Aragami

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,297 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Aragami Game Cover
Aragami is a superb stealth game with a gorgeous visual design and a protagonist that feels as lithe and graceful as you'd expect a ninja to be.
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"Aragami 2" is a narrative-driven stealth game where you play as a shadow spirit with powerful abilities, fighting to infiltrate the city of Kyuryu and uncover the truth about your destiny. With a perfect story, amazing gameplay, compelling visuals, and spectacular music, the game offers a variety of paths to approach each scenario, encouraging multiple playthroughs. Despite some bugs, the atmospheric setting and highly emotional story make for a masterful and immersive experience.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,297 reviews
story610 positive mentions
stability140 negative mentions
  • story1,516 mentions

    The story of "Aragami" is generally described as engaging yet predictable, with many players noting its simplicity and occasional clichés. While some found the narrative compelling and emotionally resonant, particularly towards the end, others criticized it for being shallow and lacking depth, often feeling like a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a driving force. Overall, the story is seen as serviceable, providing enough intrigue to keep players invested, especially when paired with the game's unique stealth mechanics and art style.

    • “The story is quite enjoyable, and the gameplay itself delivered exactly what I was personally waiting for.”
    • “The story was great as well, especially at the end.”
    • “The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, the game is fun, and there is so much that can be done with the movement and abilities.”
    • “The story is predictable, but executed well enough.”
    • “The story is quite minimalistic, but it is absolutely enough for the needs of the game.”
    • “The story is weak, you get cutscenes here and there but, by the end, we had no idea what was going on.”
  • gameplay1,334 mentions

    The gameplay of "Aragami" is characterized by its unique shadow mechanics, allowing players to teleport between shadows, which adds a strategic layer to stealth gameplay. While the game offers enjoyable and engaging mechanics reminiscent of titles like "Dishonored" and "Mark of the Ninja," some players noted issues with repetitiveness and occasional clunkiness in controls. Overall, the game is praised for its artistic style and satisfying stealth mechanics, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre, despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “The gameplay revolves around using shadows to your advantage as you sneak around and take out enemies.”
    • “The mechanics are unique and there are different abilities for different playstyles.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and requires a lot of strategizing and thinking to solve stages as far as challenges are involved.”
    • “Gameplay is like a poor-man's castrated Dishonored.”
    • “The gameplay loop became monotonous and I was ready to stop playing by the end of my 7 hours.”
    • “The gameplay is so boring, omg.”
  • graphics695 mentions

    The graphics of "Aragami" are characterized by a unique cel-shaded art style that many players find visually appealing, reminiscent of anime and traditional Japanese aesthetics. While the visuals are generally praised for their beauty and atmosphere, some reviews note that the graphics can feel dated or lack polish in certain areas, leading to occasional performance issues. Overall, the game's artistic design effectively complements its stealth gameplay, creating an immersive experience despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “From the moment I stepped into the world of shadows, I was captivated by the game's unique mechanics, stunning visuals, and immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The game's art style is a visual feast, with ethereal landscapes and captivating lighting that heighten the immersive stealth experience.”
    • “The cel-shaded graphics create a visually arresting world that perfectly complements the game's stealth-centric gameplay.”
    • “Graphics are awful, even for an indie game.”
    • “The graphics and the story are meh but the gameplay is fine.”
    • “My only gripes about this game is that the art and graphics texturing, though admirable when done correctly, are often inconsistent, making the game graphically appear a generation behind in some areas.”
  • music353 mentions

    The music in "Aragami" has been widely praised for its beautiful and immersive soundtrack, which enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Composed by Two Feathers, the score features a mix of calming melodies and intense tracks that complement gameplay, particularly during boss fights. While some reviews noted that the music could be repetitive, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature.

