Anemoiapolis: Chapter 1

Starting at $8.99Buy now

In "Anemoiapolis: Chapter 1" , you explore a vast, surreal underground neighborhood filled with mundane horrors, solving puzzles and navigating dynamic environments to escape. The game utilizes procedural generation to create a unique labyrinth each time, ensuring a disorienting and frightening experience. You must run, swim, jump, slide, and climb to freedom while utilizing your surroundings and putting your puzzle-solving skills to the test.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 816 reviews

atmosphere83 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

The game captures the eerie and nostalgic feeling of liminal spaces exceptionally well.
Visually stunning environments with great attention to detail, particularly in the pool and movie theater levels.
The atmosphere is immersive, creating a sense of unease and curiosity throughout the gameplay.

The ticket system detracts from the exploration experience, making it feel more like a scavenger hunt than a true adventure.
Some levels feel empty and lack interactivity, leading to a monotonous experience.
The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content and depth.

atmosphere
165 mentions
50 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia and unease, effectively capturing the essence of liminal spaces. Many players appreciate the game's focus on environmental storytelling and sound design, which contribute to a haunting yet immersive experience. However, some critiques highlight that gameplay mechanics, such as the ticket collection system, detract from the atmospheric immersion, making it feel less cohesive at times.
- “The atmosphere is perfect, and is as good as I could have hoped for, from this type of game.”
- “An amazing atmospheric horror experience, great liminal spaces and enough feelings of discomfort to really get your heart rate up.”
- “The atmosphere, the tension, and the beautiful environments made it a truly incredible experience.”
- “The fact that the player character speaks as well as there being a voice on the intercom kills what little atmosphere remains intact beyond this.”
- “The whole ticket collecting thing is quite annoying, ruins the atmosphere which is kind of the point of a horror game based on atmosphere.”
- “Between the ticket system and the procedural generation literally kills off all atmosphere and brings things to a screeching halt as you have to find a low amount of tickets for elevators that cost a lot all together.”
graphics
115 mentions
50 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful visuals and effective capture of the liminal space aesthetic. While some players found the graphics to be polished and atmospheric, others criticized them for lacking realism and originality, suggesting that the overall presentation could have been more immersive. Despite these critiques, the game's visuals are often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal within the genre.
- “There are some moments that obviously were handcrafted to be visually impressive, and are quite commendable since they nail the aesthetic perfectly.”
- “The graphics are breathtaking in most areas of the game and the visual style is outstanding.”
- “Super amazing atmosphere, stellar graphics.”
- “There are better backroom themed games, both in graphics and mechanics.”
- “This game really needed to do more with its visuals, especially in sections like the golf game which currently only consist of claustrophobic turns, blank walls, and complete silence.”
- “The audio and graphics are also messed up with the buzzing of the fluorescent lamps way too loud and strange light flickering and graphical glitches everywhere...giving you a headache sooner or later.”
music
102 mentions
44 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, with many players praising the inclusion of vaporwave and retro-inspired tracks that enhance the overall experience. While the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and fitting, some players noted that it can feel too cheerful or disconnected from the game's intended atmosphere, and there are moments where music is sparse or overly loud. Overall, the sound design complements the visuals well, creating a unique blend of comfort and unease that resonates with players.
- “The soundtrack is amazing as well.”
- “The music is incredible.”
- “The soundtrack overall is fantastic; I love that it’s all diegetic, especially when the music gets drowned out because you’re too close to a light source and the hum overshadows the song.”
- “Too much relaxing chill music and none of the creepy tension that usually accompanies these types of games, plus some of it is a pure headache to get through purely because it takes so bloody long going through the same stuff trying to find out where to go.”
- “There is a surprising lack of music when there should be music and when the music does play it's way too loud for the environments it's trying to recreate.”
- “Music only plays through speakers in certain spots most of the time, meaning many levels are spent in silence beyond the noises the main character makes.”
gameplay
84 mentions
18 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its repetitive and minimalistic nature, primarily revolving around a ticket-collecting mechanic that detracts from immersion and exploration. While some players appreciated the atmospheric design and smooth mechanics, many found the puzzles too basic and the overall experience lacking in depth and engagement. The game is often compared unfavorably to better-executed titles in the same genre, leading to disappointment among players who expected more substantial gameplay elements.
- “The gameplay involves exploration, navigation, collection, and some minor puzzle solving, some of which involve learning the quirks of the movement system.”
- “Visually, it looks pretty enough; on top of that, the gameplay is smooth and functional (if rather minimalist - you essentially wander around environments, finding clues and interacting with limited objects).”
- “Despite some glaring issues, the game effectively delivers feelings of anemoia and nostalgia in its clever use of audio, design, and gameplay.”
- “In general, this game showed a lot of promise early on, but the developer ruined it by poor levels, mechanics, and plot.”
- “Overall, the game fails to do what it aims to, and does not make concerted efforts to engage the player, whether it be through the setting or the mechanics.”
- “The gameplay, if you want to call it that, is much too shallow and sparse to make this progression appealing.”
story
81 mentions
