Badland review: Our opinion about this mobile game

Badland is an arcade-adventure game with very simplistic gameplay. However, its apparent ease of use hides a rich gameplay and a rather fun difficulty level. Badland offers a colourful world and a nice depth to the game.
In my opinion, so-called independent games are a new windfall for gamers these days. Here's a little nugget for you to discover.

Badland, a fantasy world

You take on the role of a funny plump bird just trying to reach the other end of the level, so far nothing too impressive. It's even cute, we'd say.
But that's where things change.
The game's universe is immersive from the very first seconds, and you'll find yourself twirling the little beast around to make it move forward.
You can bring the little beast to life with your finger, and short presses are usually enough to get it through the levels.
However, the objective is further complicated by a race against the clock. You have to keep up with the screen to avoid imminent death. The duality of the game is to progress quickly through the level while avoiding the multitude of traps (each more twisted than the last) to progress.
You'll need to calculate the best route and be as precise as possible in your movements.

Death, death and more death

You'll come across traps of all kinds...
Your fate will be to die in an explosion, to be impaled by a saw, or to be buried under an avalanche of rubble.
Generally speaking, you'll have a respawn point after an obstacle or a few metres before it.
As you'll have realised, the game has been designed to give you a run for your money. The "die and retry" aspect of the game is very pronounced, giving it a special, immersive feel. In short, you always expect the worst.

And what about the gameplay?

As I said earlier, the game seems very simplistic. There's no need for 36 controls, a long press or a few short ones will be enough to make you flap your wings and go wherever you want (or get shredded, as the case may be!).
There's nothing revolutionary here, and you'll need to complete each level to progress.

The game's appeal lies in the bonuses you have to collect. These are very varied. Some will make you bigger, others will speed you up (or slow you down). Others will shrink your creature to get it through tight spaces. But that's not the only surprise: another bonus will allow you to conjure up a horde of clones that you can control simultaneously.
This cloning, combined with other bonuses (such as the sticky ball), can save your ass or lead you into nameless carnage.

The visual aspect

The visuals are an obvious plus here. The game's bright colours take you on a whimsical (and almost poetic, if you leave out the numerous death traps) journey.
Badland offers a melancholy, bright but also gloomy atmosphere that becomes more pronounced as the game progresses. With over a hundred levels, the visual aspect will be an asset in bringing you into this supernatural universe. In addition to the attractive graphics, the soundtrack is pleasant to the ear, but not necessary to fully appreciate the game.

Friendly local multiplayer

As well as having a rather long and attractive single-player section, badland also offers multiplayer.
Badland offers co-op as well as a duel mode, which, as you might expect, involves a confrontation.
A level creator is also available, much to our delight.

My verdict

Badland is an excellent game. Its enigmatic atmosphere won me over straight away. If you're looking for a new gaming experience, don't hesitate to pick it up! What's more, the style of play means you can really enjoy yourself for a long time, and hides game mechanics that are deeper than they seem.

Positive points

• A captivating solo
• A captivating visual and audio ambience
• Intuitive controls
• Fun multiplayer
• Unusual situations

Negative points

• A few ads
• Some precision problems
• Paid on IOS and Windows Store