In 2008, Jonathan Blow released puzzle platformer Braid on Xbox Live Arcade, and the industry was never the same again. The original Braid paved the way for indie games as we know them today, influencing countless other developers to pursue their own passion projects, but it has unfortunately been trapped on older hardware for years. Luckily, Braid: Anniversary Edition makes it more accessible to modern audiences. 16 years after the original game made its XBLA timed-exclusive debut, Braid: Anniversary Edition has been released across PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Braid: Anniversary Edition is a remaster of the original Braid, but with new content to make it worthwhile for newcomers and veterans alike. Braid: Anniversary Edition features brand-new puzzles, including a Commentary World with unique challenges that simultaneously give players the chance to learn more about the game's history and development. The Commentary World is an interesting new addition to Braid that gives players something extra to do after completing the main story, though those uninterested in learning more about the game's behind-the-scenes goings-on may not feel compelled to complete it.
The core Braid experience from 2008 is still intact in the Anniversary Edition, including its many challenging puzzles and famous ending. For those who may be unfamiliar with Braid, the basic concept behind the gameplay is that it allows players to traverse Super Mario-style 2D platforming levels where the goal is to collect puzzle pieces. The trick is that each world introduces a new time manipulation mechanic, ensuring players constantly have new gimmicks to play with, which helps keep the game feeling fresh from start to finish. At the start, all players can do is rewind time, but later they have to incorporate things like a shadow doppelganger and a ring that slows down time for anything caught in its vortex.
Braid's puzzles can provide a stiff challenge, with some especially tricky puzzles that may leave players feeling frustrated. There are times when the controls get in the way of the puzzles, especially when it comes to the game's finicky ladders, but otherwise, failure to complete puzzles in Braid often boils down to one not really understanding the solutions. The game is full of rewarding "ah-ha!" Moments when players finally figure out the answer to a particularly tough puzzle, creating a sense of accomplishment that helps keep Braid: Anniversary Edition engaging.
Braid: Anniversary Edition is Short, But Sweet
It's a good thing that Braid's puzzles are hard enough for players to get stuck on, because otherwise, the game would be an even shorter experience than it already is. Back in 2008, some critics singled out Braid's short length as one of its flaws, and that rings true in 2024 as well. Even with the added content, Braid: Anniversary Edition is very short, to the point where most players will be able to finish it in about three hours. A consequence of its short length is that the time-manipulation gimmicks feel like they don't really reach their full potential. There are only a handful of puzzles for each gimmick, and then players move on to the next world and the next gimmick. It would have been great to see a bit more meat on the bones for the Anniversary Edition.
But while Braid: Anniversary Edition is a short game, the bright side is everything in it is worthwhile. Almost every puzzle is completely unique and tasks players with utilizing Tim's abilities in a new way. Some players will be disappointed by the fact that they can complete the game in only a few hours, but at least every minute of Braid is entertaining, and the experience isn't bogged down by filler.
The long and short of it is Braid: Anniversary Edition is the same basic experience as before, but with additional Commentary World challenges that will appeal to hardcore fans but will most likely be ignored by the more casual crowd. Something that all fans will get a kick out of, however, is how Braid: Anniversary Edition has completely redone its gorgeous hand-painted worlds. Each area is significantly more detailed than its 2008 counterpart, with brighter colors and smoother animations. A simple click of a button lets players swap between the original 2008 grahics and the new Anniversary Edition graphics, allowing players to compare the old-school visuals to the modern look and see how much of a leap the Anniversary Edition provides.
At only $20, Braid: Anniversary Edition is an easy recommendation for those nostalgic for the original game or anyone that's simply looking for a solid puzzle platformer to play. Braid might not be the industry-shaking revolution that it was when it first released, but it still holds up in 2024, with challenging puzzles and a powerful story. The considerable graphical upgrade would make Braid: Anniversary Edition worth the price of admission alone, but the added content is the cherry on top. If nothing else, it's great to have Braid playable on modern platforms, and hopefully, the game is able to find an even larger audience than it did 16 years ago.
Braid, Anniversary Edition
Reviewed on PS5
- Released
- May 14, 2024
Bend time to solve subtle platform puzzles in this update of the indie classic "Braid," featuring refreshed artwork and seriously in-depth creator commentary. Travel from a city house through a series of interconnected worlds where time behaves strangely, searching for an elusive Princess. Along the way you'll explore memories and regrets that still haunt you. This Anniversary Edition remaster of the award-winning platformer contains fully repainted high-resolution graphics, new sound effects and extensive audio commentary.
MANIPULATE TIME TO MOVE FORWARD
Rewind, pause and use the strange properties of time in each world to run and jump through beautifully painted environments. Avoid hazards, unlock doors and collect jigsaw puzzle pieces to assemble. If you get hung up on a particular puzzle, feel free to move on and return later.
A FRESH COAT OF PAINT
This is the game you remember, with all the original challenges and the same haunting, evocative score — but repainted pixel by pixel so that each carefully rendered world comes to life in high resolution. New visual details, animated brushstroke effects and revamped sounds add to the immersive experience.
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language
- Developer(s)
- Thekla Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Thekla Inc.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Beautifully updated graphics
- Same fantastic puzzle-platformer experience from 2008
- Brand-new Commentary World
- Still extremely short, even with the added content
Braid: Anniversary Edition is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The Best War Games was provided with a PS5 code for this review.