Escape The Past
Escape The Past
Game
Game2010
The Ball
Developer Teotl Studios
The Ball is a 2010 first-person action-adventure game developed by Teotl Studios and published by Tripwire Interactive. The game was one of the OnLive's UK launch titles, and one of the 13 games contained in the Potato Sack Bundle, which was a part of the Potato Sack Alternate Reality Game, promoting Portal 2's release. A spiritual successor, The Solus Project, was released on PC and consoles by Teotl and Grip… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
249 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Nov 6, 2026 · last updated Nov 6, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
70
Fresh
123 positive · 53 negative
95% range 63–76%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 123 | 53 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 1 | 1 | 70 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
564 of 747 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
71% recommend · 128 yes, 53 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 181 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (859 of 1,159 positive).
Players praise the game's unique concept and physics-based puzzles. [1][2][3] Some reviewers find the game boring, clunky, or repetitive. [4][5][6] Several players note the game overstays its welcome or has weak story. [7][2][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [4]
this game is really boring and I tried playing it 8 times and I got bored every time
- [1]
Amazing game. I just played half hour but plan to play it full as soon as I finish developing my game. I loved the graphics and the ball physics is simply amazing. The puzzles are good, neither very hard, neither very easy. Being an UDK developer myself I can say that The Ball is one of the most creative and beautifull games made in UDK Engine. Thumbs up.
- [7]
Short version: Pros: + Interesting premise + Visual style + Survival maps Cons: - Barely any gameplay innovation - Overstays its welcome "Long" version: The Ball is a first-person puzzle game developed by Teotl Studios and published by Tripwire Interactive. You play as an archeologist who falls down a mine shaft and must find his way out of the cave, uncover the mystery behind an imposing artifact and survive an …
- [2]
So the comparisons to Portal are inevitable, but The Ball definitely stands on it's own. A lot of detail and attention has been put into the piston.. gun... thing that is used to manipulate the ball. The ball itself does a fantastic job of conveying it's weight and momentum too. Watching it crush a flock of monsters is visceral and fun to watch. So the game play is fun, and the graphics are detailed and very good …
- [3]
I really liked this game. Push and pull a giant mysterious ball around, and solve puzzles with it by hitting switches, bashing open doors, afflicting the ball with magical effects at times to aid in solving (lightning, oil, fire, anti-gravity field, etc). Sometimes you hook the ball to objects to pull them places, other times you jump on the ball to get to heights. And occasionally you mount it in an elevator or …
Summarised from 34 of the 193 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 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
71% of the 181 Steam reviewers we collected recommend The Ball. The complaint that keeps coming up: gameplay becomes repetitive and overstays its welcome. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The original mod entered the Unreal Engine 3 Make Something Unreal contest and picked up multiple awards, including prizes for Best First-Person Shooter Game Mod, and Second Prize overall. The commercial release generated a mixed critical response, receiving a rating of 68% from review aggregator Metacritic and 73.83% from GameRankings. PC Gamer US awarded the game 81/100, calling it "a joyous and addictive action puzzler". IGN gave the game a 7/10, criticizing the story presentation and combat but praising the variety of gameplay. The Ball was awarded by PC Gamer US as the 2010 Action-Adventure Game of the Year.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 249 · most liked firstOzzy Osbourne, Take Me Out To The Ball Game
neutral · AI labelView post →Abdul is staying focused on the ground game, it's third and short and goddammit he is RUNNING THE BALL.
neutral · AI labelView post →Go Popes! Heard we're doing the Nicene Creed instead of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" for the 7th inning stretch
neutral · AI labelView post →The Mets committed six errors... in a game? IN A GAME? SIX? THEY ARE KICKING THE BALL AROUND LIKE THEY'RE IN THE WORLD CUP!!!!!!
neutral · AI labelView post →ADOPTABLE PUPS AT THE BALL GAME
neutral · AI labelView post →Today In 2016: Eddie Vedder sings "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch of World Series Game 5 at Wrigley Field! #PearlJam #MLB #Chicago #Cubs #Baseball #WorldSeries
neutral · AI labelView post →I am a 52 yo father, probably one of the oldest people playing The Ball. I am a single father to my Son, who is 14 now. My son found this game at Christmas, so we installed it on his computer and he started playing. By the end of the week he had 24 hours on this game. This was horrible for me, as it was already hard for me to find ways to spend time with my son, as he is always out with his friends or just watching YouTube. So I decided to make a Steam account and get this game to see if I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Here's a video of one of the creators explaining it, in a hilariously awkward and weird way: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGYV.... The example they use is very carefully designed to require the Ball 2's sensors, because obviously most ball games don't require code or sensors. You just... play them.
