In 2008, Braid kickstarted the modern era of indie games, focusing on innovative play experiences and emotionally resonant plots. With Braid, Anniversary Edition, the groundbreaking 2D puzzle platformer created by developer Jonathan Blow gets a fresh coat of paint and new, visually stunning levels that expand upon the enigma of the original.
If you’re a newcomer to Braid and its bizarre time-bending gameplay, or just want to know what’s new in the Anniversary Edition, read on for a breakdown of everything to know about this update to an indie classic.
Braid’s mild-mannered protagonist, Tim, is in search of a missing princess. The larger how-and-why of the tale is often left to interpretation, leading the player to uncover the mystery behind Braid and Tim’s time-bending abilities through a series of living, hand-painted worlds that lead him to the princess.
As you go deeper in the game, more challenges reveal the background behind Tim’s quest and some surprising truths, bringing the overall experience into sharper focus. With the Anniversary Edition, developed by Blow’s Thekla Inc., Braid is remastered with sharper visuals and storytelling, along with new levels to explore. The Anniversary Edition also includes developer commentary from the creator himself, which adds more context to Braid’s world and additional insight into the making of the game.
Braid is a 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer that requires maneuvering around complex obstacles to progress through each themed world. Much like Mario or Luigi in Super Mario Bros., Tim, under the player’s control, jumps over pits and monsters, activates switches, and collects rare items hidden in each level. There’s a keen emphasis, however, on the puzzle element, as one of the main hooks for Braid’s unique 2D platforming gameplay is the ability to pause and rewind time at will.
By altering the flow of time, enemy movement — and the world itself — can be manipulated to reach the end of each stage. For example, reversing time allows a player to hop on once-falling enemies and use them as platforms to reach new heights. The true challenge of Braid comes from bringing together the player’s intuition and the mastery of time-bending and platforming to clear stages, which in turn pulls back the layers of Braid’s mysterious plot.
Tim is an amiable everyman with an unusual ability: He can manipulate time. His journey has some striking parallels to the original Super Mario Bros., in that it depicts an average guy trying to save a damsel in distress. But as Tim’s story progresses, so do his time-bending abilities and his multifarious connections to the world, with the final levels adding once-hidden dimensions.
Braid’s gameplay resembles a retro-style 2D platformer, like Super Mario Bros. or Prince of Persia. The game’s controls are fairly minimal, focusing on movement, jumping, and time-shuffling capabilities. However, the levels and scenarios cleverly marry these elements to compel players to think carefully and differently about how they progress in a stage. In some cases, enemies will move only when you move, which opens up some exciting ways to find a path forward.
Braid focuses on a relaxed, story-driven adventure rather than tense set pieces. The true challenge in Braid doesn’t come from having quick reflexes or beating tons of foes, but from using Tim’s abilities to figure out a way to traverse each level unscathed. By being able to rewind time, players have a significant measure of control that allows them to avoid a traditional “game over” as they can rewind if Tim dies. Braid’s easy pace and narrative-focused action make it a solid place for newcomers to jump into, even if you’ve never played a platformer before.
You can check out Braid, Anniversary Edition for free with your Netflix subscription via the Netflix mobile app. To play the game, launch the Netflix app on your device and log in to your account. Find Braid, Anniversary Edition in the Netflix Games section on the main page, or use the search icon in the top right corner of your screen to find it. On the game page, follow the prompt to confirm the download.
Braid, Anniversary Edition is rated T for Teen, equivalent to a PG-13 rating. While the game has visuals that stick close to a family-friendly game, Braid does include some adult language and themes that are a bit more mature.
Check out Braid, Anniversary Edition and more on Netflix mobile games.
