Patrick's Parabox

Patrick's Parabox
N/A
Metacritic
99
Steam
91.635
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Release date
29 March 2022
Developers
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
99 (2 890 votes)
Recent
100 (44 votes)

A mind-bending recursive puzzle game about boxes within boxes within boxes within boxes. Learn to use infinity to your advantage as you explore a deep and elegant system.

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Patrick's Parabox system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Windows 7+
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Storage: 250 MB available space

Recommended:

Recommended requirements are not yet specified.
Updated
App type
Steam APP ID
1260520
Platforms
Windows PC
Mac
Linux
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Reviews
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Seed Holt
Seed Holt

I bought the game nearly full price, fearing that it would be too short.
Well, it's not. Very good investment if you like puzzle games. Constant new ideas and concepts ; you'll say "woah!" more than one time. In my case, I like to play only a few levels each day, I don't think it's the kind of game you want to binge.

Roy
Roy

The game is repetitive, not so fun (still ok), and the soundtrack is basically dull. In the end it's too expensive for what it is, not a terrible game but overated at the present moment.

polisher_of_turds
polisher_of_turds

A must if you like puzzle games. Loads of content, increasingly very difficult, ever expanding mechanics, every puzzle is different. 10/10

tatjewed
tatjewed

If you enjoy these types of puzzles then this is an enjoyable game for someone who enjoys these types of puzzles if these types of puzzles are enjoyable for someone like you who enjoys these types of puzzles.

Lunaris
Lunaris

Main game clear. This game is extremely interesting and amazingly creative. The difficulty setting is excellent and suits for all kinds of player.
Can't wait for the post-game experience.

jhastings123
jhastings123

Patrick's Parabox doesn't just think outside of the box when it comes to sokoban-style puzzles - it reinvents the box, and in many cases, it IS the box. This puzzle game masters the balance of having puzzles that are euphorically mind-blowing without being overwhelming to the player. In part, the beauty of this lies in the fact that the vast majority of the game's puzzles are pretty short - so while solving a level might be tough, you're always within arms reach of the solution. This allows players to solve levels at a fast enough rate where they're frequently rewarded - and to compensate for this speed, the game is packed with hundreds of levels to keep you going.

estimargentopog
estimargentopog

Not the biggest puzzle fan but I do love me some creative problem solving game with unique mechanics from time to time.

Brevven
Brevven

Good puzzler, enjoyable for anyone who likes the modern sokoban-likes a la Baba is You, Monster's Expedition, etc.

The good

    • Smooth scaling of difficulty, though it doesn't seem to get quite as difficult as games like
    • The fundamentally simple mechanic yields a surprising variety of puzzle concepts.
    • Some very satisfying puzzles.
    • Generally a pleasantly barren aesthetic

The bad

    • Controller settings don't support zoom by default. Steam controller configuration can take care of this.

The ugly

    • A very small number of puzzles with (seemingly unnecessary) automatic continuous zooming. They are not exactly pleasant to play and might cause problems for some people.
    • A full level of "mirror" puzzles has some unpleasant graphical effects as well.

schaupps
schaupps

One of the most mind-bending things I've ever played—maybe the most ever. Though this game doesn't get extremely complex with its puzzle solutions, the puzzles themselves are so abstract and fun to learn and mess around with that it doesn't really need to. Plus, the collection of challenge levels at the end do provide some high difficulty. But what really makes this game shine so tremendously well is how it grounds theoretical physics into reality, represented clearly. I won't go into detail for spoilers, but the game gets much stranger and crazier, especially near the end, with mechanics that take some serious thinking to wrap your head around and which are mind-blowing to attempt to do so. Yet despite that, the game is able to ease players into these mechanics so smoothly with tutorial puzzles throughout the game that I think just about anyone can do it. Some of the areas' BGM is really nice as well.

Overall, probably the second-best Sokoban puzzler I've ever played behind Baba Is You, and one of the best games I've played this year. Fantastic work.

Anonymous
Anonymous

This is one of the best puzzle games ever. It starts out very simple, but quickly breaks your brain. When you finally understand, then you go "aha", and it is satisfying. Every world has it's own unique challenge, gradually getting harder, but never getting too hard because you can always skip a few levels if you don't know the solution. All in all it's a great game. 10/10

rgrocott
rgrocott

This is a really fun game. The early sections are easy, as you'd expect, but it keeps introducing new concepts and new tricks which make each section a fresh challenge.

