I have found it a little difficult to write this review for There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension. One reason is because there’s just SO much going on in the game that it’s a little difficult to cover all bases, whilst another reason (and this is the most significant) is that I don’t really want to spoil the things that you actually do. It’s a creative and kooky game that really is better to experience than read about, so if you’re at all tempted to play the game… just do it. Stop reading. There IS no review.

Ok, maybe there is a review to read, but we’re going to keep it as spoiler-free as possible. Just know that There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension is a unique and utterly endearing experience that I had a lot of fun playing.

I’ve never played a game that has actively TRIED to make me stop playing before, but that’s the hook of There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension. If the title wasn’t a clue in itself, the game tries to trick the player into thinking that there isn’t actually a game to play here. Of course, us gamers are a smart bunch and we won’t fall for tomfoolery and tricks… right? With a quirky narrator leading you through your journey, there’s plenty of twists-and-turns to see unfold as you explore the game’s unique setup and maybe, just maybe, get to play the ‘game’.

“I’ve never played a game that has actively TRIED to make me stop playing before, but that’s the hook of There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension.”

The actual gameplay itself is very genre-bending in design, with plenty of different approaches to gameplay taken across its six-chapters. You’ll be completing old-school style mini-games, unravelling the clues to solve a series of puzzles, embarking on a Zelda-like top-down quest, and even heading on a classic point-and-click adventure throughout your time playing, just to name a few of its quirky tasks – it really covers a LOT of bases within its gameplay. Nothing is ever overly complicated though, with each of these different mechanics introduced for enough time to make them fun to dive into, but not for too long that they become tiresome or gimmicky. There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension gets the balance of variety just right and it makes the whole experience all the more enjoyable because of it.

You know what, though? I don’t really want to talk about these different aspects of the gameplay. It always brought a smile to my face to see just what There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension would do next, with plenty of neat surprises and nods to other games found during its five-hour runtime. It just didn’t run out of ideas, whilst the way it blended them all together made for something that just felt utterly unique.

“There’s a method to the madness, with even the silliest of conundrums SOMEHOW making sense when playing.”

One area where it really shines is with its absurdity. You know how point-and-click adventures pride themselves on the bizarre nature of their puzzle solving, with even the most random of items serving a purpose? Well, that’s something that There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension embraces across all elements of its design, so you’ve really got to think outside of the box if you want to progress. There’s a method to the madness though, with even the silliest of conundrums SOMEHOW making sense when playing. It’s incredibly creative in design and stood out as one of its best features.

Whilst it’s full to the brim with charm and different ideas, There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension is ultimately all about problem solving. For all of its silliness, everything boils down to simple working out how to progress. It certainly isn’t a difficult game by any stretch of the imagination, but it does demand a bit of thought from the player – it’s not all mini-games and the blending of genres, after all.

It all works together wonderfully and makes for a VERY good time. And that’s all I really want to say about There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension, really; it’s quirky, it’s creative, but it’s also a heck of a lot of fun. Experiencing its surprises first-hand and seeing all of the weird little things that it does is vital to your enjoyment of the game, so please, stop reading and just play the game. You won’t regret it.

9/10

Summary

There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension is a wacky genre-bending experience that is clever, creative, and a whole lot of fun. The less you know before going in the better, but know this: you certainly won’t regret experiencing its unique and utterly endearing adventure.

Developer: Draw Me A Pixel
Publisher: Draw Me A Pixel
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch (Reviewed), PC
Click here to visit the official website.
Click here to watch the launch trailer.