Balan Wonderworld is a platformer video game where players take on the role of either Leo Craig or Emma Cole, two children drawn into the magical realm of Wonderworld by a being called Balan.[1][2][3] The game plays out across twelve multi-level areas called Chapters. In the beginning, only the first chapter is available, collecting items called Balan Statues in each area will unlock Chapters.[3][4] Within each chapter, Leo and Emma must navigate through a sandbox environment, searching areas for collectables and solving puzzles to progress to the end of the level.[2] Collectables include Balan Statues and crystalline objects called Drops.[2][4] A simple control scheme is used, with two buttons used to change between costumes, and other actions aside from character and camera movement mapped to all other buttons.[5] During exploration, enemies called Negati will appear and attack the player character. Each chapter ends with a boss battle themed after the Chapter's environment and narrative.[6] The game uses adaptive difficulty, adjusting the number and types of enemies based on player performance both on the initial playthrough and return playthroughs of stages.[7]
While exploring, Leo and Emma find costumes from the cast of each chapter; these are unlocked using collectible keys. Costumes grant abilities such as hovering, navigating particular hazards and paths, or fighting enemies.[3][8][9] When not wearing a costume, Leo and Emma's only available actions are jumping and basic movement.[5] 80 costumes are spread throughout the stages, some of them in secret locations.[4] Only three costumes can be held at a time; when a fourth costume is acquired, the costume it replaces is sent into a costume bank which can be accessed at checkpoints.[4][6] Receiving damage, or falling off the edge of the environment, causes the equipped costume to disappear.[2] If the player character is hit without a costume, they are ejected from the Chapter.[5]
Minigames can be unlocked and played within each chapter using special costumes, such as a football-themed challenge.[2][4] A recurring minigame activated by finding a top hat in levels is Balan's Bout. Taking on the role of Balan, players engage in a series of quick time events, matching Balan's poses with button presses. Performance is ranked, with the best performance rewarding a Balan Statue upon first completion, and multiplying the current Drop total.[2][3] Chapters can also be played in two-player local co-op multiplayer. Taking on the roles of Leo and Emma respectively, the players can combine costume abilities to simplify puzzles and open potential new pathways through levels.[4][6]
Chapters are accessed through the hub world, the Isle of Tims—a floating island inhabited by the titular creatures.[5] In the hub, players can feed Tims with Drops collected in levels, changing their color and consequently their abilities; for example, red Tims aid in fights, while pink Tims recover hidden items. Tim eggs can be found in Chapters, growing the number of Tims in the hub.[4][6] By picking up a Tim, the player can take it onto a stage.[7] A special construction is the Tower of Tims, which is grown using mechanisms powered by the Tims.[5] After completing the game, a new third stage is unlocked for each chapter, featuring more difficult environments and new costumes.
