Item: Bounden
Rating: 89
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

89/100

Bounden is one of the most innovative uses of a smartphone I have ever seen. It’s technically a game, but in practice, it’s a choreography tool. By having two people hold the same phone and follow a virtual ball along a path, the game forces your bodies into a graceful (or hilariously clumsy) dance. It turns your device into a focal point for physical connection, which is a rare and beautiful feat for an app.

The involvement of the Dutch National Ballet is evident in the elegance of the movements. Even if you have zero dance experience, the game guides you through motions that make you feel artistic. It’s a fantastic icebreaker and a brilliant example of how technology can facilitate human-to-human interaction in the real world rather than just isolating us behind screens. It’s more of an 'experience' than a traditional game, and it’s one that everyone should try at least once.

Reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

Dinsun Review

I usually have no patience for 'gimmick' games, but Bounden is an exception. It’s rare to see a developer use a phone's gyroscope for something other than a bad racing game. Bounden requires you to get uncomfortably close to another human being, which is a bold choice in a world of online-only multiplayer. It can be frustrating when the sensor drifts, and you will definitely look like an idiot while playing it, but the choreography is genuine. It’s more of an art project than a 'game' in the traditional sense, but I respect the craftsmanship. It’s short, but it leaves an impression.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Innovative use of hardware
Beautifully composed music
Genuinely unique experience

Gyroscope drift issues
Very short playtime
Requires a willing second person

Technical Report

Performance: Highly dependent on the quality of the device's gyroscope; calibration is frequent and necessary.

Accessibility:

None (requires significant physical mobility)

Audience Fit

Buy if: You want a unique local co-op experience and enjoy artistic or experimental games.

Skip if: You want a traditional gaming experience you can play alone on your couch.

Similar Games:

Fingle
Just Dance

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
Playtime: 1 hours
Status: Completed all dances

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPod

850456491

$2.99 4+★4 13 reviews

Author : Adriaan de Jongh

Pubish Date : Mon May 12 2014

Last Update Date : Sat Jan 08 2022

Support Languages : English, Dutch, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish

Genres :

Version 1.6.1Sat Jan 08 2022

Hey friends! We updated some old code and built the game using the latest software. Should anything look weird or not function correctly, please reach out to me (Adriaan) through my website: http://adriaan.games
Game Oven's whimsical dancing game for two players, with choreography by the Dutch National Ballet. Twist and twirl elegantly, or get entangled with a friend.
Holding either end of a device, you tilt the device around a virtual sphere following a path of rings. You swing your arms and twist your body, and before you know it, you are already dancing.
• Watch the Dutch National Ballet dancers in Bounden's tutorial videos.
• Unlock 8 dances.
• Classical music composed by Bart Delissen.
Bounden was featured on the New York Times, the Guardian, BBC, The Verge, Mashable, Kotaku, GiantBomb, Joystiq, Destructoid, and many others.
Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Game Oven's whimsical dancing game for two players, with choreography by the Dutch National Ballet. Twist and twirl elegantly, or get entangled with a friend.
Holding either end of a device, you tilt the device around a virtual sphere following a path of rings. You swing your arms and twist your body, and before you know it, you are already dancing.
• Watch the Dutch National Ballet dancers in Bounden's tutorial videos.
• Unlock 8 dances.
• Classical music composed by Bart Delissen.
Bounden was featured on the New York Times, the Guardian, BBC, The Verge, Mashable, Kotaku, GiantBomb, Joystiq, Destructoid, and many others.

Ratings & Reviews

4 out of 5 with 13 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Bounden is an experimental dancing game that uses your smartphone's sensors to guide two players through a series of choreographed movements. By each holding one end of the phone, players must tilt and rotate the device to follow a path on a virtual sphere. Developed in collaboration with the Dutch National Ballet, Bounden features 8 unique dances, classical music, and video tutorials to help you master the art of synchronized movement. It's a game about cooperation, tangling limbs, and having fun.

Features

8 unique dances choreographed by the Dutch National Ballet

Instructional videos with professional ballet dancers

Stunning minimalist visual design

A unique physical social experience

Tips

Synchronizing Your Movement

Don't grip the phone too tightly. Use your thumbs on the corners and let the phone pivot naturally between you. Focus on the ring on the screen; when it aligns with the ball, that is when you should begin your rotation.

Promotion Videos

Bounden - Official Trailer - YouTube

News on this game

Bounden, Fingle studio closes its doors in April

Game Oven Studios, the independent Dutch team behind body-morphing mobile games Bounden, Bam fu, Fingle and Friendstrap, will be disbanded...

Engadget - Sun Mar 01 2015

Get lost (and found) in the playful world of Hidden Folks - Kill Screen - Previously

When game designer Adriaan de Jongh (of Bounden fame) stumbled upon Sylvain Tegroeg's work, he was mesmerized. Tegroeg's black-and-white...

www.killscreen.com - Tue Nov 29 2016

If you love adult coloring books, you'll enjoy 'Hidden Folks'

Hidden Folks is a deceptive game. It appears simplistic, featuring black-and-white line drawings of industrial plants, dense cities,...

www.yahoo.com - Mon Feb 29 2016

Interactive Where's Waldo-like Hidden Folks announced

What happens when you take the interactivity of video games and you mix it with Where's Waldo? Hidden Folks apparently. It's made by Adriaan...

Pocket Gamer - Mon Feb 29 2016

GDC 2016: Quirky indie Where's Wally-like Hidden Folks wins the Big Indie Pitch in San Francisco

Adriaan de Jongh is no stranger at Pocket Gamer's Big Indie Pitch events. His graceful dancing game Bounden took home a prize a few years...

Pocket Gamer - Fri Apr 29 2016

Gameplays

The Path of the Ring

The ring on the screen represents your shared center. As it moves across the virtual globe, you must rotate and dip the phone to keep the marker centered. This physically forces you and your partner to move in a dance-like fashion.