I like to just dip into it for a couple of puzzles at a time, because it quickly wears my brain out! I think I'm near the end, and I have over 18 hours of solid puzzling behind me. I love how a puzzle can seem completely impossible, to the point that you'd swear blind it can't be done, but if you leave it and come back the next day, you might just "get" it.

Strongly recommended, and excellent value for money, given that my 18 hours were solid puzzle-solving with no filler, and I only cheated once!

Makana
Makana

Hands down the best puzzle game I've ever played.

Mr. Clean | _james#1711
Mr. Clean | _j…

Engaging and fun. Really mindfucky at times, but very enjoyable.

Altaris
Altaris

8/10 would recommend if traditional sokoban is too neanderthal for you.

Her Royal Nemesis
Her Royal Nemesis

Really fun an interesting puzzles.

Anonymous
Anonymous

A pretty layered and meaty puzzle game based on recursion that, over 200 puzzles solved in, plays fair albeit a few types of puzzles are not my personal taste. Definitely worth playing if you're a puzzle fan.

sarahnorthway
sarahnorthway

So smart! So cute! So very well balanced and juicy, it will break your brain without ever being frustrating.

Frank
Frank

Probably the best puzzle game I've played other than Baba is You.

Catworld
Catworld

Patrick's Parabox is an incredible puzzle game, with an incredible premise and concept. This game's 300+ levels are sorted into 18 worlds, with each of these worlds introducing a new mechanic. There are also optional challenge levels, which are harder, and optional side levels that change the basic game formula a bit.

The difficuly curve is really good - hard enough to be interesting but not to the point of frustration. The game is easier than some other games of this genre (Baba Is You is considerbly more difficult), but I don't see that as a downside. The artstyle and music fit the game really well. The postgame content could be better, but it's pretty good anyway.

I have 100%ed this game, and I just want more of it. There is custom level support, but it isn't all that accessible so I have never used it. I really hope for a sequel or an in-game level editor in a future update, because I just want more of this game.

One warning though: this game is best enjoyed blind. It's best to discover the mechanics yourself.

bildergairn
bildergairn

A stunningly elegant puzzle game, up there with the likes of Baba Is You. Its simple premise opens into a deep and vibrant puzzlescape. Each puzzle is well-designed - only a handful felt at all clunky or contrived - and the order in which they are presented to the player creates a cohesive experience of increasing difficulty, sometimes through complexity and sometimes through abstractness. All told, I got a very enjoyable 18 hours out of the game, and I am excited to see what Patrick Traynor might create next.

pascannon
pascannon

Very fun, in ways that remind me a lot of Baba is You. I'd recommend it to any fans of that style of weird sliding puzzles.

Quality Gull
Quality Gull

Simple, elegant, focused and just the right amount of drama.
Didn't felt stuck once but it was an headscratcher for sure (in the main puzzles at least)
A great recommendation !

CubemasterXD
CubemasterXD

Refreshing take on the box pushing puzzle game genre
Highly recommended

Lakuta
Lakuta

a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game within a game 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NYKevin
NYKevin

A delightful take on Sokoban-style puzzles, polished to within an inch of its life. Every level feels like it's there for a reason, and nothing feels wasted or overdone. Patrick's Parabox adds many new mechanics to Sokoban, but strangely they all seem to fit together extremely well. Each mechanic is introduced in a logical and straightforward manner, and its consequences are then explored. The result is a rich series of "aha" moments and clever insights. It's clear the author spent a great deal of time thinking carefully about how the player would engage with the game and its systems, rather than just slapping together a few dozen levels and calling it a day, as is so common with puzzle games these days.

Less interesting tidbits:

    • There's no story. But it doesn't need a story.
    • The graphics look more or less the same as you can see in the trailer (i.e. stylized, flat, and mildly cartoonish). They provide good feedback in response to player actions, including unsuccessful actions (e.g. pushing against a wall).
    • The music's style is nicely matched to each mechanic, and helps to make each set of levels feel cohesive and unique.
    • The game supports infinite undo, and also lets you undo the reset button. All puzzle games ought to have that functionality.
    • If you really hate puzzle games, Patrick's Parabox isn't likely to change your mind. But if you like puzzle games, I strongly recommend it.

negascout
negascout

Incredible game. Great UI, great puzzles, great mechanic. Must play if you're into logic puzzles.

