Gibbon: Beyond the Trees

GamereactorPetter Hegevall

8/10

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees is not very long. It lasts about an hour, but that's okay. Or it's enough, rather. In that time, the player has travelled through lots of gorgeous environments, each telling a story that firmly leaves its mark. I know things about gibbons now that I didn't know the day before yesterday, and I've taken the opportunity to read a bit about the species and the fact that we all need to help each other to preserve it. In that way, Broken Rule's latest iPhone adventure is a very successful one, spreading a sensible, important message without ramming it down the throat of the…

Press StartBrodie Gibbons

6.5/10

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees, like Old Man’s Journey before it, is a tightly-packed, hour-long adventure that lays bare the eco-terrorism that continually threatens these titular primates. While it doesn’t do anything particularly groundbreaking as a game, it’s a brisk, beautiful and, at times, terribly sad game that moves along at a rate of knots, even if that places a strain on the now-aged Switch hardware.

Checkpoint GamingPedro Cooray

6.5/10

The most important part of Gibbon: Beyond the Trees – indeed, its best part – is the pointed message about deforestation and the destruction of habitats and their heartbreaking impact on endangered animals. The game’s not strictly an endless runner, but draws enough inspiration from the genre to make the comparison. The background constantly scrolls towards the right, as you control a gibbon who swings and dives through the lush treetops they call home. That background quickly grows dar...

Nintendo World ReportWillem Hilhorst

5/10

Off-putting controls, repetitive gameplay, and some pretty rough performance make Gibbon: Beyond the Trees unfortunately not really a recommendation on Switch. While the visual style is truly gorgeous and you feel as if you’re actually controlling a gibbon, the game just doesn’t hold up even for the short time you’ll spend with it. The danger gibbons face truly is an ecological crisis, but if you want to support that cause, a donation towards the Gibbon Conservation Society is far more satisfying than playing this game.

Rock Paper ShotgunKatharine Castle

Unscored

A 60-minute story bolstered by a moreish endless mode, Gibbon: Beyond The Trees rejoices in the physicality of its titular primates while telling an affecting, heartfelt story.