Editor Reviews

Red Ball 4 is the kind of platformer that doesn't try too hard, and that's exactly why it works. You're a red ball trying to stop evil square-shaped villains from turning the world into a blocky mess. There's no fluff. It's just jump, roll, and time your movements. The levels are pretty straightforward at first, but they keep adding small new elements—lasers, enemies, moving platforms—that build a slow curve of difficulty without ever feeling unfair. It's more of an old-school arcade game than a modern brain-buster.

The controls are responsive and smooth. You jump, you go left and right—that's all. However, its layout encourages planning, particularly at later levels. There are boss battles, and those are a welcome change of pace from normal levels. They are simple yet rewarding, like a little puzzle with action mixed in. You won't have to memorize lengthy patterns or avoid a thousand things at once. Just watch, move, and hit when it feels right.

Visually, it's clean. Nothing too fancy, but everything feels polished. The red ball has a face with expressions, and the enemies have that classic cartoon villain vibe. Backgrounds change frequently enough to prevent the environments from becoming stale. You'll see grassy hills, dark caves, and factory-like areas. The music isn't catchy in a way that sticks in your head all day, but it suits the mood. It keeps you engaged without becoming annoying.

There's a bit of a story, but nothing deep. Evil squares want to flatten the world, and you're the only one standing (well, rolling) in the way. The cutscenes are brief and primarily used to advance the plot. No walls of text or long dialogues. Just quick flashes of what's happening, you're back to playing.

Red Ball 4 is divided into multiple episodes, each with its own set of levels. You can pick up where you left off easily, and if you die, you're not punished too harshly. Most of the time, you go back to a recent checkpoint. It respects your time. There are collectibles, too—stars scattered across each level. They don't change the ending or anything, but they add a small challenge for those who want to do 100% of everything.

How to Play?

Step 1: Start the game and select a level. You control a red ball that must stop square enemies from taking over the world.

Step 2: Use the left and right arrow keys to roll and the up arrow key or button to jump. Jumping on enemies defeats them.

Step 3: Watch for spikes, lasers, and traps. Timing jumps is key. Some platforms move or crumble—learn their patterns.

Step 4: Solve puzzles using boxes, levers, and buttons. You may need to push objects onto switches or stack them to reach higher platforms.

Step 5: Don't rush. Many levels require stopping and thinking about the order in which to move things.

Step 6: Collect stars and aim to complete each level with three stars. This depends on speed, no deaths, and collecting all the items.

Step 7: Boss levels require patience. Watch the boss pattern, dodge attacks, and strike when there's an opening—usually by jumping on their head.

Step 8: If you die, you start from the last checkpoint. These are usually well-placed, so replaying is not too painful.

Step 9: Keep progressing to unlock new episodes. Each one adds new challenges and traps.