    • “The atmospheric soundtrack complements the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments.”
    • “Aragami is a beautifully designed game with a great soundtrack and excellent graphics.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful and well composed to fit in any situation in the game.”
    • “Music and sound - Japanese score on a game easily bumps up the quality of a game by 3 to 4 notches, but here local music was far and few.”
    • “I wasn't a fan of either the voice acting or, more importantly, the music; it was very forgettable. For a game that is based on this kind of setting, the role of music is exponentially more important in setting up the atmosphere, and I feel it was a missed opportunity.”
    • “The soundtrack is a gift of the gods, and by gods, I mean the composer, Two Feathers.”
  • stability143 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as clunky controls, AI issues, and visual anomalies. While some players find the bugs amusing and not overly detrimental to the overall experience, others describe the game as a "buggy mess" that requires significant polish. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game is functional, it suffers from a lack of refinement and stability, impacting the enjoyment for many players.

    • “The majority of the game is bug-free and works well.”
    • “It's a pretty neat little concept, with only minor issues that can affect gameplay.”
    • “The core abilities are generally solid and smooth, contributing to a stable experience.”
    • “The game is incredibly buggy.”
    • “Very, very buggy and unpolished, but entertaining, and has the potential for some truly awesome moments.”
    • “It's fine if you're looking for something overly simple, but I suspect you'll rapidly realize what a buggy mess this game is, and lose your mind trying to get the basic movement system to work the way you want it to.”
  • replayability127 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as high, particularly for completionists, due to various play styles, collectible medals, and player-created content through Steam Workshop. While some players find limited replay value after completing the main objectives, many appreciate the ability to approach levels differently and the challenge of achieving different goals, such as stealth runs or full-kill missions. Overall, the combination of unlockable content and diverse gameplay options contributes to a satisfying replay experience.

    • “It's a beautifully realized game that offers a lot of depth and replay value.”
    • “The game has a lot of replayability potential if you're a completionist, along with a DLC and fan-made plans that you can access through Steam Workshop.”
    • “Every mission can be replayed with whatever powers you've currently unlocked, so there's tons of replay value there.”
    • “Edit: I will note that this game does not have a lot of replay value unless you're trying to 100% the game, in my opinion.”
    • “Fun for a short amount of time, not very replayable.”
    • “The only thing I can criticize is that it has a low replayability factor; it has a short story that I finished in only a few hours, and there is not much more to do other than the story.”
  • atmosphere77 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating visuals, immersive sound design, and a unique art style that evokes a serene yet vibrant experience. Many players appreciate the atmospheric soundtrack, which enhances the emotional depth of the gameplay, while the overall design effectively captures the essence of stealth mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like Tenchu. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitive gameplay and minor technical issues, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature that draws players into its world.

    • “From the moment I stepped into the world of shadows, I was captivated by the game's unique mechanics, stunning visuals, and immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The atmospheric soundtrack complements the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments.”
    • “The moment you open Aragami's main menu and hear that tranquil theme playing in an ornamental background having the moon shimmering behind the dark peculiar protagonist, you will immediately commingle with its charming atmosphere.”
    • “The sound design was good, and the sound effects did what they were required to do. I wasn’t a fan of either the voice acting or, more importantly, the music; it was very forgettable. For a game that is based on this kind of setting, the role of music is exponentially more important in setting up the atmosphere and I feel it was a missed opportunity.”
    • “In terms of the plot, it has the information content which fills the gaps from the main story, but in terms of the atmosphere, I didn't enjoy it as much as the main story.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game has the potential for pure stealth with optional killing, but it always ends up turning into a shadow-powered killfest, except the killfest isn't even that satisfying because the game lacks true combat mechanics and everything just dies in one hit.”
  • optimization66 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and inconsistent gameplay, particularly on lower-end machines. While some users noted improvements after patches, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from poor optimization, largely attributed to its use of the Unity engine. Despite its appealing art style and gameplay mechanics, the technical shortcomings hinder the experience for a substantial number of players.

