Manifold Garden

 PlayStation 4
Manifold Garden Image
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

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  • Summary: Manifold 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.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. DarkStation
    Oct 26, 2020
    100
    Stunningly beautiful as it can be, Manifold Garden can also be mentally exhausting after long stretches. As much as I never wanted to put the controller down, there were moments I had to take a break whenever I felt it difficult to concentrate on the growing complexity of what I needed to accomplish. Manifold Garden is complex, gorgeous, intelligent, and without any doubt, one of the best puzzle experiences you can have on the PlayStation 4.
  2. God is a Geek
    Aug 18, 2020
    85
    Manifold Garden is a gorgeous puzzler that is something very different. It will test you and reward you in equal measure for a very unique experience.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Aug 22, 2020
    80
    Worth playing for the visuals alone, to take in and explore these strange and beautiful environments, which will be timeless. The puzzles are fun, but not as revolutionary. [Issue#179, p.68]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. New Game Network
    Sep 3, 2020
    80
    Manifold Garden's unique aesthetic and creative puzzles result in a memorable journey that is well worth the price of admission.
  5. Gaming Age
    Sep 16, 2020
    75
    While some of the early puzzles are pretty easy to solve, the further in you get, the more you need to be able to think in terms of 3D space, since you can shift gravity to get a different perspective on everything. As someone who’s terrible at spatial reasoning puzzles, I’m not going to lie: there were times when I felt like my brain was pushed to the breaking point. Even so, it still felt like there was a pretty sizable discrepancy between what Manifold Garden achieves artistically, and what it achieves as a game. The latter is pretty forgettable, whereas the former occasionally borders on breathtaking. I leave it up to you how much weight you place on those two halves, but for me, it added up to a somewhat uneven whole.
  6. Push Square
    Aug 18, 2020
    70
    The star of the Manifold Garden show is far and away its presentation, and witnessing it in motion is worth the asking price alone. It's just a shame the puzzles themselves can't quite hit those same levels of spectacularity.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. valente_nebula
    Aug 29, 2022
    10
    Manifold Garden is an incredible and original 3D puzzler. Think of it as an Escher acid trip. It plays with concepts like infinite, recursion,Manifold Garden is an incredible and original 3D puzzler. Think of it as an Escher acid trip. It plays with concepts like infinite, recursion, gravity, physics... all in an engaging, creative and top notch way - all from gameplay, visual & sound design standpoints.

    The way the puzzles click once you figured them out is extremely rewarding, and the whole length of the game is photo-worthy. It's literally like the best piece of video art you have ever seen, only it's playable and also absurdly good at that too. The music & sounds feel suited for each moment and environment of the game, creating tension, relief, calm and excitement - all in the right measure. The difficulty is another aspect that's well realized, as it gets tricky towards the end - but just enough to feel right too.

    It's simply a masterpiece and an absolute must play for any puzzle genre enthusiast - but also for general audience. Go play this gem.    … Expand
  2. anarchonobody
    Dec 7, 2020
    9
    The best word I can think of to explain this game is "trippy", but "mind-bending" comes to mind as well. There are probably similar games outThe best word I can think of to explain this game is "trippy", but "mind-bending" comes to mind as well. There are probably similar games out there, but personally, I've never played anything quite like this. The best comparison that comes to mind is "The Witness": it's a game that relies on a strong desire to explore, all built around sort-of similar puzzles that get progressively more challenging. To be fair, the puzzles in Manifold Garden have all been of a similar flavor, but oh my god, the way in which you need to solve them will make your brain hurt. Not because they're particularly difficult, but because they exist in a different reality where the direction in which gravity acts is what you tell it to be, and each puzzle exists in a self-contained, but infinitely repeated mini-universe... I don't even know how to explain it, but if you have $20, the experience of Manifold Garden is well worth it. The visuals, the music, the physics: it has all made for a truly memorable experience that has stuck with me long after playing like few games have. This game is definitely not for everyone, but if you're a fan of puzzle games, MC Escher, and head-scratchy concepts, you'll love it.… Expand
  4. yanikz
    Sep 5, 2020
    9
    When I first finished the game I thought it was pretty cool... A mix of easier and more challenging puzzles, coupled with this uniqueWhen I first finished the game I thought it was pretty cool... A mix of easier and more challenging puzzles, coupled with this unique loop-mechanic. But now that I went for the Platinum Trophy, I gained a whole new appreciation for the game. Some of the secret passages, and how they were all connected, simply blew me away. Very well thought out paths that were really hard to piece together. Thank god for the guide I found, which helped me through my struggles.

    All in all, a very well crafted puzzler for newbies and veterans of the genre alike. Paired with the unique art design and atmospheric soundtrack, it was a really great experience.    … Expand
  5. wesker2012
    Dec 27, 2021
    8
    Finally beat this puzzle game after coming back to it. Puzzles can make your brain hurt but are satisfying to solve. Was very impressed withFinally beat this puzzle game after coming back to it. Puzzles can make your brain hurt but are satisfying to solve. Was very impressed with the visuals, mechanics, and design of the game. It's simple and complex at the same time. Would love to see more puzzle games from this studio.… Expand
  6. RatchetClank111
    Jun 26, 2021
    7
    I'm still working through finishing the game. I can definitely say I've never played any game like this before and it's very interesting. It'sI'm still working through finishing the game. I can definitely say I've never played any game like this before and it's very interesting. It's pretty much a puzzle game, but also includes exploration and it's somewhat hard to describe but you have to alter your environment and fall within the repeated section/areas to get to where you need to go.

    Pros
    -music/sounds fit the atmosphere
    -various difficulty of puzzles
    -an unique experience
    -game even has a photo mode that really can create some abstract art
    -the activity cards for the ps5 really help.
    -great colors

    cons
    -can get repetitive at times
    -some of the puzzles are somewhat unclear or hard to figure out where u need to go exactly.

    Overall, it's worth the playthrough. Some may find this amazing, others will find this to be somewhat boring after a few minutes. This is one of those games where if you could play a demo for like 30minutes it would greatly help people decide if they want the game. But the price point that it's at is worth it.

    I think a 7/10 is still a good score.    … Expand

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