American Arcadia

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,348 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
American Arcadia Game Cover
American Arcadia covers a unique scenario with a great story and beautiful environments. Its mix of 2-D sidescrolling platforming sections and 3-D exploration of the outside world shakes up what could quickly become monotonous.
Starting at $3.54Buy now
Get on Steam

In "American Arcadia," a reality TV show broadcasts the lives of citizens in a retro-futuristic city. Trevor, an unpopular office clerk, faces execution but gains help from Angela, a stage technician determined to help him escape. Players must navigate dangerous obstacles and manipulate the show's sets and props to save Trevor from death. This game follows the success of "Call of the Sea."

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,348 reviews
story986 positive mentions
optimization34 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-written story with unexpected twists and turns.
  • Unique blend of 2D platforming and first-person puzzle-solving gameplay.
  • Beautiful art style and strong voice acting that enhances the overall experience.
  • Gameplay can feel simplistic and linear, with some frustrating trial-and-error sections.
  • Technical issues such as stuttering and crashes can detract from immersion.
  • Some puzzles may lack clarity, leading to confusion on how to progress.
  • story1,716 mentions

    The story of "American Arcadia" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, filled with intriguing twists and a strong thematic connection to media and consumerism, reminiscent of "The Truman Show." Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the seamless integration of gameplay with storytelling, although some find the gameplay simplistic and occasionally tedious. Overall, the narrative is considered the game's standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of story-driven experiences.

    • “The story has some good twists and turns and ties up pretty nicely - I clocked in at 6 hours exactly, I haven't gone back for the achievements yet but I likely will.”
    • “A brilliant story with simple, yet gripping gameplay that kept me hooked throughout till the end!”
    • “The story is compelling, filled with twists and turns leading to a surprising and engaging finale.”
    • “No real focus on story or anything, just constant puzzles 24/7.”
    • “The story is ok, a bit stretched out and not overly interesting, the characters a bit flat and uninteresting.”
    • “The last bit of the story is a roller-coaster, but unfortunately it quite suddenly stops and the conclusion of the story is a bit of a letdown, given what you have been working to in the past 8-10 hours.”
  • gameplay792 mentions

    The gameplay in "American Arcadia" is a blend of 2.5D platforming and first-person puzzle-solving, featuring a mix of engaging mechanics that keep the experience fresh. While some players appreciate the innovative dual-character gameplay and narrative integration, others find the overall mechanics simplistic and occasionally tedious, with repetitive elements that detract from the experience. Ultimately, the game is more focused on delivering a compelling story than on providing challenging gameplay, making it a worthwhile experience for those who prioritize narrative over complexity.

    • “The gameplay and puzzles are constantly changing.”
    • “This unique style, combined with solid gameplay and an intriguing story, keeps players entertained from beginning to end.”
    • “The gameplay loop of American Arcadia is well-crafted, offering a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and platforming.”
    • “This game is just evidence of how a really great story can elevate middle-of-the-road gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay became extremely boring very quickly; it's mostly run and jump, run and jump when playing the 2D sections and a boring point-and-click when playing the 3D sections.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game design is constantly working against this story with uninteresting puzzles and gameplay that crosses into the realm of tedious busywork at times.”
  • graphics397 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, stylized art style that evokes a unique 1970s retro-futuristic aesthetic, creating an engaging and immersive atmosphere. However, despite the appealing visuals, many players report performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, even on high-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the art direction is celebrated, the optimization and technical performance leave room for improvement.

    • “The art style feels like stepping into a vibrant, neon-soaked canvas.”
    • “The game’s aesthetic is outstanding, 10/10 with no notes.”
    • “Absolutely hands down lived up to the hype - the graphics are pretty without being pretentious, the voice acting is on-point, with interesting character, musical score, story-line and a unique combination of puzzle solving and side-scroller adventuring.”
    • “Expect a lot of frame skipping for a game that doesn't look graphically expensive enough to justify it.”
    • “For a game that is not really that graphically intense it doesn't quite run at 60 fps on the Steam Deck - average of 40 fps.”
    • “The story, setting, gameplay mechanics, everything looks so good, but even with a decent computer and only medium graphics settings across the board it still ran very poorly.”
  • music161 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its originality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many praising its immersive quality and emotional impact. While some players noted moments of repetitiveness and high volume levels, the soundtrack is generally described as a perfect fit for the game's aesthetic and narrative, contributing significantly to its engaging atmosphere. Overall, the combination of great music, voice acting, and visual design creates a memorable and captivating experience for players.

    • “The music, graphics, and plot twists are so on-point and mesmerizing.”
    • “The soundtrack was great, too!”
    • “Every screen is gorgeous, the writing is fantastic, and the soundtrack made me cry while playing.”
    • “For the most part, the tracks sound like theme songs and backing music to 70s TV shows and cinema.”
    • “Music is fine but gets a little repetitive.”
    • “However, it has its drawbacks, and I'll narrow them down to two: the volume of the music is excessively high at certain moments, making it impossible to reduce, so be cautious about that.”
  • humor132 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, with many players finding themselves laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and engaging character interactions. The blend of humor with action and narrative depth creates a unique experience that resonates well with players, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. While some critiques mention occasional cringe-worthy moments, the overall consensus is that the humor significantly enhances the game's appeal and storytelling.

    • “I found myself laughing out loud multiple times during my playthrough.”
    • “The humorous and enjoyable conversations between the two main characters and the antagonists add depth and entertainment to the narrative, showcasing the developers' dedication to storytelling.”
    • “It's witty, funny, and presents a plot that really lures you in with the mystery surrounding it.”
  • optimization90 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting issues such as constant stuttering, frame rate drops, and memory leaks, particularly on PC and Steam Deck. While some users experienced minimal performance issues, others found the optimization to be a major detractor from the overall experience, affecting gameplay and enjoyment. Despite these technical shortcomings, the game's art style and voice performances were praised, suggesting that the core experience is compelling but hindered by its performance problems.

