Song of Bloom
| Song of Bloom | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Kamibox |
| Designer(s) | Philipp Stollenmayer |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | 28 December 2019 |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Song of Bloom is a 2019 video game created by independent developer Kamibox for iOS. Upon release, the game received positive reviews from critics, with several naming it as one of the best iOS titles or mobile puzzle games. Following release, Song of Bloom received several awards and nominations, including nominations for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and Nuovo Award at the Independent Games Festival and winning the Mobile Game of the Year at the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.
Gameplay
[edit]Described by the developer as a "narrative puzzle game,[1] Song of Bloom is a mobile title where players use touch gestures to solve puzzles across 18 scenes, depicting the thoughts of the protagonist, who is hallucinating. Each scene features a different artistic style.
Development
[edit]The game was created by Kamibox, the studio of German independent developer Philipp Stollenmayer. Stollenmayer stated that the game was an "experimental journey", creating the game in Corona.[2][3][4] Stollenmayer created the assets for the game using different art styles and techniques, including claymation, knitting, sketching and carving, to "force a visual overkill and suck the player into the mind of the protagonist".[1]
Reception
[edit]Song of Bloom received positive reviews from critics. Several publications listed Song of Bloom as one of the best mobile, iPhone or puzzle games,[7][8][9][10][11] with Pocket Gamer stating the game's puzzles involved "eclectic problems that require logical thinking, keen observation, and experimentation",[11] and TheGamer describing it as a "unique and tactile experience" with "beautiful art".[10] Campbell Bird of 148Apps considered the game to be an "an incredibly beautiful and creative puzzle adventure", but stated it felt the game ended without a satisfying resolution and "hints at things in a confusing way".[5] Metro UK praised the game as "beautifully drawn and with a haunting soundtrack", stating "the cyclical nature of the game and its oblique plot exposition make this a playful and constantly delightful experience".[6] Stating that the game was "not for everyone", 4Gamer praised the title as "philosophical" and "mysterious" based on its "fusion of unique and meaningful words".[12] Describing Song of Bloom as an "absolute masterpiece", TouchArcade, highlighting it as the site's Game of the Week, praised the game for its "surprisingly deep narrative elements" and "clever puzzle designs".[13]
Accolades
[edit]At the 2020 Independent Games Festival, Song of Bloom was nominated for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and for Excellence in Visual Art as a Honorable Mention, and was shortlisted for the Nuovo Award.[14][15] The game received an Apple Design Award in 2020.[16][17] At the 2021 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, Song of Bloom also received a nomination for Mobile Game of the Year.[18][19] It also received the Best Mobile Game at the 2020 Deutscher Computerspielpreis.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Nelson, Jared (15 October 2019). "'Song of Bloom' is an Intense Narrative Puzzler from the Creator of 'Sometimes You Die'". TouchArcade. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Interview with Apple Design Award winner Philipp Stollenmayer". Appgefahren.de. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Couture, Joel (3 February 2020). "Road to the IGF: Kamibox's Song of Bloom". Game Developer. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Behind the Design: Song of Bloom". Apple Developer. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ a b Bird, Campbell (18 December 2019). "Song of Bloom review". 148Apps. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ a b Gillett, Nick (9 January 2020). "Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – January 2020 round-up". Metro. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Nield, David (15 January 2020). "The 20 Best Mobile Games You Probably Have Not Played Yet". Gizmodo. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Grannell, Craig (9 February 2023). "The best iPhone games 2023". TechRadar. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ King, Andrew (29 July 2022). "The 26 Best Mobile Games In 2022". GameSpot. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ a b G, Rachel (17 May 2024). "10 Best iPhone Puzzle Games". TheGamer. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ a b Spasojevic, Ivan (29 November 2024). "Top 25 best puzzle games for iPhone and iPad (iOS)". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Asuka (15 February 2020). "Introducing the artistic iOS escape game "Song of Bloom" in the 2226th issue of "(Almost) Daily Smartphone Game News"". 4Gamer.net. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Nelson, Jared (20 December 2019). "TouchArcade Game of the Week: 'Song of Bloom'". TouchArcade. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Independent Games Festival (18 March 2020). "Independent Games Festival Finalists & Winners". Independent Games Festival. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Valentine, Rebekah (7 January 2020). "Mutazione receives four nominations for IGF Awards 2020, including grand prize". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Apple honors eight developers with annual Apple Design Awards". Apple Newsroom. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Phelan, David (29 June 2020). "The 8 Best Apps Of 2020: All Apple Design Award Winners Revealed". Forbes. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Skrebels, Joe (23 April 2021). "D.I.C.E. Awards 2021: All the Winners". IGN. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Song of Bloom". Deutscher Computerspielpreis. Retrieved 15 June 2025.