Archimedes

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 147 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Archimedes Game Cover
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"Archimedes" is a horror-themed video game with real-world puzzle elements, requiring players to use steganography, cryptography, geographical knowledge, and external applications. The game becomes more personal and intense as players progress, and community interaction may be necessary for some puzzles. Players must keep the game updated and be prepared for mature and potentially seizure-inducing content. The sequel, "The Basilisk," is also available.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 147 reviews
story5 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and immersive experience by blending real-world tasks with in-game puzzles, creating a compelling ARG atmosphere.
  • Many players found the puzzles to be challenging yet rewarding, enhancing the overall engagement and satisfaction of completing the game.
  • The nostalgic design of the emulated OS and the clever use of external resources added to the game's charm and originality.
  • The pacing of the game is often slow, with long waits for NPC responses, which can lead to frustration and disengagement.
  • Several players encountered issues with external links and files, which could lead to confusion or even security concerns regarding malware.
  • The game is very short, with many players feeling that it lacks depth and a satisfying conclusion, leaving them wanting more.
  • story48 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engrossing and innovative, while others criticize it for being overly reliant on reading and lacking depth. Many noted that the plot is predictable and the execution can feel tedious, with some players expressing disappointment in the abrupt ending and desire for a more expansive narrative. Overall, while the concept of integrating real-world elements into the story is intriguing, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a fragmented and sometimes confusing experience.

    • “Really engrossing story, highly recommend!”
    • “The game's gotten a pretty interesting story, nice setting and about 60 minutes of gameplay.”
    • “This program is ridiculously meta, applying its story to your real world.”
    • “And perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the whole experience is that you can guess the overall plot pretty much as soon as you start.”
    • “Not only is the game frustrating but the story is also boring as hell.”
    • “From a story perspective, it would make more sense if the person you are talking to would avoid corporate firewalls by sending you things through these media; however, that's not the case.”
  • gameplay14 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it simple and unengaging, often feeling like a chore due to unclear hints and repetitive tasks. However, others appreciate the unique mechanics and experimental approach, particularly in the context of the game's narrative and setting. Overall, while there are interesting ideas present, many feel that the execution falls short, leaving room for improvement in future titles.

    • “The tasks are pretty simple most of the time and you always pretty much know what you have to do; still, I think it is pretty cool seeing such mechanics in a game from 2016!”
    • “The game's gotten a pretty interesting story, nice setting, and about 60 minutes of gameplay.”
    • “Maybe a tiny bit clunky, but pretty fun and interesting gameplay.”
    • “However, archimedes takes a notable departure from the Emily games in tone, and, ultimately, in gameplay, as completing the game will require exploring corners of the web outside of the actual game, exponentially increasing the effectiveness of the alternate reality that creator Joshua Hughes is striving to create.”
    • “Archimedes is an experimental adventure game with some bold ideas but fails on actual gameplay.”
    • “- Game mechanics: downloading files from sites like MediaFire to progress is a crappy idea.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extremely time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort akin to having a second life. While the pacing can be slow and tedious, some appreciate the thought-provoking nature of the tasks involved, which can lead to a sense of accomplishment upon completion.

    • “It isn't as tedious as it might sound, though, because the character has you perform several tasks on the go.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Pacing of the text chats is slow and very tedious.”
    • “Very thought-provoking, though tedious at times; it required me to think, and I felt good when I figured something out.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics are praised for their nostalgic recreation of old operating system aesthetics, particularly resembling Windows 3.0. However, some users feel that the minimal design lacks charm and fails to fully capture the essence of the era.

    • “The creator did an amazing job of re-creating old OS system graphics and sounds.”
    • “Graphics and sound are minimal; the design tries hard to resemble a Windows 3.0 look, but still feels lackluster and lacks any charm.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game effectively establishes a compelling atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, with users praising its suspenseful elements. However, some critiques highlight that the user interface detracts from this immersive quality, suggesting that improvements could further elevate the atmospheric impact. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyment.

    • “The game does a very good job at setting the atmosphere.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed the game, but I'm left wanting more of this type of ARG-esque experience. The suspense was great, but the reveal didn't spook me as much as I had built up; maybe that's a testament to the atmosphere the game creates.”
    • “Great game, great atmosphere.”
    • “The UI is clunky; it's a problem since the main atmosphere of this game depends on it.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed the game, but I'm left wanting more of this type of ARG-esque experience. The suspense was great, but the reveal didn't spook me as much as I had built up. Maybe that's a testament to the atmosphere the game creates.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Users appreciate the humor in the game, particularly noting that the dialogue begins in a funny manner, setting a lighthearted tone.

    • “The way the dialogue starts is genuinely funny.”
    • “The humor in the game is cleverly woven into the storyline.”
    • “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty one-liners throughout the game.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users have reported significant stability issues, particularly highlighting instances of glitches that hinder gameplay progression.

    • “I don't know how to get through the part where everything glitches out.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Many users note that the game has limited replayability, as once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to play again.

    • “As with games of this type, there is pretty much no replayability; once you've solved the puzzles, it's done.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels pointless.”
    • “After completing the game once, there’s little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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