I feel the need to preface this by saying that, while I do enjoy fast paced games, I’m really not a speedrunner. That being said, I’m completely in love with Cloudbuilt. This game is gorgeous, has fantastic level design and the soundtrack is one of my absolute favorites. On the surface, it may be a niche game for speedrunners, but there’s more to it – if you’re up for the challenge.

Cloudbuilt gives you all the tools you need from the start, and promptly kicks you out the door letting you figure out how you’re going to use them. It has a steep learning curve you will certainly smash into face first pretty early on – it can be frustrating, but is still manageable. There are countless paths to take, there’s no time limit, and you don’t need to do anything more than to complete a level to progress. After completing a level for the first time, various game modes are also unlocked that make some fun, or in some cases more challenging, alterations to the gameplay. I think they also encourage players to learn more of the mechanics, like conserving energy (rather than recording your time, it tracks your energy consumption – as someone who enjoys puzzles, this is probably my favorite mode), and finding other routes or ways to deal with enemies. Or, if you’d rather just zoom through the level with nearly unlimited energy, there’s a mode for that too. A story develops along each branch that seems to be pretty hit or miss with most people, but I thought it was a really great way to tie everything together.

Outside the game, there’s a level editor, and small, but absolutely fantastic community. A number of players (including many of the top players and some of the developers) still frequent the forums and subreddit who are more than happy to chat about the game and provide tips, tricks, or even just some encouragement.

This game is fast paced, but has elements that may appeal to those with an interest in puzzles and exploring as well. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a 3D action platformer who’s ready to test their mettle.

I feel the need to preface this by saying that, while I do enjoy fast paced games, I’m really not a speedrunner. That being said, I’m completely in love with Cloudbuilt. This game is gorgeous, has fantastic level design and the soundtrack is one of my absolute favorites. On the surface, it may be a niche game for speedrunners, but there’s more to it – if you’re up for the challenge. Cloudbuilt gives you all the tools you need from the start, and promptly kicks you out the door letting you figure out how you’re going to use them. It has a steep learning curve you will certainly smash into face first pretty early on – it can be frustrating, but is still manageable. There are countless paths to take, there’s no time limit, and you don’t need to do anything more than to complete a level to progress. After completing a level for the first time, various game modes are also unlocked that make some fun, or in some cases more challenging, alterations to the gameplay. I think they also encourage players to learn more of the mechanics, like conserving energy (rather than recording your time, it tracks your energy consumption – as someone who enjoys puzzles, this is probably my favorite mode), and finding other routes or ways to deal with enemies. Or, if you’d rather just zoom through the level with nearly unlimited energy, there’s a mode for that too. A story develops along each branch that seems to be pretty hit or miss with most people, but I thought it was a really great way to tie everything together. Outside the game, there’s a level editor, and small, but absolutely fantastic community. A number of players (including many of the top players and some of the developers) still frequent the forums and subreddit who are more than happy to chat about the game and provide tips, tricks, or even just some encouragement. This game is fast paced, but has elements that may appeal to those with an interest in puzzles and exploring as well. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a 3D action platformer who’s ready to test their mettle.