Alpha Polaris

About

Alpha Polaris is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Turmoil Games and was released on October 21, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

In Alpha Polaris, players step into the role of an oil rig engineer confronted with a supernatural Arctic threat. The game is a horror adventure, combining point-and-click exploration with challenging puzzles and a gripping narrative. As the crew's safety unravels, players must uncover the mysterious force threatening their lives and the environment while battling harsh weather conditions and isolation.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 326 reviews

story104 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Engaging story with a unique setting that combines horror elements with Inuit mythology.
Challenging puzzles that require logical thinking, with some rewarding moments of satisfaction upon solving them.
Atmospheric visuals and sound design that effectively create a sense of isolation and tension.

Some puzzles can be overly cryptic or frustrating, leading to reliance on walkthroughs.
The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more depth and character development.
Inconsistent voice acting and dated graphics detract from the overall experience.

story
267 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The story of "Alpha Polaris" is a compelling blend of psychological horror and mystery, set in an isolated Arctic research station, where supernatural elements intertwine with Inuit mythology. While the narrative is engaging and features surprising twists, it suffers from brevity and underdeveloped character backstories, leaving some characters feeling one-dimensional. Overall, the game successfully creates a tense atmosphere, though some players may find the pacing uneven and the ending somewhat predictable.
- “The story unfolds at its own pace and while the ending is somewhat predictable, it is well presented.”
- “The story is engaging and keeps you guessing until the very end, with a number of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The story touches on Inuit mythology, which gives it a unique angle compared to a lot of horror games out there.”
- “Since the story is so short, there is not any time to really get into the backstories of the characters, so they do somewhat come off as one-dimensional and shallow.”
- “The story here is lackluster, if only because the game doesn't take the time or care to fully flesh out the details.”
- “The story was just not great, or at least just not well told.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
64%
10%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, with many reviewers noting a mix of low-quality cutscenes and inconsistent character models. However, some praise the character designs and atmospheric elements, highlighting the eerie beauty and immersive sound design that enhance the overall experience. While the visuals may not impress, they are functional and contribute to the game's narrative and horror themes.
- “Even for old-fashioned graphics, the character designs are well-made, the dialogue is intimate, and the atmosphere (both aesthetic and literal) is an eerie beauty.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is incredibly tense and creepy; the graphics and sound design are top-notch, with stunningly realistic environments and creepy sound effects that add to the overall horror of the game.”
- “Despite the very dated graphics, they do a great job with the tools they had.”
- “Ugly early 2004 style graphics, predictable story, some puzzles feel quite random.”
- “Graphically this game is a disaster.”
- “The graphics in the game are okay, but dated, and the cut scenes look worse than the in-game artwork.”
atmosphere
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie beauty, tension, and sense of isolation, effectively creating a slow-burn horror experience reminiscent of Lovecraftian themes. While the graphics may be dated, the sound design and immersive environments contribute significantly to the overall mood, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric horror. However, some reviewers noted that the atmosphere can falter in the latter parts of the game, and the repetitive areas may detract from the experience.
- “The atmosphere of the game is incredibly tense and creepy; the graphics and sound design are top-notch, with stunningly realistic environments and creepy sound effects that add to the overall horror of the game.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic and it really feels like there was effort put into details.”
- “This game was extremely fun to play through, the story was incredible and the atmosphere was perfectly tense throughout it all.”
- “Worst is that the plot starts with a very promising Lovecraftian atmosphere, which evaporates halfway into the game.”
- “For being a horror adventure, there is zero atmosphere and the 'evil' in the game is barely fleshed out.”
- “The atmosphere is dull, but it is the Arctic; how exciting is that?”
gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
76%
8%
The gameplay is characterized as a classic point-and-click adventure with trial-and-error mechanics, featuring challenging yet solvable puzzles. While some players found the lack of guidance frustrating and the graphics somewhat dated, others appreciated the smoothness of the gameplay and the engaging story. Overall, the experience is described as average, with a mix of enjoyable elements and notable shortcomings, particularly in puzzle design and character movement.
- “It's an old-time adventure in the classic style of trial-and-error gameplay.”
- “The puzzles in Alpha Polaris are challenging but not too difficult, making for a satisfying gameplay experience.”
- “The two-button controls are straightforward and work well, the conversations are easy to navigate, and overall I would say that the gameplay is solid.”
