Fez Critic Reviews

The simple joy of exploration is at the very heart of the appeal of video games. In Fez, it's absolutely unfettered.

I haven't smiled as much while playing a game since my first multiplayer run of LittleBigPlanet, and even then I was only smiling because I was terrible and enjoyed frustrating my friends as they ran gracefully through the levels. Fez is comparable to Braid or Limbo in terms of recent indie platformers, but it is infinitely more heartwarming than Braid and less terrifying than Limbo...There's a lot to be said for a game that can make a grown woman squeal with glee dozens of times in a playthrough.

There's absolutely no doubt that Fez is essential. As a fan of games in general, you should consider it required reading - it's one of the smartest, most charming games you'll ever play, let alone just this year or this console generation. Somehow Polytron has constructed something that tweaks our nostalgia for the 16-bit era and yet presents fresh, imaginative challenges.

The aesthetics, the way it plays, the satisfaction of discovery – all are aspects that are missing in too many modern releases. Should you have found your interest in gaming to be waning of late, then this may have the power to restore your faith in the industry's ability to surprise and innovate. For that alone, Fez deserves your undivided attention.

Here is a keen reminder of gaming's ability to provide we who live in a world charted by satellites and Google Maps with new frontiers, with the unfettered joy of discovery, with the sense of our own psychical and mental horizons being expanded.

FEZ uses the entire history of video games as a background for the gameplay. Wherever you go, you will instinctively know what to do. All you have left is to be mesmerized by the adventure and solve countless of impressively clever puzzles.

For those with any kind of an inclination to the days where games put more effort into enjoyment than just looking good, this is an absolute must play.

Fez is an adorable game full of life, secrets and that encourages players to explore.

A masterpiece of a game that draws inspiration from many classic franchises in order to deliver a unique experience. Don't miss it!

Fez is a breath of fresh air. A real Masterpiece!

For an experience that could've drowned in an overreliance on using familiar signposts from what's come before it, Fez succeeds in celebrating the past in a smart, joyous way that has us incredibly excited for gaming's future.

Curiosity, envy, and excitement dominate conversations about bewildering thematic patterns, creative solutions to intelligent puzzles, and unforgettable level design. Players are likely to gush about the beautiful aesthetic and childlike sense of wonder in equal measure.

Fez is a truly remarkable game, and can be placed in the indie pantheon along with Cave Story and VVVVVV. It provides a unique sandbox to engage in puzzle platforming, and it does that platforming aspect well - if you're fan of the genre, don't miss out on Fez. Let's just hope the sequel doesn't take five years to produce.

If you like the retro style, 2D platforming and above all good taste, Fez is your game. One of those outstanding games that raises the bar for what to expect from an indie studio. A must-have for Xbox Live Arcade.

It's an absolute must-buy and, despite it still being early in 2012, a strong contender for indie game of the year.

FEZ is an effect of many painful years of creation, but it was worth the wait. Right now it's definitely the best adventure platformer for XBLA. Perhaps FEZ is two years late to be called a milestone, but it can most certainly be called a work of art.

Fez is one of the best Live Arcade ever. The game shows a perfect mixture of platform gaming, puzzle solving and so on. Pure Poetry.

An absolutely incredible experience that simply shouldn't be missed.

Fez is a videogame with brilliant puzzles that will kill your brain. It might take you a while to crack one of these puzzles, but the payoff is great! Together with the beautiful and atmospheric graphics, Fez makes for one hell of an Xbox Live Arcade game.

No other game captures the potential and magic of the concept like Fez. The result is one of the most accessible, clever, and mind-altering experiences on the gaming market.