Hardware FixRecommendedDevice not working? Your driver may be the problemCheck updates for common hardware issues.Fix DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run Scan×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

Shady Part of Me Review: A Beautiful, Brief Puzzle-Platformer

Shady Part of Me pairs a girl in 3D with her shadow in 2D for atmospheric light-and-shadow puzzles. It stands out visually, though one review found it short and not especially difficult.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Shady Part of Me is a dreamlike puzzle-platformer built around a striking idea: guide a girl through a 3D world while her shadow moves through a connected 2D one. Light, objects and mechanisms make their paths depend on each other. Its watercolor-inspired presentation is a clear draw; its puzzles are generally approachable, and one reviewer’s playthrough took about five hours. It is best suited to players who value atmosphere and inventive mechanics over a long or especially demanding campaign.

What is Shady Part of Me?

Developed by Douze Dixièmes and published by Focus Entertainment, Shady Part of Me was released on Steam on December 10, 2020. It follows a girl and her shadow through surreal environments, asking them to cooperate despite moving through different kinds of space. The official Steam listing describes watercolor-style surroundings, 2D and 3D play, and the ability to rewind time. Hannah Murray is credited as the featured voice performer.

The premise gives the game its identity: rather than treating the shadow as decoration, puzzles make it a second character with its own route and capabilities. You switch between the two perspectives and change the environment so each can help the other advance.

How do the puzzles work?

The girl moves through a 3D environment and avoids light, while her shadow travels across a 2D plane, using illuminated areas and being able to jump. Objects, switches and light sources connect those spaces. An action in one can reshape the route or conditions in the other: for example, you may reposition an object to create a traversable shadow path, or arrange a light source so the shadow can reach a switch.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
PS4 THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY: THE DEVIL IN ME
  • Welcome to the Murder Hotel! Nothing is as it seems here, and the amenities are to die for! Explore every nook of the World’s Fair Hotel using the all-new season finale features including character inventory, tool-based puzzles, and expanded movement actions such as run, jump and climb.
  • Your death is his design: Escape the torturous creations of an evil monster who is hellbent on becoming America’s deadliest serial killer & survive elaborate ‘killing rooms’ where your own death is by the killer’s design.
  • Don’t Play Alone! Endure terrifying tests of loyalty – will you risk your own life for someone you care for? The two critically acclaimed multiplayer modes are back: share your story online with a friend or aim for safety in numbers through the offline 5-player pass-the-pad mode.
  • Can you outsmart the killer and checkout all your cast? All playable characters can live or die in your version of the story.
  • PLEASE ENJOY YOUR STAY

The core loop is to inspect both routes, experiment with the objects and lighting, then switch characters as needed. The official store description says you can move between 2D and 3D at will and rewind time, so a failed attempt need not mean restarting a whole sequence. Rewind supports experimentation, though it does not make every solution immediately obvious.

What is the review verdict?

Meristation’s review, updated February 13, 2021, awarded the game 7.6/10. It praised the original presentation, art direction, Spanish localization and soundtrack, and found the puzzles satisfying. Its reservations were that the challenges could be more demanding and the game longer. The score is one outlet’s dated assessment, not a universal consensus.

That balance is useful when deciding whether the game suits you. The two-plane mechanic gives the puzzles a distinctive structure, but the available review describes most of them as not especially difficult. If you want a tough, extended puzzle campaign, this may feel slight; if you want a carefully staged, introspective adventure with a visual identity of its own, its strengths are more likely to land.

How long is Shady Part of Me?

Meristation’s reviewer estimated around five hours for a playthrough. That is one reviewer’s experience, not a guaranteed completion time or a measured average. Optional origami-bird collectibles offer extra things to look for, so players who explore for them may spend longer.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Sale
Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King - PlayStation 4
  • Two of the most beloved Disney games of all time make their long-awaited return to modern consoles in Disney Classic Games: Aladdinand The Lion King!
  • Thisunforgettable package of Disney classicsisfilled with tons of new features, enhancements, game modes, and display options, plus multiple versions of the games!
  • Join Aladdinand his sidekick, Abu, as they race through the marketplace toward their date with destiny.
  • The Lion Kingbrings to life the majesty and mystery of Africa through the tale of Simba, a lion cub faced with the challenging transition to maturity. Now, you too can be part of the adventure!

What does it look and sound like?

The watercolor-inspired environments and dreamlike imagery are central to the experience, not just a backdrop for the puzzles. Meristation singled out the art direction and soundtrack, and also praised the Spanish localization. The Steam page features short review excerpts from other outlets, including PC Invasion calling it “One of the best puzzle-platformers I’ve seen this year,” Screen Rant describing “A delightful aesthetic,” and Jeuxvideo.com praising “An astounding journey accentuated by an elegant soundtrack.” These are individual outlet excerpts, not evidence of a shared critical verdict.

Which platforms is it on?

The cited listings and review document editions for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Steam provides the PC listing, Nintendo has an official US Switch page, and Limited Run Games documents a physical Switch cartridge described as region-free. Availability, language support and stock can vary by region and change over time, so check the relevant storefront or retailer before buying.

Rank #4
Rims Racing (PS4) - PlayStation 4
  • A dream garage: you can ride the world's 8 most powerful European and Japanese motorcycle providing a highly accurate and realistic riding experience
  • Optimize your motorbike: with a mechanics management system never before seen in a motorbike simulation, you can dismantle all your motorbike's parts to maintain them after each race or upgrade them and boost your performance
  • Analyze your performance: just like for a real rider, your motorbike's configuration can be adapted to your riding style and how you race will affect the gradual wear of each component and the effects on performance that follows
  • Accurate and realistic physics: the level of accuracy and details provided by the mechanics management is matched by realistic motorbike physics that will thrill the most demanding of track racers
  • Manage your career and team: build your rider by managing their race calendar, choose which R&D areas to invest in and upgrade the team's skills, taking advantage of other manufacturers and partnership opportunities that become available as you progress
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Is Shady Part of Me worth playing?

Consider it if you want a compact puzzle-platformer whose central appeal is the partnership between a 3D character and her 2D shadow, supported by atmospheric art and music. The main trade-off is that the review evidence points to modest puzzle difficulty and a relatively short run. The game is less compelling as a choice for players seeking a lengthy, punishing puzzle gauntlet.

Steam’s listing showed English-language reviews as “Very Positive,” with 91% positive from 673 English reviews on October 8, 2026. That is a changing user-review snapshot, not a fixed critic score. Meristation’s separate 7.6/10 assessment is dated and should be read as that reviewer’s judgment.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Spiderman) Sony Playstation 4 PS4 Game
  • Play as Peter Parker: Play as Spider-Mans citizen alter-ego persona as you investigate the motivations of multifaceted villains.
  • All-Star Villain Cast: Wide cast of Spider-Man universe and movie villains, each with their own unique boss battle encounters.
  • All New Web Arsenal: New web-swing mechanic includes expanded web-shooter capabilities and chemical properties that allow you to freeze and blow up items on impact.
  • Expansive NYC: Explore and take on villains in a more expansive Manhattan cityscape than the previous Amazing Spider-Man.
  • New Heroism System: Hero or Menace system rewards you for acting as Spider-Man by stopping crime and saving citizens, but face the consequences if you dont keep down crime rates.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Turn On Vibrant Visuals in MinecraftMinecraftBlog3min
  2. Best Multiplayer Games for Low-End PCsBlog4min
  3. Minecraft: How To Use And Install OptiFineBlog5min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.