Braid is an Indie Puzzle Platformer for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and PC (Windows, Mac & Linux) with time manipulation mechanics, set against a painterly aesthetic. It also has a storytelling element that is less involved than many modern games, with almost all of the narrative happening through books completely separate from the gameplay areas. Although it has been both criticised and praised for its non-specific and multi-layered approach to story.
The game starts in a hub world that takes the appearance of a house, with most rooms housing one of the five worlds and an empty picture frame. The basic premise is that each world has 12 puzzle pieces that will fill these picture frames, and each has a unique twist on the time mechanic that makes puzzle-solving more complex. The game is influenced by Mario platformers, with similar-looking creatures and premises being used to acknowledge its own platforming roots.
