Anodyne 2: Return to Dust

About

Anodyne is a single-player fantasy platformer game with excellent mechanics and ingenious graphics, set in the dream world of the human Young. As you explore, you'll encounter urban, natural, and bizarre areas, fighting your way through dungeons within Young's subconscious. The game features a good plot, beautiful music, and some grinding, creating a fantastic and highly emotional atmosphere. The sequel, Anodyne 2, is also available.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,104 reviews

story204 positive mentions

grinding24 negative mentions

Anodyne 2 is a beautifully crafted game that combines 3D exploration with 2D Zelda-like dungeons, offering a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
The writing is witty and heartfelt, with memorable characters and a story that resonates deeply, exploring themes of self-identity and personal struggles.
The game's art style and soundtrack create a dreamlike atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, making it a joy to explore the world of New Theland.

The 3D segments can feel empty and aimless, with slow movement that detracts from the exploration experience.
Some players may find the dialogue-heavy narrative overwhelming, with lengthy text that can disrupt the pacing of the game.
The lack of challenging gameplay and boss variety in the 2D segments may disappoint those looking for a more traditional action-adventure experience.

story
588 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
65%
1%
The story of Anodyne 2 is widely praised for its emotional depth, quirky writing, and unique narrative structure, blending surreal elements with themes of self-discovery and community. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the engaging plot, which often evokes strong emotional responses, though some find the pacing uneven and the dialogue occasionally overwhelming. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling storytelling that resonates with players long after the experience.
- “Quirky writing, a wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack, and a story worth telling.”
- “The story brought me to tears with its themes of escapism, self-discovery, and finding community in unexpected places.”
- “Anodyne 2 is a masterpiece of a game with deep themes, beautiful worlds, great characters, and a great story with gameplay going between these 2D and 3D environments.”
- “The game's desire to story-tell through dialogue can overstay its welcome, sometimes to the point of hijacking the game for long periods, which is dull to wade through.”
- “There's a disconnect between story and gameplay, plus a conflict so ill-defined it seems barely there at all, and therefore hard to get invested in.”
- “Unfortunately, the story itself fell flat for me.”
gameplay
492 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
4%
The gameplay in Anodyne 2 is a blend of 3D exploration and 2D puzzle-solving reminiscent of classic Zelda titles, featuring a unique vacuum mechanic that adds depth to the experience. While the 2D segments are praised for their creativity and engaging puzzles, some players find the 3D exploration lacking in combat and complexity, leading to mixed feelings about the overall gameplay depth. Despite its simplicity, the game is celebrated for its charming aesthetics, intriguing storytelling, and the seamless integration of its gameplay mechanics with the narrative.
- “The gameplay is nice and comfortable on its surface, but if you ever want to look at it deeper, the game will reward that interest in spades.”
- “The gameplay is very addicting with its well-designed combat puzzles and platform challenges.”
- “The gameplay loop is really satisfying.”
- “2D Zelda fans might be disappointed, since the gameplay is essentially 2D Zelda but with no items, simple dungeons, and no real progression.”
- “The gameplay is a really dull 'wander in a 3D environment until you find your next mission, then jump to 2D mode inside of a character's head and complete baby's first Zelda dungeon.' The dungeons themselves really have room to grow, and after seven of them I'm bored of the simplicity.”
- “Some of the other gameplay segments can be tedious as well.”
graphics
354 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
71%
2%
The graphics of Anodyne 2 are a nostalgic blend of low-poly PlayStation 1 aesthetics and vibrant 2D sprite work reminiscent of 16-bit games, creating a unique and dreamlike atmosphere. Players appreciate the charming retro visuals, which evoke feelings of nostalgia while also enhancing the game's storytelling and exploration elements. However, some may find the intentionally simplistic graphics off-putting, as they contrast sharply with modern AAA titles.
- “The graphics evoke such a powerful sense of nostalgia for an era of games I never played, and the music is simply so hypnotizing.”
- “The visual design is beautiful, taking advantage of its PS1-like aesthetic to create a mysterious atmosphere.”
- “The 3D sections hit a really nice balance of modern and retro graphics whilst being an interesting world to explore and get lost in.”
- “It's according to current aesthetic conventions, especially compared to AAA titles, ugly AF.”
- “I loved Anodyne 1, but I really don't get this game; it's just not fun, feels empty, and it looks like a PS1 game, with weird graphics and a lot of senseless boring text that feels like I'm getting lectured.”
- “The early 3D art style may be off-putting to some, but I felt that it really enhanced the atmosphere and gameplay experience.”
music
332 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, often described as beautiful, soothing, and dreamlike. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke nostalgia and enhance the overall experience, with many noting that the soundtrack is memorable and varied, contributing significantly to the game's unique ambiance. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay and storytelling to create a captivating experience.
- “The music is both alien and inviting, the sound design is solid through and through, the art design of the game is beautiful and nostalgic and those things contribute to a unique atmosphere you can't really find anywhere else.”
- “The music helps cement this weird and dream-like world too.”
- “The soundtrack is impactful and beautiful.”
- “Either way, sometimes the way things moved mixed with some of the music in the game would make me a bit dizzy or nauseous, and I don't have any history of motion sickness or anything.”
- “The game's gorgeous pixel art is front and center in its dungeons, and the soundtrack is somehow even better than before (though almost all of the 3D themes become mind-numbingly repetitive before long).”
- “The sound effects for movement and actions in the overworld and subworlds could use some more variety, but the ever-changing soundtrack helps balance that out so it's not too distracting.”
atmosphere
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
