

Scribblenauts (Nintendo DS)

100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
5 point score based on user ratings.

User Reviews

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Our Users Say

Category Description MobyScore
Overall MobyScore (11 votes) 3.4

The Press Says

GamePro (US)
Seriously, despite its warts, Scribblenauts is still the type of game that could and should have an impact on the entire gaming industry. It instills the same sense of wonder and glee that made LittleBigPlanet such a magical experience. The developers should be commended for their efforts and it's about time we started looking at 5Th Cell as the industry heavyweights that they are.
Green Pixels
Control issues aside, however, this is still one of the most fun and original games that I've ever played. It's also super-fun to play as a team effort ("Hey, what would defeat a dragon?"), so if you've got two people sharing a single DS, this is a must-have. And even if you prefer to do your gaming all by yourself, Scribblenauts is definitely a wise investment.
Vandal Online
Scribblenauts es una pequeña joya dentro del catálogo de Nintendo DS, una aventura interactiva en forma de centenares de puzles consecutivos que hará las delicias de niños y mayores, sin excepción. Seguramente, gustará a muchos tipos de jugadores, dado que no es un juego claramente adscrito a un género concreto, sino que bebe de muchas fuentes, aunque fundamentalmente se basa en la utilización del ingenio y la imaginación del jugador a la hora de resolver diferentes tipos de situaciones y a la hora de conseguir una gran variedad de objetivos. Sin duda, uno de los títulos imprescindibles de la consola, original como pocos y extraordinariamente divertido.
Despite a few niggling control issues, Scribblenauts is a wonderfully ambitious DS title. By creating an interactive world out of thousands of objects, 5th Cell has produced a consistently enthralling puzzle game, which ranks among the genre’s best. While the title offers a multitude of ways to solve predicaments, your first step is compulsory- buying a copy of this game.
Hooked Gamers
It says a lot about the experience of a game when you can spend hours on the start screen pitting opposites like Rick Astley of Rick Roll fame in a submarine against a Giant Squid just to see who would win. The true magic is that it is easy for just about anyone to pick up and instantly get, as it's something almost anyone can understand. Scribblenauts is everything you could want from a game. It's unique, challenging, and it's entirely up to you. Control issues aside, Scribblenauts is a must play for every DS owner.
Gaming Age
All together I'd say Scribblenauts is a really great game on the DS, and certainly worth the praise it's received. It definitely has some control issues, and I wasn't a fan of the soundtrack, but outside of that I can't argue that the game is certainly unique and innovative. It reminds me of playing some old ASCII text adventure game and thinking that I could type up any word or direction for a solution, but being shot down more often than not. Scribblenauts gives me the ability to actually breathe life into my ideas within the game world, and I thank it for that. It'd be really awesome to see someone run with the idea in the realm of an old school adventure game, or just to see the idea expanded upon in a straight up sequel. There's a lot to be mined out of the core gameplay mechanic here, and I think everyone will find that Scribblenauts does wonders for your imagination.
True Game Headz
If there was one game that came out of nowhere at this year’s E3 to be the darling of the show, it was “Scribblenauts.” At first glance the graphics seem to give the game a childish feel, however, the phrase, “you can never judge a game by its case” applies here more than any other game ever released. “Scribblenauts” has a unique premise, addictive gameplay, and virtually infinite replayability. What more could you ask for in a game? So, the controls are a little wonky. Deal with it. If you own a DS then there’s no reason you should overlook this game, unless you have some literacy problems, and, in which case, I doubt you made it this far into the review.
Spazio Games
Se le prime impressioni derivate dall’E3 promettevano “soltanto” un gioco originale e divertente, il prodotto completo offre un’esperienza assolutamente unica capace di incrociare i puzzle game con i platform, lasciando allo stesso tempo carta bianca al giocatore sul modo di procedere nella risoluzione degli oltre duecento stage che compongono l’ultima fatica 5th Cell. Al comparto tecnico si aggiunge una profondità del gameplay che va di pari passo con la mente del giocatore, creando un tutt'uno con esso. In definitiva Scribblenauts è un piccolo, geniale capolavoro adatto a tutte le utenze e capace di stupire e di coinvolgere chiunque abbia un minimo di fantasia e desideri tuffarsi in un mondo dove tutto è possibile.
