Constance Reviews
Art can be messy and complicated, testing creatives in ways other professions do not. But the tale of Constance is one of perseverance in the face of strife and moving ahead despite future challenges. The narrative hits hard for those wanting to make art, and through challenging boss encounters, engaging combat, and fun platforming, it succeeds in expressing those powerful themes. This is one painting worth buying in a sea of amazing Metroidvanias on the market.
I’m a sucker for well-done hand-drawn art. Constance delivers this with its abstract world, exceptional animation, and weird but interesting level design. Each slash of your paintbrush adds energy to the world, and every movement feels alive. The audio is a masterful atmospheric treat. The dynamic soundtrack delivers a unique blend of energy for each zone. Furthermore, there are booming tunes for each boss encounter. The controls demand a ridiculous level of dexterity. You must master different special inputs and rapid button pressing as you disable traps, avoid pits, and leap from platform to platform. The button bashing feels great for experienced players, but not achievable for younger gamers. I played this for around 15 hours, but I didn’t find every secret. If you are more competent than I, you’ll get this done in around 10-12 hours. Subsequently, it isn’t the biggest game I’ve played.
Blue Backpack wants us to empathize with our protagonist's struggles through a very special Metroidvania-style adventure.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Constance put forward an idea that seemed illogical and unrealistic at first, as it smacked of repetition; yet the game has more than proven itself on its own merits, standing shoulder to shoulder with the genre’s greatest works. Its art, lore and gameplay have risen above true titans to claim its place among the very few
Review in Spanish | Read full review
When games like Hellblade and Celeste proved that psychological struggles could be portrayed through the language of video games in deeply personal and unconventional ways, few expected that formula to continue evolving across other genres. Constance not only revisits that idea, but fully embraces it—using every corner of its world to reflect the gradual collapse of its protagonist’s mind. In this review, we’re going to see whether Constance is simply another routine Metroidvania, or if it truly earns a lasting place among the genre’s most memorable names.
Constance is a game that knows when to begin and, above all, when to end—a rare quality these days. It offers a masterfully balanced experience that doesn’t waste a single minute of the player’s time, yet leaves a slight sense of longing for extra content that could have made it timeless. It is a tribute to resilience in the purest and most modern sense of the word. It’s not just the resilience of the artist who falls and gets back up in front of the canvas, but our own daily resilience. That of those who must fit their passion into days overflowing with commitments, deadlines, and responsibilities. In an era that bombards us with endless titles that almost feel like a second job, Constance’s compactness is an act of respect for our time. It teaches us that to leave a mark, you don’t need to be immense, but rather dense, honest, and capable of transforming effort into something beautiful. It is a challenge that tests us but rewards us with immense satisfaction, reminding us that, despite the limited time available and life’s difficulties, there is always room for a work that can truly move us. A must-have for anyone craving a product that is not just entertainment, but a small, great personal victory to hold in their hands.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Beyond its obvious beauty, Constance stands out as a Metroidvania with an emphasis on platforming and fun bosses. Although the world's presentation makes it seem smaller than it actually is, there's plenty of content for those eager to discover secrets and challenges in optional segments. In the end, it's a great Metroidvania that suffers from failing to create a solid connection between the two narrative threads that weave its story about mental health, making it more superficial than the proposed theme requires.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Constance is a thoughtful, well-crafted 2D adventure that leans heavily into its themes without losing sight of being a game first. The paint mechanics are clever, the world is beautifully realised, and there’s a clear sense of care in how everything fits together. It’s not without its rough edges. The platforming can feel demanding, and some combat encounters overstay their welcome. But the flexibility offered through accessibility options helps smooth those bumps out. What really sticks is how it all comes together, the mechanics, the visuals, the pacing, all reinforcing that central idea of balance, pressure, and recovery. If you’re in the mood for an adventure that offers more than just exploration and combat, Constance is a journey well worth taking. As someone who can connect to the themes featured in this game, I say to anyone going through a rough time, don’t give in to the darkness.
