Kombinera

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 12

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The MetaMeter requires a minimum of 15 professional critic reviews before issuing an official MetaMeter Score and Recommendation.

Waiting for Reviews

Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 12

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 12

The MetaMeter requires a minimum of 15 professional critic reviews before issuing an official MetaMeter Score and Recommendation.

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Critic Reviews for Kombinera

Critic Reviews

Distribution

12

Reviews

High Score - 90/100

90%

Average Score - 79/100

79%

Low Score - 60/100

60%

8/10

Lyle Carr (God is a Geek)

Kombinera is a simple but incredibly challenging puzzle platformer, and if your brain can handle it you’ll have a blast.

April 13, 2022 |

Full Review

Atari shows you how to mix a colorful, laid back vibe with an intense challenge. This gem takes everything you know about puzzles, and platformers, and throws it in the compactor, or should we say, the Kombiner. Win if you must, fail because you will. To quote an old video game show host, “Good Luck! You’ll need it”.

April 14, 2022 |

Full Review

9/10

Joseph Moorer (Gaming Nexus)

4.5/5 stars

Rob Gordon (Screen Rant)

Kombinera is a very well constructed puzzler that knows just how far to go with its design choices. With parallels to be found in excellent indie puzzle games like Baba Is You and Thomas Was Alone, Kombinera is a clever little game that is excellently suited to the on-the-go nature of the Switch.

April 6, 2022 |

Full Review

Lyle Carr (God is a Geek)

8/10 - (Read Review)

Kombinera is a simple but incredibly challenging puzzle platformer, and if your brain can handle it you’ll have a blast.

Joseph Moorer (Gaming Nexus)

9/10 - (Read Review)

Rob Gordon (Screen Rant)

4.5/5 stars - (Read Review)

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Read the Reviews (12 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Checkpoint Gaming	Alex Beaty	6 / 10	04-11-2022	As a puzzle game, Kombinera understands the assignment with ease. Conceptually, it feels familiar, easy to pick up, and perfect for handheld play, but it holds its own on a console as well. Where it falters is in its desperation to be something it isn’t. The game’s story is over the top and if anything takes away from the soul of the game. Similarly, the repetitive music can make the game feel underdone, which is a weird statement considering how polished the puzzles are.	Read review
GameGrin	Artura Dawn	9 / 10	04-16-2022	Kombinera is a modern-day arcade experience, offering enough difficulty that it would have left me broke if I was paying a pound (or even 50p) per death. Incredible puzzles and charming visuals comprise a definite must-try for puzzle fans.	Read review
GameSpew	Richard Seagrave	9 / 10	04-07-2022	It’s tough, but Kombinera impresses with its clever ball puzzles. Like most classic puzzle games, the concept is simple and easy to get your head around, but allows for some serious brainteasing as more elements are added. Some may quickly become frustrated with it, and it’s a shame there’s little in the way of help when you truly do become stuck, but that shouldn’t stop puzzle fans from lapping this up. It might just be one of the best puzzle games in years.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Joseph Moorer	9 / 10	04-14-2022	Atari shows you how to mix a colorful, laid back vibe with an intense challenge. This gem takes everything you know about puzzles, and platformers, and throws it in the compactor, or should we say, the Kombiner. Win if you must, fail because you will. To quote an old video game show host, "Good Luck! You'll need it".	Read review
Generación Xbox	David	7.5 / 10	04-26-2022	Atari returns with a platform and puzzle game that will not leave anyone indifferent. Although its retro aesthetic may not be really atractive for new players	Read review
God is a Geek	Lyle Carr	8 / 10	04-13-2022	Kombinera is a simple but incredibly challenging puzzle platformer, and if your brain can handle it you'll have a blast.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Scott MacDonald	4.5 / 5 stars	04-23-2022	Kombinera is a smart but vicious little puzzler. It doesn’t pull any punches. Fans of puzzle platformers should absolutely check it out but be warned: you’re bound to learn new some new colorful language before all is said and done. Despite its accessibility, it’s not for the faint of heart (or those with high blood pressure).	Read review
Screen Rant	Rob Gordon	3.5 / 5 stars	04-06-2022	Nonetheless it's easy to forgive these problems thanks to the tone of the game and just how satisfying it is to solve a level. Kombinera is a very well constructed puzzler that knows just how far to go with its design choices. With parallels to be found in excellent indie puzzle games like Baba Is You and Thomas Was Alone, Kombinera is a clever little game that is excellently suited to the on-the-go nature of the Switch.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Matúš Štrba	7.5 / 10	05-04-2022	Kombinera is an interesting minimalist puzzle game that offers some fresh ideas, but its difficulty seems to be unbalanced in some levels. Repetitive music will annoy you as hell.	Read review
ThisGenGaming	Justin Oneil	8 / 10	04-24-2022	Kombinera is quite different from most of Atari’s other games but if you’re a fan of tough puzzles then this will be right up your alley. With over 300 of them in total, you’ll be spending quite a bit of time trying to work out how to beat each one. Add the time trials and hidden crowns on top of that and you can get a lot of playtime out of this one. The difficulty won’t be to every player’s tastes out there but if you enjoy working your brain then this will be for you.	Read review
Video Chums	A.J. Maciejewski	8 / 10	04-16-2022	Mastering Kombinera requires precision and careful planning which makes it a great time trial game complete with plenty of replay value.	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Leonardo Faria	7 / 10	04-06-2022	Kombinera isn’t a puzzle game that will please most fans of the genre. It is really minimalistic, and its difficulty curve is all over the place. Still, it is oddly charming. There is something about its really creative premise, as well as the fact Atari is backing it, that makes it amusing. At times, it does feel like I’m playing a hidden gem from the 80s, a game Atari could have released back in its heyday.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Control multiple colored balls simultaneously in this brain-bending puzzle platformer. It’s up to you to combine every ball and complete each perilous level. Can you solve them all? Can you save King Kombine from the Kave of Kaos?

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