ScribbleNauts chama a atenção não pelos seus gráficos ou pelo seu som. Seu maior destaque é permitir que o usuário escreva qualquer coisa na tela, e esta coisa apareça e sirva como material de interação dentro do jogo. É claro, existem algumas regras para isso como a ausência de palavras de baixo calão, termos culturais, religião e produtos licenciados, mas ainda assim o game consegue reunir mais de 22 mil termos, o que possibilita uma infinita combinação entre si. O título também é bastante durável, trazendo consigo 220 estágios, além da possibilidade de criarmos nossos próprios desafios. Imperdível para quem tem o Nintendo DS.
Games Abyss
Simply put, Scribblenauts is a must-have title for the Nintendo DS. Cell 5 has created a world that invites players of all ages to be as creative as possible. Truly unique, it's a gaming experience unlike any other and should be picked up without a moment's delay.
Scribblenauts is one of the best games on the DS and the most imaginative games to be released since LittleBigPlanet. The ambition is at the forefront of the game and for what doesn't work for Scribblenauts, it is made up for the fact that you are given total command as to what happens next. Don't waste any more time, start telling your Scribblenauts story. And be sure to leave comments on some of the coolest solutions to puzzles you mastered.
No other game in recent memory challenges you to get quite this creative (the in-game dictionary clocks in at over 20,000 words). Even with the flaws in Scribblenauts' controls, it holds a special place in my heart for being the most fun I've ever had improving my vocabulary. It is, dare I say, the best piece of edutainment since Math Blaster.
Game Freaks 365
Aside from some questionable physics, Scribblenauts is a strong pick-up-and-go type game. It makes good use of your imagination. If you don't like to think, this probably is not a good game for you. That said, it is a lot of fun to play in short bursts of time. You'll be testing your own vocabulary as well. There are very few items that the developers left out. If you are looking for a new Nintendo DS game to play, give Scribblenauts a try.
Game Observer
A rare breed of game that relies entirely on one’s attitude and intelligence, but as a template for things to come, Scribblenauts is exceptionally satisfactory.
Even though I harp on the clunky controls, I'm still a huge Scribblenauts fan and fully believe that, even with Maxwell's awkwardness, this game is one of the top titles on the Nintendo DS platform. The game is enormous fun as an interactive toy, a sandbox for players to simply muck around outside of the normal progression, and the puzzles themselves can be challenging and encourage some wild thought processes. Scribblenauts has all the makings of a franchise and I will not be surprised at all to see it in sequel form sooner than later…and not just as a Nintendo DS game, either. Lets just hope that when that happens Maxwell gets a control upgrade.
Der putzige Comic-Stil passt genau so gut zum Prinzip wie die aufgekratzten Melodien. Wie so oft bei neuen Konzepten leidet 5th Cells Werk aber unter jeder Menge Kinderkrankheiten: Die überladene Touchscreen-Steuerung wirkt etwas hakelig und der ganze Wust an möglichen Objekten ist zwangsläufig nicht immer perfekt ausbalanciert. Außerdem reagiert manch ein Ding oder Wesen nicht so, wie man es in der realen Welt erwarten würde. Auch die teils konfusen Aufgabenstellungen und die häufigen Abstürze im Editor trüben das Bild. Doch obwohl eine ganze Liste kleiner Nicklichkeiten in der Kontra-Liste steht, konnte mir erstaunlicherweise keine davon die Laune verderben. Es macht einfach viel zu viel Spaß, stundenlang in Maxwells erfreulich großer Strichmännchen-Welt herumzuexperimentieren. Auch das faire Freischalten neuer Welten im Shop sorgt dafür, dass nur sehr selten Frust aufkommt.