neutral · AI labelView post →Amazing game. I just played half hour but plan to play it full as soon as I finish developing my game. I loved the graphics and the ball physics is simply amazing. The puzzles are good, neither very hard, neither very easy. Being an UDK developer myself I can say that The Ball is one of the most creative and beautifull games made in UDK Engine. Thumbs up.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Information / Review English The Ball is a first person shooter / adventure / puzzle game developed by Teotl Studios. Gameplay / Story The story takes place in 1940, somewhere in Mexico: You are an archaeologist and work on the slopes of an extinct volcano until you suddenly get trapped in a cave and can't get out. It doesn't take long before you realize that it is much more than just a simple cave. You discover fabulous ancient ruins that have been kept secret from the outside world for…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →KICKING THE BALL AWAY? ARE YOU SERIOUS? TWO DELAYING THE RESTART YELLOWS? AND MACNAUGHTON ENDS THIS GAME WITHOUT A SINGLE BOOKING? ST. LOUIS AS A WHOLE ENDS THIS GAME WITHOUT A YELLOW? COME ON #RCTID
neutral · AI labelView post →My alma mater, Sacramento State is playing Ball State today. It has ben dubbed the Ball-Sac game. Sigh. #AT40
neutral · AI labelView post →Normally I don’t have a problem with Anish but literally everything he has to say about the Pitt offense makes me want to throw things PITT IS RUNNING THE BALL EFFECTIVELY, WE DON’T NECESSARILY NEED TO PUT THE GAME ON DAILEY’S SHOULDERS QUIT ASKING ABOUT IT
neutral · AI labelView post →Tomorrow’s the biggest college football game of the season: The Ball-Sac Bowl
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a game where it took me a while to decide if I liked or hated it. If you look at the game description and it appeals to you, then it’s probably a game you will like. But be aware its more of a walking simulator instead of a puzzle game. What drew me in most was the overall concept. The idea of being an archeologist who accidentally stumbles upon an ancient, underground, uncontacted civilization and must return their most precious artifact to the depths of the earth appealed to me.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short version: Pros: + Interesting premise + Visual style + Survival maps Cons: - Barely any gameplay innovation - Overstays its welcome "Long" version: The Ball is a first-person puzzle game developed by Teotl Studios and published by Tripwire Interactive. You play as an archeologist who falls down a mine shaft and must find his way out of the cave, uncover the mystery behind an imposing artifact and survive an onslaught of ancient horrors. There is barely any story besides its setup.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game is really boring and I tried playing it 8 times and I got bored every time
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game Five coming up! Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack; song slide for "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," May 1908.
neutral · AI labelView post →Screw Tripwire, they do not care about the basic human rights of others.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Does your ball hang low? Does it wobble to and fro? Can you tie it in a knot? Can you tie it in a bow? Can you throw it o'er your shoulder Like a continental soldier? Does your ball hang low? Does your ball stand high? Does it reach up to the sky? Does it droop when it is wet? Does it stiffen when it's dry? Can you wave it at your neighbour With an element of flavour? Does your ball stand high? Does your ball flip-flop? Can you use it as a mop? Is it stringy at the bottom? Is it curly at the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Kinda feel like everyone here will enjoy the MAC branded dumpster I took a picture of at the Ball State/Sacramento State game yesterday
neutral · AI labelView post →Fuck you, bitchass Shanashit!!!!! You saw how we RAN THE BALL, MILKED THE CLOCK AND KICKED THE GW FG to WIN THE GAME on our LAST OFFENSIVE DRIVE???? Take notes, bitch!!!! And fuck you too Raheem!
