PixelJunk Eden
Review

PixelJunk Eden (2008) is an organic puzzle game. You swing from abstract plant shapes to explore a stylised garden, attacking pollen carriers to gather particles that bring seeds to life. It's a game where you grow a field of plants, each one granting new ways to delve deeper into the silhouetted tundra.

You play a small creature that can jump, cling and swing from the plant-like structures. Extending your silk-like tether enables you to traverse between plants and collect different objects, located far from your starting point. Activating seeds creates an evolving web of plants that enable you to reach higher and father into the world.

As you progress you can attempt to jump through multiple enemies without touching the ground to create chain reactions and gain increased pollen. Eventually there are other creatures who will attack and hamper your progress.

Each garden is visually and audibly focused on a discrete palette of colours and backed by minimalist house and techno music. The result is a game as spectacular as it is ever-changing. Find psychedelic sights and sounds while cultivating new plants and biomes, collecting pollen and helping seeds sprout.

There is a version for iOS smartphones called Eden Obscura that offers similar experience but with touchscreen controls and the game uses the camera in your phone to create interactive visual effects while you jump around the screen gathering pollen.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked PixelJunk Eden 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Ben Kendall and updated 14 months ago.