15 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in this game has received mixed feedback, with many players appreciating its intriguing premise but feeling that it is underdeveloped and incomplete, particularly as it ends on a cliffhanger. While some enjoy the atmospheric elements and the protagonist's internal monologue, others criticize the lack of world-building and narrative depth, suggesting that the ticketing system detracts from the immersive experience. Overall, players are hopeful for future chapters to expand and clarify the story, as they see potential in its direction.
- “The visuals are amazing, the playthrough was fun, and the storyline was fascinating.”
- “I'm actually really looking forward to where the story takes us in chapter 2.”
- “This is a game changer for the liminal horror genre; instead of the typical backrooms walking sim, this has story and a gamified collecting aspect, which adds some originality to it.”
- “My main complaint is that the story is incomplete.”
- “The story is basically non-existent until the very end of the chapter, with only vague hints that your character is an electrician of some sort.”
- “The atmosphere and story is promising, but at the moment it's way too poorly executed for me to recommend spending $8 or even the two hours it takes to play.”
grinding
18 mentions
6 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the ticket system and the need to collect items in expansive areas. While some levels offer enjoyable exploration, many reviewers noted that the initial stages feel overly grindy, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, there are moments of rewarding exploration that shine through once the grinding subsides.
- “I never had any trouble finding enough, and had a surplus of about 200 at the end of the game with no grinding whatsoever.”
- “Add in the fact that you need tickets to access most of the elevators, and what should have been a nice, experiential game can quickly feel like a tedious scavenger hunt.”
- “There is a ticket system added to the game that makes the first few levels (before getting a stockpile of them) feel grindy and adds a lot of friction.”
- “The game has potential, but a less tedious gameplay loop would have been better.”
stability
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is marked by a mix of minor bugs and glitches, particularly with lighting and textures, which can detract from the experience. While some players reported issues like disappearing floors and control bugs, others found the game relatively stable with only a few visual glitches. Performance issues, such as lag during scene transitions, were noted, but no game-breaking bugs were commonly encountered.
- “However, I noticed a bunch of lighting glitches and textural bugs, particularly in the conference center level.”
- “There are a lot of easy bugs and glitches in this game, also lag and performance issues when rendering a new scene.”
- “The audio and graphics are also messed up with the buzzing of the fluorescent lamps way too loud and strange light flickering and graphical glitches everywhere...giving you a headache sooner or later.”
optimization
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, including lag, frame drops, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. Many players noted the need to adjust settings to mitigate these problems, particularly in the opening area, which is especially poorly optimized and could deter new players. Overall, while the game has enjoyable elements, its optimization shortcomings are a major concern.
- “It needs some optimization, but is otherwise enjoyable at this point.”
- “I did also have some optimization gripes as there were a few frame drops I assume to load in the next part of the maze.”
- “Specifically, the performance in the opening area needs to be fixed; it's a huge outlier compared to the rest of the game and could scare away new players.”
- “There are a lot of easy bugs and glitches in this game, also lag and performance issues when rendering a new scene.”
- “Edit: also be warned it is poorly optimized, be prepared to fiddle with and disable settings to prevent lag even on good PCs.”
- “Another interesting tidbit is the performance is pretty awful, so much so my PC suddenly restarted when I began a new game, scaring me into thinking I had a whole system crash.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players have noted that the game evokes strong emotions, particularly nostalgia and unease, with specific environments like the pool level resonating deeply and even eliciting tears. The atmospheric elements, such as sound design and vast spaces, contribute to a feeling of isolation, enhancing the emotional experience, though some players wish these impactful moments were more extended.
- “The first game that made me cry, thinking about my childhood in the pool level.”
- “The atmosphere was excellent; it made me feel quite nostalgic for places from my childhood (especially the pool, movie theater, and mall areas) while at the same time feeling uneasy.”
- “No game has made me cry, but this one did a good job.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling misled by its advertising. Many found the gameplay lacking in depth, featuring minimal puzzles and superficial interactions, which detracted from the overall experience.
- “Backrooms cash grab.”
- “You only occasionally actually get to interact with the environments in a meaningful way, despite the game's advertising.”
- “I feel like there aren't enough puzzles either, only some A to B stuff that you see in mobile ads and like one or two physics/platforming things.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
While the game offers a captivating atmosphere and enjoyable gameplay, many users note that its replayability is limited, primarily due to its short length and the fact that it currently consists of only one chapter. However, some players express excitement for future content and the potential for speedrunning, which may enhance replay value.
- “I suppose it adds a little bit of 'gotta catch 'em all' replay value, though... no doubt the 100% speedrun category will develop as a result.”
- “The only thing I didn't like was that there isn't much replayability.”
- “I suppose it adds a little bit of 'gotta catch 'em all' replay value, though.”
- “Is it replayable?”
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "anemoiapolis" is rooted in its nostalgic and surreal settings, such as abandoned shopping malls and indoor water parks, which evoke a sense of melancholic tranquility. This blend of familiar yet eerie environments elicits a unique, humorous response that resonates with players' memories of childhood experiences.
- “Chock full of classic liminal spaces, from dead shopping malls to deserted convention centers, to a highly chlorinated indoor water park (complete with dozens of waterslides, plastic palm trees, and even those giant mushroom umbrella fountain things from that water park your parents took you to every summer), Anemoiapolis is guaranteed to fill you with those funny feelings of melancholic tranquility and artificial nostalgia.”