[0349fc]tmg2
[0349fc]tmg2

7 hours in 2 days and i've had the demo for years this game is amazing

Lythimus
Lythimus

I haven't quite beaten Baba is You as I've gotten stuck so many times. Patrick's Parabox was a nice palette cleanser because it walks you through the progression of mechanics much more gradually. It's probably as hard, but the game guides you in abstract though much better than Baba is You. I couldn't say which I prefer, but Patrick's Parabox definitely functions better as a 'fun game'.

IkeMarmen
IkeMarmen

This is a great game, with a simple beauty and elegant design. It falls short of perfection, however, because many of the more advanced puzzles are difficult to appreciate and hard to understand, EVEN AS YOU SOLVE THEM. There is a strange dissatisfaction that comes with that. Sometimes I would solve a puzzle by simply trying different permutations until it was solved -- it's the puzzle equivalent of button mashing.

I think there are two root causes of this problem. First, the visual design for the various mechanics in the game are not quite memorable enough to keep straight as they are used in tandem. Secondly, infinite recursion is difficult to intuit, especially visually.

Still, I don't want to harp on the negative, so let me reiterate that this is a great game, and I fully recommend it.

kwikrick
kwikrick

Mind bending, superb puzzle game. It's basically a sliding puzzle, but with recursion. Everyone's seen pictures of this concept (a picture with the same picture in it, and in that picture, the same picture again, etc.). Creating puzzles in such an impossible space is just a brilliant idea. With just a few elements this gives rise to really bizarre problems with surprising solutions. There is a really smooth learning curve in the puzzles. The puzzles are hard, but never too hard, building on the strategies learned from previous puzzles. Each puzzle solved feels very rewarding, and I had several moments where I made a discovery and just sat back from the screen, amazed at the possibilities of this logic. The minimal, colorful design is lovely and the user interface is very intuitive.

damothekid
damothekid

killer app for the steam deck or any portable device, in fact a must play so much fun. well worth the price.

Stormchilde
Stormchilde

Nice bitesized puzzles. Some of them will make your brain hurt for a while, but when you feel your energy running out, just step back and take a breather. I love that this doesn't have a move timer. It just feels more relaxed and open to experimentation than other puzzle games.

Ekevoo
Ekevoo

It has mind-bending puzzles like Baba Is You, but I got hopelessly lost way less times, and the game gives you multiple ways to skip individual puzzles, which allowed me to get to the end, then get back to the previously difficult puzzles with a far sharper mind.

Jam_Herobrine
Jam_Herobrine

Who is Patrick and why does he have a Parabox?

schlista
schlista

Absolutely love this game. Kind of like "Baba is You", but better. It's more simple, but just as hard and that's what makes this game beautiful. I hope they come out with this game on mobile (android) as it would be great there as well.

⎛⎝Luci⎠⎞
⎛⎝Luci⎠⎞

Awesome puzzles , not too hard but still mindblowing , loved the game , also pretty long durability , must buy :D

Anonymous
Anonymous

There is no filler, almost all of the puzzles are somehow novel or interesting. Main content is 6h, solving 100% of the puzzles is 18h. Such a cool game.

baba_is_you2
baba_is_you2

Fun and mind-bending, this game stretches one's sequential and spatial reasoning and is a great way to get into a relaxed flow state. I can't stop playing! :)

Anonymous
Anonymous

good for people who like puzzles

s4cr1f1c3
s4cr1f1c3

F**king brilliant, if you have the slightest interest in puzzle games, don't think, just buy it NOW!

Moocher
Moocher

It is rarely that I encounter a puzzlegame, that just keeps blowing my mind. Too many puzzle games makes the later levels more difficult by simply adding more and more "objects" thereby being harder by sheer numbers. Patrick's Parabox does not do this - Yes you get some more objects in the later levels, but it's nearly always just a new way of using the same objects that you already know. Also not just learning you a new trick and then abandon it - no you will have to rely on what you have learned to keep pushing forward.

ACool1
ACool1

I love this game. The puzzles are the right balance of challenging but not ridiculous. They are mind-bending but not convoluted.

Antyos
Antyos

This has become one of my favorite puzzle games. It is a unique concept that constantly breaks your brain in unexpectedly amazing ways.

ogre
ogre

Really fun puzzle game. About 5 hour playtime to finish, but there's a lot of bonus levels that I didn't do.

wintryKat
wintryKat

Sokoban++

Patrick's Parabox is way, way, way more fun than it has any right to be. All of the different mechanics are introduced gently, but there's plenty of challenge to really get you thinking around every corner. The different levels introduce new functions/features or present puzzles built around a common quirk making the game feel anything but samey or boring.

