![]() ![]() I can traverse it in any direction for as long as I want but I have to transcend it the way the puzzles demand to get ahead. I have never felt so lost and so excited to explore at the same time. Space is infinite and ubiquitous but shallow at the same time. Of course MC Escher comes to mind, but Manifold Gardens feels more ephemeral, on a higher plane, almost fleeting, a mirage, yet eternal in its infinite construction spanning more than I can comprehend. Yet the game opens up entirely new realms of thought, stunning vistas of design that I have never seen before let alone imagined. You walk, you click walls, you place square fruits on the ground. ![]() While I enjoy games that replicate parts of human life - be it racing super cars, building a colony or chopping wood for a Viking long house - this game serves as a stark reminder that the possibilities of digital worlds can do so much more if we can wrap our brains around it. It explores a unique concept, and it does so beautifully. Portal is a puzzle game about connecting two points in space, Superliminal is a puzzle game about depth and perspective, Antichamber is a puzzle game about non-Euclidean space, Manifold Garden is a puzzle game about infinity. This is the unique strength of this game. While the visuals of this game are bright, simple, and clear, it is difficult for humans to comprehend the scale of infinity. These things elicit fear because they cannot be easily perceived. Horror usually relies on the hidden and unexpected: monsters lurking in the darkness, unpredictable and sinister thoughts and behaviors. Manifold Garden fills me with more dread than typical horror media. The main levels are large, aesthetically pleasing structures that you have to explore on multiple planes to solve. Structures are infinitely duplicated on 6 axis, and the player can change what plane is considered the floor/which direction gravity is applied. What makes this game different is its focus: Antichamber was a puzzle game where the player had to adapt to the changing rules and properties of the game, while Manifold Garden's rules are more simple straightforward. Both are abstract first person puzzle games that have minimalist aesthetics with solid colors and a lot of cubes. The most similar game to Manifold Garden that I've played is Antichamber, which came out in 2013. The purpose of the puzzles are to provide context and motivation for observing this geometry. This is a puzzle game second and an exploration of the concept of infinity and perspective first. It was selected as one of the New Yorker’s best games of 2019. Manifold Garden has been nominated for several awards, including “Best Debut” from the Game Developers Choice Awards and BAFTA Game Awards. Capture striking and beautiful images with Photo Mode.Explore expansive architectural structures that repeat infinitely. ![]()
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