    • “It runs smoothly, abilities and animations are beautiful, and their animations have variations which are cool.”
    • “The whole game suffers from only a few drops in performance, but personally I didn't find them problematic.”
    • “Once the performance issues are fixed, this will be a great game.”
    • “The graphics optimization on this game is terrible; as much as I love the art style, the frame rate just drops unexpectedly even though I'm on the lowest resolution I could set it to, and my computer ran Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance smoothly, so I know it's not the machine.”
    • “One of the biggest problems is the optimization, aka the overall technical aspect of it.”
    • “This game should be titled 'framerate issue ninja.' We need better optimization for PC.”
  • grinding43 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration. While some mechanics, like teleportation, help alleviate the monotony, many still feel that the gameplay becomes overly grindy, especially when replaying levels for achievements or exploring. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the game's progression and mechanics, suggesting that it can become more enjoyable as abilities are unlocked.

    • “I liked this mechanic; for the most part, it encourages the player to explore the level, and it's not too grindy as you have an ability that allows you to see scrolls through walls.”
    • “Progression through the game feels on par with hours put into the game (relatively short chapters, no grinding needed).”
    • “Not too grindy collectibles (easy once you unlock a certain perk).”
    • “It's tedious and boring, and I guess I got frustrated because I thought I'd be clever and invest more points early on, only to be deceived, having to walk around the same type of enemy constantly, while being pestered by that little annoying girl voice.”
    • “Interesting concept, and good atmosphere, but gameplay is extremely repetitive and tedious after a few maps.”
    • “I completed this game in about 7/8 hours, so although I liked the game mechanics, it got rather tedious when I had to do it over and over again, and I was just playing through to the end as it was going pretty quickly, not worth the £15 in my opinion so thank god it's on sale.”
  • humor31 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the comedic situations that arise during co-op gameplay, such as funny glitches and unexpected animations. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create hilarious moments, especially when playing with friends, where chaotic stealth scenarios lead to laughter. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable despite some minor bugs.

    • “You can get into so many hilarious situations with a friend where one of you has been seen and now you’re both scrambling away from the patrols heading your way, laughing the entire time.”
    • “The multiplayer experience is hilarious with a good friend, the achievements are fun and humorous, and you can create and play custom levels through the workshop.”
    • “Bugs and glitches here and there make it pretty funny with friends.”
  • emotional25 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric soundtrack and touching narrative that elicits strong feelings, particularly towards the end. However, others criticize the story as boring and lacking character depth, which diminishes emotional engagement. Overall, while some players found the game deeply moving, others felt disconnected due to its gameplay mechanics and storytelling approach.

    • “The atmospheric soundtrack complements the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments.”
    • “I just finished the game and right away I'm writing this; I will admit I am a very emotional person, so I actually cried at the ending, oops!”
    • “Thank you one last time, Lince Works; this game was truly wonderful, and I'm getting all emotional now.”
    • “The control of your character feels unnatural and paired with a somewhat boring story and gameplay loop, which just leaves you a bit underwhelmed.”
    • “Boring story.”
    • “❌ Boring story (skip every cutscene to actively improve the game).”
  • character development23 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the character designs for their detail and appeal, while criticism is directed at the execution of the story and character arcs, which are often described as generic and lacking depth. Some players found the backstory intriguing but felt it was overshadowed by clichés and predictability, leading to a disconnect with the characters. Overall, while the visual aspects of character design are celebrated, the narrative and character development aspects leave much to be desired.

    • “The character designs are also very cool, with a lot of attention to detail.”
    • “The character designs look intimidating and the skins you can earn look amazing.”
    • “Interesting story and character development.”
    • “The story and character development weren't executed well, and there should have been better character moments to get to know them.”
    • “It's a pretty straightforward story that is painfully generic and doesn't really have much in the way of character development or even interest.”
    • “The character development was terrible, what felt like simply throwing characters' existences in to give some reason as to why you even exist in the first place.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy includes DLC that enhances the game by adding more story content and new playable characters with unique abilities, which players generally find acceptable. However, there is noticeable promotional content and advertising for upcoming DLC, which may detract from the experience for some users.

    • “Why, of course you'll see promotional content and advertising for their upcoming DLC.”
    • “The DLC makes the game better, as it adds more story and two playable characters, with unique abilities... overall, it's fine.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
7hMain story
19hCompletionist
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs

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