Puzzles inside of puzzles, recursive puzzles, puzzles on the surface of your face... yeah!

Rocket_Rat
Rocket_Rat

It entails the basic of modern mathematics.

ngraner42
ngraner42

The most innovative game since Portal.

Lord Victor
Lord Victor

Top 5 puzzle games ever. Some hard stuff but nothing that required me to take a break from the game. Just an absolute joy to play through. Forget about solving difficult puzzles, just get this game to experience a perfect case study in puzzle design and mechanic manipulation.

01proco
01proco

A really innovative, fun, and brain-melting puzzle game.

Positives:
- The whole experience can be described as "I can't tell you how exactly this works or why I'm doing this ... but when I do these steps, I will solve the puzzle because that's exactly how the puzzle works (even tho I'm just using muscle memory and educated guesses)".
- Lots of puzzles, lots of different mechanics, lots of interactions, lots of aha-moments.
- There are some really nice twists to the regular puzzles, like when you have to solve one using the string representation. There are lots of these small sets with 3-4 levels that completely change the puzzle formula, and it really shows how creative the devs got with such seemingly simple mechanics.
- Paradoxes are used in a clever way. First they are just an edge case you have to avoid, but later they actually become part of the puzzles.
- The level hubs give a preview of the mechanic/theme of the puzzles, which is very clever.

Neural:
- I can recommend playing the game in multiple long sessions so you don't lose the muscle memory of how the mechanics work. It worked well for me: by the 8th or 10th level hub (out of 23 total), I was still breezing through the puzzles, but the game didn't give me any sort of indicator of how much more there is, so it became a little monotonous and exhausting.
- There's puzzles and that's it. (For me it's a positive, but some may prefer puzzles wrapped in a story or some form of progression.)

Negatives:
- It can be pretty difficult to distinguish the block "states", especially if the only difference is a change in brightness of the block's color. This makes it difficult to immediately start thinking about the puzzle solution when you first need to figure out what everything is. Same with when you don't start at the "outermost layer" of the puzzle or when some blocks are burrowed 2 "layers" deep inside other blocks.

Case in Point
Case in Point

A feat of block pushing genius, Patrick's Parabox explores a huge variety of recursive concepts without letting any of them overstay their welcome. Short, sweet, and immensely satisfying.

BoltKey
BoltKey

Ingenious mechanics. Once you feel like you start getting the grasp of it, a new way of looking at the infinite recursion appears, and you realize you don't understand anything at all again. 5/5.

minimus 🐻
minimus 🐻

if you like baba is you or stephen's sausage roll you'll probably like this too!
i loved how deeply the mechanics get explored, especially in the later levels
also has very comfortable difficulty curve 🍀

Thenerdstation
Thenerdstation

def patricks_parabox(parabox_patrick):
return parabox_patrick(patricks_parabox)

print(patrick_parabox(patricks_parabox))

Universe Tadada
Universe Tadada

Too good to be true. It has RECURSION!

Alex
Alex

The mechanics are awesome. The more you play, the more interesting it gets, until the very end. You won't stop being surprised. I just cant get enough of playing this game.
However, unlike most puzzle games I played, there are hardly any distractions or misleading objects. All boxes on each level are necessary to find the solution. Even the space design serves as a suggestion for the answer.
Still a very great game.

M'dam Aałysz
M'dam Aałysz

When clearing difficult puzzles after a set number of them my brain refuses to think and I'm not able to focus anymore. I've never experienced that with any activity. I would recommend it to anyone seeking challange.

dante
dante

It's so refreshing seeing this level of innovation in a sokoban. What a satisfying gem this game is! Fantastic puzzle design with an amazingly new concept.

Zahndethus
Zahndethus

A box might not be quite as cute as a Baba, but it's just as clever!

jnobody
jnobody

Its a wonderful puzzle game, easily the most in-depth yet mechanically simple puzzle game that I've played, the solution is always able to be found without looking around at potentially hidden areas(except for like 2 levels ~3hr in but it's more of a party trick then anything else)

jakemwest07
jakemwest07

Oh yeah, This game is really good, I've played this game nonstop for the past few days (the number of hours is because of me going AFK for a while)

Sam Sung Blyat
Sam Sung Blyat

Such a great game, some puzzles are a real brain candy and others itch your brain :D
there are puzzles i solved and know how to solve them, but still didnt understand why xD

Dullsonic3
Dullsonic3

Is this the Parabox?

