The Library of Babel was provided by Neon Doctrine for review. Thank you!
Inspired by the short story of the same name by Jorge Luis Borges, The Library of Babel will welcome you to a brand new world set 20,000 years after humanity went extinct. The world is now run by advanced robots and AI, and while all is well and orderly, the discovery of an expansive library brings chaos with it. As Ludovik, you are sent in to investigate a murder case, but soon you will be forced into a mystery of intrigue and danger, all revolving around the lockdown of the all-knowing library.
The Library of Babel has a bit of a slow start to it, but the story really picks up once you start to investigate the murder. The 2D platforming gameplay consists primarily of stealth, backtracking, and climbing, and while you can follow the story and main missions, you will be able to talk to NPCs and pick up side quests. The stealth gameplay is a bit basic at times, but it gets the job done!
You will also be able to pick up and combine items, solve puzzles, and get to know more of this incredibly interesting world. Some of the actions you can utilize, like climbing, interacting, and talking to others, can be a bit on the slow side, but I felt it was a good pace overall for a stealth-focused platformer. The best part of all of this is how well it runs on the Steam Deck.
With no changes at all, The Library of Babel runs at a solid 60 FPS with around 5 hours of battery. It runs near flawlessly with almost no stuttering!
The game does support 1280x800 resolution, so it does take up the entire screen, and has full controller support. There is also cloud save support, so you will be able to continue the game on your desktop if desired.
The Library of Babel is a gorgeous and intriguing 2D stealth platformer that keeps you interested throughout the story. While some interactions and talking might be a bit on the slower side, it tells a fantastic story that kept me hooked and wanting to learn more. Overall, this is a great game for those looking for a great narrative-driven game, and luckily, it is a Best on Deck title as well, so playing on the Steam Deck will definitely be the best way to play!
Our review is based on the PC version of this game.
If you enjoyed this review, be sure to check out the rest of the content on SteamDeckHQ! We have a wide variety game reviews and news that are sure to help your gaming experience. Whether you're looking for news, tips and tutorials, game settings and reviews, or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, we've got your back!
The Library of Babel is a gorgeous and fantastic narrative-driven stealth game and luckily, it runs fantastic on the Steam Deck with no changes!
