Shape of the World Reviews

Shape of the World is ranked in the 40th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Apr 22, 2019

Yes, you can interact with some of the animals in minor ways and use trees to give yourself a burst of forward momentum. Yes, you can throw seeds down to create trees. Yes, you can create bridges and wander around a handful of different biomes while the scenery grows around you. Without a goal driving you, however, this carries the same amount of weight as being lost in a supermarket.

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7.2 / 10.0
Dec 27, 2018

Shape of the World is a strage game. It looks great, but it's still a walking simulator that lacks almost any gameplay features.

Review in Polish | Read full review

80%
Nov 27, 2018

Shape of the World is an interesting release that is almost more of an experience and not what you'd expect or are used to playing when you hear the word video game. Some of you might call this a walking simulator, which is not that far off, but the way the game is presented and how the music complements the experience, shifting as new shapes and colors come into play, makes this one a game you have to try.

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6 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2018

I notice a lot of lost potential here, be it a potential to expand this lovely world, or a potential to add compelling gameplay elements. Shape of the World is, ultimately, a pretty shell: gorgeous on the outside, but hollow on the inside.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

4.5 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2018

A weird title. It's not an overwhelmingly good walking simulator, it's not an outrageously bad exploration game, it's just... there.

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8 / 10
Aug 10, 2018

Shape of The World is exactly what I was expecting: a fun and relaxing exploration game with a soothing soundtrack and a charming art style presented with a nice pallet of colors that invite you to stay in this adventure from start to finish. After waiting for the game for a while, I can certainly say that the wait has been worth it.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 7, 2018

Overall, Shape of the World provides a relaxing virtual playground for players wishing to create their own world. Gorgeous visuals and soothing ambiance make the game perfect for those wishing to kick back and relax with an incredibly chill explorer simulator. Being able to construct worlds with a variety of seeds gives players a reason to explore each area and come back for more. Multiple levels with their own flora and fauna give players new sights to explore. While walking can be slow at times and some visuals actually hinder progress, Shape of the World makes up for these shortcomings in a memorable sandbox experience that's perfect for casual play.

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4 / 10.0
Jul 18, 2018

Truth be told, I felt my eyes hurting a bit after watching color changing a bit too much and staring too long at something trying to figure out what it is. Perhaps it’s just me, but I wanted to put my thoughts out there.

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C
Jul 5, 2018

At its heart, Shape of the World is an exploration game that will let you leisurely explore a colorful world with rich visuals. But that's about it. It is definitely not my type of game, but it may be for you. I suggest looking for a demo so you can give it a try.

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6.5 / 10.0
Jun 30, 2018

Shape of the World brings some rather strong elements to the table, but it also leaves the feeling of unfulfilled potential. It truly is a relaxing title, with an outstanding soundtrack to boot. But the sluggish speed combined with the limited interactivity, and short length, means this is probably best grabbed on sale, and not at its $14.99 launch price.

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6 / 10
Jun 30, 2018

Shape of the World does not follow the rigid tenets of most games. What Shape of the World proposes is rather a relaxation of the senses thanks to a skillfully-crafted abstract and psychedelic art style which does a very good job at immersing the player into a different state of mind. Pity that it does not propose more of that, as Shape of the World feels too short and with too little interaction, for a game that gets its sensory component right.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jun 28, 2018

And I admit I rolled my eyes a bit as the creatures I met went from bug-like critters to sea creatures floating… in the air (a trend that culminated with glimpses of a whale floating in the sky). I found it a little cliché and New Age-y. The final moments were impressive and by the time I got to them, I had started enjoying myself, but it took a long time for the game to ramp up to that point.

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5 / 10
Jun 27, 2018

The art and music direction in Shape of the World is undeniably delightful but its gameplay lacks purpose, and the game suffers as a result.

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7 / 10.0
Jun 27, 2018

Shape of the World is a short, beatiful and relaxing trip through an absurd world; it has some little problems but it works well in every moments.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2018

Playing Shape of the World is like having a warm bath in a room designed by Peter Alexander while listening to your favourite playlist

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6 / 10.0
Jun 20, 2018

Despite being short, Shape of the World can easily start to feel lackluster if it fails to develop a mood altering connection with you. As such, it’s more of a hit or miss.

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4 / 5.0
Jun 12, 2018

Shape of the World is the perfect game to pick up after a particularity stressful day at work, and promises to keep you engaged in its simple gameplay through a combination of gorgeous environments and immersive game physics. While it is a tad too short and lacks replayabilty, that first playthrough should be enough to take your mind off stressful everyday issues so you can drift around a colorful world where simply moving forward is the main objective.

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7 / 10
Jun 8, 2018

Shape of the World is a very different offering on the Switch's eShop, and one that we are glad to have experienced despite its shortcomings. Describing it as a video game doesn't feel quite right; it's more of an interactive playground that lets you take a couple of hours out, switch off, and be treated to some thought-provoking aesthetics along the way. It's definitely not for everyone, and it's all over a little too quickly, but Shape of the World is a nicely put together piece of art that deserves the attention of those most intrigued.

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55 / 100
Jun 8, 2018

It is certainly a pretty game. The minimalist polygon planes are very evocative, the sound design is lovely, and the abundant bloom lighting creates a mood. There's sort of a goal (get to the next triangle) and when you achieve it, the art style shifts. But I didn't really find it relaxing, I found it boring. And I never got over feeling perplexed.

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7.3 / 10.0
Jun 7, 2018

Shape of the World is more of an interactive experience than a game, but that shouldn't push you away from trying it.

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