Worth Playing
These problems that I've mentioned do not make Scribblenauts unplayable, but dealing with them will require the same kind of patience that you want to reserve for the title's mental gymnastics. If you can live with the fidgety controls and you wish to test your imagination, want to stretch your language skills, or simply want something to share with your kids or your friends. Scribblenauts can easily fill in the blanks as one of the most unique gaming experiences that anyone can have this year.
Game Arena
The only thing holding back Scribblenauts is the DS. The reliance on the touchscreen hampers what would otherwise be the best new games franchise this year. If the game were on the Wii (keeping the target audience in mind) it would be easy to see Maxwell being controlled with the Nunchuk while you dragged and dropped objects with the Wiimote. More system power would even allow something like object snapping - making the game that much easier again. Scribblenauts is still a great game, and a must have for any DS owner looking for a new game - it oozes personality and its 220 levels plus free roaming Sandbox mode provide hours of entertainment.
Ultimately, what starts as a giggle-inducing breath of fresh air eventually gives way to such a near-insurmountable level of head-scratching challenge that many budding scribblers will slam shut the DS well before unlocking all ten of the game's themed worlds. That being said, those able to fully wring their imaginations and actively apply weird solutions will keep coming back for more in one of the year's most charming and rewarding portable puzzlers.
3D Juegos
Original, divertido, innovador, encantador y muy creativo. Los estadounidenses de 5th Cell vuelven a sorprendernos con una obra que da al usuario la libertad de resolver hasta 220 puzles teniendo como límite su propia imaginación. El cuaderno mágico de Scribblenauts y el poder de invocación que permite el stylus de Nintendo DS nos ofrecen un experimento interactivo de los que nos gustaría ver más a menudo. No es el juego perfecto, pero todo el mundo debería al menos probarlo.
Scribblenauts is a masterpiece. A flawed, frustrating, brilliant, masterpiece. 5th Cell has created an experience so unique that it simply cannot be ignored, and might be one of the largest leaps forward in gaming since textures were first wrapped around polygons. The in-game dictionary is as complete as could be hoped, completely living up to the promises of developers in delving something truly magnificent. That said, other elements of the game are dumbfoundingly awkward, and severely hinder what is an otherwise wonderful experience. Buy it, love it, hate it, curse it, sing its praises, Scribblenauts will run you through a gauntlet of emotions like puzzle games rarely do. Sadly, it’s usually for all the wrong reasons.
For my most hotly anticipated title of the year, I can say I'm not disappointed. No one will deny that Scribblenauts is a groundbreaking title, and DS owners everywhere should be extremely happy that they have been given the exclusive chance to own a piece of gaming history.
IGN Australia
5th Cell really should be applauded for what it’s achieved in Scribblenauts. The concept sounds completely unwieldy, and yet the result is a game that works very much as advertised, literally allowing the player to dip into an object pool thousands of entries strong. While there are certainly limitations and frustrations, this is freedom in puzzle solving like we’ve never seen before. While we wouldn’t necessarily say the game is fun, it’s certainly engrossing, certainly important and certainly worth playing.
But it's easy to understand these flaws when you remember what an undertaking this game must have been for the relatively small development team. A dictionary's worth of words to input (and then some), a comparable number of sprites to draw, and lots of tedious programming attributes to assign. You get a wholesome puzzle game in Scribblenauts, with challenges that may well last you longer than you think, but it's not perfect. Hopefully the immense outpouring of support for the game will also turn into profits, and the inevitable Scribblenauts 2 will be even closer to ultimate greatness, even if it's just a little bit.
That Gaming Site
A great concept and a seriously packed puzzle game but putting up with the controls is a sacrifice you'll have to make to enjoy this original and adorable game.
