David’s Backlog Busting: Baba is You (PC) Preview

Under the Backlog Busting microscope today, I’ve got Baba Is You, a really clever puzzle game developed and published by Hempuli Oy. In Baba Is You, you play as the titular Baba, a sheep (I think) who has to navigate through puzzles containing various hazards. There are so-called “rules” set in place within each level of Baba Is You. Luckily for Baba (and you), however, rules were made to be broken – and can be physically broken in most levels. For example, you might find yourself on a level with three rules: “Baba is You,” “Wall is Stop,” and “Flag is Win.”

These rules are represented by physical tiles within the level. “Baba is You” and “Wall is Stop” are each three tiles because each word is its own tile. This means that, depending on how those words are positioned within the level, you can break those rules by pushing the tiles apart. When you start this example level, you’ll know you can’t pass through any walls, and you have to reach the flag to beat the level. However, if you were to separate the words “Wall is Stop,” you would be able to pass through walls because the “Wall is Stop” rule no longer applies.

Because of how rules function within each level of Baba Is You, you can get really clever in terms of how you go about solving each puzzle. The catch is, you must make sure the “Baba is You” rule is always in effect – otherwise Baba will basically cease to exist, and you’ll have to restart from an earlier point. Outside of that, Baba is You allows you to flex your creativity skills quite a bit.

You can freely restart levels at any time, and you can use the Z key to either undo your most recent movement or rewind time to any earlier point in the current level. Many of the puzzles within Baba is You expect you to think far outside the box and get creative with the rules each level has in place. You’ll often have to make sure the words “Flag is Win” are next to each other in order for the flag to be the level’s end goal, but not always. You might even be able to turn an obstacle or instant-death hazard into the goal.

I generally dislike puzzle games because they tend to make me feel stupid, even though that’s often balanced out somewhat by the rush of dopamine I get when I figure out one of the secrets in any given puzzle game. I’d give Baba is You twice as many points in its favor because not only do I not feel stupid while playing it, but that addictive jolt of satisfaction is amplified when I figure out creative ways to use each level’s rules to my advantage. To conclude in the simplest way I can think of: Baba is You. Game is Great.