The game's visual style is intentionally designed to look primitive with a bright, flat color palette, and character models that are both humorous and creepy. The graphics are deliberately clunky, reminiscent of early 3D rendering, creating an uncanny valley effect that both satirizes and pays homage to the era of educational software. This aesthetic choice enhances the surreal horror atmosphere of the game.

Sound design plays a critical role in "Baldi's Basics." Audio cues signal Baldi's proximity and the actions of other characters, serving both as warnings and a means to ratchet up the tension. The game's signature slapping sound, which indicates Baldi's approach, becomes particularly dread-inducing as the player's situation becomes more perilous.

The game is challenging, requiring players to multitask under pressure. Collecting notebooks and solving math problems becomes increasingly daunting as Baldi's speed and cunning are amped up with each error. The game throws additional curveballs by presenting math problems that are impossible to solve, guaranteeing Baldi's pursuit.

"Baldi's Basics" effectively combines horror with satire. Its subversive approach serves both as a critique of—and tribute to—the educational games that many remember from their childhoods. The game also incorporates elements of randomness and non-linear gameplay, meaning no two playthroughs are exactly the same, which enhances its replayability.

The popularity of "Baldi's Basics Classic" led to a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund a full version of the game, "Baldi's Basics Plus," which promises even more content, characters, and jump scares, while maintaining the core mechanics and retro aesthetic that fans have come to adore.