Brick breaking, powers, and boss fights.
Everyone knows that when it comes to game development, it can take a very long time to finally ship a game. And sometimes, it can even take longer than we expect. This was certainly the case with Caromble!, a brick breaker that took 15 years to develop. However, did all that lengthy development make for a good ball breaking experience or did it miss its shot? Let's find out.
For Caromble! being a brick breaker-type game, I was kind of surprised there was a story attached to it. The story centers around six devices called the Arkatrons; each one containing a specific and unique power. And when combined, they create a powerful device called the Caromble! A device so powerful that it could spell the end of worlds, so naturally it has its protectors.
But as usual, these kinds of powerful artifacts get stolen and now it’s up to the protectors to get them back. The story we follow is of two of these said protectors, as they try to reclaim the Arkatrons by using their ship like a brick breaker paddle to ricochet and launch attacks. And where else would the battle to save all of existence take place, but on earth itself.
The way the story is explained is something I personally don’t see very often. This is via comic book panels and voiceovers. Via this method, Caromble! gets across what’s happening and what needs to be done. The environment itself is able to immerse you into the experience, and allows the presentation to really shine.
The visuals of Caromble! are that of an industrial park with crates, barrels and pipes everywhere. It’s sound and music also help build the atmosphere and keep the world feeling less lonely and more engaging. Along with the sounds of every broken item and various explosions, it helps make everything feel a little more fun as you play.
Speaking of play, the gameplay loop is quite simple in Caromble! Each level consists of three stages, two of which you are breaking objects to build power to enter a portal. The third stage is where you strike back at the attacker who took the Arkatrons. It's a simple formula that works well.
There are six chapters that you’ll play through in the story mode. At the end of each chapter is a full-fledged boss fight where you fight the Arkatron thief and take one back. Every time you retrieve an Arkatron you get to use it in the next chapter to help turn that tide in your favor.
There is one arkatron that is different from the other others as it is not an active power, but a new addition to stage environments. The third arkatron adds switches to the level that can do a variety of different things from moving platforms, opening doors, and rotating ramps. As well, some switches are timed so making sure you strike them at the right time is crucial.
These Arkatrons can do a variety of things from slowing down time; allowing you to shoot matter, and even interrupt your ball and send it in a different direction. Each one has a unique use, so figuring out what each one is used for is vital to win back each one. Plus, the faster you beat each level and more points you gain can help you collect medals.
In each level, you can collect three medals, one for completion, one for hitting a required amount of points and one for beating the level in a set time. Collect enough of these medals and you will unlock skill levels back in the main menu. I consider them to be more like little mini games to help you hone your skills and take a break from the action of the main story.
There is one thing to note, if you’re finding the story difficult, you can choose a mercy option. Based on your difficulty, you’ll get balls associated to help you beat the level, but with a catch. You’ll no longer get the point or time medals and apparently you will not collect the Arkatron if you use it on the fourth level. This is bad because you’ll need most of those to progress so I would recommend not using it when an Arkatron is on the line. While having a setting to make the game easier is great for those who may struggle at its difficulty, blocking progression is certainly a choice.
While I did enjoy my time in Caromble! and found the gameplay to be quite smooth. I did find some frustrations with one of its mechanics, and that is the switches I mentioned before. I found myself time and time again hitting a switch I didn’t mean to and having to take additional more time to reset things back to where I needed them. In fact, I took double the medal time in one level because I kept hitting a switch I didn’t mean to and this caused me to become quite frustrated. Another frustration was trying to figure out the right angles for the panel, but that probably just comes from not playing this style of game more often than I do.
Besides all that, Caromble! is still a decent time and I enjoyed playing through it. It was definitely a fresh take on the brick break genre and definitely a different style of game than I usually play. If you play this style of game, I can recommend it, but be prepared, because if you’re like me, it might trigger a switch inside you that can cause you to get frustrated.
Developer - Crimson Owl Studios.
Publisher - Crimson Owl Studios.
Released - April 22nd, 2026.
Available On - PC.
Rated - (N/A) - No Descriptors.
Platform Reviewed - Steam.
Review Access - A review code for Caromble! was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
Kelvin is a big fan of survival crafting, simulator, base management, and RPG's. From 7 Days to Die to Deep Rock Galactic. When not trying to survive the post apocalypse you will find me fighting in the field for democracy in Helldivers 2.