The Bridge

Years after its initial release, The Bridge is still a great example of 2D puzzle gaming.

A fascinating and absorbing headspace in which to spend a few hours.

The Bridge is a delightful mass of contradictions. It's simple yet complex, and new yet old. Solid mechanics and puzzles that are tweaked to a level of difficulty that is just right — along with an excellent accompanying soundtrack — fill this monotone world with colour. Its focus on gameplay over story suits it well, and though it may be a bit on the short side, it's thoroughly enjoyable.

The Bridge is a short but sweet experience. While it may have been the visuals that initially drew me in, the satisfying puzzles that literally revolve around… well revolving your world were what kept me playing. A little light on content, but a game that’s worth checking out especially for puzzle fans.

The Bridge feels right on the Switch hardware, specifically in handheld mode. The atmospheric music, mind-boggling physics mechanics and abstract visual style all amalgamate together to produce one of the best Puzzle games currently available on the platform. With the games' improbable extra challenges and post-game levels, It's sure to keep you going back for quite some time. Providing you don't go insane first.

My brain got a workout plotting courses on 2-dimensional paths that don't exist in the 3-dimensional world but the reality warping experience was worth it.

Overall I appreciate the care and effort that has gone into making the game as visually stunning as it is while also providing an ample puzzle-solving challenge. While from puzzle to puzzle individual results will likely vary, with some solvable on the first try and others requiring you to take a break to return to it later with fresh thoughts, a lot comes down to how each person chooses to approach them. At the end of the day if you immerse yourself in the challenge, and leave your mind free to toy with different potential ways to solve the problems put before you, The Bridge will give you numerous hours of thought-provoking enjoyment.

The Bridge is without doubt a brilliant idea that features clever puzzles and beautiful artwork. It is without doubt a great addition to the Wii U library, and a must have for puzzle lovers – though it may be quite frustrating for those not experienced in the genre.

Translating M.C. Escher's mind-bending works into a game leads to The Bridge, a game whose puzzles, mechanics and visual presentation fit perfectly into the artist's legacy. It does exaggerate on its difficulty level, which can make progression too demanding for many players.

It might take a bit to get started, and too many of the puzzles can be solved by accident, but there is enough here to make it worth a look even two years after its original release. It might have taken a while from the construction to finish up, but this is a bridge worth crossing.