No, this is Patrick.

....

Is this the Parabox?

No, this is Patrick!

...

Is this the Parabox?

NO!!!!! THIS IS PATRICK!!!
*SLAM*
I am not a Parabox...

zookham
zookham

Extremely well designed puzzles wrapped in a clean and relaxing atmosphere. Forgiving undos and a flexible world layout minimizes frustration. The concepts are simple yet deep, creative yet intuitive, reasonable yet satisfying.

Compared to some of my other favorite puzzle games of all time: lighter and more accessible than Baba is You (with a ton of similarities to Baba otherwise), less fluff that The Witness, more non-gamer-friendly than Portal 2, faster paced than Antichamber; Patrick's Parabox deserves to be on the list of greatest puzzle games of this generation. Would recommend this game without a doubt.

FFārüq³
FFārüq³

A read headache, in the nicest possible way.

Only done 1/3 of the puzzles so far, but it's a really top notch satisfying puzzle game.

RandomizedKirbyTree47
RandomizedKirb…

I believe Patrick's Parabox is the greatest Sokoban-based game of all time. The game starts out with a very gradual learning curve that is accessible to people who haven't played similar puzzles. Once the game introduces self-similar fractals, the developers continually bring in new twists to the puzzles without making the rules any more complicated.

erikiscoolqwe
erikiscoolqwe

A very well made puzzle game that fully explores the mechanics of it.

Memetastic_101
Memetastic_101

really interesting idea for a puzzle game

Chrono
Chrono

It's exactly as good as it seems. If you've played "Baba is you", "Recursed", "Stephen's sausage roll", etc. and you want more - this is it. No technical issues to report, plenty of content, high quality puzzles with lots of thought into them.

It's all positives, folks, there's nothing to complain about.

Manark
Manark

First puzzle game I've actually wanted to spend the time to beat every puzzle. Nothing gets too insanely hard, once you understand the dozens of mechanics in the game.

Loved it.

Friese
Friese

This is a real gem of a puzzle game. I love the concept of recursion and it's usage here is very well done. The game length is very good at 17 hours (for me) to finish 100% of the game's content. I think the game has a slow enough difficulty curve that most people will be able to progress throughout the game as they learn all its mechanics. It maintains a good level of challenge though, especially with the optional challenge levels. I highly recommend checking out the game.

CreeperJoe
CreeperJoe

head hurty
don't play if you easily get nauseous
the rest of you should be fine probably

a cat, but its a jojo
a cat, but its…

yo dog, i heard you like boxes...

Anonymous
Anonymous

A great mind-bending game! Well done to the people who came up with the idea

cbugur
cbugur

Why you should buy this game:

    • A lot of great mechanics that are gradually introduced
    • Doesn't try to overcomplicate puzzles for the sake of difficulty
    • The protagonist is cute

Regyptian
Regyptian

Only 4 hours in, but my brain melted, exploded and imploded in numerous ways. And it was very satisfying!

Lopolo
Lopolo

This is unironically one of the best game.
My brain melted like never before, not just by difficulty, but overall game desing is amazing.

Pros:
+ Beautiful
+ Challenging
+ Rewarding

Cons:
Pls more Levels

10/10 - Where sequel ?

Affordable Care Act
Affordable Care Act

Closing in on 200 puzzles done. This is a very clever little puzzle game. Introduces new concepts at a good pace, and it does not get as fiendishly hard (so far) as Baba is You or Stephens Sausage Roll. Made me smile several times as new achievements popped, or I understood the new mind bending paradox needed to solve a puzzle. Top notch!

pipis room
pipis room

just finished my 100% playthrough, can confirm it is a lot of brain hurting fun and worth your time if you enjoy these kinds of games. also has very easy custom level installation, so even after you've finished all the game's content there's still more to do.

Xeron
Xeron

it really breaks your brain but at the same time makes you feel like a genius once you solve even an easy puzzle

DJDiceZ
DJDiceZ

Peak puzzle design. One of the best puzzle games out there. Underrated, and honestly could beat one of its greatest rivals: Baba is you. If there's anything Patrick's Parabox splendidly outdoes Baba is You at, it's elegant simplicity.

