When comparing Shelter vs Braid, the Slant community recommends Braid for most people. In the question“What are the best indie games on Steam?” Braid is ranked 21st while Shelter is ranked 79th. The most important reason people chose Braid is:
On the outset, Braid looks like any other platformer but once any time is spent with the game, users soon find that the puzzles are deviously difficult, forcing users to think outside of the box and even time itself.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Sense of loss and failure
By tugging at the players heartstrings when a child is lost due to elements in the game, the player ultimately feels a sense of loss and failure.
Pro Interesting use of design to communicate danger
A shadow of a looming bird or the sound and look of rushing water signals looming danger for the mother badger and her young offspring.
Pro Suspenseful
Knowing your children may be taken at any time gives you a sense of danger/suspense not typically found in non-military games.
Pro Absolutely fantastic and original art style
Hands down one of the most original and interesting graphic art styles used in a modern game.
Pro Wonderfully challenging
On the outset, Braid looks like any other platformer but once any time is spent with the game, users soon find that the puzzles are deviously difficult, forcing users to think outside of the box and even time itself.
Pro Clever game mechanics
Braid utilizes a rewind mechanic wherein the player can rewind the action in the game at any time. This is coupled with puzzle layouts to each lever where the player has to use the rewind mechanics to reach certain spots in a level.
Pro Most brilliant puzzle mechanic and unique art style
Nearly the father of indies and an amazing experience that never gets old. A very unique experience.
Pro Unisual mechanics for genre
Time control is not much used in games of that type. Espesially when its used like core mechanic of the game.
Pro An ambiguous, yet impactful retelling of a man's downfall and a warning to others
Braid is a story about loss and obsessiveness and how those forces drive the hunt for redemption.
Cons
Con Food is too plentiful
As long as the player takes advantage of every piece of food they run across there will be no feeling of impending urgency to feed the cubs.
Con Short
The full game is only about 90 minutes long.
Con Story is depressing
There is a definite sense of melancholy while playing this game which can make for a depressing experience while playing the game, which may reduce the amount of time played.