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Game
Game2009
Braid
Developer Number None
Braid is an indie puzzle-platform video game developed by Number None. The game was originally released in August 2008 for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service. Ports were developed and released for Microsoft Windows in April 2009, Mac OS X in May 2009, PlayStation 3 in November 2009, and Linux in December 2010. Jonathan Blow designed the game as a personal critique of contemporary trends in video game… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
262 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Nov 2, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
76
LovedLoved
136 positive · 42 negative
95% range 70–82%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 136 | 42 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 11 | 10 | 51 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 11 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
5,100 of 5,572 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
76% recommend · 133 yes, 42 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 175 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (9,280 of 9,961 positive).
Players praise Braid's innovative time-rewinding mechanic and puzzle design. [1][2][3] A few players criticize the game as dated or not as good as remembered. [4][5][6]
Liked
Representative posts
- [5]
This game is a beautiful, landmark example of a legendary game that started a genre, and by some miracle, isn't really that good. It's an interesting peak into game history, but. It's straight-up not good.
- [1]
So... I've kinda bounced off this game several times in the past, but decided to finally give it a really try and experience it whole now. Honestly, wow, it's way better than I remember it from before. The puzzle design in places is very smart, it's does that golden rule indie thing of "taking one mechanic and exploring it fully, from all the possible angles" and its approach to story and mood is very minimalistic …
- [4]
I'm sure this game blew peoples minds back in the day, in modern day though this game is just alright. Puzzles are solid, art and music is really good. I didn't much care for the metacommentary or super duper secrets, I think The Witness was a lot more successful in that department (although not without its own faults).
- [11]
Good puzzles and gameplay. Secrets are a little trite at times. The use of metaphor back in 2008 likely got it a modest level of attention as the indie boom was about to hit; nowadays it feels tacky and heavy-handed. Don't feel bad about ignoring the writing - it's an attempt to deconstruct the bare-bones story-telling situation that gaming was seemingly in at the time, but it overcompensates in a heavy-handed …
- [2]
I like when the Time is involved in puzzles. This is a milestone for indie games and has very cool time-based mechanics. The tech for handling the rewind is insane. Special and fun puzzle game.
Summarised from 34 of the 251 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 11, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Braid sits at 76% positive across 178 opinionated reactions from 3 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Upon its release to Xbox Live Arcade, Braid received critical acclaim, with an aggregate review score of 93/100 at Metacritic, making it the top-rated Xbox Live Arcade and the 10th highest-rated Xbox 360 game. Braid was purchased by more than 55,000 people during the first week of release. According to Blow, Braid was the second-largest selling Xbox Live Arcade title in 2008 and sales were "very profitable", making him more money than if he had been working at a high-paying job for the time it took to develop the game. The game had sold 450,000 copies by April 2012. By 2014, Blow had stated that sales of Braid brought in more than $4 million in revenue, much of which he used towards the…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 262 · most liked first(Volume Warning, had to be reduced in post) Game: Braid (2008/2010, Linux) TAS Author: keylie & Del Source: tasvideos.org/5986M
neutral · AI labelView post →Immediate flashbacks to a similarly lengthy meltdown I saw way back on the Penny Arcade forums (I think?) about someone who quit playing Braid about two minutes in because the game forces you to die in order to explain the time-rewinding mechanic. They felt the game was laughing at them for failing
neutral · AI labelView post →So here's the thing: don't bother. Braid isn't -that- good of a game. It has a fun twist, but that's it. Also Jonathan Blow, the creator, is an anti-vaxx, NFT-shilling asshole. Don't give him your money.
negative · AI labelView post →Braid came out 4 years after Cave Story which in my memory was the first big deal indie game so this is some wild revisionism
neutral · AI labelView post →Braid game strong
positive · AI labelView post →Johnny Blowhard's greatest contribution to gaming was that parody game one dude made of The Witness and also crying that Soulja Boy thought Braid sucked.
neutral · AI labelView post →Braid game is top notch 👌🏾
positive · AI labelView post →If you don't know him, Jonathan Blow created the first successful indie game "Braid" and followed it up with the blockbuster puzzler "The Witness". He was a thoughtful, philosophical, "thinker" type, who used to cut through bullshit with clear thought. Watching this happen was devastating for me
neutral · AI labelView post →I liked Braid well enough but it got a buff because "big indie game" was like a new thing back then these days you can find better platformers that don't even get notoriety
neutral · AI labelView post →I was thinking earlier today about the earlier days of the indie game scene, before we even had games like Shovel Knight and Undertale, when games like Braid, Super Meat Boy and Fez were considered the pinnacle of indie games. The medium really has come a long way, hasn't it?