The difficulty isn't too hard for most puzzles. This might turn off people who want a serious brain scratcher, but other than that, if you enjoy puzzles, get it. If you really want to be cautious, the demo will give you only a tiny yet fun peak at the easier puzzles. The difficulty is well balanced imo. Neither too easy, nor too hard. You will still have to pause for a moment and have to rethink, retry and reconsider your approach for almost every solution. The pace is good too, a little on the slow side, but you will never get overwhelmed.

The level design is genius, and the game manages to be so incredibly simple, contained within tiny spaces, yet have dozens and dozens of different mechanics derived from a couple core mechanics, with many fascinating applications. There are many levels (read: areas/chapters), each with a theme and a few puzzles, and they all introduce a new mechanic everytime, while never changing any rule, and almost never adding a new one. The consistency of the rules deserves credit. The depth is shockingly endless. More than a hundred puzzles is also a very fair ammount of puzzles for a puzzle game, especially since the price is reasonable.

It nails the satisfaction good puzzles should provide, the Ah Hah! moment. On top of that, it also nails the "wow" factor, surprising you in new ways every puzzle and new introduced mechanic.

My only gripe is that this game's potential is infinite, and it isn't fully exploited as there isn't a lot of levels that try to combine a lot of mechanics at once, which means it would benefit so, so much from an editor. There IS one, but it's just not something the average player will be able to use, unlike an editor like mario maker. It's not THAT complicated either, but still demanding more than most will have.

EDIT: Small correction about the editor. The way the level creation is implemented also has some significant advantages, the biggest being the following: The ability to create new mechanics.

As for other aspects including technical, i have no complaint.

_beanie_
_beanie_

this game is clever and quirky and a little bit silly

anka.213+*****
anka.213+*****

It's tons of fun and despite the mindblowing nature of it, the tutorialization is excellent and after figuring out the solution to one puzzle, you're usually ready for the next puzzle.

Mr.NorthPole
Mr.NorthPole

This is it. This is the best game I have ever played.

bordertowndirector
bordertowndirector

If you liked Portal or AntiChamber because they made you have to break your brain to think in new ways to solve the puzzles, you'll love this game. It does an amazing job of using simple mechanics in complex ways, and you will always be introduced to new mechanics before they get added to the list of tools at your disposal to work through the problems presented to you.

Muffinator
Muffinator

One of the better puzzle games I've ever played. Excellent design and spectacular creativity!

21ack
21ack

Brilliant mechanics and puzzles.

sniperonice
sniperonice

My brain feels funny makes me feel smrt..... Good game!!! 10/10

Taart
Taart

my brain feels like it was a soaked towel getting rung out

taunofaat peuk
taunofaat peuk

Very nice little game. Very genius. Must try for any puzzler. Seems to get pretty complex. I would say It's easier than Baba Is You, but who likes Baba will prolly find joy here aswell. Baba seems a bit tough for me personally, but i think I might pick it up again after I complete this masterpiece :)

Big thanks to the developer. Good Work. Need more games like this :)

Christine
Christine

This game has a friendly sort of charm that only grows more appealing as you progress. The difficulty ramps very gently, beginning with an extremely basic introduction of fundamental sokoban mechanics, escalating through a series of level groups which are each named for the concept they introduce. People who play a lot of puzzle games may find the early game a bit easier and less exciting than they'd like, but as the game starts iterating on combinations of mechanics the boards start becoming intensely clever. It is absolutely fantastic at presenting a situation that immediately looks impossible yet contains all the subtle tells needed to back out what must happen to reach the goal. There are many excellent "wow" moments where you can barely comprehend what you're seeing, yet the game is always admirably legible and easy to read.

Just truly excellent craft on display in every area. I was a bit soft on the soundtrack from my impression of the demo, but after listening to all the tracks through the full game (they change for each named area) I am much more positive, with several standout tracks that I really enjoy. The inclusion of some otherwise unused mechanics as 'appendices' was really great to see--Patrick clearly has a lot of good ideas but is also willing to make thoughtful decisions about editing and scope discipline. Having them as a small post-game bonus is a great way to handle this; they don't get very much time but some of it is just excruciatingly clever. In any case, there seem to be a fair number of user levels exploring these concepts, so I think it works out beautifully.

In short, perhaps the most amiable game I've ever played, with some of the sharpest and smartest puzzles this side of The Talos Principle.

