Axel & Pixel

Less than $2 and a fun time.

❤ Audience ❤

☼ Graphics ☼

♬ Music ♬

☠ Difficulty ☠

§ Bugs §

☯ Story ☯

⚔ Gameplay ⚔

۞ Game time / Length ۞

$ Price / Quality $

it is my favourite game Ive ever played because my name is Axel too! Love to the developers!

It's frustrating that this game doesn't allow you to skip any mini games, especially the ones that require dexterity. I really want to complete the game, but it seems like the developer didn't consider disabled players.

i think this game has a wonderful artstyle and good music and sfx for the casual experience and out of the many P&C games i've played i think this one respects your time the most,
however there are some things that don't make it worth playing,
for one your FPS determines the game speed, so your experience with the game will depend on your framerate (100fps seem to be the sweet spot),
second, mini games can't be skipped so in between the P&C puzzles and these could be quite precise,
but the main reason im disliking is because i spend about 20 minutes trying to break a dam while following a guide and i think my version of the game is simply unbeatable,
generally i wouldn't recommend this since better cheaper games are out there but if you really like the amanita design-esque artsyle i'd say to give it a try

As far as these point-and-click adventure games go, Axel & Pixel doesn't do a whole lot to stand out from the pack. In fact, between its level-based structure, surreal visual style, and lack of dialogue, it practically reeks of Samorost. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because the visual style is still beautiful, and I'd say the game's biggest strength is its gorgeous and creative world design. There's lots of clever solutions to puzzles baked into the environment, and the way the two protagonists interact with them is always fun to see. However, that style does make it hard to distinguish objects from the environment, and this happens way too often. It also tries to mix its gameplay up on occasion, and while that leads to cool moments like connecting pipes, it hits a low with three tedious and frustrating vehicle levels (which become more bearable if you set your refresh rate to 60 Hz). Speaking of tedious, the animations can also last way too long for how often you'll probably be repeating them. With that being said, the core gameplay is still fun, the atmospheric music is pretty great, and the minigames make some of the vehicles a lot more enjoyable.

This game may not be polished in all the right places, but it is still charming as heck, and that's all I can really ask for from this genre.

> Be me 🎈
> Fired up Axel and Pixel 🎨
> Ready for an artistic voyage like no other 🚀
> Embark on the dreamy adventure with Axel, the painter, and Pixel, his trusty dog 🐶
> Hit with a kaleidoscope of hand-drawn wonders 🎨
> Feels like Picasso and Van Gogh had a psychedelic lovechild 👨‍🎨🌀
> Dive into solving mysteries across surreal landscapes 🌌
> Each chapter a journey through a Dali painting on acid 🖼️
> Encounter the balloon minigames 🎈
> What in the name of helium-infused madness? 😱
> Suddenly, I'm piloting a hot air balloon through the stratosphere 🎈🌬️
> Maneuvering it feels like trying to dance the tango with a flamingo whilst trying to avoid Donquixote Doflamingo🕺🦩
> Crash, burn, and wonder why the heck hot air balloons were involved in the first place 🤬
> Pixel just stares at me, probably thinking, "This dude can't even float in a dream" 🤨
> Despite the balloon-induced headache, press on for Axel's artistic aspirations 🎨💪
> Finally finish the game, feeling like I've soared through both ecstasy and exasperation 😅😵
> In conclusion, Axel and Pixel is like a masterpiece with a few unexpected plot twists 🌟
> Highly recommend for the artistry and ambiance, but beware of the balloon ride from hell. 🎈✨

Suidakra - Beneath The Red Eagle

**Beneath the Pixel**

Once this game was but a dream
Yet now I'm here and this is real
This moment will live on through all times
The pixels of Axel, oh how they shine

Today I'll join the quest with pride
The time has come to jump inside

Today, my friend, we must embark
Go forth beyond the realms of art

O, my friend, the levels you could scale
Yet only gamers may live forevermore
As for pixels, nothing of their code remains
Unless you earn yourself a high score

Beneath the Pixel you will jump
To solve the puzzles, to win or lose
Under the Pixel you will run
To reach the end and then run again

To reach the end and then run again
If word should come of my game over
Then do not cry and keep in mind
That I'll have found a good way to game

So jump, my friend, beneath the glowing Pixel
On the road from where there is no way back
Let your joystick forever be your guide
And inspire you to feats of gaming might
Yet you, my friend, unlike other players
Are blessed with a special skill
To navigate through pixelated time
And turn the hand of fate

