Skip to main content
Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Nintendo Direct
  • Summer Game Fest 2026
  • Xbox Games Showcase
  • Future Games Show
  • New Games 2026
  • Best gaming tech
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • SGF 2026 schedule
  1. Games
  2. Puzzle Games

Chains review

A puzzler that may result in loss of time

Reviews
By Rick McCormick published 23 July 2009

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Satisfyingly squishy physics

  • +

    Charming and innovative levels

  • +

    Varies the pacing well

Cons

  • -

    Somewhat copies World of Goo

  • -

    Fairly short

  • -

    May stump some

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Chains has the most satisfyingly squishy physics since... well, since that other indie physics-based sphere-em-up –Land of Gunk, was it? In common with 2DBoy’s hit, Ivan and Philip Traykov’s game makes a virtue of the underlying mechanics behind the puzzles.

The game’s multi-colored orbs can be linked with others of their type – connect more than three, and they’ll disappear. A simple concept, but the developers have toyed successfully with the formula, requiring us to alternate our play style to clear all 20 levels. Some call for sedate consideration, others are click-fests. All are charming and innovative. For the price, it’s easy to recommend.

Jul 23, 2009

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
Rick McCormick
Latest in Puzzle Games
Piko Park rainbow cats
Puzzle Games This game took over Steam and was accidentally given away for free, now devs say it will be removed
 
 
dimhaven
Puzzle Games Dimhaven - The Lost Source will test your puzzle solving skills on June 23
 
 
Cover art for Head Over Heels
Puzzle Games 81-year-old dev finally releases "abandoned" game after hearing there's "big demand for retro games"
 
 
FGS
Puzzle Games Have fun with science as portal-powered puzzler Paradoxical gets a new trailer and a new companion
 
 
Portal 2
Puzzle Games Portal 2 devs went through "nasty crunch" to get Valve's all-time classic out, partly because they kept "adding stuff"
 
 
The key art for the Blue Prince showing a doorway on a blue wall, which is open to reveal several more rooms within its frame, a person deep within opening another door several layers deep to a bright white light
Puzzle Games Blue Prince creator couldn't "physically" make another game as "ambitious" as his 2025 puzzle hit
 
 
Latest in Reviews
Unstoppable box on a plain background
Board Games Unstoppable review: "May just bring enough to the table to get me to put my controller down"
 
 
Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor and Colman Domingo in Disclosure Day
Sci-Fi Movies Disclosure Day review: "Spielberg's best blockbuster since Minority Report"
 
 
A close-up crop of Butch telling the player to get out of his face in in Gothic 1 Remake
RPGs Gothic 1 Remake review: "A beautiful remake of a true original, but too much jank made the cut too"
 
 
Among Us TV show trailer
Animated Shows Among Us season 1 review: "Flashes of creative brilliance, but not as addictive as the game it's based on"
 
 
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo gaming laptop in dual-screened mode playing Forza Horizon 6 with a guide underneath on a wooden desk
Laptops The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo has me giddy with excitement, I just wish it made sense
 
 
Skeletor in Masters of the Universe
Sci-Fi Movies Masters of the Universe review: "An enjoyable and self-consciously silly take on outdated source material"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Black cat glares menacingly
    1
    1666 Amsterdam dev apologizes for AI in prologue demo, says "full game will not include any assets generated by AI"
  2. 2
    Square Enix finally announced the one Final Fantasy game I've wanted for 8 years
  3. 3
    My favorite JRPG ever added a wildly out-of-place racing minigame and I'm so glad it exists: "Xenoblade Kart is real"
  4. 4
    With Steam Frame arriving this summer, Meta is running out of time to entice gamers - will Prime Day do anything to improve the $599 price of the Quest 3?
  5. 5
    Nomura, you've done it again: Kingdom Hearts 4's new trailer features a character from a now-delisted spin-off MMO, and we wouldn't have it any other way

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...