- “The gameplay was a little weak; I found the complete lack of guidance frustrating to the point where I started following a walkthrough very early on to 100% it in one playthrough (3.7 hours according to Steam), and the graphics are a little rough for its original release date, especially the cutscenes.”
- “A walkthrough is nearly mandatory to avoid stalls due to badly thought out puzzle mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is a bit clunky; I found myself confused a lot of times because there wasn’t always much direction on what I should do next.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to create an atmospheric and eerie backdrop that enhances the overall experience. While some players found the soundtrack memorable and fitting for the game's tone, others noted that certain pieces were forgettable or sparse, leading to moments of silence. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong element that contributes positively to the game's ambiance, despite some criticisms regarding its consistency and memorability.
- “The music throughout the entirety of the game does an amazing job setting the tone—something I've found that games have trouble with fairly often.”
- “Very good adventure game with a great atmosphere and soundtrack!”
- “The soundtrack is pretty eerie, and the game is based off Inuit legend, so that's pretty interesting.”
- “There's some music playing but I don't remember it, which means the music is there for the sake of music.”
- “Very bad graphics, forgettable music, bland characters, and an unoriginal and predictable plot.”
- “Tldr: a solid engine and nice enough overall idea for a narrative made completely forgettable by mediocre voice acting, superficial character motivations, questionable writing level, a lack in quantity of musical scores, a rushed plot, few character developments, and brickwall undecipherable puzzles using text boxes.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Alpha Polaris is characterized by its dark and absurd elements, including awkward dialogue and intentionally poorly rendered scenes, which some players find hilariously entertaining. The game features comedic relief through funny achievements and side missions, such as baking a cake to impress a girl, though it also includes jarring moments that contrast with its humor, like a grotesque sex scene. Overall, players appreciate the blend of humor amidst the game's darker themes, making for a uniquely comedic experience.
- “I loved the humor and funny achievements.”
- “His dialogue is hilariously bad sometimes and it feels like everything that comes out of his mouth is actually comedic relief, instead of serious stuff.”
- “There's a hilarious one where you bake a cake to try and impress a girl.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often leading to the use of walkthroughs to progress. While some appreciate the nostalgic point-and-click adventure elements, the repetitive nature of puzzles and navigation can detract from the overall experience. However, the option to skip walking animations is a welcomed feature that alleviates some of the grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “It became tedious and frustrating very quickly to the point where I looked up a walkthrough to help me.”
- “Any shorter and it would feel like a quick rip-off, any longer and it would start to feel tedious.”
- “The characters were pretty flat and the puzzles ranged from solid to really tedious.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the character development in the game is criticized for being superficial and rushed, with many reviewers expressing a desire for deeper exploration of the characters and their motivations. While the character designs are appreciated, the dialogue and writing quality are seen as inconsistent, contributing to a narrative that feels incomplete. The fast-paced plot leaves little room for meaningful character growth, making the overall experience less impactful.
- “Even for old-fashioned graphics, the character designs are well-made, the dialogue is intimate, and the atmosphere (both aesthetic and literal) is an eerie beauty.”
- “I really like the character designs.”
- “The writing is pretty good, but the plot moves too fast. Having the plot take place over a few more days and including more character development would have made the end result better.”
- “Tldr: a solid engine and a nice enough overall idea for a narrative made completely forgettable by mediocre voice acting, superficial character motivations, questionable writing level, a lack in quantity of musical scores, a rushed plot, few character developments, and brickwall undecipherable puzzles using text boxes.”
- “[*] needs more character development.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor glitches reported, particularly in puzzles. While some users noted occasional bugs, the overall experience remains engaging and visually appealing.
- “Some buggy puzzles.”
- “A little buggy, but overall -- engaging story, great characters, and beautiful visuals.”
- “Stability: the game seems to run fine and there were only two glitches I saw.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers limited replayability due to its short length, but the inclusion of enjoyable achievements encourages players to revisit it.
- “It's quite short, but has fun achievements that provide a good amount of replayability.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes makes me want to play through it multiple times.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different paths and strategies available.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for its low-quality graphics, which some users liken to poorly made 3D ads, suggesting that the visual presentation detracts from the overall experience.