The reward for solving ALL the puzzles is a very small thing, but it made me smile :)

诸葛孔明
诸葛孔明

i think the puzzle mode is too easy,the mode cant supply to output author‘s imaginative talent.absolutely,the game suitable for new player in puzzle game.

Dablzguy
Dablzguy

This is my favorite puzzle game of all time, and the only puzzle game I've ever played which I would recommend to those who are not normally fans of the genre. It's really refreshing to see a puzzle game with a more average difficulty that I could realistically see most people who pick it up completing it in a world where it feels like every other puzzle game tries to be as brutally hard as possible. The game also has a unique approach to puzzle design that I really like where most of the difficulty comes from understanding and experimenting with the game's concepts rather than the difficulty of the actual puzzles. I rarely say this, but I'd recommend this game to anyone.

DG
DG

My first sokoban game is called Kurtan. This is the perfection of the concept.

funnyman
funnyman

Another great entry in the genre of "box-pushing game with more to offer than you'd think." If you enjoy the kind of game that Baba Is You is, with all of its puzzling yet fun-to-overcome mechanics, this game feels like you're playing it all over again. Just when I thought I had seen every possible way the game could explore its main gimmick of recursion, there was yet another set of levels that twisted the rules even further. This is definitely the type of game where the less you know going into it, the more fun your experience will be.

The music is fairly simplistic and there is no story, but this type of puzzle game does not need a narrative to be enjoyable. You're here for the head-scratchers, and that's what you get. It's an easy game to pick up, but finishing every last puzzle requires more than just thinking outside the box -- you must come to a complete understanding of the layers of "infinity."

The concept is refreshingly original, and I would love to see this game expanded upon with more puzzles or a level editor (I know that one exists, but I mean one with something like workshop support for easier sharing.) Very fun if you like to feel smart, then helplessly stuck, then smart again.

Monomi
Monomi

i am very confused, cool game tho

Bjaux
Bjaux

Very much reminds me of baba is you, but a little more about recursion and perspective. Absolutely loving the puzzles! And a good pacing :)

Banana Murderer
Banana Murderer

A great 2D spacial game that forces you to think outside the box (sometimes literally).

Ran
Ran

Absolutely great, and has a very good difficulty curve in my opinion. Remember to take a break if your brain starts to fry from too much puzzling!

Güzel olan sensin
Güzel olan sensin

神作!完美的难度曲线,强大的关卡设计。买不了吃亏买不了上当。一个益智类游戏的大成之作。你值得拥有。
A masterpiece! Perfect difficulty curve, powerful level design. You can't buy it, you can't be fooled. A masterpiece of puzzle games. You deserve to have it.

PsiKillare
PsiKillare

A well executed puzzle game with great complexity and expansion on concepts. It starts off simple and then gets to mind bending. For those of you who enjoy good spatial puzzles, I highly recommend it. You'll find yourself smirking at the clever solutions to the puzzles as you move through the infinite spaces.

DD33
DD33

Who, What, Where, When Why, How?

Extant
Extant

A perfect puzzle game. Just puzzles, nothing else getting in the way. The difficulty seems perfectly tuned to be challenging enough to feel rewarding when you find a solution, but not so obtuse that you put it down in frustration.

Mu'izz
Mu'izz

Buying indie games at full price is always morally correct.

(The demo was very captivating.)

hoogamaphone
hoogamaphone

Excellent puzzle game with some absolutely mind-bending puzzles!

Achelea
Achelea

Great puzzle game that features a wonderful concept.

HurricaneOf87
HurricaneOf87

I found this game to be enjoyable.

NotSoDale
NotSoDale

Puzzle game that has some brain twisting puzzles that will require some thought on how to approach and complete them. Its pretty addictive due to its gimmick being pretty cool. if there wasn't a undo button i would probably enjoy this game less.

MoweMax
MoweMax

Outstanding puzzle design, smooth introduction on the mechanics and just great game all around.
Enjoyed every minute thinking on the solutions!

eggs mcgee
eggs mcgee

so many boxes... brain hurts...

doongi01
doongi01

This is legitimately the best puzzle game I've ever played

Thestales
Thestales

it will mess your brain up - kthxluvubai

chiu
chiu

Levels are cleverly designed, after playing normal mode, still have challenging levels to play and gallery let us see how the game was designed. What a brilliantly game!

Radish
Radish

Good combination of sokoban and spacial puzzle.

