Experiment 73 is a single-player puzzle platformer on PC that blends strategy and casual gameplay. Players guide four distinct experiments through a mysterious laboratory, learning each one's rules and abilities to solve increasingly intricate challenges across 37 handcrafted levels.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on switching between four experiments, each bound by its own constraints and powers. R.E.D. can walk through fire but follows specific movement rules. B.L.U.E. alters gravity to reposition platforms or objects. P.I.N.K. teleports another experiment directly to its location. B.R.O.W.N. swaps positions between any two experiments. These abilities interact in precise ways, requiring players to combine them within each room's limits, such as restricted uses per stage or altered puzzle logic.
Progression involves mastering these tools while navigating pixel art environments filled with hazards and secrets. Levels start simple and layer on complexity, introducing new mechanics gradually. A journal scattered throughout the laboratory reveals daily events and builds toward the central mystery without interrupting the flow of puzzle solving. Keyboard controls keep the focus on timing and spatial reasoning rather than complex inputs.
Strategy comes into play when deciding which experiment leads in a given room and how to sequence abilities to bypass obstacles. Casual pacing allows experimentation without harsh penalties, encouraging trial and error to uncover solutions.
Game Modes
Experiment 73 offers a single continuous campaign structured around the laboratory's 37 levels. Players advance sequentially, revisiting earlier areas with new abilities to access previously blocked paths or secrets. The experience remains entirely single-player, with no competitive or cooperative variants.
Story elements unfold passively through journal entries collected during exploration. These notes provide context for the experiments' origins and the facility's operations, tying into the puzzle progression without requiring separate modes. Completion involves solving every challenge and piecing together the narrative thread.
Progression and Secrets
Each level builds on prior knowledge, introducing variations in ability usage or environmental interactions. Some rooms limit total ability activations, forcing efficient planning across the four experiments. Others change fundamental rules, such as how gravity or teleportation functions in that space.
Exploration rewards careful observation, as hidden elements in the pixel art environments connect to the overarching laboratory story. The relaxing soundtrack supports extended sessions focused on deduction rather than tension.
Is It Worth Playing?
Experiment 73 suits players who enjoy methodical puzzle platformers with character-switching mechanics and light narrative discovery. Its compact scope, developed by one person, delivers focused challenges that reward patience and creative combinations of the four experiments' abilities. Those seeking a relaxing yet mentally engaging single-player experience on PC will find the gradual difficulty curve and handcrafted levels appealing. Availability on PC with keyboard controls makes it accessible for puzzle enthusiasts looking for something distinct from larger productions. The absence of reviews at launch means early players can form their own impressions based on the described systems.
