Worldless is a mind-bending 2D action platformer with unique turn-based combat. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth getting.
Worldless Review Overview
Worldless Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Great Turn-Based Action Combat with Unique Mechanics Excellent Abstract Art Direction |
Map Takes Some Getting Used To |
Worldless Overall - 78/100
Worldless is a beautifully unique game with its abstract art, well-implemented turn-based combat mechanics, and a soothing and intensifying soundtrack. However, the story leaves a lot to be desired, and a surplus of the unconventional art direction diminishes the visuals at certain points and times. Nevertheless, Wordless is still an all-around great experience.
Worldless Story - 6/10
Worldless’ story is wordless for the majority of the game, with only one source of dialogue throughout for some supplementary lore. It unfolds the narrative visually, relying on environmental storytelling, the use of different colors, and through the body language of the protagonist and the enemies. Though the execution is somewhat sound, the substance itself is quite lacking, with only a serviceable story that is placed on the sidelines for the ironed-out gameplay.
Worldless Gameplay - 9/10
The mechanics of Worldless are very distinct to say the least. Exploring uses regular platforming mechanics, whereas its combat is “turn-based.” Their implementation of turn-based fights is intuitive, where the actions and reactions you carry out are akin to a fighting game. Worldless’ combat is responsive, mechanically deep, and new, and very much fun to play.
Worldless Visuals - 9/10
The abstract art style of Worldless is near-sublime, with the use of different shapes and colors to form the vivid surroundings and biomes. The design and animation of characters and enemies are minimal but comprehensible, utilizing simple shapes and letting the mind fill out the empty gaps to form their silhouettes. I would say that the visuals sometimes get TOO abstract, where the visibility of interactable surroundings and ease of comprehension of certain features such as the map at first are negatively affected.
Worldless Audio - 8/10
Worldless features soothing musical pieces, perfect for the exploration through its unorthodox visuals. It can also deliver intense pieces, for the more high-stakes encounters with foes or for major plot points. The sound effects (SFX) are also crisp, with the glassy and crystalline sounds fitting nicely with the otherworldly art style.
Worldless Value for Money - 7/10
For $19.99, Wordless is money well spent. With its distinct graphics and deep combat mechanics, it’s sure to impress and wow any interested gamers. The game, however, is somewhat short, where entire playthroughs can be finished in around 5-6 hours. Players who are very interested with what the game offers can be justified to purchase at full price, but those who are casually interested would best wait for a small sale.
Worldless Review: You Can Parry EVERYTHING
Wordless is a stylized 2D platformer that implements turn-based combat where everything can be parried. Yes, you read that right. You can parry EVERYTHING in the game and become quite literally untouchable. I go more in depth with battle mechanics later on in the review, but it being the main highlight of the game, it’s almost a requirement for me to mention how good the combat is whenever I can.
It goes about implementing turn-based using an Active Time Battle gauge, but instead of the bar filling up to indicate your turn, the bar is initially full, and you must input all commands within that duration. It seamlessly combines action-oriented combat with turn-based combat, and it’s excellent. When your turn is done, you don’t have to just stand there and take all the damage like you usually do in traditional turn-based games. You can hold a button guard and defend yourself from incoming attack, where your guard barriers can deteriorate and break after sustaining enough attacks. HOWEVER, here’s the main event: you can time guard presses to execute Perfect Guards and not lose ANY shields. Meaning, you can literally Perfect Guard every single attack in the entire game and not get damaged. You could argue that this isn’t parrying, as parrying is usually attacking, not defending.Parrying sounds cooler and more universal though, so we’re going to call it parrying here, but I digress.
Of course, when a game has parries, what are you pretty much required to try and do? Perform EVO Moment Number 37, as seen in the video above. Discovering this tiny easter egg was the exact moment this game won me over.
Also, if you spot the very beginning of the video, you may see me actually activating the fight. The game is very forgiving with its fights, and receiving a loss during a fight merely forcibly pushes you out of the area, giving you a chance to try again. This is a much-appreciated feature, and is also utilized by the game to block progression, or to hint that “this is the way to go, but you gotta get through this fight first.”
Let’s talk about the visuals for a minute, as it goes without saying that Worldless is a delight. With the most simplistic shapes that form grandeur designs, to the fluidity of the animation of characters and visual effects, all the art is extremely well illustrated and polished. Just running across water, as seen in the video above, looks very grand and magnificent.
All in all, Worldless is a very welcome innovation in the genre, with the seamless fusion of 2D platforming elements and a very fleshed-out and thought-out combat system. Its stylized art astounds in each new area you go, and the music chimes in to enhance and immerse the otherworldly experience. Worldless is a great game of which I hope to see more of in the future.
Pros of Worldless
| Things Worldless Got Right |
|---|
|
Great Turn-Based Action Combat with Unique Mechanics Excellent Abstract Art Direction |
Great Turn-Based Action Combat with Unique Mechanics
Worldless is a unique fusion of a 2D platformer with turn-based combat, where said combat is the most innovative for its genre in a long while. From the video above, you can see how an entire encounter would play out. During their turn, the player has a duration bar underneath that continually depletes. During this duration, the player can enact any and all offensive actions as they please. You can combo from skill after skill, switch weapons on the fly, and assault the opponent with magic. However, once the meter has depleted, you must return to your spot and defend against the enemy’s attacks. The player has a numbered layer of shields that depletes after every defended attack.