neutral · AI labelView post →This game has puzzles and action. But whichever you focus on, you won't have a good time. Story is like... you got a ball and that's important. Take care of it. Puzzle part is like... mediocre. Not special. Do here, do that and voila. Watch cut scene. Action is like... just annoying. Your tool doesn't directly hurt the enemies. Only your ball can. Kill 'em with physics... Maybe fun on paper but terrible execution on actual game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Buckling to cancel culture by firing your now ex-CEO for his own personal opinion on a matter that isn't even related to the development company itself was a very bad move. Go woke, go broke. Game itself pretty clunky and boring anyway
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Publisher believes that over half the population should not have autonomy over their own bodies.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →On this date in 1908, Edward Meeker hits the charts with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
neutral · AI labelView post →OREGON PLEASE JUST RUN THE BALL IT’S WORKNG I stg if I see more than 5 passes downfield for the rest of the game I’m going to lose my mind
neutral · AI labelView post →"the ball games and the gun games risk losing players to The Ball And Gun Game" woah. what? no. really?
neutral · AI labelView post →i played this for 11 minutes in 2014 :D
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have like, two of these
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am a 55 year old biker and trucker father, and probably one of the oldest people playing this game. I am a single father to my Son, who is 14 now. My son got this game for from his uncle, so we installed it on his computer and he started playing. By the end of the week he had 24 hours on this game. This was horrible for me, as it was already hard for me to find ways to spend time with my son, as he is always out with his friends or just watching YouTube. So i decided to make a Steam account…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the most boring and janky games I've played. Some puzzles are alright but dragging your huge ball through all kinds of narrow tunnels in this game is really clumsy. I would've put up with that but then they introduced enemy monsters which you have to kill by rolling your huge ball, and they come at you from all sides way too fast for you to be able to turn around and roll your ball at them. To add insult to injury, some of these monsters send some kinda projectiles towards you which…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So the comparisons to Portal are inevitable, but The Ball definitely stands on it's own. A lot of detail and attention has been put into the piston.. gun... thing that is used to manipulate the ball. The ball itself does a fantastic job of conveying it's weight and momentum too. Watching it crush a flock of monsters is visceral and fun to watch. So the game play is fun, and the graphics are detailed and very good looking. Unfortunately the game drags on a bit longer than it should, and the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →THE BALL GAME (1898) Directed by William Heise. Put out by the Edison Manufacturing Company Only a minute long. A player runs along first base An actual time capsule. We see what things looked like. How people moved This is one of the main reasons why I love film ❤️
neutral · AI labelView post →So this post is from Aug 2025, last time i played this was back all the way in 2013. Yeah my opinion is still the same. If you REALLY, REALLY like Indiana Jones. But you REALLY, REALLY like Half-Life's gravity gun. Then you might want to try this. (also the only saving grace for me, is the skin for Killing floor 1)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Ball. The Ball! The Ball is everything, all that once was and all that will be. The ball controls time and space. Love and death. The ball can see into your mind! The ball can see into your soul! Despite my dated reference, that IS basically the plot of the game. Aliens came down to ancient civilization or something and was like "here, have ball." and human kind was like "ahh yes. ball." then we misused ball or something and aliens got mad at idk. ANYWAYS. As far as gameplay goes, It's…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is one of those oddballs that mix different genres together like puzzle & horror in this case. You navigate through dark corridors using huge sphere to solve puzzles, while getting rid of undead from time to time. You can push the ball with your gun or pull it like a magnet. Levels are well made and riddles fun to solve (some might be harder to figure out though). I must say this reminds me of Portal but in different environment (there is even Portal map in survival mode). The game is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Dave and I are working on a chill folk duo cover of Take Me Out to the Ball Game (with the original VERSES) and I am so excited about it
neutral · AI labelView post →The ball is absolutely one of the games of all time
