Abandoned Archive

About

Abandoned Archive is a multiplayer action game. It was developed by Vedal and was released on November 24, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Abandoned Archive is a fast-paced, spellcasting roguelike set in a forgotten, sealed archive where players delve deep underground to uncover dark secrets. Use a variety of magical schools and powerful relics to craft synergies and battle through the tower’s challenges. Protect your sentient companion Oblome while striving to escape and uncover the lost city of Orbites.

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 529 reviews

gameplay17 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and challenging experience, especially for fans of roguelikes, with a variety of spells and interesting mechanics.
The fast-paced combat and unique boss designs keep the gameplay engaging, encouraging players to learn and adapt.
Despite some issues, the game has a charming aesthetic and a solid soundtrack, making it enjoyable for many players.

The game suffers from poor telegraphing of enemy attacks, making it difficult to predict and avoid damage during boss fights.
Many players find the difficulty level to be unreasonably high, especially for newcomers to the genre, leading to frustration.
The lack of a minimap and some visual clarity issues can make navigation and understanding enemy mechanics challenging.

gameplay
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The gameplay is generally well-received, characterized by its fun and engaging mechanics, particularly the spell mixing and strategic elements that challenge players. While some users noted a steep learning curve and occasional frustrations with controls and level design, many appreciated the game's retro aesthetic and immersive experience. Overall, it offers a rewarding blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and action, appealing especially to fans of the roguelike genre.
- “Fun game, cheap price, and simple mechanics; sometimes games don't need cutting-edge graphics or be complex to be good.”
- “Every mechanic feels like it has a purpose, and to that point, every moment with the game feels like it doesn't wish to waste your time.”
- “The fantastic music and genuinely fun gameplay loop keep you coming back for 'just one more run.' This is a classic hard game experience – there are no permanent upgrades between runs, so every playthrough demands careful planning and watching your step!”
- “Now on my critique as a personal bone to pick: no visual cue or anything to know what does what unless you actually pick it up, put a name or label on pickups. The levels are way too easy and simple, then the boss has a gazillion HP and overcompensates in patterns and mechanics, giving whiplash, like it's a whole another game.”
- “Some mechanics should be explained more clearly, such as that you can click the orb to heal, that you must be near the orb in order to buy upgrades (but don't have to heal first), and in the final boss, it should be explained more clearly when and how he can be damaged.”
- “Aside from visuals, there is just the matter of gameplay. I think control schemes and how the game plays could have used some more thought. I had to rebind a bunch just to make it so that dodging isn't too awkward to use.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
37%
16%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the pixel art style that complements the game's tone. However, there are criticisms regarding visual clarity and consistency, particularly with effects that can be overwhelming and hitboxes that don't align with the graphics. Overall, while the visuals contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, some players feel that improvements are needed for better gameplay clarity.
- “With an immersive spell system and its retro graphics, it brings a retro feel while introducing modern gameplay with a complex spell system, and the love and care that was put into it shows.”
- “Easy to get into but difficult to master with great music and visuals.”
- “The graphics are pretty good, a few visual glitches here and there, but the overall feel of the game really feels like the devs got across the vibe they were looking for.”
- “The game also suffers with its visuals; the camera initially following the character makes it harder to see when your character is about to get hit.”
- “But the main point is that the visuals, along with how inconsistent they are, make it harder to see and play the game.”
- “I'm going to first start with the negatives, and to be honest, there is a big issue in my opinion, and that is the visuals. They aren't pretty, and it can sometimes not be very clear what certain things are just by looking at them.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
58%
18%
The story of "Abandoned Archive" revolves around an anthropomorphic frog and turtle who aspire to start a family but struggle to reconcile their differences. While the narrative is intriguing and well-written, it is not prominently integrated into the gameplay, leading to mixed feelings among players regarding its visibility and clarity. The game encourages players to engage in environmental storytelling and piecing together the narrative through exploration, appealing to those who enjoy a more subtle and immersive storytelling approach.
- “Abandoned Archive is the story of an anthropomorphic frog and turtle who both dream of starting a little family together, but due to their vastly different natures, are both incapable of reconciling their underlying differences.”
- “Rather than spoon-feeding exposition or clearly defining what went wrong, the game invites the player to piece together context through observation, environmental detail, and subtle storytelling.”
- “It is a game for those who enjoy narrative archaeology, immersive environmental storytelling, and puzzles that reward careful attention rather than brute force.”
- “Yeah, I have no idea what the plot is.”
- “Combine that with 0 story aside from there's an orb telling you how to play the game, and you have a game that gets boring very quickly.”
- “The narrative ambiguity, while deliberate, may leave certain players wishing for firm answers or more traditional story structure.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
17%
