New Review: Super Meat Boy 3D – a return to classic with a modern twist

New 3‑D platformer from the creators of Super Meat Boy

*Super Meat Boy 3D* is an attempt to bring the cult 2‑D platformer into a three‑dimensional format. The game was developed by Tommy Refenes, a former member of Team Meat, after Edmund McMillen left the project and finished his own game *Mewgenics*. In 2020 Refenes released the unsuccessful auto‑racer *Super Meat Boy Forever*, and this year he launched a new 3‑D platformer that tries to preserve the spirit of the original.

What the game looks like
- Graphics: completely new style, but with the same recognizable character – Meat Boy.
- Mechanics: the player starts at the starting point and must reach the finish, where the Bandage Girl is located. Upon reaching the finish she is kidnapped by Dr. Germ, forcing the hero to continue searching in the next level.
- Levels: five regions, each containing dozens of challenges. The original had about 200 levels; the 3‑D version has almost twice as many thanks to additional variations and secrets.

What changed
Aspect | Original (2010) | 3‑D Version
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Playtime | 20–30 seconds per level | In practice can take several minutes, but overall retains fast pace
Difficulty | Hardcore, unforgiving mistakes | Similarly: traps, spikes, disappearing platforms – all increase with each level
Camera | 2‑D fixed | Behind the character; sometimes makes spatial orientation difficult
Secrets | Bandages and bonus levels | Also present, but their search is complicated by three‑dimensional perspective

What to expect from gameplay
- Constant movement: as in the original, the player cannot stop. You must keep jumping, looking under your feet, and avoiding traps.
- Challenging levels: when moving to more advanced regions platforms become smaller, saws multiply, and chasms deepen. Mistakes can now be fatal not only because of “bad” gameplay but also due to poor understanding of object placement.
- Repeat playthroughs: after learning a level the player can return for a higher rank based on speed. This motivates exploring every detail.

Technical requirements
Parameter | Minimum (for Xbox Series S) | Recommended
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Processor | Intel Core i5‑10100 3.6 GHz / AMD Ryzen 3 3100 3.6 GHz | Intel Core i5‑13400 2.5 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 7600 3.8 GHz
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB
Graphics card | DirectX 12, 4 GB memory (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / AMD Radeon RX 560) | Video card with 8 GB memory (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 / AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT)
Storage | 10 GB free space | —

Conclusion
*Super Meat Boy 3D* preserves everything that made the original a cult classic: fast and demanding gameplay, plenty of traps and secrets. However, moving to a 3‑D format brings its own challenges—especially with camera and spatial orientation. If you enjoy tests and are ready for additional “difficulty” from a three‑dimensional world, this game is definitely worth trying.