Baseless | PC Review

Our friends at First Break Labs gave me a quick demo of Baseless a couple of months ago. A fun platformer with unique physics and an intriguing control system where you use the spin gun (an acronym, though the details aren’t important here) to shoot opposite the direction you want to travel. The demo was enjoyable, giving just a hint of the challenges and fun that lay ahead.

Then I was given the opportunity to play the full game. Baseless is the hardest game I’ve ever played. Granted, I’ve never touched a Souls-like. Still, this game demands your attention in at least two places at once while also monitoring your ammo and avoiding hazards that cause damage. The story kept me engaged as I wanted to help the main character, Caf, rescue his friends and “Let the Flow Carry Us Forward.” As the journey unfolded, all was not what it seemed, and the meaning behind Baseless struck a massive chord with my skeptical point of view on its subject matter.

Carried by the Flow

At the heart of Baseless are Caf and his steadfast navigator, Rook. Both are instantly likable, their sincerity and bravery shining through from the start. Caf’s doubts feel familiar and human, making it easy to connect with him, while his victories feel earned and shared with those around him. Each rescued friend brings charm and even a side quest, though they largely fade into the background until the story’s finale.

The mantra “Let the Flow Carry Us Forward” becomes central to the journey, echoing through the world’s belief system and shaping the group’s purpose. It begins as a hopeful promise but grows more complex as truths unravel. The story balances sincerity with skepticism, making Caf’s journey not only about saving his friends, but also about questioning what they are being asked to believe.

Mastering Physics and Survival

Baseless is unapologetically difficult. Its physics swing between moments of weightless, space-like traversal and gravity-heavy sections anchored by large orbs scattered throughout the levels. Running around these orbs is reminiscent of Super Mario Galaxy, with gravity pulling you in unexpected directions. The spin gun doubles as weapon and propulsion, and while intentionally awkward to master, it is essential for navigating this strange world.

The bubble becomes the most critical tool. It acts as both shield and stabilizer, offering control in otherwise chaotic situations. Boss fights push everything to the limit, bombarding you with relentless attack patterns that require sharp focus and quick reactions. Each world allows only three lives. Lose them, and you must replay the entire sequence of zones before attempting the boss again. Victories feel weighty as a result, but repeated losses can grind away patience.

For those who live for high-stakes challenge, this structure is exhilarating. For others, the built-in helper menu provides a lifeline. Options like unlimited ammo, invincibility, or infinite bubble charges can make progress more accessible, though even these cannot fully tame some of the hardest encounters. Controls occasionally betray you, particularly when the bubble refuses to trigger, and visual clutter such as poison clouds can obscure the action. At its best, success comes from persistence, and Baseless rewards those willing to fight through its demanding systems.

Design That Challenges and Immerses

The visual design of Baseless mirrors its gameplay philosophy: dense, chaotic, and intentionally overwhelming. Levels are crafted to test your control and awareness, but their cluttered presentation can sometimes make clarity a casualty. Hazards and visual effects are often layered on top of one another, creating moments where survival depends more on determination than precision.

Sound design does its part to hold the atmosphere together. Combat audio is sharp and functional, giving every shot and impact a clean sense of feedback without stealing focus. More importantly, the ambient effects lean into a spacy, otherworldly tone. Even though the game doesn’t take place in space, the audio makes traversal feel like moving through a strange void, adding energy and fun to the otherwise punishing experience.

Final Verdict: Baseless

I wanted to beat Baseless and see the story through to the finish so badly that I leaned on the assist modes. That choice alone speaks volumes about the way First Lab Games built Caf as such a brave and sincere protagonist. The story unfolds strategically, pulling a fast one near the end that flips the narrative on its head and gave me a fresh appreciation for the journey as a whole.

Yes, the difficulty was frustrating, but I can forgive it because I know there are players who crave this exact type of challenge. For those players, Baseless should jump straight to the top of their list. For the rest of us, the assist options provide a welcome way to experience the game’s unique physics and heartfelt story without being locked out by its punishing difficulty. Either way, Baseless is an experience worth exploring, even if you need a little help carrying the flow forward.

To hear me talk more about Baseless, be sure to listen to the September 16, 2025 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast.

This review is based on a PC copy of Baseless provided by Clever Communications for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.