Broken Age is a puzzle box wrapped in a story about waiting. The game splits its attention between two protagonists, a girl named Vella and a boy named Shay, whose lives are separated by decades and by fate. It asks players to jump between them constantly, and it never quite decides whether that split is a strength or a trick.
Broken Age launched in 2014 for PS4, Ouya, Linux and Android. It was built as a love letter to adventure games, and it leans heavily on the genre’s classic structure: inventory puzzles, timed sequences, and dialogue trees that reward patience. The game was funded through Kickstarter, and it shows in its ambition. Broken Age wants to be a big, sprawling story about destiny and choice, and it mostly succeeds — but the sprawl occasionally gets the better of it.
Trailer, via Double Fine.
Vella and Shay
The game opens with Vella, a young girl who lives in a small village. She dreams of becoming an adventurer, but her life is mundane. Her father runs the local mill, and she spends her days helping him. One day, a strange visitor arrives in town, and Vella learns that she is the chosen one, destined to save her people from an impending doom. The visitor tells her that she must leave everything behind and go on a quest.
Shay, meanwhile, is a boy who lives in a futuristic city. He is an inventor, and he spends his days building machines. He is also bored. His parents are wealthy, and they have provided him with everything he could ever want. But Shay feels unfulfilled. He dreams of adventure, but he knows he can never leave his comfortable life. Then, one night, he discovers a mysterious message from a girl named Vella, who claims to be the chosen one and needs his help.
The game alternates chapters between Vella and Shay, and the early going is smooth. Vella’s world is warm and detailed, with hand-painted backgrounds and a sense of wonder. Shay’s world is cold and sterile, with sleek buildings and neon lights. The contrast works. The player moves between the two, solving puzzles and advancing the plot, and the pacing holds up.
“We wanted to make a game that felt like it was made by hand, with care and attention.”
That line sums up the game’s approach. Broken Age is a handmade adventure, and it shows in every frame. The animation is fluid, the characters are expressive, and the music is gentle. It is a game that respects its medium.
Puzzle Design
Puzzles in Broken Age are the core of the experience, and they are generally well designed. They require observation, deduction, and occasional leaps of logic. The game rewards players who pay attention, and it punishes those who rush. There are moments where the solutions feel obvious in hindsight, and there are moments where they feel obtuse.
One of the best puzzles involves a locked door and a key that is hidden in plain sight. Another involves a machine that requires the player to connect several parts in the correct order. These moments are satisfying when solved, but they can be frustrating when encountered. The game does not hold the player’s hand, and it does not offer hints beyond the environment itself.
There are also timed sequences, which test reflexes as much as thought. One sequence requires the player to dodge falling objects while running down a hallway. Another requires the player to press buttons in a specific order before a timer runs out. These sequences are tense, and they break up the slower puzzle-solving sections. They are not the focus of the game, but they add variety.
Writing
The writing in Broken Age is competent, but it is not outstanding. The dialogue is natural and often funny, but it lacks the depth that defines the best adventure games. Characters speak in familiar tones, and their motivations are clear. The plot is straightforward: Vella is chosen, Shay is bored, and the two must find each other. There are twists, but they are telegraphed early.
The game’s central theme is the tension between destiny and choice. Vella believes she must follow her fate, while Shay believes he must create his own path. This is a solid foundation, but the game does not explore it deeply. The final act rushes toward a conclusion, and some threads are left dangling. The game ends on a note of optimism, but it leaves the player wanting more.
Technical Performance
Broken Age runs well on all its platforms, though performance varies. The PS4 version is smooth, with few hitches. The Ouya version is less stable, with occasional slowdowns. The Linux and Android versions perform adequately, but they are not as polished. The game is large, and it takes time to load. This is a minor complaint, but it is noticeable.
The game’s visual style is its strongest asset. The backgrounds are hand-painted, and they are filled with detail. Every room is distinct, and every character is expressive. The animation is fluid, and the transitions are seamless. The game looks like a storybook come to life, and that is a compliment.
Length
Broken Age is long, and it is dense. A single playthrough can take twelve hours or more, depending on the player’s pace. The game rewards exploration, and it offers multiple endings based on choices made along the way. This is a strength, but it also means the game is demanding. Players who want a quick fix will be disappointed. Players who want a deep experience will be rewarded.
The game’s length is both its blessing and its curse. It gives players a lot of content, but it also requires a significant investment of time. The game is not broken, but it is heavy. Some players may find themselves putting it down for days at a time, returning to pick up where they left off.
Split Structure
The game’s structure is its most distinctive feature, and it is also its most debated. By splitting the story between two protagonists, the game creates a narrative that unfolds in parallel. Vella’s chapter advances while Shay’s chapter waits, and vice versa. This structure allows the game to tell two stories at once, but it also fragments the experience.
Some players find the split rewarding. They enjoy following two characters and seeing how their paths converge. Others find it frustrating. They want a single, linear story. The game attempts to bridge the gap with occasional scenes that bring the two together, but these moments are few and far between.
The structure is a gamble, and it pays off sometimes. It is a bold choice, and it is not for everyone.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack in Broken Age is pleasant, but it is not memorable. The music is gentle and atmospheric, with a mix of acoustic and electronic elements. It sets the tone for each scene, but it does not stand out. The sound design is competent, with clear audio cues and well-placed effects. The game’s sound is serviceable, but it is not a selling point.
| Feature | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Style | Hand-painted backgrounds, expressive characters | Large file size, occasional loading times |
| Puzzle Design | Well-designed, satisfying to solve | Occasional obtuse solutions, frustrating timed sequences |
| Writing | Natural, often funny | Shallow, lacking depth |
| Technical Performance | Smooth on PS4, adequate elsewhere | Less stable on Ouya, varying performance on Linux and Android |
What Remains
Broken Age is a solid adventure game with a strong identity. Its visual style is distinctive, its puzzles are engaging, and its story is ambitious. It is not a perfect game, but it is a good one. The split structure is a risk, and it does not always pay off, but it is a bold choice that deserves credit. The game is long, demanding, and occasionally frustrating, but it is also rewarding.
The game’s Kickstarter origins show in its ambition. It is a game that wants to be remembered, and it largely succeeds. It is a game that respects its players, and it expects them to respect it in return.
Broken Age is a game worth playing, but it is not a game for everyone. It requires patience, attention, and time. Those who are willing to invest will find a rewarding experience. Those who are not will find a tedious one.
Broken Age scores 7.7 out of 10.
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