Etherborn

A cool little puzzle game about traversal and gravity, devoured it in one go and got sad there wasn't any more.

Not much else to say, there is some story but it is some flowery philosophical nonsense I tuned out by the second minute, and it has zero bearing on the actual cool gameplay bits, so it doesn't really affect it.

This kind of game could easily support more levels and puzzles, so it's a bummer there's only like 4 levels in it (+ the same 4 levels on hard mode), with each mode taking about 2 hours to complete. Definitely potential for more

▪️Etherborn - Reaching the Nothing ▪️
Made by Altered Matter and published by Akupara Games we play as a voiceless being on a 3D surreal and minimalistic low-poly puzzle-platform, that born in a world where bodiless voice awaits your arrival, and you must reach this ethereal born in order to understand your own existence. In this world gravity doesn't obey the laws of physic, and surfaces are the ones changing where you fall and what you stand, depending the perspective.
‎ 🟩Positive aspects ⇁
➢ Cool puzzle concept. It is not the first time I see something like this, meaning it's not completely unique, but I don't see it often either making it an appealing and fresh concept. Changing the perspective in fuction how the map is portrayed like a scale model was a wonderful decision, and the puzzles are goodly enough to make you think out of the box.
➢ Decent difficulty. Since the whole point of the puzzle it is how the map changes constantly depending the route and perspective you choose, it's has a bit difficulty at the beginning, and even if there is only a few options to solve it's not gonna be as easy to everyone. I'm aware that if you know how to solved them it can be as fast as one hour (including NG+), but for a first time contact it can take you few hours, so it's a decent amount.
➢ Great soundtrack. Due to the ambiental component of the game, most of the music has the same fit, to be in the background with low and chill tone, making the whole journey relaxing enough, but with some tunes when the game changes into narrative mode, creating a more powerful and vibrant songs.
➢ Wonderrful voice acting. I wasn't expecting to faith voice acting in this game, and it was a nice surprise. either the voice and the tone was pretty good, and they did a well job hiring a professional to enhance the experience.
➢ Astonish 3D low-poly art style. Something this game outstand is how pretty it is, even having some simple shapes, the illumination, the camera angel, the colors, all mixed makes a wonderful result for the eyes.
🟥Negative aspects ⇁
➢ Bad NG+ design. As much as I liked the game, the new game + was not as good, it was the same puzzles just changing the 'keys' to open the next area, some were easier to spot others less, but what was most annoying was found out some were literally hidden behind bushes, and were not able to spot them unless you went through it.
➢ Too short. If we omit the NG+ that is just the same puzzles, the length if you do it fast can be between 30 minutes to 120, being optimistic 60 minutes, making it a game so short, with a total of four puzzles (I do not count 'Birth' because it's the tutorial and be finished so quick).
➢ Not so good puzzles. They were not groundbreaking, and it was mostly a walking simulator from one point to another, I think only the third puzzle (not counting Birth), was the most interesting one, the rest were a bit of a mediocre design. With this I don't not ask for the next Portal, but I would expect a bigger length and more challenges. A bit disappointed.
➢ Boing narrative. I understand the speech has a poetic tone and the phrases was mostly to show and decorate the trascendental undertone this universe has, but maybe because I'm just getting old but just found them a bit presumptuous. Pretty to the ears, but saying too much without truly saying anything.
🏆Achievement hunting ⇁
Since the game is short and the achievements are basically related to beat the levels, you will get them with not worry just progressing and beating either normal as well NG+ mode. There isn't a guide on Steam in case you get stuck, but there are some videos that shows the fastest way to solve the puzzles, in case you get stuck.
‎ ▫ ◨ ▪ FINAL THOUGHTS ▪ ◧ ▫ ‎‎‎
I got hyped with this since it looked good, and I discovered the devs are from Barcelona, so we share same country and that is always cool to find, but the quality of the puzzles wasn't that good, some bad designs, the length. Main reason I am not mad with it is because a friend gave it to me for free as a spare key from a bundle so wasn't really a lost, but I don't think pay the base price it is even worth it, only good if you get it cheap from a bundle. Saying this I do not pretend to show the game is horrible, the base game was fun, the concept is cool and it was well executed, the voice acting and the poetic speech including the art style was a cool to experience, but the flaws made it a bitter end and playing the NG+ I just wanted to finish it quick because I stopped to have fun.
It's sad find a game with potential being wasted, I'm sure the developers had great intentions and I can see the efffort, so it's made me sad being harsh with it, but I can't hold myself. I still think if you get it cheap is worth a shot, but it you aim for the best puzzle-platform games, this is not one to waste your time.

