The Gardens Between is a light puzzle game. It has a simple but unique aesthetic, one that reminds you of something that isn’t too taxing to play but isn’t too boring either. This is an apt description given how simple the gameplay is. You can move time forward and back using either the analogue stick or the triggers, the latter of which is more comfortable. In doing so, the pair of unnamed friends (unnamed in the game that is) will move forwards and backwards.
How does this create engaging gameplay or puzzles? Well, it isn’t exactly pausing time, rather it’s just the characters that don’t move. Thus, they can still interact with the world, and it can take a few levels before you can wrap your head around this. For example, one character’s motion will jump down onto a saw, whereby if you keep reversing and forwarding time, the character will jump up and down on the saw, eventually sawing through a plank and allowing the other character to continue.
Usually, one of the characters is in the lead, and they are holding a lantern. The aim of each level is to reach the portal at the end with the lantern filled with light. There are obstacles along the way where it might require the lantern to be snuffed out, and then relit to pass through. The other character is usually following behind (but from time to time, their positions will swap), and they can interact with certain objects which allows you to manipulate time in other parts of the level, such as reconstructing and deconstructing falling things.
It manages to visually convey this gameplay mechanic well. Moving forwards and backwards will rotate the circular level, giving you a familiar point of reference in what you are doing. Considering that the game doesn’t feature any dialogue or text, it intuitively teaches you the controls and what you need to do. Each level is split into several smaller puzzles, and you can be confident knowing once you pass an obstacle, you don’t need to backtrack too far back to solve the next one (in fact, the game doesn’t allow you to move too far backwards or too far forwards).
The levels themselves are short. The earlier easier ones will take less than a minute. The levels do get longer as you progress through the game, but the difficulty isn’t one to make you tear your hair out. It’s good knowing that there are only a limited number of variables that you can try to solve the current puzzle, so you will never feel like you are perpetually stuck on one, requiring you to search up on a solution on the internet.
The later levels increase the difficulty, but only through its reliance on some more abstract solutions. It tends to require the player to hold the characters in a specific location for a longer period to trigger the next thing. However, oftentimes it does not give you enough hints or prompts to do so. Yes, one of the characters might pause and point, or there is a sound, but you might still not pick up what you are supposed to do.
The story is told via short snippets of the characters interacting with each other. It’s nothing groundbreaking, in fact, it takes a backseat to the gameplay. All you need to know is that the two characters were in a treehouse in a garden at night, and then they are now traveling through dreamscapes. Each level has random everyday objects scattered throughout, adding to the theme.
The game doesn’t take long to finish, roughly two hours to finish the 20 or so levels it provides. However, that is enough for the game to never outstay its welcome and it is a fun and enjoyable experience. Apart from trophies / achievements, which are easy, there’s no replay value as there are no collectables either.
Overall, The Gardens Between is a wonderful, if short game. You only feel its short because of how interesting and well executed its idea is. Its premise and gameplay mechanic of moving time forwards and backwards, yet able to still manipulate certain events, into a puzzle is impressive. Yes, it is mostly linear but wow, it is a unique and beautiful game.
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