Broken Lens Review: The Perfect Cozy Spot the Difference Game?

Calling all Where’s Wally enthusiasts! This review is for you. The Indie Brew is diving into Broken Lens, a charming puzzle game with a unique twist.

In this article, we’ll be giving a full review of the game and ranking it from decaf to fully caffeinated.

Prefer to watch the video version? Check it out here

Story

Broken Lens starts with a bang (literally). You play as a cute robot who crash-lands, damaging your image sensors. Now, you see the world slightly differently through each robotic eye. Your mission? Navigate stunning, layered biomes and spot the discrepancies between your two viewpoints. Each scene unveils a miniature story, piecing together a larger, intriguing narrative. Hidden notebook pages within levels add even more depth and mystery.

The story itself is heartwarming with a touch of action and intrigue. While the mini-stories within each scene are delightful, they never overshadow the core gameplay. Broken Lens effectively delivers a compelling narrative without being intrusive. For its story, we rate Broken Lens a Buzzed.

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay of Broken Lens takes form in tried and true spot the difference mechanics. You’ll have two different versions of each scene on your screen and you’ll need to seek out the differences between each scene. Some of them will be more obvious, and others not so much, and you’ll often find yourself carefully looking through the scene to find all of the differences.

One of the interesting things about this game is that the levels are all layered, giving each a 3d effect. This definitely ups the difficulty, and you’ll often need to get the angle just right to spot certain differences.
Each level has a set number of differences to find, and a notebook page to find too. Not all levels require you to find every difference, so if you’re not a completionist, you can definitely breeze through the game a lot quicker.
There’s a hint system that gives you a general area for the difference, which recharges periodically, giving you that extra helping hand when needed. Incorrect guesses will clog up your screen, so you can’t just click randomly to find the differences, adding a decent amount of balance to the game.

I was pretty impressed by the mechanics in the game, they are simple, but executed really well and the layered scenes definitely up the ante in terms of a spot the difference game for game play, I’m rating Broken Lens as Buzzed

DESIGN

Broken Lens boasts a captivating design aesthetic. The vibrant color palette pops, and the adorable robot and animal characters create a visually appealing world.

Each biome offers unique level design, perfectly capturing its essence. The real standout, however, is the soundtrack. Upbeat music breathes life into static scenes, and the use of dramatic cues enhances the intensity of specific levels, perfectly complementing the story.

Broken Lens is a well-designed package, earning a Fully Caffeinated rating for its visuals and sound.

ORIGINALITY

Broken Lens stands out with its unique presentation. The layered scenes are a refreshing take on the “spot the difference” genre, and the intriguing story adds another layer of depth. This is a game that feels truly original, earning it a Fully Caffeinated rating for originality.

THE FINAL BREW

Broken Lens is a delightful puzzle game that offers a challenging and visually stunning take on the classic “spot the difference” formula. With its quirky story and layered mechanics, it’s like a cup of strong coffee for Where’s Wally fans.

We’ve brewed this game down, and the final taste test reveals a Buzzed recommendation.

Broken Lens is available on Steam now. You can find more info here.

Until next time, stay caffeinated!