neutral · AI labelView post →My name is Jonathan I made the Braid It was difficult to put the game together But unfortunatеly, something went so wrong And now I can't do anything but crank that Soulja Boy
neutral · AI labelView post →Braid game strong pt.2
positive · AI labelView post →We covered Braid on the HG101 Podcast and despite me not liking the game or anything I volunteered to be on the episode and all I did was shit on Braid and Jonathan Blow because I felt it was my duty to be Fair and Balanced.
negative · AI labelView post →"oh huh, what is this puzzle game, i've not heard of it" "oh this seems really neat, let me find out more about it" "overwhelmingly positive reviews, just launched last month? ooh" "...made by the guy who did Braid? the guy who's an avid Trump supporter?? did people forget about that or what"
neutral · AI labelView post →Prices indicate these were largely sales. I am unsure why Audiosurf was the game that pushed me to download Steam. Don't remember who I apparently inflicted Braid on.
neutral · AI labelView post →My first thought every time someone brings up Braid is -soulja boy voice- ain’t even got a point to the game
neutral · AI labelView post →I WOULDNT PLAY/SUPPORT A GAME BY JONATHAN BLOW (BRAID, THE WITNESS, ORDER OF THE SINKING STAR) JUST LIKE I WOULDNT READ A BOOK BY ROWLING HE IS ACTIVELY HURTING PEOPLE WITH FUNDS HE RECEIVES
neutral · AI labelView post →Jonathan Blow epitomizes the privilege of the late 00s XBLA gold rush. Braid launched when a download-only game was still a novel concept, succeeding when the level of competition was nothing like it is today. Then Braid Anniversary Edition releases in 2024 and bombs, hard.
neutral · AI labelView post →Mandatory mention of Jonathan Blow crying in a dark room about Soulja Boy misunderstanding Braid.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’ve just released a substantial video essay: “How Music Mirrors Game Design in Taiji, Trifoil, Braid, Patrick’s Parabox & Other Games” LINK IN THE REPLIES!
neutral · AI labelView post →My Playtime: 8.8h (100% achievement, finished the game 4x) My First Playthrough: 3.6h Grindy Achievement(s): No. Optional Achievement(s): Yes (6 achievements). Difficult Achievement(s): Yes (1 speedrun achievement). Intro Braid is a puzzle platformer with a unique mechanic: you can rewind your action, turning back time a few seconds from where you were. The gameplay will revolve around this mechanic with a different focus on each world. It has 38 levels total, separated into 6 worlds. Pros: -…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i think im at the Soulja Boy Playing Braid level of "what do you even fucking do in this game"
neutral · AI labelView post →Is this that "Braid" game everyone was talking about like 10 years ago?
neutral · AI labelView post →Ain't no point to the game, you just walkin around jumpin on shi
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You will like my indie game if you enjoyed: - VVVVVV - Half-Life - Super Metroid - Braid #indiegame #indiedev
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is a beautiful, landmark example of a legendary game that started a genre, and by some miracle, isn't really that good. It's an interesting peak into game history, but. It's straight-up not good.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I noticed that "Order of the Sinking Star" just came out, the new game from the dev of "Braid" and "The Witness." And... I dunno, man, just from the still images I'm not sure this game is for me. I'm not blown away by the presentation here, which seems to be mainly block-pushing puzzles.
negative · AI labelView post →Braid wasn’t even the best game to release on Xbox Live Arcade in August 2008. That was Castle Crashers
negative · AI labelView post →Ever been really glad you didn't buy a game? Braid, eh.
negative · AI labelView post →Hot take, I do not like Johnathan Blow. I find him very pretentious when it comes to game design and his game styles. Braid was alright but after that, I’m not a fan of his works.
