Baba Is You is a strange game, but it is one of the best logic puzzlers I have ever played. Its gameplay is simple, but it forces you to abandon everything you have learned about video game puzzlers in the past.
Looking at the first level is the best way to understand the game. There are two main types of “blocks” in Baba Is You – text and objects. The text is used to create rules, and the images on the screen will follow those rules. In this level, first we have Baba is You. This means that when you move your controller, the object on the screen that will move is going to be Baba – that little bunny-like creature on the screen.
Next, we have Flag is Win: this means that in order to win the level, we have to put Baba (or whatever “is You”) on the flag icon. Then, Wall is Stop, which means that the walls around Baba cannot be walked through – if you walk up to them, they will stop you, like a normal wall in a video game. The last is Rock is Push, which means that the rocks on the screen can be pushed away from Baba. This level is not difficult – winning is quite easy. All you have to do is Baba to the right, and it will push the rock away and land on the flag. However, the gimmick here that makes this game one of the most difficult and interesting mind-benders I have ever played is that those rules are changeable. If you move Baba into any of the text, it will move. That means that you can remove Stop from Wall is Stop, leaving just “Wall is”, which results in the walls having no rule – you will be able to move around freely. Then, you could take the Win from Flag is Win, and movie it to Rock, making Rock is Win. Now, all you have to do is step on a rock, and you win the level.
The puzzles scale incredibly well, starting simple and introducing new concepts and a regular but relaxed pace, and as the puzzles get more challenging, you will likely find yourself with situations where the solution is incredibly unclear, and takes a lot of out-of-the-box thinking to decipher. It is the kind of game that stays in my mind, and on more than one occasion, I have been lying in bed awake at night running through a puzzle, and suddenly had a Eureka! moment that caused me to grab my Switch and solve the puzzle.
It is a mechanically simple game with an unbelievably deep wellspring of satisfying complexity. The current version of this game also has a fully functional level editor, and the ability to download levels from other players across the globe, making it possible to continue to enjoy the game even after beating all of the available levels. Overall, it is one of the best puzzle games I have ever played, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an original and challenging experience with a charming pixelated exterior.
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Recommended for Younger Players?
Baba is You is completely clean as far as content goes, but there is a lot going on here in terms of complexity. If your child is not used to puzzles that force them to (literally) think outside the box, this will likely cause frustration. But if your child loves a challenge, this might be right up his or her alley!
Verdict: Yes (Conditionally)
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