Beneath the Pixel I will jump
To solve the mysteries, to win or lose
Under the Pixel I will run
To reach the end and then run again

To reach the end and then run again
If word should come of your game over
Then I won't cry and keep in mind
That you'll have found a good way to game

Doubt is lurking in my mind
For what I've seen in my weirdest dream
Eternal pixels, it can't be real
And though indeed I will earn fame...
History will erase my game

[INTRO: Honest Trailer Voiceover Guy]

VOICEOVER: From the makers of "Games That Will Make You Question Reality" and "Puzzles That Will Leave You Scratching Your Head," comes a journey through a world where art meets adventure. Get ready to guide a quirky painter and his trusty dog through a land of dreams and puzzles in...

[Title Card: Axel and Pixel]

VOICEOVER: Prepare to embark on a whimsical journey filled with colorful landscapes, mind-bending puzzles, and the constant feeling of, "Wait, what am I doing?"

---

[PITCH MEETING: Axel and Pixel]

Executive: So, tell me about this game you're pitching.

Developer: Well, it's called "Axel and Pixel." It's an adventure puzzle game set in a dream world created by a painter named Axel and his dog, Pixel.

Executive: Sounds interesting. What's the gameplay like?

Developer: Players guide Axel and Pixel through a series of hand-drawn landscapes, solving puzzles and interacting with quirky characters along the way.

Executive: Hand-drawn landscapes, huh? That sounds visually stunning.

Developer: Absolutely! We wanted to create a visually unique experience that feels like you're playing inside a painting.

Executive: Sounds like it has a lot of charm. What's the story?

Developer: The story follows Axel and Pixel as they try to escape the dream world they're trapped in by solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles.

Executive: Interesting. And what's the target audience?

Developer: We're aiming for players who enjoy puzzle-solving and exploration games, as well as those who appreciate artistic and visually stunning environments.

---

[INTRO: Honest Trailer Voiceover Guy]

VOICEOVER: Experience a game that's part puzzle-solving masterpiece, part head-scratching nightmare. Get ready to journey through a world where the only thing more confusing than the puzzles is the plot. It's time for...

[Title Card: Axel and Pixel]

VOICEOVER: Buckle up, because this game is about to take you on a wild ride through the world of dreams and frustration.

---

[INTRO: Honest Trailer Voiceover Guy]

VOICEOVER: From the developers who brought you "Aesthetically Pleasing Yet Utterly Confusing Games" comes a puzzle adventure that'll have you scratching your head and questioning your sanity. Get ready for...

[Title Card: Axel and Pixel]

VOICEOVER: Strap in, folks, because this game is about to take you on a trip through a dream world that's equal parts whimsical and "What the heck is happening?"

---

[INTRO: Honest Trailer Voiceover Guy]

VOICEOVER: In a world where hand-drawn landscapes meet mind-bending puzzles, one game dares to ask the question: "Why am I doing this again?" Get ready for...

[Title Card: Axel and Pixel]

VOICEOVER: Brace yourselves, because this game is about to make you feel like you're trapped in a surreal painting with no way out.

---

[INTRO: Honest Trailer Voiceover Guy]

VOICEOVER: From the developers who brought you "Puzzles That Will Leave You Wondering If You're Actually Smart or Just Confused," comes a journey through a world where art and adventure collide. Get ready for...

[Title Card: Axel and Pixel]

VOICEOVER: Hold onto your hats, folks, because this game is about to take you on a rollercoaster ride through a world of whimsy and frustration.

Ingredients for Axel and Pixel Adventure:

🎨 1 cup of colorful hand-drawn landscapes, finely crafted with artistic flair
🧩 2 tablespoons of mind-bending puzzles, twisted just enough to make you scratch your head
🌟 A pinch of whimsy, to add that extra touch of charm
🐾 3 cups of quirky characters, diced into lovable bite-sized pieces
❄️ 4 seasons of exploration, each one more enchanting than the last
🐶 A dollop of doggy companionship, for that loyal and furry flavor
🕵️‍♂️ A sprinkle of mystery, to keep you guessing until the very end
😂 A dash of humor, to add some laughter to the mix

Instructions:

1. Preheat your imagination to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the colorful hand-drawn landscapes with the mind-bending puzzles.
3. Stir in the pinch of whimsy until the mixture becomes delightfully charming.
4. Fold in the diced quirky characters and season with exploration.
5. Add the dollop of doggy companionship and sprinkle in the mystery.
6. Mix everything together with a dash of humor until well-combined.
7. Pour the mixture into your gaming console and bake for approximately 12 hours, or until thoroughly entertained.
8. Serve with a side of laughter and enjoy your Axel and Pixel Adventure!

