Bloom 02 · Puzzle platformer · Playdead, 2016
Inside
A boy runs through a grey, frightening world of forests, factories and something worse. Short, silent and unforgettable.
Edition reviewed: Inside (2016).
Official artwork © PlaydeadWhat you do
Run, climb and solve physical puzzles while avoiding guards, dogs and stranger things, with no words at all.
Who it suits
Older teens and adults who like eerie stories. Some scenes are disturbing.
01The first hour
A boy slides down a bank into a dark forest. Torches, dogs, a road block: within an hour you are completely gripped, with no idea what is going on.
02The middle
The puzzles are clever and never frustrating, and the world becomes stranger and bigger. The sound design is extraordinary.
03Where to stop
It is short and constantly checkpointed, so you can stop anywhere. Two evenings is ideal; the last hour is best played in one go.
Why it works
- Stunning, unsettling atmosphere
- Clever, fair puzzles
- Constant checkpoints
Watch out for
- Disturbing scenes
- Very short
The score
Overall 4.7 out of 5 · Full bloom · how we score
Our verdict
A dark short story you play. Two evenings, and an ending people still argue about.
Written by the Foxglove Save Point desk. Updated 23 October 2026. Facts were checked against the publisher and store pages at that date; prices and platforms can change.