Jello [Review]
Jump, swing, slide, swim, and jiggle.
Jello. Credit: Froggy Frog Games
Froggy Frog Games' Jello is a delightful yet challenging 2D retro-styled, physics-based platformer that’s as polished as it is punishing. While some levels might make you want to pull your hair out, there's a quirky satisfaction in bouncing your slimy jello blob around, even when the game gets tough.
Spanning five dimensions and a few dozen levels, Jello is filled with cleverly designed gauntlets where you’ll dodge spikes, evade animals, and avoid pits that lead to instant death. Each level has a goal and sometimes a collectible to grab along the way. If luck’s on your side, you'll hit a checkpoint in the middle; otherwise, it's back to the start each time you meet your gooey demise. Each dimension introduces a fresh twist, like water, slippery ice, or temporary platforms, keeping the gameplay feeling fresh. I appreciated that Jello saves replays of players’ record-setting level runs; you can watch these to get gameplay hints.
Jello. Credit: Froggy Frog Games
Controlling the blob in Jello is an absolute treat. You pull back on a thumbstick to fling it in the opposite direction, leaving a trail of orange goo wherever it lands. The blob sticks to walls for a short time, letting you leap from there as well. Orange surfaces allow for some thrilling grappling and swinging action. As you progress, swimming is added to your slimy repertoire. The physics behind these movements feel consistently natural but take time to master, especially when your life depends on perfect timing.
Part of what makes Jello so enjoyable is its minimal yet thoughtful sound design. Every time your blob hits a surface, it makes a satisfyingly goopy smack, with just enough echo to give the setting a sense of depth. This tactile audio experience stands out from the moment you first interact with the game’s UI. Even clicking menu buttons has a strangely pleasing effect, thanks to that clever use of echo.
Jello. Credit: Froggy Frog Games
While Jello may not set new standards in pixel art, it makes excellent use of its low resolution. The tile-based art adds depth to the world, blending the landscape’s features seamlessly—like the way red spiky hazards integrate with the ground. Given the low resolution, the game’s physics system adds life to the game: goo particles fly as your blob soars through the air, and the slime left behind eventually drips and dries up. Hanging vines sway gently, and together with the sound design, these touches greatly enhance the game’s tactile feel.
Jello. Credit: Froggy Frog Games
The built-in level editor is another highlight of Jello. It offers robust, user-friendly tools for players to create and share their own levels. You can build anything you see in the game and even set advanced camera controls. I particularly appreciated how the editor automatically blends graphics on tiles, ensuring visual consistency when different elements are placed side by side. The editor’s optional tutorial is a fantastic guide that walks you through the process step by step.
When I played, there weren’t many user-created levels available, but there’s huge potential for a community to form around this game. Even if you stick to the base campaign, the levels are excellent and challenging. If you’re a fan of physics-based games, Jello is definitely worth your time. And if you’re the creative type, you can torture your friends with your own custom slime-filled death gauntlets.
Jello is available now for PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch.
Overall Score: 8/10
Played on: Steam Deck
