I first wrote about Ugly during 2022’s Not-E3 week. Its stunning art style and detailed animations are what originally drew me to the game – there’s something very charming there despite the game being described as a dark and twisted fairytale. It’s about secrets. There’s secrets everywhere. And those secrets will be revealed when the game launches for PC and select consoles in mid-September.
In Ugly, a reflective puzzle platformer, nothing is as it seems. Players explore the desolated recesses of a tormented nobleman’s mind, progressing through difficult puzzle rooms and toppling towering bosses. A deeply stirring narrative awaits you… you just have to untangle the cobwebs obscuring the past first. And remember, sometimes the truth is ugly.
The game uses an innovative mirror mechanic to create a shadowy reflection of your character. You can swap places with this other you to solve puzzles and make your way around this wicked mind filled with secrets and drenched in tragedy. Logic will be necessary moving forward.
Some of these secrets include hidden rooms, or hints about your tragic past. Unearthing them might cause further pain, but also resolve past issues. Skill and strategy are both important when it comes to beating enormous bosses. The puzzles can mostly be solved in a variety of ways, so different players may have different gameplay experiences.
Related reading: If fairytales are your jam, check out voxel fairytale Ravenlok.
Each room is a puzzle unto itself, offering fresh challenges and providing a new piece of the story. You’ll have to get through them all to get the full picture. After solving all the puzzle rooms and reaching the interactive ending, you can try to unlock an alternate ending by solving all the hidden rooms too.
Developed by Team Ugly and published by Graffiti Games, Ugly will be released for PC via Steam/Epic, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One on September 14.
