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Baba Is You Review

The Baba is You review featured image.

Playing With the Rules

Baba is You is a puzzle game based on moving around text to create and change rules.

I am going to review the game and explain why I like it. There are no surprises here. I love this game.

Baba Is You
Baba Is You
Developer: Hempuli
Price: $6.99

Game Review Information

I first played Baba is You on my computer. I own the game on Steam.

Baba Is You
Baba Is You
Developer: Hempuli Oy
Price: $ 14.99

I saw that the game recently released a mobile version. I decided to repurchase the game to play it some more and write a review for my website.

I have not beat the game, but I completed multiple worlds. I played the game up to Solitary Island on my phone.

My Baba is You save data. I have 29 spores and one blossom.
Screenshot of Baba is You Android game.

Gameplay Review

How the Game Works

The goal of the game is to solve puzzles. How you do this depends on the current rules of the level. Rules are created by formations of text objects.

Levels often start with the same set of rules. Baba is You and flag is win. These two rules allow you to control Baba and touch the flag to win. But these rules are not always in levels.

You will quickly learn to beat levels, you will have to break some rules and create new rules. I don’t want to get too specific. As part of the fun of the game is learning how these rules work and how to break them.

The first Baba is You level. There are many ways to beat this level.
Screenshot of Baba is You Android game.

The Controls

In most puzzles, Baba is you (I know, how surprising). So that is who you control. You move around, and you can run. The controls of the game are very simple.

The controls transition to touchscreen quite well, I think. The controls felt a bit odd at first. But I was able to get used to them pretty quickly.

You can undo moves and restart levels at any time. These two things are very useful in a puzzle game like Baba is You.

Puzzles Are Hard but Fair

I found some puzzles to be very difficult. I could not see a way to solve them. Every puzzle has a solution, though. Some even have multiple ways to win. You will have to consider every element in the level and what you can do with them.

I won’t be mad at the game for being challenging. But wow, this game really makes me feel stupid sometimes. For some puzzles, I gave up and just looked up the solution, as I badly wanted to know what it was.

So if you want a game that is seriously challenging, this is it for you. Maybe some of you enjoy the struggle more than I do.

The Baba is You poem level. Roses is red, violets is blue, flag is win, baba is you.
Screenshot of Baba is You Android game.

Presentation Review

How the Game Looks

Baba is you looks pretty simple. It is easy to see everything in a puzzle, and that is what matters.

The game is very deliberate in what goes into a puzzle. While there are decoration objects, almost every object in a puzzle serves a purpose.

The Baba is You world map, Solitary Island is highlighted.
Screenshot of Baba is You Android game.

How the Game Sounds

The game has pretty decent sounds. I also like the music. It is quite relaxing and lets you focus on the puzzles.

How Does This Game Get You to Spend Money?

You buy the game. That is the only purchase you need to make.

How Does This Game Annoy You?

Nothing is annoying in this game. Well, other than making me feel dumb, that is. Since this is a port of an existing game to mobile devices, I suppose this makes sense.

My Overall Thoughts on Baba is You

Baba is You is a very fun and charming puzzle game. It can be quite hard, but I enjoy it a lot.

I would go as far as to say that Baba is You is one of my favorite puzzle games of all time. I liked the game enough to buy it twice.

Do I Recommend People Play Baba is You?

If you enjoy puzzles or are willing to give them a try, then yes. If not, you might not enjoy how hard the game gets later on.

Will I Keep Playing Baba is You?

I am not right now. But I do want to go back to this game to have a real attempt at beating most levels.