18%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and emotional impact, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers praise the soundtrack for its crisp sound design and ability to elevate key moments, while also noting that it complements the game's artistic direction beautifully. Overall, the music is consistently rated highly, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and replayability.
- “The music, the crisp and solid sounds, it is such good sound design.”
- “Music is used sparingly, which heightens emotional impact when it does appear, especially during moments of revelation or escalating tension.”
- “The fantastic music and genuinely fun gameplay loop keep you coming back for 'just one more run.' This is a classic hard game experience – there are no permanent upgrades between runs, so every playthrough demands careful planning and watching your step!”
- “The soundtrack??”
- “Edit: soundtrack when?”
- “The only gripe I have is that certain sound effects are a bit loud... other than that, the music is designed very well.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
Overall, the game offers solid replayability, particularly due to its roguelike elements and unlockable content, which enhance the experience. While some players find the difficulty level too easy, others appreciate the challenge and variety of spells available, making it a worthwhile investment for those who enjoy replaying games. The game's aesthetic and atmosphere further contribute to its appeal, ensuring players return for more despite its relatively short playtime.
- “Highly recommended if you enjoy a classic challenging experience with great atmosphere and plenty of replayability.”
- “This game is good and has nice replay value; it's just a little too easy and would do wonders with a hard mode.”
- “Good replayability, nice range of spells, very challenging, and unique.”
- “Since it’s a roguelike, adding unlockable content or upgrades would boost replayability.”
- “While it may be as tiny as a turtle (about 10 hours of replayable content I'd say) and it may move as slow as one too (in terms of progression, depending on your skill level), it is the epitome of a short-and-sweet experience.”
- “Cheap, replayable, hard.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply impactful, with many expressing a strong connection to its themes of loss and memory. The sparse use of music enhances emotional moments, making discoveries feel intimate and meaningful. Overall, the game evokes powerful feelings, prompting players to reflect on their own experiences and desires.
- “Omg Abandoned Archive is literally my whole personality now ✨ I just wanna dive into those dusty data vaults and get emotionally wrecked by corrupted memories and tragic AI lore .”
- “Music is used sparingly, which heightens emotional impact when it does appear, especially during moments of revelation or escalating tension.”
- “It also gives emotional resonance to discovery—players are not merely escaping a space, but reconstructing a forgotten narrative, and that sense of participation makes the experience feel intimate and meaningful.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere of "Abandoned Archive" is characterized by a mysterious and immersive quality that fosters curiosity and unease, making players feel as though they are exploring a world steeped in history and significance. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a thoughtful and engaging experience that prioritizes mood and thematic depth alongside its puzzle mechanics, enhancing replayability and encouraging exploration. Overall, the game's atmospheric design is highly praised, drawing players into its enigmatic environment.
- “Abandoned Archive presents itself as a mysterious, atmospheric puzzle adventure, one that thrives on curiosity, unease, and the lingering sense that the player has arrived long after something important has happened.”
- “Ultimately, Vedal has created a thoughtful, atmospheric, and intellectually engaging experience that values mood, discovery, and thematic depth as much as mechanical challenge.”
- “The mysterious atmosphere really makes you want to find out what lies in wait, just out of sight, around each and every corner.”
- “The atmosphere???”
- “The mysterious atmosphere really makes you want to find out what lies in wait, just out of sight, around each and every corner... how mysterious!”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is likened to a whimsical blend of quirky elements, reminiscent of "Enter the Gungeon," but with a focus on magical spells rather than firearms. Players anticipated a lighthearted experience, filled with amusing quirks and unexpected moments, contributing to its overall charm.
- “This game is most easily explained as being like Enter the Gungeon with magic spells instead of funny guns.”
- “Le funny turtle game.”
- “I expected a goofy little side project, maybe some jank, maybe a bug that looked at me funny.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews suggest that the monetization strategy may not be effectively compensating for advertising efforts, indicating a potential disconnect between investment in promotion and the game's financial returns.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases makes it feel like the game is more focused on profit than providing a fun experience.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game is considered fairly stable with minimal bugs, though some minor visual glitches and areas for polish have been noted. The graphics contribute positively to the experience, aligning well with the developers' intended vibe.
- “I will say this game is fairly bug-free, although there are still some minor things that could use some polish.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly noting that adjusting controls with the controller can be frustrating due to awkward scrolling.

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Abandoned Archive
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10h Median play time

7h Average play time

5-11h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Abandoned Archive is a action game.

Abandoned Archive is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Abandoned Archive.

Abandoned Archive was released on November 24, 2025.

Abandoned Archive was developed by Vedal.

Abandoned Archive has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its monetization.

Abandoned Archive is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Have a Nice Death, Ember Knights, The Swords of Ditto, AK-xolotl, Moonlighter and others.

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