A Boy and His Blob is a warm, hand-drawn puzzle-platformer built around one strong idea: feed your blob companion a flavored jellybean, then use its new form to solve the obstacle ahead. Its inventive transformations and welcoming presentation are the main draw; the trade-off is that selecting abilities or recalling the blob can interrupt the flow, and fast action may expose control frustrations. The Wii remake and the later digital Switch edition have distinct review histories, so the experience depends partly on which release you play.
How the blob’s transformations shape the game
The boy does not solve every obstacle with a jump. He feeds his companion jellybeans, and each flavor changes the blob into a tool: forms include a ladder, trampoline, parachute, and rocket. You read the terrain, choose a bean, feed it to the blob, and use the resulting form to cross a gap, reach a ledge, or interact with the environment.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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A Boy and His Blob (Renewed) | $14.54 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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A Boy And His Blob (Limited Run #149) - For Nintendo Switch | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia (Renewed) | $25.13 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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A Boy and His Blob | $31.22 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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A Boy and His Blob (Limited Run #461) - For PlayStation 4 | $39.98 | Buy on Amazon |
That mix is central to the game’s identity. In Nintendo UK’s interview, WayForward designer and director Sean Velasco described it as a “platform-puzzle game” combining traditional platforming with puzzles that make the player think. The official Wii page presents the remake as a reworking of the NES adventure, while Nintendo’s Switch listing calls it a reimagining of David Crane’s NES classic.
What is included in the Wii and Switch versions?
Nintendo’s US Switch listing describes 15 useful transformations, 40 main levels, and 40 additional challenge levels unlocked by treasure chests. Nintendo UK’s historical Wii page lists 40 levels, 15 new jellybeans, and unlockable bonus content. These are product-page descriptions; they do not establish that every edition or regional storefront currently offers the same format or availability.
#1 Best Overall
- 40 additional challenge levels will put your skills to the ultimate challenge.
- Experience the heartwarming story through an all-new, hand-drawn and animated presentation designed exclusively for Wii.
- Teamwork is key: the boy has limited movement and strength, so you must use your blob friend to transform into useful objects to get to things or places the boy cannot access alone.
- Transform the blob into 15 useful items by feeding him jelly beans such as the all-new Caramel Cannon and Bubble Gum Bouncer and classic beans like the Licorice Ladder, Apple Jack and Tangerine Trampoline.
- Travel through the Blobolonian Outskirts to the Emperor's Citadel in four breathtaking worlds featuring 40 levels filled with hidden treasures.
The Switch listing is specifically marked “Digital,” gives November 4, 2021 as its release date, names Ziggurat as publisher, and lists single-system play with TV, tabletop, and handheld modes. It also says Switch 2 behavior is supported and consistent with Nintendo Switch. The cited Nintendo pages document the Wii remake and the digital Switch edition—not a currently available Switch cartridge. Check your local storefront for present availability.
What reviewers praise—and where they disagree
Visuals, animation, and atmosphere
Hand-drawn presentation is a recurring strength in the reviews. GameSpot’s Tom Mc Shea praised the backgrounds and the relationship between the boy and blob in his 2009 Wii review. Nintendo Life’s Wii review highlighted watercolor-like visuals, and its 2021 Switch review said the art and animation held up on the later release. These are reviewers’ assessments, not a claim that the two editions are visually identical in every technical detail.
Rank #2
- Experience a heartwarming story told through beautiful hand-drawn and animated illustrations!
- Feed the blob jelly beans to activate 15 useful transformations like the Tangerine Trampoline, Licorice Ladder, and Root Beer Rocket.
- Traverse woods, swamps, caves, the Blobolonian Outskirts, and even the Emperor's Citadel through 40 breathtaking levels filled with hidden treasures!
- Collect treasure chests to unlock 40 additional challenge levels that will put your skills to the ultimate test!
Puzzles, difficulty, and optional challenges
GameSpot found the puzzle curve and boss design rewarding, while Nintendo Life’s Wii review described a smooth increase in difficulty after an initial learning period. The Switch review notes that the game introduces more forms as you progress and often gives a visible clue near an obstacle about which bean may help. That guidance makes the central puzzle loop approachable, though the bonus challenge stages offer additional tests for players who want them.
GameSpot reviewer Tom Mc Shea estimated that the 40 regular stages could take 10 hours or longer to play through; that is his 2009 estimate, not an official completion-time guarantee. He also described three hidden chests per stage, which connect exploration to unlocking the extra levels.
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Rank #3
- Cartridge only.
Controls and pace
The most notable criticism is that choosing the right form can slow play. Nintendo Life’s Switch review says the ability wheel works but becomes inconvenient when frequent selections are needed, and that the blob can take multiple calls to return. That friction matters most when a puzzle requires repeated changes rather than one considered transformation.
Fast action drew a different control complaint in GameSpot’s Wii review: Mc Shea found the controls sluggish during rapid boss encounters, even though he regarded ordinary puzzle sections as manageable. Nintendo Life’s Wii review was more positive, describing controls as responsive once players acclimated. These judgments concern different releases and review contexts, not a single universal verdict on every control situation.
Rank #4
- 40 additional challenge levels will put your skills to the ultimate challenge.
- Experience the heartwarming story through an all-new, hand-drawn and animated presentation designed exclusively for Wii.
- Teamwork is key: the boy has limited movement and strength, so you must use your blob friend to transform into useful objects to get to things or places the boy cannot access alone.
- Transform the blob into 15 useful items by feeding him jelly beans such as the all-new Caramel Cannon and Bubble Gum Bouncer and classic beans like the Licorice Ladder, Apple Jack and Tangerine Trampoline.
- Travel through the Blobolonian Outskirts to the Emperor's Citadel in four breathtaking worlds featuring 40 levels filled with hidden treasures.
How the reviews compare
| Review | Edition and date | Score | Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GameSpot, Tom Mc Shea | Wii, October 20, 2009 | 8/10 | Praised the relationship, art, puzzle curve, bosses, and unlockable levels; criticized sluggish response in fast action. |
| Nintendo Life | Wii, 2009 | 9/10 | Praised the visuals, responsive controls after acclimation, and gradually increasing difficulty. |
| Nintendo Life, Ollie Reynolds | Switch, November 14, 2021 | 8/10 | Praised the art and animation, but found ability selection and recalling the blob inconvenient. The review discloses that Ziggurat provided a review copy. |
The scores are individual publication judgments, not an averaged consensus. The difference in control comments is useful context: one review focuses on Wii boss sequences, another on the Switch ability wheel and blob recall, while the Wii Nintendo Life review emphasizes general responsiveness after players learn the controls.
Who is likely to enjoy A Boy and His Blob?
- Try it if you enjoy thoughtful environmental puzzles, charming hand-drawn presentation, and using a small set of tools in inventive ways.
- Be cautious if you want consistently fast, precise action or dislike pausing to choose abilities; those are the situations reviewers identify as potential friction points.
- Look at the challenge content if you finish the main stages and want extra goals. On the Switch product listing, 40 additional challenge levels are tied to treasure chests.
Which release should you look for?
The documented Wii version is the remake, and the documented Switch product is a digital release dated November 4, 2021 on Nintendo’s US listing. Choose based on the platform and format you can access, rather than assuming the original NES game, Wii remake, and Switch edition are interchangeable. Store availability can vary by region and over time, so check the relevant local listing before buying.
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