Super Meat Boy Forever is worth considering if you enjoy fast, demanding obstacle puzzles built around split-second timing. Its defining change is also its biggest risk: Meat Boy runs forward automatically, so you time jumps, slides and punches rather than steering him freely. Critics disagree on whether that restriction creates satisfying precision or makes the game feel unfair.
What kind of game is Super Meat Boy Forever?
Team Meat developed and published Super Meat Boy Forever. The premise follows Meat Boy and Bandage Girl as they try to rescue their kidnapped child, Nugget, from Dr. Fetus. The central change from the original is control: Meat Boy is always moving forward. Your job is to time jumps, dives or slides, and punches to get through hazards and boss fights.
Both the Steam listing and Nintendo’s US listing describe a game designed for repeat attempts. Steam says it contains more than 6,000 level chunks and that repeated completions generate new sequences; Nintendo also describes randomly generated levels and replay variation. Those are the publishers’ descriptions of the system, not a guarantee that every run is wholly unique.
Why do reviews disagree?
The main point of division is whether automatic forward movement turns levels into enjoyable timing puzzles or takes too much control away from the player. The two reviews below were published in January 2021, before Steam’s listed PC release date, and reflect different platform contexts rather than a single current cross-platform consensus.
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#1 Best Overall
GameSpot: precise controls make the challenge work
In a January 6, 2021 review, GameSpot’s Mike Epstein argues that the limited inputs still allow nuanced control. He describes obstacle combinations that become puzzles to solve on the fly, with precise jump timing and quick retries supporting repeated attempts. Epstein wrote: “Though the jumps may be challenging, Forever’s incredibly precise controls give you all the tools you need to stick the landing.” GameSpot says Epstein spent 10 hours playing and that the publisher provided PC review code. Read GameSpot’s review.
The Guardian: random layouts can feel unfair
Reviewing the Nintendo Switch version on January 13, 2021, Keza MacDonald takes the opposing view. She argues that randomized layouts and enemy placement can make the difficulty feel unfair and less carefully authored than the original’s layouts. That criticism matters most if you prefer to learn a fixed route, set your own pace, and build mastery around a consistent level. Read The Guardian’s review.
Rank #2
- Super Meat Boy physical copy for the Switch. Includes a full-color manual.
- Players will run, jump, punch and kick their way through familiar settings and totally new worlds.
- Levels are brutal, death is inevitable, and players will get that sweet feeling of accomplishment after beating a level.
Is Super Meat Boy Forever as hard as the original?
Both games are presented as challenging, but Forever shifts what makes that challenge difficult. Instead of freely controlling movement, you react to a continuously advancing character by choosing when to jump, slide or punch. GameSpot’s assessment emphasizes learning those timings and retrying until a sequence clicks; The Guardian’s criticism is that randomized arrangements can make some challenges feel less fair or authored. Whether that trade works for you depends less on a simple difficulty ranking than on whether you enjoy reacting under pressure or prefer deliberate control over a known route.
What do player reviews say?
In the Steam page snapshot accessed October 8, 2026, 58% of 1,900 all-time user reviews were positive. Among 24 recent reviews, 66% were positive. These are Steam user-review shares, not critic scores; the recent sample is small and can change quickly. Steam also displays a Metacritic score of 70, but its visible listing does not establish the platform or review count behind that figure, so it should not be treated as a universal cross-platform consensus. Check the live Steam listing for current user-review figures.
Rank #3
![Super Meat Boy Forever Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51rxcz1X3RS._SL160_.jpg)
- They don’t give Oscars to games, but they probably will after Super Meat Boy Forever becomes the best movie of 2020 and 2021! Our story takes Meat Boy and Bandage Girl through several worlds in search of their darling little Nugget with beautifully animated cutscenes and musical accompaniment that makes Citizen Kane look like a reaction video to an sled unboxing. Players will laugh, they will cry, and when all is said and done maybe they’ll emerge from the experience a little better than when they started. Ok so that last part probably won’t happen but marketing text is hard to write. A Nintendo Switch Online membership may be required for online play.
PC and Nintendo Switch editions
The available storefront information supports a PC version on Steam and a digital Nintendo Switch edition in Nintendo’s US store. It does not establish performance parity between platforms.
| Edition | What the official listing says |
|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Windows; single-player; achievements, Steam Cloud, Remote Play on TV and family sharing. Steam lists 6 GB of storage and a minimum Windows 7 game requirement. Separately, Steam says its client has supported Windows 10 and later since January 1, 2024, so the game’s legacy minimum should not be mistaken for current client compatibility. |
| Nintendo Switch (US listing) | Digital edition with TV, tabletop and handheld play modes. Nintendo says the game behaves consistently on Switch 2, while noting that experience may differ on Switch Lite. Accessories may be required separately, but the listing does not identify a game-specific required accessory. |
Nintendo rates the game for Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence and Language. Steam’s German age-rating display shows 6+ with strong language and fantasy violence. Age ratings vary by region, so consult the rating board for your location. Nintendo’s US listing is digital; the reviewed storefront information does not establish a physical Switch cartridge.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Physical Copy of Super Meat Boy Forever for PlayStation 4
- Super Meat Boy Forever Collector's Box Shadowbox
- Super Meat Boy Forever Original Soundtrack
- 160 Page Hardcover Art Book
- Enamel Pin, Squishy Toy
Rank #4
- Story mode, featuring over 300 levels spanning 5+ chapters and 33 legitimate Achievements
- Warp zones that will warp you into other games
- Over 16 unlockable able and playable characters from popular indie titles such as, Minecraft, Bit.Trip, VVVVVV and Machinarium
- Epic Boss Fights. Full Level Editor and Level Portal
- Exclusive: playable alien hominid, 40 page behind the scenes sketchbook/comic -Pull out mini poster -Digital Soundtrack -Tons of extras including wallpapers, character art, development photos, sound FX, game trailers, cube crafts and warp zone art
Who should play it?
- Try it if you like fast timing challenges, repeated attempts and reacting to obstacle combinations while a character keeps moving.
- Think twice if you want direct control over movement, a carefully learnable fixed layout, or the ability to slow down and plan at your own pace.
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.
