B&B Cocoon

Welcome to Brew and Breakdown. Let’s begin. 

Our game featured today is Cocoon. Wikipedia states, Cocoon is a 2023 puzzle game developed by Geometric Interactive and published by Annapurna Interactive. The player controls a beetle that can hop between worlds, solving puzzles to unravel the universe's mysteries. The game was released on September 29, 2023, for Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch.

The player wakes up in a barren wasteland, soon after discovering a mysterious orb. Each orb contains one of the game's worlds, allowing the player to hop between them, while also doubling as a unique ability in itself. The orb can also be used to power the various machinery found in these desolate worlds, such as lifts and platforms. As the player reaches the end of each orb, they are confronted by a boss fight they must complete by using a mechanic to impede the creature.

Cocoon has received generally favorable reviews.

IGN praised the design of the puzzles, writing, "seeing how each piece of the puzzle interacts with others and figuring out the layers between them is some of the most mesmerizing and engaging stuff I've seen in a while". Eurogamer enjoyed the art direction of Cocoon, feeling that it captured the alien nature of the setting, "you're exploring worlds that are both gloopy and organic, filled with heavily vesseled tumors and sacs and twitching mandibles". GamesRadar+ liked how the game placed the player into a "flowstate" with its puzzles, "Sure, you may need to get those neurons firing for one of two puzzles, but solving the majority is a more meditative experience".

Game Informer felt that some of the puzzles could be a bit drawn out, saying, "there are a few instances where I felt I was going through a motion to finish a puzzle as opposed to arriving at a moment of brilliant catharsis". Polygon loved the soundtrack, feeling it complemented the atmosphere perfectly, "A gorgeous synth soundtrack accompanies your journey, occasionally threaded with a dampened piano glissando that never fails to inspire dread". Rock Paper Shotgun praised the game for not being overly obtuse, writing that "solutions are often intuitive twists on a blueprint", rather than "brain-busting world swappery".

The Decision 

Cocoon is a stunning puzzle piece that borders on conceptualized insanity. A creation built with what made Inside designer Jeppe Carlsen's prior development shine, Cocoon is a mind-bending journey through the universe via puzzle psychedelia that asks you to go a bit deeper, with an exciting view on the cycles of life, work, and being part of a "greater whole." Cocoon is a must-have for fans of new puzzle adventures with deeper meaning. Xbox Intel says, “Puzzle On to Completion” with this first rate title. Brew and Breakdown gives this game 5 out of 5 Coffee Beans.  

Brew and Breakdown is coming to a close once again. We must depart. 

Thank you for tuning in to Xbox Intel. 

Intel next time.