neutral · AI labelView post →Jonathan Blow likes to make game mechanics that seem basic but have a large amount of depth. Then the rest of your time with his creations is fighting against how absolutely EXCESSIVE the precision required to "solve" his puzzles are. I played this a lot on Xbox 360... and frankly want to know what the ♥♥♥♥ I enjoyed back then that just isn't hitting anymore. ♥♥♥♥ the slow-mo ring levels, ♥♥♥♥ the later double jump puzzles, and ♥♥♥♥ Jonathan Blow's ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ego.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The challenge is to choose 20 games that greatly influenced you. One game per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, no particular order. #GameChallenge #Games #GameDev #PromoSky 11. Braid
neutral · AI labelView post →I still find it remarkable that Braid, a game which is ostensibly an arthouse variant of Super Mario Bros., uses its credits to thank Italo Calvino and David Lynch, but doesn't say anything about Mario, Nintendo, or Shigeru Miyamoto.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Braid, Anniversary Edition updated to improve Steam Deck OLED support (looks like Native Linux and macOS were shelved) https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/05/braid-anniversary-edition-updated-to-improve-steam-deck-oled-support/ #SteamDeck #Braid
neutral · AI labelView post →I cant take him seriously ever since I found out he cried in Indie Game The Movie because Soulja Boy didn’t like Braid
neutral · AI labelView post →Play my video game Braid
neutral · AI labelView post →He spreads lie after lie with ignorant scorn, leaving my region to be murdered and torn. After years of support the money can't be unpaid - but even in Braid, the past can't be remade.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ain't no point to the game. But good for people who like to drink or smoke.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wish so badly Steam reviews let you attach videos, the Johnathon Blow crying over Soulja Boy dunking on his magnum opus is really a one-of-a-kind moment in gaming history.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →On this day of Jonathan Blow game release I urge you to watch this video of him crying because Soulja Boy didn’t understand the significance of Braid
neutral · AI labelView post →It's about this lil' guy in uhm- In a suit and he walk around. It aint got no point tot he game. You just walk around jumping on ♥♥♥♥. It look like Mario in the future. And it is Mario in a business suit with his hair dyed orange and a tie on. And he just walking round jumping ♥♥♥♥ but you- But the funny part about it you can do this right here watch this 'YOOOOP' OOOAaaah.. Now if you didn't catch that, I just went back in time, through the whole game he just be going back in time watch this…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Basement Collection? Braid? Indie Game: The Movie? Yeah, it was a different time.
neutral · AI labelView post →What if Super Mario beat up Peach? Deep...
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →For a while (the early 2010s) indie games had a lot of 'what if a platformer expressed feelings' and I actively disliked it. Just felt like a bad fit of narrative purpose to game design. Okay, Thomas Was Alone was good, but Braid, no, that didn't work for me
negative · AI labelView post →Man, Braid was such a crucial game! Obvs, bloody brilliant, clever and gorgeous Huge for the indie scene and how we saw it And personally? I was being swept away by huge budget 3D. Braid pulled me back to gaming being ideas and craft and inspiration. I love it for that!
positive · AI labelView post →I'm so tired of developers moving updates to a "new" game which forces the owners of the original to buy the game again.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Do not give money to this sexist anti-vaxxer.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gaming friends: Braid, Anniversary Edition is out today! This version has fully repainted graphics, new puzzles, and added in-game commentary. When the game was originally released 16 years ago, it was designed for 720p, so I'm excited to see how much better this new version looks. It's available on Steam, Switch, Playstation, Xbox, and even Netflix. http://braid-game.com/ #gaming #Braid
neutral · AI labelView post →Thinking about the early days of indie games and how the space use to be very small (also I am re-watching Indie Game: The Movie while I draw and laughing my ass off when Souja Boy was playing Braid)
neutral · AI labelView post →Don't support this developer.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Been overrated for 15 years, dev is insufferably pretentious and also just a misogynist and antivaxxer. The art is the only reason this game was ever worth consideration.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Yeah... so, I understand the genius behind its mechanics, smart game design with its reverse mechanics and teaching via repetition, art design, and loads of meta-commentary. But I really couldn't stand playing the game. It just wasn't fun. The game really has a lot of "flash game"-isms that would've been cool in 2008 (edit: oh wait, it was released in 2009), but it now feels pretty dated. The same could be said about the writing, which feels WAY too abstract and melodramatic for me personally.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Kinda funny that the guy who made this is named Jonathan Blow 'cause after looking into who he is, man, he ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ blows he's like the Andrew Tate of game developers Jonathan Blow it out your ass
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not even kidding soulja boy was right.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm too stupid for this game 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Jonathan Blow made Braid. When he was in Indie Game The Movie, he showed sadness over a reaction vid of Soulja Boy stoned playing it. Phil Fish made Fez, the internet doesn't really like him because he didn't like Japanese games in the 2010s.
neutral · AI labelView post →I think Braid was revolutionary game if you had maybe never heard of or seen or played a Flash game before
neutral · AI labelView post →It was a curious one for its time It's time has long gone
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Best game ever. This game made me want to be a game designer.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"What if Super Mario was like deep and depressing?" Shallow, ugly, pompous.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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