Algous27
Algous27

Would love a motion sickness option to disable the slide puzzles

catholicbatman
catholicbatman

This game is amazing. Many have compared it to Baba is You and rightfully so, but this game in my opinion is more approachable and simpler in concept than the former. It's fun, the music is tranquil, it's challenging but not overwhelming and it can easily be set down when you need a break or don't have lots of time to devote. Highly recommend picking it up, even at full price.

Drovoxx
Drovoxx

A really elegant and challenging puzzler. Very simple rules that somehow can lead to incredibly complex puzzles. It doesn't quite have the galaxy brain potential and expansiveness of Baba is You (I can get 50+ hours out of Baba is you but can fully explore the limit of this game's mechanics in 10-15) but it a great short puzzler. Highly recommend.

NarcoticBreakfast
NarcoticBreakfast

No brain capacity left for a review with more

xubiod
xubiod

i have a feeling i've reviewed this before
https://steamcommunity.com/id/xubiod/recommended/1260520

Regal
Regal

this game is awesome and makes you understand the most insane stuff by slowly teaching you, 100% in ~11 hours so nice and short too

xRayd
xRayd

Most mind blowing puzzle game I'm ever played.

rainbowgoats
rainbowgoats

Not particularly challenging, but overall an enjoyable game!
If you suffer from motion sickness (as I do) some of the side puzzles use motion in a vomit inducing way making them impossible to play. The main mechanic of the game also uses a zoom in/ out animation that can be reduced but not disabled entirely (this mostly satisfied me).

mahkra
mahkra

Very fun and interesting. Best sokoban-style puzzle game since Baba Is You.

Professor Lollipop
Professor Lollipop

This is the best puzzle game I've played since portal 2. Period. And with the massive array of user generated content, I'm sure I'll be playing Patrick's Parabox for many years to come. I only wish the game had a fully featured level editor. Either way, I may love this game even more then portal.

Boot
Boot

Incredible puzzle game. It manages to show you the most impossible-looking starting screens you have ever seen--but then, 10 minutes later, you know exactly the process you need to take to solve the puzzle. All of the levels feel like they belong, with none that I can remember being filler. This game has the most satisfying 'aha!' moments I have ever experienced, which I think is its most defining feature.

This game manages to explain the concept of infinity in the best and most tangible way. Patrick's Parabox teaches you about ordinal numbers better than all of the math youtubers I've watched combined. Very nerdy game, very fun to learn, very challenging in the challenge section.

I said "HUUH?!?" prolly like 1000 times
in my top 3 puzzle games of all time

seblav
seblav

An excellent brain mixer to make brain salad.

On a serious note, this game is truly fun to play, the puzzle are way easier than Baba is you, but there is some challenging level in it. Totally recommend to puzzle lover.

Last Hope
Last Hope

2022 Best Independent game reservation
8.5/10

danilolapiccirella
danilolapiccirella

Simply brilliant.

One of the best and most unique puzzle games I've ever played.

CheeseBoye
CheeseBoye

One of the most fun puzzle games i have ever played
Somehow easy enough for me to beat without too many issues yet difficult enough to be very satisfying when i figured how to complete a level
Actually this reminds me of another review i made
https://steamcommunity.com/id/CheeseIsGrate/recommended/1260520

sc00tal00
sc00tal00

This is probably the best puzzle box type game made yet. You heard about The Witness and Stephen's Sausage Roll, and those are all difficult games that make you think and unfortunately also do stuff. Often time you can figure out the solution far before you can actually solve it and then have to go through the actual tedium of solving the dang thing. Patrick's Parabox on the other hand goes the opposite direction where your exploration of how the rules function and your progress through a particular level tend to coincide, where you figure out how you got to the solution just moments before you actually get to the solution. Sometimes this strays too far and you get to the solution without really realizing why you got there, but those are often the introductory puzzles that show you how a mechanic works.

My only complaint, I need more. The game as it stands introduces a number of concepts and rules that all layer on top of each other, but aside from my first "paradox" I have not hit the "it goes one meta layer deeper" that the others (Baba is You, Stephen's Sausage Roll, The Witness, etc) get to, though I will admit that I am not quite done with all the levels.

I honestly think that this is the freshest take on sokoban style mind bending puzzles I have ever seen. Most go too far and are far past the point where I am smart or patient enough to complete them, but this hits the absolute sweet spot and really is the best for anyone, even if you do not normally like these sorts of puzzlers.