One of the best Xbox 360 games is being re-released on May 14 with a ton of new content
Braid, Anniversary Edition has been overhauled with 40 new levels ahead of its re-release.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
Thelka, Inc. has announced an official release date for Braid, Anniversary Edition. The puzzle platformer is widely regarded as one of thebest Xbox 360 games, and indie fans have anticipated the remastered edition since it was revealed in 2020. The remastered edition of the game will launch onPC,PlayStation,Nintendo Switch, and Netflix on May 14. However,Xboxfans of the game will have to wait untilMay 15for the launch of Braid, Anniversary Edition. The game will also be coming to Mac andLinuxat a later, though currently unannounced, date.
Developer Jonathan Blow has announced a slate of improvements to the classic game, including hand-repainted graphics by original artist David Hellman and animations featuring extra frames for smoother in-game motion. According to developer commentary in the introduction video, the visuals of Braid have been enhanced on a scale of 9:1 pixels, with enhancements to rendering brush strokes, textures, and adding more detail to the game’s environments. Players can look forward to a combination of 40 new and alternative designs of original levels.
While 14 of the original levels will feature commentary from Jonathan Blow, 12 alternate designs of classic levels will also include commentary to help provide a behind-the-scenes look at the processes behind the new design decisions. The extensive 15+ hours of commentary includes discussions from Blow, Hellman, Marc ten Bosch, Brian Moriarty, Casey Muratori, Cris Moore, Frank Cifaldi, Martin Stig Andersen, Hans Christian Kock, and Jakob Schmid.
Unfortunately, fans of developer commentary will still need to play the game via Netflix to get the full experience, as one level will be exclusive to the service. All players can look forward to 13 new full puzzle levels, which will include 16 new puzzle pieces for a new frame, though.
Braid’s audio and soundtrack have also undergone improvements, including new mixes and variants from Martin Stig Anderson and Hans Christian Kock. Anderson may be best known for previous work on Remedy’sControland the follow-up to darling Limbo,Inside. Players can freely swap between the original release and the remastered version in the Anniversary edition.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Cole is the resident Call of Duty know-it-all and indie game enthusiast for Windows Central. She’s a lifelong artist with two decades of experience in digital painting, and she will happily talk your ear off about budget pen displays.