◈ Overall Score ◈
/ᐠ - ˕ -マ


5,5/10
A wonderfuld puzzle concept with a pretty 3D low-poly art style, with some flaws on the puzzle design and too short

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Etherborn is a gravity-bending puzzle platformer developed by Altered Matter and published by Akupara Games. Designed as a contemplative and visually striking experience, the game focuses on spatial puzzles built around an unusual interpretation of gravity. Instead of relying on speed, reflexes, or traditional platforming mechanics, Etherborn challenges players to rethink how movement works within a three-dimensional environment. Through carefully constructed architectural structures and surreal landscapes, the game transforms navigation itself into a puzzle that requires observation, patience, and a shift in perspective.
The premise of Etherborn is intentionally abstract. Players control a silent humanoid figure who awakens in a mysterious world after hearing the distant voice of an unseen being. This voice calls out across the environment, guiding the protagonist through a strange landscape filled with monumental structures and geometric forms. Rather than presenting a traditional narrative filled with dialogue and dramatic plot developments, the game communicates its themes through symbolic environments and philosophical narration. The protagonist’s journey appears to represent a search for meaning and identity, with the guiding voice acting as both mentor and mystery.
At the center of the gameplay is Etherborn’s most distinctive mechanic: gravity is always relative to the surface the character stands on. As players walk along curved ramps, vertical walls, or inverted platforms, gravity shifts automatically so that the character remains attached to the current surface. This system allows players to move along surfaces that would normally be impossible to traverse, effectively turning walls into floors and ceilings into pathways. The mechanic transforms the environment into a three-dimensional puzzle where the direction of gravity is constantly changing depending on the player’s position.
Each level is designed as a large architectural structure filled with pathways, ramps, rotating bridges, and unusual shapes that interact with the gravity system. At first glance, many areas appear impossible to navigate. However, by carefully examining the environment and understanding how gravity behaves on different surfaces, players gradually discover routes that lead to the objective. Progress usually involves collecting glowing orbs or activating mechanisms that unlock new sections of the structure, allowing the player to continue climbing through the level.
What makes Etherborn particularly engaging is how its puzzles rely on spatial reasoning rather than complicated mechanical systems. There are no enemies to fight and no time limits forcing quick decisions. Instead, the challenge lies in understanding how the environment connects together. Players often need to observe the architecture from different angles before realizing that a seemingly unreachable platform can be accessed by approaching it from another surface. These moments of realization create satisfying breakthroughs as the puzzle suddenly makes sense.
The level design plays a crucial role in making the gravity mechanic work effectively. Each environment is carefully constructed to guide the player toward discovering how the world functions. Early sections introduce the core mechanics in relatively simple ways, allowing players to become comfortable with the idea of walking along walls or crossing inverted surfaces. As the game progresses, the structures become more complex, combining multiple pathways and gravity shifts that require deeper understanding of the system.
Visually, Etherborn adopts a distinctive artistic style built around minimalism and bold color contrasts. The environments consist of large geometric shapes and architectural forms that resemble surreal sculptures or abstract art installations. Each level uses its own color palette, creating visually distinct environments that help players orient themselves while exploring the structures. The clean shapes and vivid colors also emphasize the unusual geometry of the levels, making the gravity puzzles easier to read visually.
The atmosphere of the game is further enhanced by its soundtrack. Soft, ambient music accompanies the player’s exploration, reinforcing the contemplative mood of the experience. Rather than energetic or dramatic compositions, the music tends to be calm and meditative, encouraging players to slow down and carefully observe their surroundings. The soundtrack works in harmony with the visual design, turning the entire experience into something that feels closer to interactive art than a traditional platforming challenge.
Another structural element that ties the game together is the central hub known as the Endless Tree. This towering structure serves as the gateway between levels and represents the player’s progress through the journey. As each puzzle environment is completed, new areas of the tree become accessible, allowing players to climb higher and unlock additional stages. The hub creates a sense of progression while maintaining the game’s abstract atmosphere.
Despite its many strengths, Etherborn is not without its limitations. One of the most common criticisms of the game is its relatively short length. The entire experience can often be completed in just a few hours, which may leave players wanting more puzzles to explore. Additionally, once the puzzles have been solved, there is limited incentive to replay the levels since the solutions remain largely the same.
Another challenge comes from the game’s camera perspective. Because the puzzles depend heavily on spatial awareness, players may occasionally struggle to fully understand the layout of certain structures. The fixed camera angles sometimes make it difficult to judge distances or anticipate how gravity will shift when moving onto a new surface. While this disorientation is part of the puzzle design, it can occasionally lead to moments of confusion.
Even with these minor issues, Etherborn succeeds in delivering a memorable and visually distinctive puzzle experience. Its gravity-based mechanics offer a unique take on the platforming genre, transforming movement into a thoughtful exploration of space and perspective. The combination of artistic level design, atmospheric music, and philosophical storytelling creates a game that feels both relaxing and intellectually stimulating.
Ultimately, Etherborn stands out as a creative and beautifully crafted indie puzzle game that encourages players to think differently about how space and gravity interact. Its surreal environments and carefully designed puzzles create a sense of wonder that remains engaging throughout the journey. While its short runtime and occasional camera frustrations may limit its longevity, the game’s originality and artistic vision make it a worthwhile experience for players who appreciate thoughtful and visually imaginative puzzle games.
Rating: 8/10