Here’s the best part of Worldless: if you can press guard just before an attack hits, you perform a Perfect Guard – or in other words, a parry. Perfect Guarding does NOT deplete any layers of the shield. Meaning, theoretically, if you were to learn the attack pattern of every single enemy in the game, you can parry your way through every single encounter and not lose a single point of HP. What more could you ask for than being able to parry EVERYTHING in a game and feel invincible?
Worldless has a unique mechanic within the “Absorption Gauge” at the bottom right. Filling up the gauge allows you to absorb the enemy in order to level up and learn new skills. This is one of the many incentives of engaging in battle. The Absorption Gauge fills up according to how much punishment the enemies receive. Bonuses can also be gained by shattering their shields using the prescribed element beside the gauge. What’s more is, the game has a built-in style system similar to that of Devil May Cry(DMC), where repeated use of one attack slowly diminishes how much the gauge is filled up, encouraging players to mix up and experiment with various attacks.
Speaking of DMC, you can also infer that Worldless’ Perfect Guarding is literally DMC’s Perfect Royal Guarding. They mention DMC being one of the inspirations of the game in their Advanced Combat Breakdown video above.
Innovative minds, careful balancing, and great consideration of fun were all clearly involved in developing Worldless’ combat, and the result is a very engaging, unique, and deep battle system that I wish to continue seeing in the future.
Excellent Abstract Art Direction
The visuals of Worldless is extraordinary, where the art direction revels in the otherworldly premise by utilizing basic shapes and figures as the building blocks of its universe. From a few simple shapes, they’re able to form recognizable silhouettes of characters and enemies. With the expert use of blank space between highlighted body parts, they succeed in letting the brain fill in the rest for them. A very smart and minimalist approach that results in magnificent abstract art in-game. The use of colors also smartly contributes to the story, framing the contrasting shades in conflict.
Cons of Worldless
| Things Worldless Can Improve |
|---|
|
Map Takes Some Getting Used To |
Map Takes Some Getting Used To
Though Worldless is undeniably vivid and artistic, its abstract style goes a bit too far with the map and is made more complicated. Though the execution is seamless, with how the compact map fits onto the head of the character, and how each “node” signifies a room where a skill gem of either color can be discovered, the readability and function for actual exploration is a bit hindered. I’m not implying that it was a horrible idea and it makes the game unplayable, but for accessibility purposes, it’s a small negative.
It was difficult at first to even discern what the map stood for, as it looked too familiar with the skill tree. Eventually an hour into playtime I fully understand how it fully functioned, and could then understand the objective behind its implementation.
Still, it’s very easy to get lost exploring the beautiful world of Worldless. Platforming is great, but with all the different directions you can go, it’s inevitable for some to get lost and not understand how the map works. It only offers the most general information in terms of collectibles and general direction, but the exact positions and the path through are all up to the player. Though not hand-holding gamers and letting them explore on their own is appreciated, a bit more clarity is always beneficial.
Is Worldless Worth It?
Parrying Everything is Absolutely Worth It
Just for the sheer satisfaction of learning enemy attack patterns and Perfect Guarding is enough to justify getting the game. The overall fleshed-out battle system is such a breath of fresh air that those seeking new mechanics must try out Worldless. With beautifully intricate graphics and a great soundtrack, it’s well enough to be worth your money spent.
However, it runs into a problem of being rather short, as a main playthrough can last up to only about 4-5 hours, 6 at max. Some players who have average experience with combat and know which way to go can finish the game in two hours. There is not much replayability, save for replaying the game, repeating fights, and leveling up all over again.
Those who are curious as to how Worldess plays and can appreciate a new take on turn-based combat can maximize their experience with the game. Those who are looking at it casually with not much interest can wait for a meager sale down the line.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 Playstation |
 Xbox |
 Switch |
||
| $19.99 | |||||
Worldless Overview & Premise
Worldless takes place in a newborn universe where polar opposite entities are interconnected and trapped in eternal conflict. Whereas one half wants to find out the virtue of their existence, the other wants to end their life, ending both existences. Interactions between both halves are unstable, and nobody knows what might happen from their clashes.
Worldless FAQ
Does Worldless Require a Controller?
Using a controller is heavily recommended for playing Worldless, as the developers themselves suggest it. The combat was designed around the use of a controller, but keyboard players can rest assured that they can still utilize a keyboard and rebind the controls.
Does Worldless Have a Demo?
Worldless currently has a demo available only on Steam. It can be found in its Steam page.
Is Worldless Steam Deck Verified?
Worldless is compatible to play with the Steam Deck, allowing you to play the game anywhere you wish!
Game8 Reviews
Worldless Product Information
 | |
| Title | WORLDLESS |
|---|---|
| Release Date | November 20, 2023(PC) November 21, 2023(Consoles) |
| Developer | Noname Studios |
| Publisher | Coatsink, Thunderful |
| Supported Platforms | PC, PlayStation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, RPG, Strategy, 2D Platformer |
| Number of Players | Single Player (1) |
| ESRB Rating | E for Everyone |
| Official Website | Worldless Official Website |