Note: For best results, pair with a cup of hot cocoa and a cozy blanket for the ultimate gaming experience. Bon appétit! 🎮🌈

Had to refund. Interface is more than counter intuitive. It goes out of its way to be that way.. Full screen not supported on 4K monitors.

I found this game many years ago perusing the xbox arcade, and the atmosphere and world of Axel and Pixel filled me with childlike wonder.
On a whim I remembered it again and went to see if I could find it here, and sure enough, I bagged it on sale.
Unfortunately, because of how advanced my system is for the game, I got stuck at a part that won't work properly and am unable to progress.
It's a shame because I really wanted to give it a fair chance, the character designs are charming and the music and art direction is very pleasant and relaxing. I always felt Axel and Pixel had the potential for an interesting point and click adventure series, alas, the studio behind this game are no longer around.
Farewell, Silver Wish games.

AT A GLANCE

• Game Name: Axel & Pixel
  
• Original Release: 2010-10-06
  
• Genre Tags: Adventure, Point & Click
  
• Estimated Playtime (Campaign): 4-6 hours
  
• 100% Achievements Playtime: 6-8 hours
  
• DLC Required for 100% Achievements: N/A
  
• Multiplayer Aspect: None
  
• Replayability: Some
  
[*] Recommended To: Achievement Hunters, Puzzle Story Lovers

REVIEW

STORY

GAMEPLAY

PLAYTIME

COMPLAINTS

REPLAYABILITY

RECOMMENDATION

Talk about not understanding your target audience. This game could have been an enjoyable casual affair in the same vein as the Amanita titles from which it clearly draws inspiration. But to include non-skippable mini-games which are rather sadistically designed is quite a head scratcher. Very disappointing!

Link to review: https://backloggd.com/u/RedBackLoggd/review/315586/

Tl;dr - So overall, Axel & Pixel was a nice diversion from the usual onslaught of AAA and indie madness. Here you get a smaller-scale title with a lot of love put into it, featuring some of the funniest environmental humor I have ever experienced. Solid PnC gameplay, easygoing puzzles, and an appropriately-priced runtime add up to a recommendation in my book. Just keep in mind the strange graphical mash-up, some annoying sound choices, and the lack of a real challenge.

Charming art. Rather similar to Amanita Design games. Sadly, I find the gameplay tedious. Most puzzles are all about finding the next thing to click, which isn't always easy given the lack of hotspots. Trial and error is needed, and error is rewarded with repeating a lengthy animation. Additionally, there's not enough of a story to keep me going. It's not too difficult and it's not a bad game, but there are many more interesting adventure games to play.

A good game spoilt by mandatory mini-games!

It's a really bizarre and quirky point & click adventure with an equally peculiar aesthetic to match; as if the developers kinda cut and pasted their simple graphics onto photos of a weird Tolkein landscape from some obscure magazine. Strange. Maybe best played while under the influence of something just a little stronger than alcohol.

samorost , but more hectic - still playing 6/10 so far - ok gave up, some is barely playable. 3/10

This is perhaps the best and the most relaxing 7 hours I ever spent. Just dim your lights, and start the game and land straight onto the tropical paradise or something. But throughout the time, I felt as if I am laying on an oceanfront beach while getting my back massaged, with this entire package of tranquility in less than 0.01 % of what it will actually cost you when you travel.

As for the game, its mostly controlled by the mouse, and just hover your glittering cursor across the screen and even a one-day old baby will figure out the clue of how and where to proceed. But , still developers decided to give a hint bulb if there is someone who get stuck. Seriously ??? Once you finish the game, you will immediately feel to hug your pet dog. It strongly emphasizes on the relation between the guy, axel and his puppy, pixel, being tormented by a hedghehog like figure. The game is split in 3 seasons of duo journey, summer , autumn and winter, and they both worked together to paint their entire journey on a canvas. Also, soundtrack. Does anyone have a loincloth so that I can wipe my tears off ? You feel like you want to collect the items to have the perfect score and ending, which was totally worth it.