En definitiva, Scribblenauts es un juego necesario, por su contenido y por su atrevimiento, una ráfaga de nuevas ideas que ojalá se potencien mucho más en una hipotética secuela, pero que no alcanza las expectativas creadas en torno a él. No sería justo decir que es un mal juego porque no es así, es un lanzamiento notable, bien pensado, con grandes cualidades y capaz de ofrecer muchas horas de diversión, de sorpresas por los retos planteados y las hilarantes soluciones que se nos van ocurriendo. Sin embargo, los chicos de 5th Cell han demostrado ser mejores creativos y diseñadores que programadores. El mal control de Maxwell, la poca eficacia del diccionario en las búsquedas y otros errores menores lastran un título de todas formas recomendado a todos los que quieran probar algo nuevo y que alardeen de tener gran imaginación.
To see Scribblenauts as an overall disappointment is a fairly cynical stance. The game delivers on the promise of being as much of an open sandbox as any other game could claim to be. The amount of effort and work put forth by the developers truly showcases that this game is above all else a labor of love, as the game's creators found a concept that could've been a logistical nightmare to pull off and made it look easy. Unfortunately, it was the common game elements, namely the controls, that ended up falling by the wayside in the pursuit.
With that being said, Scribblenauts is one of those games that no matter how the visuals and sounds are, if the gameplay delivers, everything will be fine. Although it has several issues with the controls due to an over-sensitive touch screen, the game’s imaginative and funny nature isn’t hugely affected. In the end, you won’t regret the purchase.
Blend Games
Scribblenauts es, pues, una obra potente, con una jugabilidad explosiva, no carente de fallos pero también lleno de virtudes. Su atractivo apartado técnico también juega a favor de este título que pone a prueba la astucia del jugador en cada uno de sus puzzles. Drawn to Life supuso un primer acercamiento a este pequeño –pero gran- estudio, Lock’s Quest (su obra más madura, en relación ambición/calidad) redefinió los Tower Defense aportando un argumento y elementos de RPG. Y Scribblenauts… es un punto y a parte. El tercero en la discordia, un gran juego lastrado por imperfecciones. Ni más, ni menos.
Video Game Talk
Simply one of the best puzzle games to ever grace a handheld and a must get for any puzzle game fan, and the sheer amount of different solutions each puzzle can have will keep you playing for a very long time. There’s also a level editor that lets you customize any level already previously completed to make it harder or easier.
PAL Gaming Network (PALGN)
Scribblenauts is about as high-concept as a game comes, and delivers remarkably well on its creative premise. However, some control frustrations and limited level design hold it back just short of true greatness.
Scribblenauts stands apart from the usual assortment of puzzle games, thanks to its charming design and wealth of possibilities. Don't let it fly under the radar. Go out and buy a copy right now.
Scribblenauts doesn't quite reach the impressive heights its expansive in-game dictionary hints at, but it's an absolute blast despite its few problems. Scribblenauts fully embraces your imagination in ways few games can match, letting you call forth an unprecedented number of creatures and objects to help you overcome the many obstacles placed in front of you. The objectives are sometimes unclear and the controls will frustrate at times, but it's easy to look past these problems when so many possibilities are open to you. The staggering originality of Scribblenauts makes it a great experience and a memorable puzzle game that will have you laughing with glee while you frantically think up crazier and crazier ideas.
The underlying concept of Scribblenauts is well though out and up to a certain level turned into a pleasant game. However, there are limits to what you can do, mostly due to random flaws that snuck into the game. This is too bad as that makes Scribblenauts end up just below the top.
Scribblenauts is een zeer originele game. Door te schrijven in het kladblok verschijnen er voorwerpen die je kunt gebruiken om het level te voltooien. De mogelijkheden zijn door de grote woordenlijst eindeloos. De game leent zich perfect voor creatieve ideeën, maar naast het experimenteren, is het veel van hetzelfde. De speler bepaalt zelf hoe leuk het wordt, want zonder inspiratie zal Scribblenauts niet lang weten te boeien.
Digital Chumps
I am with the majority of fans in being just a little disappointed with the execution of Scribblenauts. Such a brilliant idea could have produced an incredible game; instead, we’re left with something that is fun but oftentimes short lived due to the frustration of the gamer. Nonetheless, Scribblenauts is one of those titles that should be checked out by any gamer and if you can get over the clumsy controls, you’ve got one of the more creative games created in the history of gaming.
