Aragami

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 8,616 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
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,616 reviews
story1,224 positive mentions
stability280 negative mentions
  • story3,038 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 well-executed, others criticized it for being shallow and lacking depth, often revealing plot twists early on. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, with many players enjoying the stealth mechanics and art style more than the narrative itself.

    • “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 was great as well, especially at the end.”
    • “The story is actually pretty decent for a cheap indie game, although somewhat predictable.”
    • “The story is predictable, but you're not likely coming to play this game for the story because of the badass shadow ninja on the cover.”
    • “The story is weak, you get cutscenes here and there but, by the end, we had no idea what was going on.”
    • “The story is pretty clunky and forgettable.”
  • gameplay2,682 mentions

    The gameplay of *Aragami* is characterized by its unique shadow manipulation mechanics, allowing players to teleport between shadows, which adds a strategic layer to stealth gameplay. While the game offers enjoyable and fluid mechanics, some players noted issues with repetitiveness and occasional bugs that can detract from the experience. Overall, it is praised for its engaging stealth elements and artistic presentation, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre, despite some criticisms regarding depth and variety.

    • “The gameplay revolves around using shadows to your advantage as you sneak around and take out enemies.”
    • “The overall gameplay flow is very satisfying; teleporting between shadows is smooth and very fun to do, stealth kills are satisfying yet slow enough to pose a challenge, and all the unlockable abilities are extremely fun and powerful in their own right.”
    • “The mechanics are unique and memorable (utilizing shadow and avoiding light is really fun to me) and while it has a few bugs from time to time, the game is really stable and i've had no issues running it.”
    • “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 control of your character feels unnatural and paired with a somewhat boring story and gameplay loop.. just leaves you a bit underwhelmed.”
  • graphics1,396 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 critiques highlight issues with optimization and texture quality, suggesting that the graphics may not meet the standards of more modern titles. 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 cel-shaded graphics create a visually arresting world that perfectly complements the game's stealth-centric gameplay.”
    • “The game's art style is a visual feast, with ethereal landscapes and captivating lighting that heighten the immersive stealth experience.”
    • “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.”
  • music707 mentions

    The music in "Aragami" has been widely praised for its beautiful and immersive soundtrack, which effectively enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Composed by Two Feathers, the score features a mix of traditional Japanese themes and dynamic compositions that adapt to gameplay, making it a standout element of the experience. While some reviews noted occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and engagement.

    • “The atmospheric soundtrack complements the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments.”
    • “Aragami has an amazing and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, fun and inventive stealth/shadow mechanics, and a pleasing (albeit simple) overall look that makes good use of cell shading.”
    • “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 obviously Japanese-inspired, tends to repeat, but does the job more than well enough.”
  • stability286 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, particularly with controls and AI behavior. While some players find the bugs amusing and not overly detrimental to enjoyment, many agree that the game lacks polish and can be quite unplayable at times. Overall, stability issues significantly impact the game's reception, with many reviewers noting that it feels unfinished and in need of further development.

    • “There is some low budget indie jank that happens with some animations, but the majority of the game is bug free and works well.”
    • “It's a pretty neat little concept, if not very buggy and problematic that can cause a lot of issues during gameplay just because of how pinpoint precise you have to be to use some abilities like blink.”
    • “The 'create shadow' ability is pretty much worthless, as far as I can tell, and since it's a core ability just like 'leap', you'd think those two abilities would be spot-on, solid, bug free, and smooth abilities... but they aren't.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability256 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as high, particularly for completionists, due to various playstyles, collectibles, 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 inclusion of multiple difficulty settings. Overall, the combination of challenges, achievements, and customization options contributes to a satisfying replay experience, though opinions vary on its longevity.

    • “It's very replayable, with each level able to be played differently at least twice (getting medals for killing no one or everyone) or even more if you want to play through each difficulty so you can get every skin.”
    • “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.”
    • “Incredibly fun and well made, interesting and unique concept, with a really solid execution, and while it's limited in certain ways it manages to deliver an engaging, highly replayable experience with a beautiful soundtrack too.”
    • “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.”
    • “Pretty good stealth game overall; however, some of the boss fights felt too quick, and the game feels like I'm following the same path every retry of a level, not a lot of replay value.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere155 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Aragami" is widely praised for its captivating visuals, immersive sound design, and a unique art style that evokes a blend of serene and vibrant moods. Players appreciate the atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the game, making it a standout experience for fans of stealth gameplay. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitive gameplay and minor technical issues, the overall ambiance and aesthetic elements contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “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 beautiful visuals, traditional music, sounds, and voices all help create a very unique 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.”
    • “In other words, this game has the atmosphere of one that could be pure stealth with optional killing (despite the vengeance-themed story saying otherwise), but 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.”
  • optimization137 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 engaging mechanics and art style, 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.”
    • “It has a great soundtrack, nice art style, well optimized, good story, and co-op.”
    • “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 put it on, and my computer ran MGR: Revengeance smooth as jazz, so I know it's not the machine.”
    • “This game should be titled 'framerate issue ninja.' We need better optimization for PC.”
    • “Unfortunately, despite meeting the recommended specs on the store page, I was met with constant stutters whenever I stabbed someone and seemingly loaded new parts of the map; lucky you can be a pacifist (apart from major targets), with performance on low settings being identical to having everything on high.”
  • grinding86 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the need to repeatedly engage with the same enemies and mechanics. While some mechanics, like teleportation, help alleviate this tedium, the overall gameplay can feel monotonous, especially when players are required to replay levels for achievements or to explore fully. Despite these issues, some players find that the game becomes more enjoyable as they unlock new abilities, suggesting a mixed experience with grinding throughout the game.

    • “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.”
  • humor62 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a major draw, with players enjoying the comedic situations that arise during co-op gameplay, such as frantic escapes from enemies and amusing glitches. Many reviews mention that the game's animations and voice acting contribute to its lighthearted tone, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends. Overall, the humor is described as a blend of intentional comedic elements and the unintentional hilarity of bugs, enhancing the enjoyment of the stealth gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “There's plenty of style to like here too; the art and music are fantastic, the storytelling is interesting if a bit short and bittersweet, 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.”
    • “The coop is a nice touch; stealth games can get hilarious when you watch a friend whiff a kill.”
  • emotional50 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its atmospheric soundtrack and a touching narrative that resonates with many players, leading to moments of genuine emotional impact, particularly towards the end. However, some reviewers found the story lacking depth and character connection, which diminished their emotional engagement. Overall, while the game has the potential to evoke strong feelings, its execution varies significantly among players, with some feeling deeply moved and others left underwhelmed.

    • “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 development46 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 undermined 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 music adds an atmosphere that is reflective of the Japanese and Chinese myths that inspire the visuals, the story, and the character designs, almost as if a play transferred into a video game.”
    • “Character development: 10/10”
    • “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/plot that really is the main criticism I have; it's 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.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy primarily revolves around DLC that enhances the game by adding more story content and new playable characters with unique abilities, which users generally find acceptable. However, there is an expectation of promotional content and advertising for upcoming DLC, indicating a focus on ongoing monetization efforts.

    • “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

Buy Aragami

Play time

9hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
7hMain story
19hCompletionist
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 54 analyzed playthroughs

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