There’s nothing else to say. Constance is the new flagbearer for the metroidvania crowd. While it may not usurp longtime favorites in the field, it’s a bold and proud example of narrative storytelling with excellent gameplay elements and a strong boss presence. If you haven’t already, get this game. If you already own it, consider a second run with fresh eyes from a different angle, on the Switch.
Constance exudes identity, tackling highly important themes while presenting stunning visuals, highly responsive gameplay, and an excellent dose of challenge.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Constance is a Metroidvania that blends, like few other 2D platformers, a good and reflective story with excellent gameplay. Although there isn't a dedicated version for the Nintendo Switch 2, the development team included the option for console owners to choose different rendering modes, which alter the resolution and framerate. This allows for optimal performance on both consoles.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Don’t let its more mild-looking and artistic elements fool you, this is a tougher and more skill-based Metroidvania than you may assume
Constance arrives in a year full of standout releases, reaffirming the indie developer’s strong presence. While classified as a Metroidvania, it stands apart from others with a psychologically impactful story, polished and enjoyable gameplay, and worlds designed like works of art. Its only drawback is the lack of fast travel between save points, and its length is relatively short for the genre.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Un videojuego entrañable, con alma, sin aspiraciones de convertirse en ningún bombazo, sino de contarnos una historia, hacernos reflexionar, y disfrutar muchísimo con su estilo artístico, sus melodías, sus mecánicas y sus controles por el camino
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Constance is a game that’s tragically at odds with itself. Its story feels like a warm blanket, but its boss battles are a trial by fire. Its world is vibrant, but its map is cumbersome. Perhaps that’s the point — that finding solace takes pain, perseverance, and self-determination. I can respect the vision, but I’m just not sure the final product did that vision justice. I admire the effort put into Constance and commend bildundtonfabrik for treating the mental health crisis with the care and compassion it deserves. If ever the team created a sequel, this canvas could really take flight. As is, Constance is a good oeuvre that could’ve been great.
As far as the story goes, Constance’s is one of relatability. We all work, or have stress in our lives that can be hard to overcome. Sometimes this gets on top of us. Sometimes we want to get away from it all. And this is where the story of Constance lies. Overworked and overtired, the protagonist falls deeper and deeper into her painting until she is absorbed by it. Now, I must be honest here. I didn’t fully grasp the story, and as much as I’m sure it will only develop further, I was only able to observe what I assume is a small sliver. Told to me through cutscenes and small interactive segments, I was shown a world through the eyes of someone who was struggling with the demands of a working life. Something most of us can agree on is hard from time to time, as I say. It’s a touching story and a great premise for a narrative. Connecting with the player on a personal level allows them to relate to their player on a closer level. And from what I’ve seen, it’s a story worth seeing through, especially when combined with the brilliant gameplay.
With dozens of Metroidvanias and challenging platformers available each year, Constance could get lost in the shuffle. But I'd argue, it needs to be near the top of that pile. With creativity at its core and mechanics that offer a rewarding challenge, Constance is now one of my favourite Metroidvania games.
A heartfelt, visually striking Metroidvania with meaningful storytelling and sharp platforming. While its boss encounters and accessibility suite fall short of its strongest ideas, Constance delivers an emotionally rich journey that’s well worth experiencing.
But did I enjoy my time with Constance? I did, despite my rageful moments. Constance presents a deeper than surface-level approach to the Metroidvania genre and poses the question “What would our inner world look like in cases of significant anxiety and depression in our external world?” In recent years, I have been someone who struggles more with anxiety. It’s not easy at times, but Constance allowed myself, and hopefully others, to understand this one thing: it’s OK to ask for help.
Visually arresting and mechanically fluid, Constance paints a beautiful picture of mental health via satisfying paintbrush combat. It doesn't reinvent the Metroidvania wheel and stumbles with late-game pacing, but the exquisite art direction and emotive score make this short journey an essential play for genre fans.