Horror usually relies on the hidden and unexpected: monsters lurking in the darkness, unpredictable and sinister thoughts and behaviors. Manifold Garden fills me with more dread than typical horror media. The main levels are large, aesthetically pleasing structures that you have to explore on multiple planes to solve. Structures are infinitely duplicated on 6 axis, and the player can change what plane is considered the floor/which direction gravity is applied. What makes this game different is its focus: Antichamber was a puzzle game where the player had to adapt to the changing rules and properties of the game, while Manifold Garden's rules are more simple straightforward. Both are abstract first person puzzle games that have minimalist aesthetics with solid colors and a lot of cubes. The most similar game to Manifold Garden that I've played is Antichamber, which came out in 2013. The purpose of the puzzles are to provide context and motivation for observing this geometry. This is a puzzle game second and an exploration of the concept of infinity and perspective first. It was selected as one of the New Yorker’s best games of 2019. Manifold Garden has been nominated for several awards, including “Best Debut” from the Game Developers Choice Awards and BAFTA Game Awards.
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