Streamline
  • Home
  • Spotlight
  • Reviews
    • Action
    • Strategy
    • RPGs
  • Most Hardcore
    • Devices
    • Gifts
    • Gadgets
  • About Us
  • Android--Carrion--001
    Carrion Review
  • Odin: Valhalla Rising title
    Norse Mythology-Inspired MMORPG Odin: Valhalla Rising Launches This Month
  • Android-MythWalker-001
    MythWalker Expands Adventure With Over 20 New Story Quests
  • Tribe Nine feature image
    TRIBE NINE’s Chapter 3: Neo Chiyoda City Arrives
  • Android-Blade of God X: Orisols-001
    Blade of God X: Orisols Review
  • Android-Darkest Hero--001
    Darkest Hero Review
  • Bleach: Brave Souls feature image
    Bleach: Brave Souls Launches Gift Campaign With Smartphone Wallpapers
  • Collect Or Die Ultra Title Screen
    Collect Or Die Ultra Launches On Google Play And iOS
  • Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Android
    Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Review
  • Once Human Launches Cross-Platform Test
    Once Human Launches Cross-Platform Test for Mobile & PC
  • Archero 2 title
    Archero 2 Review
  • upjers feature image
    Upjers Brings ‘Love in Pixels’
  • Train Hero
    Train Hero Now Available On Steam And Google Play
  • Wizardry Varients Daphne title
    Wizardry Variants Daphne Review
  • STARSEED: Asnia Trigger001
    STARSEED: Asnia Trigger Review
Hardcore Droid
Hardcore Droid
  • Home
  • News
    • News
    • Spotlight
    • Interviews
    • Consoles
  • Reviews
    • Action
    • Adventure
    • Strategy
    • RPG
    • MMOs
    • Racing
    • Indie
    • Hardware
  • Best Of
    • Top 10 Games
    • Best RPGs
    • Best Action
    • Best Puzzlers
    • Best Strategy
    • Best Indie Strat
    • Best Indie RPGs
    • Most Hardcore
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Game Jobs
    • Archives
    • Attributions
    • Opportunities
  • Adventure
  • Spotlight

The Gardens Between Review

  • August 9, 2020
  • Brendon Dellinger
Android-The-Gardens-Between-00
Spread the love

A Walk Down Memory Lane

A stormy night leaves two unhappy friends alone in a battered old treehouse. An orb of light appears between the two of them and after touching it, they’re sent into a surreal journey reliving their past friendship and the steps they must take if they wish to remain friends.

The Gardens Between created by The Voxel Agents is a puzzle game that’ll leave you reminiscing on your childhood and the friends you’ve made along the way. It’s one of those games that, after finishing, you think back to weeks later. Even if you’re not a huge fan of puzzle games it’s still worth playing for the story, visuals, and of course, gameplay.

TheGardensBetween-01

Toying with Time

The controls are simple. Move left or right and occasionally tap an orb on the screen. No really. What I probably loved most about this game is how easy it is to play. The game doesn’t ask much of you when solving its puzzles, just to relax and think things through. There’s no pressing time limit or a monster chasing you, just the simple goal of getting an orb of light from point A to B.

But it wouldn’t be much of a puzzler if that’s all there was to it. Much like Superhot or Braid time moves when you do. The characters and environment do not move unless you press forward or backward on the screen. When you press forward time moves forward, when pressing backward time reverses. As the levels progress, more and more obstacles will get in your way stopping your orb of light reaching the end goal. Cleverly manipulating time will allow you to move past these obstacles but it might take a couple of tries before figuring the right path to reach the end. The only thing I wish was added is an option to choose the speed at which time moves as some segments can be a bit sluggish.

TheGardensBetween-02

A Beautiful Garden

Cutscenes are spread out among the levels into fragments. Each completed level unlocks a new fragment of the friends’ memories, eventually revealing important details about their lives. The background scenery of the game is not only gorgeous but also provides glimpses into the lives of these individuals. You see oversized toys, electronics, and drawings from their time spent growing up. These objects can often be found floating and mish-mashed together giving off a dream-like vibe similar to Kentucky Route Zero.

