Areia: Pathway to Dawn

About

Areia is a game about emotions and spiritual growth. It is a tale of wonder in a land inhabited by only one character. Sand and water are the two elements shaping this uniquely crafted world. And, with the relationship between character and environment, you can traverse this world by creating your own path. Use water as energy and sand as a foundation for every action you take.The story symbolizes…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

music12 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Areia offers a beautiful and immersive experience with stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
The game features light platforming and puzzle elements that, while simple, provide a relaxing and enjoyable gameplay experience.
It presents a unique spiritual journey influenced by Indian culture, which can be intriguing for players interested in exploring different themes.

The gameplay can feel linear and lacks depth, with puzzles being overly simplistic and not challenging enough for seasoned players.
Many players found the controls to be floaty and imprecise, leading to frustration during platforming sections.
The game ends abruptly with a 'To be continued' message, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and wanting more closure.

music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
32%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful Indian overtones and immersive quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience. However, some players noted that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack effectively complements the visuals and contributes to a serene and engaging gameplay experience.
- “The soundtracks are really good, making you feel immersed in the universe and giving a good vibe.”
- “The game is incredibly immersive, especially with headphones, and the soundtrack is amazing.”
- “The score in 'areia' perfectly complements the emotional atmosphere the visuals achieve, ranging from unintrusive ambient melodies to fully vocalized songs that evoke an Indian/oriental flair.”
- “Although I wouldn’t necessarily want to listen to Indian music at home, I found the 4 hours to be a nice change of pace and an interesting experience.”
- “The score in [i]areia[/i] perfectly complements the emotional atmosphere the visuals achieve, ranging from unintrusive ambient melodies to fully vocalized songs that once more evoke an Indian/oriental flair.”
- “Release the soundtrack as low-priced DLC - I'm sure some would love it for their meditation playlist.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by linear platforming and simple mechanics, with a focus on exploration and puzzles. While some players appreciate the beautiful environments and unique traversal mechanics, others criticize the gameplay for being overly simplistic and lacking challenge. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience but may not satisfy those seeking depth or complexity.
- “Its beautiful environments and really cool traversal and puzzle mechanics make it an incredibly beautiful experience.”
- “The gameplay is rather simple, but everything is done to a high standard.”
- “The addictive unique mechanics you discover on your quest through the world bring life to the environment and allow you to alter the level and your path through the game, connecting your character to the world they inhabit.”
- “A poor journey wannabe made by people who didn't understand that game and its exquisite mechanics in the first place.”
- “The gameplay is linear platforming with a few spatial puzzles.”
- “You have to be in the right mood to enjoy it, especially during the first hour when gameplay is just too simple.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
50%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant and unique art style, which effectively conveys a spiritual atmosphere, though some users noted inconsistencies in visual quality. While the visuals are described as beautiful and capable of creating surreal landscapes, there are concerns about high resource usage and a lack of optimization. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact, complemented by a fitting soundtrack.
- “Graphics look nice, sound effects and music are sublime, and the controls are fluid and easy to master.”
- “The graphics, although minimalistic, were vibrant and represented the spiritual vibe well.”
- “It uses very simplistic storytelling and gameplay, coupled with one of the most gorgeous art styles I know and heavy inspiration from both Buddhism and Hinduism, and therefore has a huge spiritual undertone.”
- “Not consistent quality of visuals -- sometimes the environment looks beautiful, sometimes mediocre, and it was ugly a couple of times.”
- “- High resource usage for the relatively simple graphics, a sign of lacking optimization.”
- “On the good side, this title has a definitely unique art style, though not entirely original as an idea, as it's clearly inspired by [i]Journey[/i] as far as style is concerned.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The story of the game is minimalist and heavily influenced by Indian culture, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism, which may leave some players confused or seeking clarity. It relies on symbolism and indirect narration, encouraging personal interpretation and exploration rather than a traditional narrative. While some players appreciate the poignant experience despite the lack of explicit storytelling, others may find it too vague and open-ended.
- “The game tells a story about the samsara wheel of life - you may read what it is before playing to better understand what's happening (there's a decent amount of symbolism + don't expect any in-game explanations).”
- “It uses very simplistic storytelling and gameplay, coupled with one of the most gorgeous art styles I know and heavy inspiration from both Buddhism and Hinduism, and therefore has a huge spiritual undertone.”
- “The indirect narration story is purposefully vague, and every player will interpret it differently, which is one of the main points of this whole journey: be different for each individual.”
- “The story is a little confusing and open to interpretation.”
- “The story is heavily influenced by Indian culture and will be incomprehensible to most, I would imagine.”
- “The 'story'/plot of the game is presented in a very minimalist way.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
10%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting its hypnotic and meditative qualities, complemented by beautiful graphics and a captivating musical score. The vibrant colors and thoughtful design elements create a mystical and peaceful environment, making for an immersive and emotionally resonant experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that enhances the game's journey.
- “Haven't finished the game yet, but so far it has great atmosphere, very mystical.”
- “Everything - from the colors used, the way the sand glistens in the sun to the clever use of film grain to enhance sandstorms and more - contributes to an atmospheric journey like no other.”
- “What got me liking it was the atmosphere and music.”
- “The meditative atmosphere is preserved throughout the game.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game exhibits signs of poor optimization, as it demands high resource usage despite its relatively simple graphics and geometry. While it runs smoothly on certain configurations, the overall performance suggests inefficiencies in resource management.
- “The game doesn't have any performance or technical problems while playing, and runs well on this configuration in 1440p.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how well the game utilizes resources, providing a stable experience without significant drops in frame rate.”
- “Bad optimization in some parts.”
- “High resource usage for the relatively simple graphics, a sign of lacking optimization.”
- “I have noticed high GPU and PC resource usage for a game that has relatively simple geometry and effects for today's standards, indicating optimization issues.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers limited replayability, with a completion time of around three hours and no significant incentives to revisit it after finishing. While it may appeal to genre enthusiasts or those familiar with its cultural references, many players suggest waiting for a sale to ensure better value for money.
- “It took me 3 hours to finish the game and also get all the collectibles I was able to, for a price of €7.50 and no replay value. I can suggest getting this game at full price only to fans of the genre or people who have particular insight into the culture the game refers to. To everyone else, I would instead suggest waiting for at least a few euros off in a sale to get their money's worth.”
- “Talking about negative aspects - replayability is not about area in my opinion.”
- “Interesting short game, with some unknown replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is enhanced by a carefully crafted score that complements the visuals, featuring a mix of ambient melodies and vocalized songs that evoke an Indian/oriental flair, creating a deeply immersive atmosphere.
- “The score in [i]areia[/i] perfectly complements the emotional atmosphere the visuals achieve, ranging from unintrusive ambient melodies to fully vocalized songs that once more evoke an Indian/oriental flair.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be generally brief and enjoyable, but acknowledge that it can occasionally become tedious.
- “The grinding feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel monotonous.”
- “While the game has potential, the excessive grinding really detracts from the overall enjoyment.”