Super Meat Boy 3D Review

There are a few games that cause me to throw myself into a rage when things aren’t going my way. Sometimes it’s down to my own skill level or just consistent bad luck. Back in the days of Xbox Live Arcade, we had a wonderful little indie title called Super Meat Boy. Whilst the game was frustratingly difficult at times, it was blindingly fun trying to conquer the levels. The little red dude is back with Super Meat Boy 3D, which is now available on Xbox Series X/S. If you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, then you can enjoy the full game at no further cost. The game also has Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, perfect for playing on handheld or as part of your PC library.

Frustratingly Addictive Gameplay

Super Meat Boy is renowned for its precision platforming, which feels awesome to play but is also brutally difficult. Super Meat Boy 3D retains that formula and thrusts it into today’s visuals in a fully immersive 3D space. Gameplay is still fast, frantic and fun, with levels seeming familiar even though it’s been so long since the last game. The game feels like a remade version of the first, and it’s impressive how they have nailed the mechanics to match what made the original game so great. Running, jumping, air dashing, and fine-tuning movement to scrape through levels by the skin of your teeth makes it so moreish to play.

What makes the game so brutal is how it resets you to the beginning of the level once you die. But by doing this, it teaches you how to perfect your runs and nail each portion of a level. It reminds me of the days of Trials HD, where every inch of your movement matters. You’ll soon find the difficulty really ramps up the further you get into the game, with the Dark World being some of the most difficult times I’ve had with a platforming game ever. If you loved the original Super Meat Boy back in the day, then you’ll adore everything this game has to offer.

Fantastic Level Design

Super Meat Boy 3D brings back the concept of themed words, which all have their own obstructions and hazards. Across the five worlds, they seem to follow the same premise that many other platformers follow. By this, I mean that the levels start quite tame, easing you into a chaotic rage as you try to master each level. Each world differs in visuals and mechanics, and levels remain short and snappy.

I’ve forgotten my pure hatred for rotating saws, grinders and sheer drops from platforms. That said, level design is superb, with each presenting its own challenges. It does become satisfying when you learn the timing and precision to glide through a level after trying and failing hundreds of times. With five worlds, each with fifteen levels with bosses, there is a feast of content to work through and perfect. I’d imagine the developers will seek to add more in the future as DLC, but for now, there is plenty to be getting on with.

Visuals & Audio

Performance on Xbox Series X is superb, with levels loading in an instant, which is perfect for short and snappy play sessions. The game targets and holds a solid and smooth 60 frames per second, which is much needed for a precision platformer. Even during the most chaotic moments of the game, it doesn’t seem to lose a single frame.

I was a bit sceptical about whether Super Meat Boy 3D would do well with 3D physics after the success of the first game. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of Super Meat Boy Forever and the fact that you are forced to run constantly. Here, though they have nailed that classic feel, animations are spot on, with the red trail coming from Super Meat Boy. Environments are interesting and colourful, with levels cleverly orchestrated so that you can see when something hazardous is coming up. The highlights for me are the boss fights and cutscenes that go alongside them, really excellently done.

Audio design blends in well with the brilliant intensity of the rest of the game. The soundtrack matches the atmosphere of the game with energetic and adrenaline-fuelled tunes. Sound effects are punchy with the squelch of Super Meat Boy and the patter of his feet as you bounce across platforms being felt. Genuinely, I loved sitting down and playing this with headphones on loud; I felt like I was sitting in my own arcade. Hats off to the design team for this one.

Final Thoughts

Super Meat Boy 3D does a great job of capturing the moments that made the original game so memorable. The same ingredients are very much here and cleverly designed in 3D. Attempting to wade through each level as quickly as possible is where the addictive gameplay seeps in. There are, however, the same levels of frustration as the original, and your enjoyment will very much depend on your personal patience levels.

My eight-year-old son adored the aesthetics and the fact that it was ‘a bit like Astrobot’, but ultimately the difficulty turned him off almost immediately. That said, I don’t think this game is suited to the younger crowd, so you may want to try before you buy on Xbox Game Pass. If you do want to bag a copy for Xbox Series X/S with that lovely Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, then you can do so HERE.