Alveole

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Alveole is a minimalistic puzzle where the player must understand how to run and why does he do it?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

The game features a simple and relaxing one-button control scheme, making it accessible for all players.
The minimalist black and white graphics are beautifully clean and contribute to a calming atmosphere.
It's a short game that offers a unique experience, encouraging self-reflection and providing a few surprises along the way.

The gameplay is extremely limited, primarily consisting of jumping over spikes with no real story or depth.
Some players may find the trial-and-error nature frustrating, especially with slow loading times between runs.
Once all achievements are unlocked, the game lacks replayability, making it feel unfulfilling for some.

story
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the story aspect, with some users noting a complete lack of narrative or engaging content, while others find the story compelling. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game may not deliver a substantial or meaningful storyline.
- “It's a compelling story-wise.”
- “There is no story and really nothing going on.”
- “There is no story and really nothing going on.”
- “☑ no story”
graphics
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their beautiful and simplistic black and white design, which is described as clean and appealing. The art style features a charming white mocap-ragdoll character, reminiscent of previous works by Rickenbach and Frei, contributing to a cute and relaxing visual experience.
- “I like the beautiful black and white graphics; simplistic but really clean.”
- “One-button controls, relaxing music, and a cute art style.”
- “The main figure art style is a white mocap-ragdoll that strongly recalls the Rickenbach and Frei games, plug & play or kids, although conceptually Alveole is more similar to their game My Exercise.”
- “The main figure art style is a white mocap-ragdoll that strongly recalls the Rickenbach and Frei games 'Plug & Play' or 'Kids', although conceptually Alveole is more similar to their game 'My Exercise'.”
gameplay
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is extremely simplistic, relying solely on a jumping mechanic, which some users find limiting and unengaging.
- “And the only mechanic you have is jumping.”
- “And the only mechanic you have is jumping.”
music
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its relaxing and soothing qualities, featuring soft piano melodies that enhance the overall experience. Coupled with a charming art style, the soundtrack contributes to a calming atmosphere that players find enjoyable.
- “Nice and relaxing game with soft piano music.”
- “The music is amazing.”
- “One-button controls, relaxing music, and cute art style.”
stability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its stability, with users noting that it is not buggy and functions well without any significant issues. Overall, it is considered reliable and free from major technical problems.
- “I don't know if it can be improved; it's not buggy, there is nothing wrong with it.”
- “Usually, the games I don't recommend are buggy or lacking some specific things, but with this game, it's a whole different level of instability.”
- “This game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that completely disrupted my gaming experience.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it feels like one would need a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game features a unique approach to replayability, offering zero replayability through its implementation of permanent consequences, akin to other experimental titles like Undertale and Bioshock Infinite. This design choice creates a singular experience rather than encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- “The game does a rare thing: it offers zero replayability, which is somewhat related to various other experiments in 'permanent consequences' beyond permadeath, as seen in games like Undertale, One Chance, or Bioshock Infinite: Industrial Revolution.”
- “The lack of replayability is striking, making the game feel more like a one-time experience rather than something you would want to revisit.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again, as the choices and outcomes feel final and unchangeable.”