The soundtrack Glowing Pains by Tim Shiel deserves praise as well. The music invokes an ethereal nostalgic feeling throughout the game which serves to heighten the overall experience. Pair that with some excellent sound effects and the game is very pleasing to the ears.

At one point my eyes widened when my phone vibrated the same time lightning struck in the game. I think that’s when I knew The Gardens Between was going to be something special. The presentation of this game is top-notch and The Voxel Agents do a great job at making full use of the mobile platform the game can be played on.

TheGardensBetween-03

The Power of Friendship

The Gardens Between is a prime example of what can be accomplished with a mobile platform. Moody atmosphere, unique puzzles, and a captivating story make this a gem of a game. The Voxel Agents have put together a one-of-a-kind experience that can be enjoyed by all players. And with a fantastic soundtrack to boot, I can’t recommend this game enough.

 

Is it Hardcore?
4.8

Absolutely.

The Gardens Between takes full advantage of its mobile platform to deliver a thoughtful puzzler that will leave you wanting more.

Related Topics
  • Android Adventure Games
  • Android Indie Games
  • Android Puzzle Games
Brendon Dellinger

is a recent graduate from college looking to make his mark in the writing world. He loves stories no matter what medium they take and hopes to become an accomplished author someday. Until then, he'll just settle with paying back his student loans.

Previous Article
android-brawlhalla-00
  • Action
  • News
  • Spotlight

Brawlhalla Drops on Google Play

  • August 6, 2020
  • Gordon Kender
View Post
Next Article
Android-WinWing-00
  • Action
  • Adventure

WinWing Review

  • August 12, 2020
  • William Padden
View Post
You May Also Like
Bleach: Brave Souls feature image
View Post
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • News

Bleach: Brave Souls Launches Gift Campaign With Smartphone Wallpapers

  • Tamanna Chandel
  • March 14, 2025
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Android
View Post
  • Adventure
  • Indie
  • RPG

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Review

  • Oula Onyango
  • March 8, 2025
Train Hero
View Post
  • Adventure
  • News

Train Hero Now Available On Steam And Google Play

  • Oula Onyango
  • February 11, 2025
Shadow of the Depth-001
View Post
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Indie
  • RPG

Shadow of the Depth Review

  • Oula Onyango
  • February 7, 2025
Duck Detective Feature Image
View Post
  • Adventure
  • News

Acclaimed Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Coming To iOS and Android

  • Tamanna Chandel
  • January 25, 2025
The Legend of Heroes: Gargahv---001
View Post
  • Adventure
  • RPG

The Legend of Heroes: Gagharv Review

  • Oula Onyango
  • January 23, 2025
My Father Lied001
View Post
  • Adventure
  • Indie
  • News

My Father Lied: An Indie-Adventure Game Released

  • Oula Onyango
  • January 23, 2025
TRPG Sword of Convallaria
View Post
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • News
  • RPG

Sword of Convallaria Out Now on PC and Mobile

  • Barbara Walker
  • August 21, 2024
The Latest
  • Carrion Review
  • Norse Mythology-Inspired MMORPG Odin: Valhalla Rising Launches This Month
  • MythWalker Expands Adventure With Over 20 New Story Quests
  • TRIBE NINE’s Chapter 3: Neo Chiyoda City Arrives
  • Blade of God X: Orisols Review
  • Darkest Hero Review
  • Bleach: Brave Souls Launches Gift Campaign With Smartphone Wallpapers
  • Collect Or Die Ultra Launches On Google Play And iOS
  • Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Review
  • Once Human Launches Cross-Platform Test for Mobile & PC
Meta
  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Hardcore Droid
  • Reviews
  • Spotlight
  • Hardcore
Core Gaming on the Android OS

Input your search keywords and press Enter.