43%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of quirky writing, beautiful art design, and an evocative soundtrack that creates a dream-like, nostalgic experience. Reviewers highlight the successful execution of both 2D and 3D environments, with the latter offering a more immersive exploration of the game's surreal and melancholic themes. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating and original, making it a standout feature that enhances the storytelling and gameplay.
- “The music is both alien and inviting, the sound design is solid through and through, the art design of the game is beautiful and nostalgic, and those things contribute to a unique atmosphere you can't really find anywhere else.”
- “An incredibly unique experience with a beautifully pleasant atmosphere.”
- “Its combination of dreamy atmosphere, simple explorative gameplay, and most importantly, strange and idyllic dialog and narration come together to create a masterpiece.”
- “This cloying miasma, the atmosphere of the hothouse, hangs over the game as a whole - much like the dust itself.”
- “Another downgrade is the atmosphere.”
- “There's this constant unnerving atmosphere to the whole experience.”
emotional
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its depth and complexity, with many players expressing that it evokes a broad spectrum of feelings, from joy to heartache. The narrative is described as both quirky and heartfelt, featuring lovable characters and surprising moments that resonate deeply with players, often leading to self-reflection and catharsis. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to create a meaningful emotional experience that lingers long after playing.
- “This game made me feel things I didn't know I could feel.”
- “Ultimately it has such a rewarding and heartfelt experience that made me tear up a bit by the end.”
- “It's rare for a game to stay in my thoughts persistently for so long after playing it, but I keep thinking about how beautiful this game is and how the story made me feel in ways games hadn't for a long time.”
humor
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of surreal, absurd, and dark elements, often catching players off guard with its charm and wit. While some find the writing to be a delightful mix of laugh-out-loud moments and poignant reflections, others criticize it for being overly simplistic or childish. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with deeper themes, creating a unique and engaging experience that resonates with a variety of players.
- “This absurd, funny, sentimental experience definitely isn’t for everyone, but if it sounds like it’s for you, give it a try.”
- “The story is well written with endearing characters, warm scenes, funny dialogue, and some rather deep moments as well.”
- “The writing is brilliant, elegantly switching from laugh-out-loud funny to disturbing to tragic often within a single interaction.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of Anodyne 2 is frequently criticized for being repetitive and tedious, with players often feeling bogged down by resource collection and unnecessary backtracking. While some appreciate the game's chill atmosphere and unique ideas, many find the excessive busywork and cumbersome writing detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging adventure.
- “Anodyne 2 is first and foremost repetitive and grindy, while simultaneously being chill and pleasant at times.”
- “Also there's no decent gameplay hook whatsoever, just tedious busywork with your reward being more munky cheez.”
- “The game suffers from extremely cumbersome writing that makes the game tedious to play.”
character development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
23%
14%
Character development in the game is marked by distinct and exaggerated character designs that reflect their personalities, contributing to a rich and humorous narrative. While some players appreciate the surreal and poetic worldbuilding, others express mixed feelings about the characters and story. Overall, the game is praised for its atmospheric exploration and the depth of its character interactions, despite some criticisms regarding specific design choices.
- “The character designs are extremely interesting, often being a characterization of one exaggerated feature that ties into their personality, positive or not.”
- “Highly recommend if you enjoy atmospheric 3D exploration, Zelda-style dungeons, and rich character development.”
- “The plot is rich, character developments are aplenty, and the entire game just oozes polish and care.”
- “Tldr: I love the environment and the aesthetic, but I largely didn't like the character design, nor the characters/story.”
- “Surreal landscapes, weird character designs, poetic and humorous worldbuilding, and plenty of fuel for your very own existential crisis.”
- “Character design is silly, conversations are deep and comedic, and the 2D sections are fun and challenging.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users appreciate the presence of unused content and glitches in the game, viewing them as opportunities for exploration and deconstruction. However, they clarify that these elements do not indicate that the game is buggy or unstable.
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game is primarily story-focused, which limits its replayability; however, it offers a compelling experience that makes the initial playthrough worthwhile. While it may not encourage multiple runs, the quality of the first experience is highly praised.
- “Typically, I only review games after discovering their replay value, but 'Return to Dust' is absolutely worth it for that first playthrough alone, and I ought to bump up its Steam stats.”
- “Unfortunately, as a primarily story-focused game, it does somewhat lack in replayability, but even as a singular experience, it's well worth your time.”
- “Typically, I only review games after discovering their replay value, but Return to Dust is absolutely worth it for that first playthrough alone, and I ought to bump up its Steam stats.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game appears to rely heavily on social media advertising, as users have noted that they were drawn to the game primarily through promotional tweets.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game's optimization reflects a nostalgic approach, embracing the retro aesthetics of early gaming consoles like the PlayStation 1 and Nintendo, while also prioritizing heartfelt storytelling over technical refinement. This results in a unique blend of charm and authenticity, albeit at the expense of modern optimization techniques.
- “The game feels unpolished and lacks the optimization needed for a smooth experience.”
- “Performance issues are rampant, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay.”
- “The frame rate drops significantly during intense scenes, which detracts from the overall experience.”