Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain Reviews
Overall, Brain vs Brain is exactly what you’d expect of Big Brain Academy on the Nintendo Switch. It doesn’t feel like it has changed all that much in 14 years, but maybe it didn’t need to. It’s the most gamified title in this genre, and to mess with it too much might have diminished the appeal, but it’s a little disappointing that a decade and a half of studying leads to the same B+ grade.
It's like a short gym session for your brain with easy to manage mini-games to test you. However, it can get very repetitive and is far less fun in single-player, a true online multiplayer not being included seems like a strange omission but challenging yourself to climb up the ranking is fun. The simplicity and great multiplayer are really what sets this apart from something like Dr Kawashima's Brain Training released in 2019. But if you enjoy puzzles or have family members who do Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a logical choice.
I was hoping for some pleasant challenges and... I got a great competition on one couch. The game lacks content, but the one offered can provide players with a lot of pleasant evenings – you just need to have the right team.
Review in Polish | Read full review
A fun pick up and play experience that is unfortunately held back by its inability to truly innovate on its predecessors and take advantage of the Switch's hardware.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain will keep your kids entertained and friends engaged. It's a great game made for quick rounds and large laughs that'll put your brain to work.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain recycles much of what we’ve seen before and it still doesn’t have a true online feature, but it’s a step in the right direction given the inclusion of the Ghost Clash mode. There’s plenty of fun to be had when battling against players’ ghost data online, but households with more than one person that can get together face-to-face will undoubtedly find more value here. This is the most accessible Big Brain Academy to date, thanks to its generous difficulty options. Plus, if you care enough for collectable accessories for your avatar, then there’s a lot of replayability to be had, too. Solo players, on the other hand, may be left wanting more as the slim catalogue of mini-games wears thin quickly, moreso if they’ve been under the watchful eye of Dr Lobe before.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is the type of game that Nintendo does better than any other developer in the industry. This is a game that has clearly been designed with families in mind, and it's the perfect way to play together, while also taking in something educational. The game's $30 price point also makes it ideal for parents looking for one last Switch game to buy this holiday season. Honestly, it's a shame that the game came out after my Nintendo Holiday Gift Guide went live, because it absolutely would have made the list this year. Solo players will likely get less enjoyment out of the title (and might want to deduct half a point from my score), but this is one multiplayer experience families and friends are sure to enjoy together this holiday season.
A fun little party puzzler, Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain gives the ol’ neurons a thorough workout in a jolly, well-presented package. While its single-player mode lacks longevity and will only keep the most dedicated brainiacs engaged, the sheer maddening joy of trying to compete in its frantic multiplayer offering is delightful and sure to keep your grey matter nice and juicy. Between its smooth touchscreen controls, charming presentation, and customisable difficulty options, Big Brain Academy provides a solid party experience for the whole family.
Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a great way to keep your mind active, as well as a way to fairly compete with people of all ages. As someone who rarely has to use math beyond basic addition, I could feel the skills slowly coming back to me as I continued to play. It does have some limitations such as direct multiplayer being local only and a limited selection of minigames, but considering the budget price and accessibility, it’s worth picking up.
The small variety of activities and a lack of focus on personal enrichment holds the game back from feeling like a complete Big Brain Academy experience. Multiplayer mode is a stressful joy, and conquering challenges is satisfying, but the excitement and stimulation of Brain vs. Brain doesn’t last long.
The biggest and best game in the Big Brain Academy series but it still falls far short of its full potential, with very little new content.
For as simple as the challenges seem, the stakes sure feel high when you’re racing to get the most points and every wrong answer feels like a tragedy. I didn’t expect to get this swept up in Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain, but it has become an honest-to-goodness competition in our household. These are the bragging rights to end all bragging rights.
A game to sharpen your brain Fun with friends, but it lacks single-player content.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Brain vs Brain is a very welcome return to a long-forgotten series. While it doesn’t offer anything quite so new besides new mini games and a strong multiplayer mode, it’s absolutely difficult to put down and full of challenging fun.
Brain Vs. Brain proves the most accessible and competitive Big Brain Academy to date, thanks to asynchronous scoring tables online, but this program lacks some innovation as well as overall content to attract lots of students for a long time.
Review in French | Read full review
Ultimately Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a fun game and does everything it says on the package. Unfortunately there is always a limit to games of this type, which explains its budget price tag for a physical release. While the multiplayer is fun to pick up and play with friends and family, it does not last very long with fifteen games in total. It is a game that need to be repeatedly played to try and beat the high score which can be fun for short bursts, but not something that will stay in the brain for a long time.
I'm the kind of person who enjoys solving a few sudoku puzzles before bed, so Big Brain Academy fits into my lifestyle seamlessly. It's great for gamers who like to hone their thinking skills in bite-sized chunks. While it's a little light on features, it excels at what it does have and has a fun and adorable presentation. It's a joy to play, whether you're taking on a few minigames by yourself or using your beefy brain to win friendly contests. If you enjoy solving puzzles, competing against friends and strangers in tests of brainpower, or just keeping your mind sharp, this is definitely the game for you.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain is a fun brain teaser game with a great multiplayer section. A great option for the end of the year parties.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a real blast, especially Ghost Clash mode and the Party multiplayer mode. I really enjoyed all 20 activities and their inherent fun-factor encourages me to come back daily to see if I can beat my high score.