Access Denied

Overall, Access Denied was disappointing to me as I expected more puzzles, a plot to serve as a backdrop to give the initiative to solve the boxes, and smoother controls.

66%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, music

75% User Score Based on 256 reviews

Critic Score 48%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Access Denied is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Stately Snail and was released on December 16, 2016. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Access Denied" is a puzzle game featuring 36 levels with increasing difficulty. Players must crack codes and solve a series of puzzles using commands, rotating dials, and more. The game features 3D graphics and a realistic sounding rain and thunder environment, with no hand-holding tutorials. The goal is to defy odds and overcome hurdles to earn the chance to "have your cake and eat it too."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 256 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

story10 negative mentions

The game features a variety of puzzles that can be enjoyable and provide a sense of accomplishment when solved.
Visually appealing with good graphics and a relaxing ambiance, making it a pleasant experience.
Affordable price point makes it accessible for casual players looking for a short puzzle game.

Many puzzles are either too easy or rely on trial and error, leading to frustration rather than challenge.
The controls can be awkward and unresponsive, particularly when manipulating dials and rotating objects.
Lacks a coherent story or motivation for solving the puzzles, which may leave players feeling disconnected from the gameplay.

gameplay
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
84%
7%
The gameplay features 35 levels, starting with tutorial stages that introduce basic mechanics, but many players find the puzzles repetitive and lacking in challenge. While the graphics are appealing and the gameplay fluid, the design suffers from poorly introduced mechanics and puzzles that often feel disconnected, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, the game is considered worth its low price, but it may not satisfy those seeking more complex or varied puzzles.
- “There are 35 levels to play through, the first 8 or so being 'tutorial' levels that introduce some of the mechanics.”
- “Every puzzle has a solution to it once you figure out the mechanic to it.”
- “It has appealing graphics and very fluid gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is as simple as it is confusing.”
- “I would love to see 'Access Denied 2' with actually challenging puzzles, because the graphics have a lot to give, but the actual gameplay is poor in ideas.”
- “The flow for this game didn't seem designed very well as new gameplay would get introduced that you wouldn't use for 5 to 10 puzzles.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
47%
9%
The graphics in "Access Denied" are generally praised for their appealing industrial-cartoon aesthetic and fluid visuals, creating a consistent and immersive environment. However, some players feel that the graphics are underutilized due to a lack of engaging gameplay and that certain elements, like puzzle symbols, suffer from low graphical quality. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, they are overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of depth.
- “It has appealing graphics and very fluid gameplay.”
- “Actually, with the lovely visuals and pleasant environment, I kind of wish there was more to play of this game or at least in its world environment!”
- “[i]Access Denied[/i] maintains an industrial-cartoon aesthetic throughout the entire game, and nothing ever looks out of place or feels immersion-breaking.”
- “Many of the puzzles require you to read and translate a series of symbols that all look the same due to the low graphical quality of the engine.”
- “Quite a nice little puzzle game in the style of 'The Room', but it's lacking any story, and graphics seem to prefer style over design: it looks nice and shiny, but the game is buggy, and controls are clunky.”
- “I would love to see 'Access Denied 2' with actually challenging puzzles, because the graphics have a lot to give, but the actual gameplay is poor in ideas.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
50%
42%
The game "Access Denied" is criticized for its lack of a meaningful story, with reviewers noting that it offers no narrative or character development to engage players. While the aesthetic is described as visually appealing, the absence of a storyline leaves players without motivation to solve the puzzles, making it a poor choice for those seeking a narrative-driven experience. Overall, if story is a priority for players, they are advised to look elsewhere.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Aesthetic is consistent and flavorful, even if the story doesn't really exist.”
- “Unfortunately, there is no story or reason for you to be opening these boxes.”
- “If story is important to you, stay away as there is none.”
- “There's no feeling of reward - though the sales pitch tells a story of a not-so-distant future where personal data is being stored in elaborate boxes, you never get to see the contents of the box you've just cracked.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting the absence of a substantial soundtrack and instead being subjected to a constant, loud rain sound that can be jarring and annoying. While some found the music initially relaxing, it ultimately failed to enhance the experience, leading several players to opt for playing without sound altogether. Overall, the lack of a diverse musical score detracts from the game's otherwise visually rich environment.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “There is a constant soundtrack, but it only manifests as a continuous pouring rain outside whatever building you inhabit in this game.”
- “Although the music pretends to be relaxing, I didn't like it at all and I ended up playing it without sound.”
- “For what is such a visually flavorful game, 'Access Denied' has virtually no soundtrack.”
- “There is a constant soundtrack, but it only manifests as a continuous (and incredibly loud, often annoying) pouring rain outside whatever building you inhabit in this game.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, as the puzzles are overly simplistic despite the game's charming visuals. While it may be suitable for farming, the repetitive nature of the gameplay detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game is visually charming, but the actual puzzles are frustratingly easy and tedious.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its appealing visuals and sound design, effectively utilizing its single-room setting to create an immersive experience. However, some users feel that the atmosphere lacks depth and intuition.
- “The game also looks nice, sounds great, and makes the most of its setting, creating a good little atmosphere in its single room.”
- “It's like a room without atmosphere or intuition.”
- “It's like a room without atmosphere or intuition.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including bugs and clunky controls that detract from the overall experience. While it features appealing graphics, the lack of polish in functionality undermines its potential as a puzzle game.
- “Quite a nice little puzzle game in the style of 'The Room', but it's lacking any story, and graphics seem to prefer style over design: it looks nice and shiny, but the game is buggy, and controls are clunky.”
- “As for being buggy: the boxes sit on a kind of desk, where you can turn them around (and a little bit up and down), zoom in and out to find details (not that looking for minute detail is required for more than one puzzle).”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game lacks immediate replayability, but many users believe that puzzle games can be revisited after some time, suggesting a potential for enjoyment in future playthroughs.
- “While it has no immediate replayability value, I figure most puzzle games are revisitable after a few years, haha.”