Superliminal

Superliminal is a perspective-focused puzzle game that is equal parts trippy and endearing.

This is a puzzling masterclass with a heart as well as a brain.

Perhaps there’s an angle from which Superliminal is a satisfying, Portal-style thriller, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find that angle. And as the game was so fond of reminding me, perception is reality.

Puzzles range from clever to obtuse, and exploring these impossible spaces is incredibly compelling

It’s an accomplishment, and it’s certainly better and more original than the vast bulk of games in the physics-gimmick subgenre, but I respect it a lot more than I like it.

Still, Superliminal's satisfying every time a puzzle clicks. It sounds obvious, but that's the most redeeming trait a puzzle game can have. Sometimes it'll take you by surprise, sometimes you'll train your eye to see it coming. But analyzing a situation, exploring possibilities, and approaching it from unique angles never fails to be rewarding. Is that enough to offset the realization that you're starting from obtuse and working backward toward logical? It all depends on your perspective.

It might not push its core concept to the absolute fullest, but the overall experience is a charming and enjoyable one.

Will Superliminal resonate with everyone as much as it did with us? Possibly not, but regardless, if you’re looking for a game in a similar vein to Portal, you’ll be right at home here.

Superliminal has a unique concept for a puzzle game and nice and trippy visuals to accompany it, but alas, that's the majority of what it has going for it.

Superliminal is a compelling puzzle game with an innovative central mechanic, even if its brief campaign lacks a great story or much challenge.