I don't think there is any need of further explanation to give a feel of cuteness to the reader. Also, if you are still reading this session of review, you are the super-duper incredibly incredible and the most awesome person. Can I please give you a suffocating tight hug? Please.....No....OK :(

Just a hug then :c

A classic indie game with original ideas and aesthetics. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and the puzzles are medium/easy in difficulty, making it generally smooth to progress. It has a good story and in overall I found this to be very enjoyable to play! Absolutely one of my favourite indie games. I have re-played it several times over the years. With that said, if you don't like odd, artsy and whimsical indie games, then this might not be for you.

(SPOILER-FREE REVIEW)


I'm going to keep this brief. Axel & Pixel changed my life.

Firstly, the game is an absolute pleasure to look at. The contrast between the lovingly handcrafted backdrops and the minimalist aesthetic of our two heroes will keep your eyes glued to the screen for hours on end. And once the game has seduced you with the sheer majesty of its design, there is still so much more to love about Axel & Pixel.

This narratively driven wonder compels the player to progress through its thrilling action, shocking twists, and heartwarming man on dog bonding. For example, who could forget the pickle that Pixel found himself in when Axel was frozen inside of an ice cube? Or the thrill of chasing Evil Rat through a cave in a hot air balloon? These moments, along with countless others, are examples of the tremendous care that surely was taken in crafting this game's exciting, vibrant plot.

In addition to the beauty of Axel & Pixel's majesty and the depth of its story, the game is simply unmatched as a pure video gaming experience. Not only are you in for thought provoking puzzles and high octane point-and-click action, the game also takes risks by introducing side scrolling chase sequences and quick-time button prompts (a la Uncharted) to keep you on your toes.

The only minor gripe I had with Axel & Pixel is the difficulty. The game allots you 3 hints in each level, which is simply far too few. I think infinity hints would be more appropriate.

To recapitulate, Axel & Pixel is truly a marvel. The game surpassed all of my expectations regarding its design, story, and gameplay. I can't wait for the DLC.

Pros: this game started out being everything I'd hoped for. Quite like Machinarium with lovely graphics and cute characters.
Cons: Unfortunately I couldn't continue playing past the Hot Air Balloon - Chapter Six. You need pretty nimble fingers as there is no option to skip the scene nor slow the character down. A real shame. If only the developer would adjust that one scene or someone could advise how to slow it down, I could continue. Forums offer no help.

The only reason this game would possibly disappoint fans of the point-and-click genre is in its difficulty, of which there really isn't any. It's a very easy game. However, it's possibly one of the most charming, heartwarming adventures I've ever had with a point-and-clicker, and that is where Axel & Pixel shines. It's a fantastic little adventure complemented by a beautiful art style, an excellent soundtrack, and oodles of style, grace, and humour that is sure to leave a smile on your face.

Oh, and the balloon mini-game could easily be its own game and sell millions. It's just that much fun.

Mixes two opposing genres, creates empasse.

I like to sit down and relax to a nice puzzle/story/move-at-my-own-pace dealie and this gave me that--

--cue disruptive needle-scratching-across-record-sound--

--until I have to beat the nerve-wracking, twitch-skill, keep-repeating-the-same-arcade-sequence-until-you-get-it-games-I-avoid-because-I-don't-find-them-fun-at-all.

And that is that.

An option to skip the "minigame" would have made this a non-issue. Adventure games that do this typically have a mechanism to skip the parts that could cause a game-breaking empasse.

An adventure game that at one point was released on the Xbox Live Arcade and that is something you can notice on the controls. At times the mouse/keyboard controls feel quite awkward. Its a mediocre game and overall the puzzles are easy and not very interesting. They try to change up the pace by making levels a bit different, but most of it just feels like the same thing over and over. It has a few minigames for driving different vehicles, but that's sadly worse then the rest of the game and does not make it the break of pace that it needs to be.

Other then the usual progress achievements the game has some collectable items that you need to get along with two achievements tied to completing the game with a high enough score (should not be an issue) and for not using many hints (game can be easily beaten without using any). Personally I find the achievements for the three separate minigames to be the most annoying in the game. The poor controls make it annoying to do, and a small mistake can cost you the entire attempt.

Time to 100%: 4 hours

A classy, short, and enjoyable game that definatly is worth playing. The characters are unique and the story, while told with no words at all, revivals some of the better puzzle games out there. What would of stopped me from buying this game though would of been the arcade elements that were thrown in. It's like having peanut butter stuck in jelly, and ultimately only kinda works but as long as you dont play to much of it.