a truly captivating experience and well worth the price, obviously deserving of its many awards.

by Rate Matser

Seriously guys what wrong with all of you? The game is incredible and designed beautiful and scripted uniquely and you complain? I haven’t played a game in 15 Years! Yep you hear that right and Limbo Dazzled! Love it and this is my first review on App Store ever. I just wanna thank you guys for the incredible game as I wish there was more of it and would love to pay more to get more levels doesn’t matter as long as the game have the same script and same elements and design. Thank you! And I would highly recommend the game if anyone just ignore those reviews which doesn’t make any sense. Cheers to you all folks.

by RaineeWolfe

It’s so good at the end but I also think the boy is possibly alive
Maybe he had to camp and when he slept all the campers besides
Him all others where captured by the spider (arachnid) and webbed into cocoons when he woke he saw not a single one
So he decided to go and search for them (this game is so so
2 dimensional thx for 2D! I love 2D games!)

To playdead
From RaineeWolf
(Story of LIMBO.)
We get the role of a young boy who awakens finding not a person around. His journey begins. He soon finds dangers amongst this
Forest. Those with arachnophobia (Arachnophobia) Are Scared
This game will keep you on the edge of your chair 🪑for good
He finds a girl who seems to be digging for some object.
Ok i know it’s a little strange But then. The forests and caves transform to man made industrial Things.
He discovers a rundown hotel. He risks being electrocuted by this
Hotel sign because. It’s neon to.
so he Has to escape this LIMBO like world for Good all from the girl. She looks as if she is his sister same height

(The boy’s name)
Pity

by Tatianamv12

Honestly, at first I was hesitant to download this. I’ve never paid for an app before but this game has such high rating and it looked interesting. I had to try it, hoping I wouldn’t lose 4 dollars.
I definitely didn’t. This game is so fun I couldn’t put it down for days! It really tests your mind at times! I wish there was a second version like a sequel!
I’m sad to have finished it but also glad because I was dying to know how it ends. It was so satisfying to reach that last level.
If you’re wondering if you should download this, just stop right there and buy it. You won’t regret the 4 dollars!
I love this game, it’s so well made!

by Jadr80

rare to find a game of this caliber. monument valley is the only other one that comes to mind. i didn't have a problem with the touch and drag interface that others complained about. it's not like you have to touch and drag directly on top of the the character. you can do it anywhere on the screen so it doesn't block your view, and i'm on an iPhone SE which is the same size as a 5. people on 6 or 7 should have nothing to complain about. the game itself is a beautifully designed. the physics of the game is also well thought out. loved playing it for a few weeks. sad it's over.

by Gtrain7407

There are very few games out there that come even remotely close to successfully invoking as much raw emotion and imagination as Playdead's LIMBO produces. The way the developers were able to harness darkness and pain and transform it into something as beautiful as this is truly remarkable. The way the visuals are meticulously paired with the audio is also brilliant. This just further proves how much attention to detail was paid during the making of this masterpiece. The game mechanics are near flawless, with only minor issues when dealing with time sensitive obstacles. But, l've literally played the game so many times that at this point, they are not even noticeable. Worth every single cent.

by Czech-it-out!

What a cool game! Other reviews said it was worth the money, and I’d have to say I agree. It was really refreshing to have such a nice blend of environmental puzzles and hand-eye coordination as a change of pace from the more traditional room-escape games (though “The Room” still holds a special place in my heart😬). The atmosphere was engrossingly stark, inducing a rather somber mood with occasional moments of panic while trying to avoid disaster, the disasters being horrifically “cute”. I absolutely recommend playing this game. Just be careful of sweaty fingers, as they tended to make my split-second decisions a little frustrating sometimes (the game can be really intense!). Looking forward to the second installment as well.

by Xksds58

I literally love this game. Very well designed, beautiful scene and even a seemingly main plot. The important thing is they are all connected and melted into one. The puzzles are difficult but still solvable. I didn’t check any online walkthroughs and only discussed with my girlfriend when I could not work it out (she’s a genius). So I don’t agree with those who rated low just because there’s no hints. I’ve played many other puzzle games, like medulla, father and son, lucid dreams, I would say this one is by far my favorite, even though it’s lower rated than those mentioned above.

I guess my only worry is that for some levels you need to move really fast to pass and my fingers sweat so…