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About Broken Age
Broken Age is a hand‑animated adventure that blends puzzle solving with a whimsical coming‑of‑age story. Designed by Tim Schafer and funded through a record‑breaking crowdfunding campaign, it features a family‑friendly tone and quirky elements such as barfing trees and talking spoons.
Players control two teenagers, Vella Tartine and Shay Volta, who inhabit very different worlds yet share similar predicaments. The game lets you switch freely between their narratives, guiding each through unexpected adventures while enjoying an all‑star voice cast.
01 / THE GUIDE
Switching Between Vella and Shay
The story is built around two teenagers, Vella Tartine and Shay Volta, each placed in a distinct setting. Their narratives run in parallel, and the player may toggle at any moment to advance both storylines.
Switching lets you advance both storylines, and clues encountered in one world may prove useful in the other. This design encourages players to consider cause and effect across the separate scenes.
- Watch for clues in one world that may hint at solutions in the other.
- Pause briefly after each switch to review any new information.
02 / THE GUIDE
Hand‑Animated Visuals
Broken Age uses hand‑drawn animation that gives each scene a storybook quality. The visual style supports the family‑friendly tone and highlights whimsical details like barfing trees and talking spoons.
The animation is consistent across Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring that every player sees the same artistic presentation regardless of operating system.
- Look for subtle visual cues that may serve as puzzle hints.
- Appreciate the animation as a narrative guide, not merely decoration.
03 / THE GUIDE
All‑Star Voice Cast
The game features performances by Elijah Wood (Shay), Masasa Moyo (Vella), Jack Black (Harm'ny Lightbeard), Jennifer Hale (Mom), Wil Wheaton (Curtis) and Pendleton Ward (Gus). Their delivery adds personality and reinforces the comedic tone.
Recognizable actors help convey emotions clearly, which can aid players in interpreting dialogue‑driven puzzles and narrative beats.
- Listen closely to vocal inflections for hidden hints.
- Notice each actor’s style to anticipate character reactions.
04 / THE GUIDE
Supported Platforms
Broken Age runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering flexibility for players on different operating systems. The single‑player experience is available on each platform without additional requirements.
Cross‑platform availability broadens the potential audience, aligning with the game’s family‑friendly design and its emphasis on accessible adventure gameplay.
- Verify your system meets the listed platform specifications before installing.
- Use your OS’s native update tools to keep the game current.
05 / THE GUIDE
Steam Integration
On Steam, Broken Age includes Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, Steam Cloud, and Family Sharing. These features enhance the user experience without changing core gameplay.
Trading Cards provide a collectible side activity, Cloud stores progress, and Family Sharing lets multiple accounts access the game from a single purchase.
- Enable Steam Cloud to keep your puzzle progress safe.
- Collect Trading Cards for a fun supplemental goal.
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