The Gardens Between Reviews

The Gardens Between is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Sep 18, 2018

The game design and narrative blend harmoniously, while sustained with a full-fledged soundtrack and colorful world, The Garden's Between stands out thanks to its ingenious puzzles and a simple approach on telling a small adventure full of details.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

7 / 10
Feb 23, 2019

There are fleeting moments of brilliance to the puzzle design in The Gardens Between, but, between them, the pace meanders to the point where my interest started to wane. There can be no doubt that it’s unlike anything else that you will have played before, but, in turn, the wondrous idea that lies at its core never feels like it blossoms into something that manages to enter its stride.

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Unscored
Sep 21, 2018

Thanks to its pleasant palette and meditative sound design, The Gardens Between is a calming experience. It may not have too much to say, but at least it doesn't overstay its welcome. A little sadly, I doubt I will be getting all that nostalgic over a game about nostalgia.

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72 / 100
May 22, 2019

The Gardens Between has managed to stand out from similar puzzle games with style and atmosphere.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

Geeks Under Grace
Karen Kennedy
9 / 10.0
Sep 9, 2019

If you crave a great, relaxing, smart, puzzle-solving experience with some storytelling, this is perfect for you.

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Unscored
Oct 24, 2018

The Gardens Between is a great adventure about time and friendship. Even with it's simple mechanics, some puzzles will need all our attention to be easily solved. Unfortunately more often than not, the puzzles can feel repetitive and and not as fun as before.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

75 / 100
Sep 19, 2018

The Garden Between is a title whose narrative and aesthetics make it certainly attractive, but the design of the puzzles always remains in a quasi, being a good gameplay but that does not get to take advantage.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Jan 29, 2019

The Garden Between is a nice story on the themes of friendship, that puts its focus on memory and growth. The game features pleasant and original mechanics, but the lack of longevity and some faults in the gameplay component penalize the title greatly.

Review in Italian | Read full review

80 / 100
Sep 22, 2018

The Gardens Between is a well-needed bite of escapism, both for the two protagonists as for the player. With cute and, more importantly, uniquely clever diorama set pieces, this tiny adventure that spans just a few hours feels as innovative as it is refreshing and heartfelt.

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8.1 / 10.0
Sep 27, 2018

Although a lot of The Gardens Between is focused on its narrative, it also has clever brain-teasing puzzles and an engaging world that will hold the interest of gamers looking for an immersive story as well as those who love a challenge.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 19, 2018

The only error I can see here is that The Gardens Between ends on a weird note. This is something that could've been expanded upon, but the developers left us guessing. The complaint is rather minor in the grand scheme of it all as the experience is one that shouldn't be missed.

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9 / 10
Sep 20, 2018

The Gardens Between feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch, allowing you to play in short bursts or in one go at home or on the go. The game looks great on the TV and on the Nintendo Switch, and the way the game is presented and how you interact with each small island you explore means that there is no slowdown or weird graphical artifact that would get in the way of enjoying this charming and short puzzle adventure. I highly recommend that you download The Gardens Between so that you can dive into its colorful and enticing world.

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8 / 10
Sep 22, 2018

The Gardens Between is a beautiful and innovative journey to the memories; memories of friendship and kindness that will make you wonder. If only the journey was not so short, it could've been one of the best experiences you'll ever have.

Review in Persian | Read full review

Cubed3
Top Critic
7 / 10
Sep 23, 2018

The main strength of The Gardens Between is the deeper meaning found within. It utilises a largely voiceless and textless narrative to great effect. Not only is this an impressive feat on its own, it showcases the brilliance of the medium. This game eschews tradition to draw players into a fascinating world. As they witness the memories shared by Arina and Frendt, they may find themselves recalling their own childhood. While those memories aren't always the kind one can look back on with fondness, their significance can't be understated or forgotten. They are what shape us.

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73 / 100
Sep 26, 2018

The Gardens Between is an enjoyable and minimalistic adventure that has you watching two friends ascend abstract memory islands. The puzzle mechanics involving time manipulation are simple, but deliver ample variety over the short journey.

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PS3Blog.net
ThaRaven403
80%
Oct 2, 2018

Final Thoughts The Voxel Agents have created a nice, simple and truly charming puzzler. Its price tag might be a bit heavy for the given play time, but you shouldn't let that keep you from diving into this game since it'll be totally worth playing as it's a great relaxing puzzler.

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96 / 100
Sep 30, 2018

There are no words to describe how incredible my experience with The Gardens Between was. A simple but pleasant story. An unique and innovative gameplay. A magnificent visual that confuses the boundaries between game and art. Like everything good in life, I found myself thinking about every moment I've spent with this game, and I could not help feeling a strong sense of Déjà Vu.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Oct 5, 2018

The Gardens Between is a great way to spend autumn evening, when the bare branches unfriendly huddle outside the window, and the soul is filled with melancholy. It's time to get into the boat of memories and float in the past.

Review in Russian | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Oct 4, 2018

A bittersweet tale of friendship that is masterfully presented through carefully designed puzzles revolving around time manipulation.

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8.8 / 10.0
Oct 26, 2018

As an experience, The Gardens Between is a journey that's well worth embarking on. Its puzzles are gratifying, and its world is gorgeous and filled with personality. Its price may be too step for those looking for a meatier experience, and veteran fans of the genre might wish for tougher puzzles, but those hankering for a small game with a big heart will find plenty to love in The Gardens Between.

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