PCGame

The Ball

First-person puzzle adventure using a metal ball in ancient ruins

Teotl Studios · Published by Tripwire Interactive · Released Oct 26, 2010

ActionAdventureIndieStrategy

Reviews
Mostly Positive
74% of 1,156
Recent reviews
Not enough recent
Playing now
0
right now
Steam Deck
Playable
Last update
Unknown
no patch notes found

Free demo available, 0 playing it now: get the demo.

Metacritic: 68/100 (critic reviews)

What is The Ball?

You play an archaeologist trapped in ancient ruins beneath a volcano in Mexico in this first-person action-puzzle adventure. Across eight campaign levels, you move a large metal ball to solve physics-based puzzles, navigate traps, and fight creatures. A separate Survival mode has four additional levels.

For you if...

  • +you like physics puzzles built around one main tool
  • +you enjoy exploring ancient ruins and finding secrets
  • +you prefer approachable puzzles over demanding challenges

Not for you if...

  • you want fast movement and frequent action
  • you expect varied tools and complex puzzle mechanics
  • you avoid combat in your puzzle adventures

What players say

74% of 1,156 reviews are positive

Players praise the ball-based puzzles and exploration, and some find the mechanics easy to grasp. Others find the pace slow, the puzzles too simple or repetitive, and the combat uninteresting.

Screenshots and trailer

The Ball

The Ball system requirements

As published by the developer.

Minimum

OS
Windows XP SP2, Vista, or Windows 7
Processor
2.0+ GHz or better (dual core recommended)
Graphics
SM3 Compatible video card (GF6800 minimum - GF8800 or higher recommended)
Memory
1 GB (2 GB recommended)
Storage
1.5 GB

PC version details

DRM, required accounts, controller support and Steam features.

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Keyboard and mouse
Platforms
Windows
Achievements
17
Steam features
Family Sharing
Age rating
17+

Steam Deck: Playable

  • Default controller config not fully functional
  • Sometimes shows mouse, keyboard or non-Deck controller icons
  • Some in-game text is small and may be hard to read
  • The native resolution is not the default one
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
  • External controllers are not supported for the primary player

Multiplayer and co-op

Languages

Text only: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish - Spain, Swedish, Russian.

Tags

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