For $20, The Ball is a perfect way to kill time until Portal 2.

A bold mod-turned-full-game with inventive ideas and dubious pacing.

A joyous addictive action puzzler. [Holiday 2010, p.76]

Visually I was left with the impression of an old engine updated with a few modern tricks in an attempt to bring it back to life.

An incredibly well-made puzzler. [Jan 2010, p.67]

Smart design... Lacks visual innovation. [Jan 2011, p.110]

The Ball is a great 3D-puzzle game with nice looking worlds and a very simple gameplay.

The Ball focuses on the symbiosis between the player and the metal ball he controls, offering an original interpretation of the classic FPS approach. The game features eight single player levels in which you have to activate switches, destroy walls and fight against many evil creatures, always dragging that huge ball with you. it's not particularly fun, but for twenty bucks you could give it a try.

The Ball is good effort with some interesting ideas. Unfortunately, the good things are undermined by some questionable combat mechanics, a bothersome, half-obstructed first person point of view and a half-baked story concept.

Despite its flaws, this is one of the year's true surprises, and an absolute bargain at the price.

The Ball delivers an entertaining mix of puzzles and action, with a lot of variation despite the simple core concept. However, it is a bit of a slow starter, and saves the best stuff for last.

With a more involving narrative presentation and less wonky combat elements, this could have been truly great.

The Ball won't lure many people away from the triple-A hits of the year, but if you're in the market for a spot of first-person puzzling, it's well worth the entry fee.

Stylish environments and smart puzzles create great working space for all virtual archaeologists with domesticated ball. Weak story and redundant duels prevent The Ball from becoming a new Portal. [Issue#199]

The Ball feels a little like Portal: a simple concept for a short title. But sadly, a too easy one. One passes through the game without really wondering about anything... but it's still a nice journey that Teotl offers us.

There are things to admire here, and The Ball's simple challenges ensure a pleasant, if casual engagement, enhanced by the skilful drawing of this subterranean world. [Dec 2010, p.96]

At its best, it's all very bite-sized and relaxing, like a bucket of M&S flapjack bites, a glass of red and some ill-gotten American-strength meds.

Some original and interesting ideas are not enough to put together and enjoyable game. It gets boring soon enough, and the concept is not supported by an accomplished gameplay.

The Ball starts out slow and never really gets rolling.

The Ball is a technically proficient game, but plays more like a storyboard than a final product, much like a film made only by crew members and no director. The concept is solid and appealing, while lacking the mysteries, challenges, and rewards that players crave.

The Ball starts off way too slowly to keep players interested for a long time. The puzzles are too easy and repeat themselves, and the combat with a gigantic ball as your only weapon isn't really engaging. Even though the game has an original setting, it's not in the same league as other puzzle darlings like Portal.

Teotl Studios had the concept and the tools they needed to make The Ball a great game; they only lacked patience and experience.