This game lived up to the innovation it had. It really does let you use almost any word you can think of to solve levels. However, the shoddy controls do hamper it from being an amazing game. The game is worth a buy if you’re creative person that isn’t afraid to try thinking out of the box to solve puzzles. If you’re more of a by the book person, you may want to borrow this one or wait for it to drop in price.
Game Revolution
Despite all of this, I still can't help but recommend Scribblenauts. It's so unique, revolutionary, and positively delightful that it more than makes up for all its shortcomings. And with a built-in level editor and the ability to share levels with others, the challenges are nearly endless. If you're after something completely original for your DS, go ahead and write down “Scribblenauts” and make it appear.
Is Scribblenauts an enjoyable experience? Sure. Playing with the game's words and objects is highly entertaining, especially with friends around to brainstorm and laugh with. But is it a good game? Well, I'm inclined to say that the majority of its entertainment value lies in the former, and the controls are pretty sub-par, but the puzzles are still acceptable in their own regard. Should you at least try it? Unequivocally, yes.
It's not a perfect showing by far, but its adorable style, humorous user-generated scenarios, and brain straining puzzles certainly make it stand out as one of this years “must buy” DS games.
Scribblenauts is amazing fun for the pure leap forward it is in the way of innovation and uniqueness, but somewhat challenging in its longevity beyond your initial pause at its creative goals.
Scribblenauts is a great idea, with some questionable execution, and some laughable design decisions. When you start the game, you can play around on the main title screen by summoning pretty much any item or character you want and watching them interact with each other. Gamestyle thinks most people will find a bit more enjoyment in having pirates fight ninjas than in some of the game's proper levels. Still, we hope 5th Cell take these criticisms and work on the idea, because they could be onto a real winner if they go back to the drawing board.
INC Gamers
Despite the problems, it's a compelling game. In part it's because you can skip to a different level if you get stuck, and in part because most take two or three minutes tops, but to be honest, even with the included level editor, you won't be returning because of most of the puzzles. Your return will be to check out some of the more outlandish sandbox ideas you have. Even now I'm thinking of new items and creatures, and wondering whether they're represented or if they'll do anything special. If you can discipline yourself not to take the easy way out and avoiding the items that solve all problems, you'll get a lot more mileage out of the title but I'm not convinced that this is something we should be doing to enjoy a game. If you can work around the controls, then you'll certainly enjoy the game more than I. And if you can tolerate occasionally repetitive puzzles, then hey, you'll have an absolute blast.
There are those who will pick up Scribblenauts and love it completely. However, I fear that there are those who will hate this game, because once you look past the brilliant gimmick and innocent charm, you see a rough game with bad controls and a sense that things just could have been done much better. I would actually recommend that anybody wanting to buy Scribblenauts actually borrows or rents it from somewhere first. It deserves merit and praise simply for what it has accomplished, but whether it deserves your cash depends on just how astronomical your patience levels are.
Nintendo Life
Scribblenauts, as an idea, should be applauded. It encourages creativity in every aspect, from the playroom aesthetic to zany puzzle solutions. While the package is innovative, polished and fun, often-terrible controls throw a clumsy wrench in the otherwise well-oiled machine and prevent this from taking on "must-have" status. Still, this isn't enough to derail a hearty recommendation; Scribblenauts will provide oodles of joy to anyone eager to use their imagination and forgiving enough to endure the often irksome control issues.
Despite all the issues, there will still be many people who love this game. For all its problems, it's still an incredibly fresh experience - a genuinely unique slice of creativity that shows, once again, what a brilliant little machine the DS really is. I can't deny that I'm disappointed by Scribblenauts' shortcomings, but I will certainly continue to play after this review is done - and I hope with all my heart that 5th Cell decide to make a sequel. If they do, and if they fill in all the cracks, perhaps one day we'll get a game that lives up to its true potential.