A short but enjoyable puzzle game. Worth a quick run.

A short game with 2 play modes (such as New game and New game+) with the latter getting unlocked once you finish the a fresh playthrough.

The game's visuals are pleasing, calming and you should definitely play this when you are looking to relax. The puzzle elements are very well done and require you to think geometrically more than times that you'd expect. The levels are neither too short nor too long except for the first two which serve as introductory ones.

The controls on the other hand worked about okay (probably because I'm using a Keyboard and the game reocmmends a gamepad). The camera anges are something that definitely needs improvement. There were not too many times that I wished I could swivel the PoV but the camera angles are stuck. Fortunately, they don't impede the gameplay

Since the camera angles are a bit stuck, the Player character doesn't run in a straight line (althought this might be a Keyboard only problem). It was a bit irksome but not game breaking for me.

The achievements are well placed and you will get them if you go through both game modes. The story narration is another thing I felt could have been done better. The narration appears to start well but it doesn't stick nor does it make you think deep (at least for me - and I usually get analogies and deep storylines).

in all, a nice game with soothing visuals and music. Though short, it perfectly fits the bill here.

- 8/10

A pretty puzzle platformer that has a creation story thrown in as well as a headache. :P Gravity is something of a mystery even if you think you can follow the logic of the landscape it curveballs you off the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ side sometimes. Sometimes, you think you've got it and you're feeling confident except what you were supposed to do was go past what you thought was the next obvious step and do some ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ tedious backtracking because ♥♥♥♥ you! Use that noggin noodle you idiot! :P

Man that was fun. :) I appreciated the Game+ mode being the same levels with the orbs in different places. It felt familiar but refreshed. It was pretty short as you can see from my runtime but bitesize brainsmashing can be just enough, you know? Thumb's up! :)

This is one of greatest game runs beautifully on Steam Deck, highly recommended.