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Positives + Short and sweet puzzles that are not too complicated or frustrating + The puzzles constantly grow and introduce different mechanics + Big balls + You can kill the monkeys + Some neat physics introduced later on in the game Negatives - As far as puzzles go, it's not very challenging - Besides the bosses, the "combat" feels unneccessary - The puzzle mechanics become repetitive - Game is very short - The plot is very surface and can be completely ignored - Could've done more…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Stars received: 3.2/10 _ Note: v.5 [0.0 to 1] = personal impressions [0.5] Controls & Training & Help [0.2] Menu & Settings [0.3] Sound & Music [0.3] Graphics [0.6] Game Design [0.3] Game Story [0.5] Game Content [0.3] Completion time (level/game)? [0.2] is it Enjoyable & Fun? Could it hold a spot in Favorites? (& if the Game can be repeatedly played again) BONUS point: Multi-Player related BONUS point: Review for VR - if Registration is required with providing PII Game description…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really liked this game. Push and pull a giant mysterious ball around, and solve puzzles with it by hitting switches, bashing open doors, afflicting the ball with magical effects at times to aid in solving (lightning, oil, fire, anti-gravity field, etc). Sometimes you hook the ball to objects to pull them places, other times you jump on the ball to get to heights. And occasionally you mount it in an elevator or vehicle to accomplish something. I enjoyed the puzzles, which were just enough to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is... not great. The puzzles are decent, but everything else is a chore. Every area of every level is massively large, and you'll spend way more time moving from a to b and figuring out the correct path to take than you will actually solving puzzles. The sfx are terrible and will drive you mad quickly. The plot is nonsensical and the writing is terrible. On top of that, definitely do not play this game if you are achievement hunting: 2 of the 5 progress achievements didn't…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Its really a dated piece. Not a horrible game. Not a good game either. Its, bland, extremely boring in spots. Not something you would really want to toss money at. I had basically gotten it free in a Solus Project bundle, so no real loss to me. However I couldn't really recommend this game all by itself as a direct purchase. Sorry.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Changing the melody to Take Me Out to the Ball Game because my brain is evil to me and others
neutral · AI labelView post →TOMORROW! The @skiffyandfanty.com fundraiser continues with Snake Me Out To The Ball Game. Join me, @shaunduke.net, @carturo222.bsky.social and @brandoncrilly.bsky.social for the first-ever actual play of BOA, Brandon's game of heroic snake secret agents! 8:00 pm Eastern at twitch.tv/alphabetstreams
neutral · AI labelView post →‘Big Siren Warning Sign for Democrats!’ CNN Data Guru Says GOP ‘Very Much in the Ball Game’ for Midterms Source: Mediaite share.newsbreak.com/jvtkrvhq
neutral · AI labelView post →This summer, brought to you by the women who directed The Matrix and the creators of Noah's Ark (1928), the screenplay of the book of the game of the play of the movie of the song of the short story based on true events... The BALL ZARD
neutral · AI labelView post →fun fact - Pee is stored in the BALL all jokes aside 5/10 its mostly walking to get to the next puzzle + 10$ + one of a kind puzzles that you could only find in this game - puzzles are all on the easy side + running monsters over with the ball - no sprint + can make ball semi transparent in settings so you can kinda see through - very few checkpoints and far apart - no map - story could be a lot better + 10$ - ball takes up 85% of the screen, no reason for it to be that big - ball can be janky…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Genuine hidden gem of a puzzle adventure. It's like portal, but instead of a portal gun, you have a ball, and instead of GLaDOS, there are monkeys.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It took me 12 years to beat this game... It just would never work on my older computers. That said, In the end of 2023 this game was a pretty fun puzzle game. Its looks great on Ultra settings. I have no Idea what I paid for it or what it costs right now, but I'd say under 10 dollars would be a fair price. 5 to 6 hours game for casual gamers.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am a 45 yo father, probably one of the oldest people playing this game. I am a single father to my Son, who is 14 now. My son got this game from his uncle, so we installed it on his computer and he started playing. By the end of the week he had 24 hours on this game. This was horrible for me, as it was already hard for me to find ways to spend time with my son, as he is always out with his friends or just watching YouTube. So I decided to make a Steam account and get this game to see if I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Publisher is full of SJWs. Do not support Leftwing grifters.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun Puzzle Shooter.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I got this game in a random key that I bought it personaly, I like it but you might need to have a great mentality for it and time of course, because it's a puzzle, little complicated sometime, but has great mechanics
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I normally dislike puzzle games and find them super boring. The Ball was a big surprise to me though. It had cool mechanics that kept it interesting. The storyline was alright but it was more so the gameplay that kept me playing. Worth a try!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Do not buy this game. Tripwire are bad people and do not deserve your business.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Portal meets Indiana Jones. The puzzles are intuitive, with just enough variety without overstaying its welcome. A passable distraction for a few hours, especially considering it was made by three people.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A decent puzzle game that I thoroughly enjoyed. Would recommend if you don't mind the dated graphics
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Indiana Jones style puzzler with a ball and chain grab mechanic to move said ball. Part tech demo, part graphics demo, and part game, its fun to check out from a bundle or under $5.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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