Gamer Limit
Scribblenauts is a game where the sky is the limit: a seemingly unlimited amount of objects and content will have players returning to discover new levels and scenarios. Unfortunately, poor controls and inconsistent physics hinder players from exploring Scribblenauts’ full potential.
Scribblenauts is a fun but flawed title. The concepts and ideas shine strong, but the implementation leaves so much to desire that it often impedes enjoyment of the game. Players willing to take a chance on it will find many things to like but will likely finish with it craving a sequel that fixes the many problems.
Pocket Gamer UK
Scribblenauts's unique and open-ended gameplay is exciting but hampered by control quirks and the uneven difficulty of some of its levels
Thunderbolt Games
It’s wonderful stuff, but the controls drag it down from being truly great. With so many inconsistencies and awkward handling, it kills a lot of the fun. It’s not horrendous, but it’s an annoying problem that could have been easily fixed. Regardless of its flaws, Scribblenauts is a fine title. It may be over-hyped, but it’s still worth playing.
70 (UK)
I find it hard to believe anyone could play for more than six or seven levels before just typing in random things to see if they're there and whether they can beat Cthulhu in a fight. But then, doing that is utterly brilliant. It's like trying to wash the car and ending up having a water fight. The water fight is tons more fun than the car washing, but then you're wet and tired and it's time for tea.
Games Radar
In the end, we came away from Scribblenauts wondering if we had missed the point. There were a few puzzles with satisfyingly original solutions, but instead of feeling empowered by the freedom to write anything we wanted, we felt more confined by the limitations of core mechanic and the game’s lousy controls. If the developers had come up with more elegant puzzles (i.e., ones that can’t be solved with jetpacks) and given us the option to control Maxwell with the d-pad or face buttons, we’d be able to recommend Scribblenauts to everyone. As it stands, only patient gamers with a love of creative engineering will be able to overlook its design flaws and enjoy it for the unique and innovative game that it is.
The Video Game Critic
I'm not normally a fan of this style of game, but Scribblenauts is so ingenious in concept that I couldn't help but be intrigued.
Ultimately, Scribblenauts is a novelty but little more than that. It has a great “gee whiz!” factor at the start that dissipates over a short amount of time. Adults will see a giant spreadsheet. Kids will be able to enjoy the illusion, but not for very long. It is a game that’s long on possibilities, but amazingly short on staying power. It feels like it’s a mile wide and an inch deep.
Bénéficiant d'un concept exceptionnellement accrocheur, Scribblenauts aurait pu figurer en bonne place au panthéon des jeux les plus novateurs de ces dernières années. Hélas, en raison de ses contrôles approximatifs et de sa traduction française calamiteuse, il restera plutôt dans les mémoires comme une curiosité divertissante mais largement perfectible. A essayer avant d'acheter.
Scribblenauts is a hard game to recommend, and equally hard to dismiss. The nearly bottomless well of creativity is something that needs to be experienced, for all of its faults. Those who don't want to plumb its cavernous depths will probably find its charm wear off quickly, but this is the biggest virtual sandbox ever offered; there's even a level editor that allows you to swap your creations over WiFi (using friend codes, obviously) for those who can't get enough. In the end, what you get out of Scribblenauts is what you put into it.
Giant Bomb
Scribblenauts is a great proof-of-concept that struggles under the weight of its own ambition and the expectations that resulted from its uniquely exciting premise. Is the game a victim of its own hype? Would it be easier to appreciate if it didn't fall so short of the lofty goal it sets for itself? Maybe. But the onus is on the developer to take a fresh, brilliant idea, which Scribblenauts has, and turn it into a satisfying and playable game. The concept here is a fantastic one, but the game that's wrapped around it is poorly realized.
If you're looking for a quick diversion, Scribblenauts' title screen will give you that. If you're looking for a bunch of bite-size challenges, Scribblenauts will give you that, too. What the game won't provide is an enduring, rewarding experience.