    • “The only real issue is that the optimization on Steam Deck, which is a shame since it's perfect for the deck.”
    • “Minimal performance issues.”
    • “Performance was really good; I played on epic settings with no super-sampling.”
    • “There are a number of issues related to stuttering or frame rate drops in early-game cutscenes, a frustrating doubling or overlapping of voice lines, and a massive number of issues with the subtitles.”
    • “Yes, it lacks optimization; I suspect a memory leak, but what a ride!!!”
    • “The optimization on PC is horrible; my PC runs super hot while playing the game, and it just doesn't make sense for it to run this hot, with it being neither CPU-intensive nor GPU-intensive.”
  • atmosphere33 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals and engaging aesthetic, blending 1970s influences with a retro-futuristic vibe reminiscent of "The Truman Show." Players find the immersive environment enhances the overall experience, although some technical issues can disrupt this immersion. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its appeal.

    • “The game's aesthetic, a mix of 1970s and Fallout influences with a touch of 'The Truman Show,' works exceptionally well, creating an engaging and immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Fun, fast-paced, and atmospheric, with a quirky 70's retro-future vibe which is definitely worth playing for both serious and casual gamers.”
    • “With a strong atmosphere, interesting story, and engaging but fairly simple mix of puzzle and platforming gameplay, American Arcadia makes for a memorable place to visit - and escape from.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game also keeps you in the game.”
    • “It breaks the atmosphere of the 70s like a giant rock breaks a perfect sculpture made of glass.”
    • “Angela's fun, chaotic, and her game sections aren't the 2.5D of Trevor's runny nonsense but puzzle solvers in the first-person, reminiscent in control (though certainly not in atmosphere) of something like Call of the Sea.”
  • replayability33 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many players noting that once the story is fully revealed, there is little incentive to replay it. While some appreciate the narrative enough to revisit it for the experience, the lack of features like a skip command and the game's short length contribute to a generally limited replay value. Achievements and missing dialogues may offer some motivation for a second playthrough, but the consensus leans towards minimal replayability.

    • “This replayability adds to the game's overall appeal.”
    • “It has pretty good replay value, which is a plus.”
    • “Limited replay value once you know the story beats but definitely worth the price of admission for the single playthrough.”
    • “The only downside is that there is pretty much zero replayability.”
    • “The replay value is pretty low and it's pretty short, so that's a bit sad.”
    • “I don’t think there is any replayability in this game unless you want to get all achievements or any missing dialogues or information during your gameplay.”
  • emotional28 mentions

    The game excels in its emotional depth, with superb voice acting that enhances both humorous and poignant moments. Players find the story riveting and heartwarming, particularly appreciating the compelling friendship between characters Angela and Trevor, which evokes genuine feelings of laughter and sadness. The combination of fantastic writing, beautiful visuals, and a moving soundtrack contributes to a deeply engaging emotional experience.

    • “The voice acting is superb, bringing the characters to life with excellent delivery of jokes and emotional moments alike.”
    • “Every screen is gorgeous, the writing is fantastic, and the soundtrack made me cry while playing.”
    • “Angela and Trevor's friendship was so compelling and heartwarming, and their banter was very funny; you can tell that they come to really care about each other.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    Many players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with repetitive puzzles and gameplay that detracts from the overall experience. While some enjoy the story and certain puzzles, the frequent interruptions and lack of engaging mechanics lead to frustration. Overall, the game suffers from a design that often feels like busywork rather than meaningful challenges.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “To many tedious puzzles that plague and ruin the game experience.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game design is constantly working against this story with uninteresting puzzles and gameplay that crosses into the realm of tedious busywork at times.”
    • “Despite the entertainment value, the game is marred by lackluster and tedious puzzles, extended run scenes that fail to leave a significant impact, and a narrative that lacks player engagement.”
  • stability18 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with players reporting minor glitches and occasional freezes that require restarts, but these issues are generally not game-breaking. While some users experienced multiple bugs, they noted that most could be resolved with quick saves, allowing the overall experience to remain enjoyable. Despite the technical imperfections, many still recommend the game for its engaging story and charm.

    • “The game isn't too buggy, with the few bugs I ran into, such as NPCs getting stuck or running faster than they should, being fixed with a simple reload of a quick save.”
    • “I ran into two freezes that required restarting the game; other than that, it was perfect!”
    • “Overall, 9 out of 10 for me, minus one for one crash and minor glitches.”
    • “My worst criticism of the game is how buggy it is - I faced five bugs during my playthrough.”
  • character development8 mentions

    American Arcadia is praised for its strong character development, which is integral to its engaging narrative and moral themes. Reviewers appreciate the depth and evolution of characters throughout the game, highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Despite some criticism regarding visual consistency, the character arcs contribute significantly to the game's impact.

    • “I enjoyed every moment of this game. I hugely appreciate the love that went into the visual design, the puzzles, the sense of exploration, and the character development, along with the moral messages. I finished the game and immediately jumped online to see if I could find some merch to remember it by.”
    • “It has a great story, innovative gameplay, great character development, and the art design fits it well!”
    • “I was actually a little split on American Arcadia's visuals, with the downside being, in my view, the lack of consistency between the lush environments and the simplified character designs.”
    • “American Arcadia is a master class in gaming narrative design and character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

Buy American Arcadia

Play time

8hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
6-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games