Arise: A Simple Story

A beautiful adventure that will stay with me forever. Arise: A Simple Story is one story told through amazing animations played through a beautiful world, accompanied by a soundtrack that makes this game a masterpiece in every piece of its design.

86%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

replayability, grinding

90% User Score Based on 889 reviews

Critic Score 81%Based on 29 reviews

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Arise: A Simple Story is a single player and multiplayer action adventure game with a drama theme. It was developed by Piccolo Studio and was released on December 3, 2020. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In "Arise: A Simple Story" , relive the bittersweet journey of two people through vivid memories, bending time to overcome hardships in an emotionally-driven adventure. Traverse changing landscapes filled with feelings of love and loss, and find inspiration in the game's soulful music and beautiful art style. Master the flow of time, altering your surroundings as you uncover the magic in your personal struggles.

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 889 reviews

story291 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Beautiful visuals and a stunning soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience.
A heartfelt story about love, loss, and the passage of time, told without dialogue.
Innovative time manipulation mechanics that add depth to the puzzle-platforming gameplay.

Clunky controls and fixed camera angles can lead to frustrating platforming experiences.
Some players encountered bugs that hindered gameplay, such as grappling hook issues.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.

story
698 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
57%
1%
The story of "Arise: A Simple Story" is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time, conveyed through stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack without the use of dialogue. Players navigate through the memories of a recently deceased man, experiencing the emotional highs and lows of his life, which resonates deeply and often evokes tears. While some find the narrative simple, its heartfelt delivery and artistic presentation create a memorable and impactful experience that lingers long after the game ends.
- “It's a story about losing someone you love… but also about learning that even in loss, there’s beauty — that love doesn’t disappear, it just changes shape.”
- “The heartfelt story is told in images accompanied with subtle piano music.”
- “Arise: a simple story is a breathtaking journey through life's highs and lows, beautifully crafted with stunning visuals and a touching narrative that resonates long after the game ends.”
- “The story is quite generic and, maybe because of the excessively melodramatic and ever-present background music, it failed to elicit any sort of emotion for me.”
- “And, if the story fails to grab you, the very long levels do not reward you with much.”
- “The story is minimalistic and cliché (and also not my type).”
gameplay
342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The gameplay of "Arise: A Simple Story" is centered around a unique time manipulation mechanic that enhances puzzle-solving and platforming elements, providing a fresh experience across various levels. However, many players find the controls clunky and the camera frustrating, leading to repeated deaths and a sense of frustration that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the game excels in storytelling and aesthetics, the gameplay often feels simplistic and can become tedious, making it a mixed experience for players.
- “The core gameplay mechanic revolves around the manipulation of time, which is ingeniously woven into both the puzzle-solving and platforming elements.”
- “The time manipulation mechanics feel smooth and satisfying, and the level design complements the storytelling perfectly.”
- “The gameplay is varied and satisfying, the audio and visual elements are simply stunning and the story is a moving tale that will resonate with a lot of people.”
- “The gameplay is downright terrible.”
- “Turns out the answer is, some nice graphics and an emotional story is all it takes, because good god, this game is an absolute failure in the gameplay department.”
- “While the main game mechanic is exciting and feels fresh, the platforming mechanic is frustrating and feels rushed.”
music
326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The music in "Arise: A Simple Story" is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the game's narrative, with many reviewers noting its beautiful orchestral compositions that resonate with the themes of life, love, and loss. The soundtrack is described as both atmospheric and evocative, perfectly complementing the stunning visuals and minimalist storytelling, creating a deeply immersive experience. While some found the music to be somewhat generic, the overall consensus is that it significantly elevates the game's emotional impact and is a standout feature.
- “Complementing this visual beauty is an evocative musical score that perfectly captures the emotional spectrum of the journey, from joyous moments to sorrowful reflections, making the entire experience resonate on a deeply human level.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, and pairs so well with the story.”
- “The music is an integral voice in this game.”
- “The story is quite generic and, maybe because of the excessively melodramatic and ever-present background music, it failed to elicit any sort of emotion for me.”
- “The music is rather generic piano/strings music supposed to create emotions in a rather dull way.”
- “Looked like a decent game but I don't want to be forced to listen to the in-game music, I have my own.”
emotional
273 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Arise: a simple story" is widely praised for its heartfelt narrative that explores themes of love, loss, and memory, often leaving players in tears. The game utilizes stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack to enhance its emotional impact, creating a deeply resonant experience that many describe as both touching and bittersweet. While some players find the gameplay frustrating, the overall emotional journey is considered powerful and memorable, making it a standout title for those seeking a meaningful story in gaming.
- “Arise: a simple story, developed by Piccolo Studio and published by Untold Tales, is a heartfelt and visually captivating indie game that explores the profound themes of love, memory, and the passage of time through a unique and emotionally rich journey.”
- “The story is touching and poignant, exploring themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.”
- “Arise: a simple story is a breathtaking journey through life's highs and lows, beautifully crafted with stunning visuals and a touching narrative that resonates long after the game ends.”
graphics
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
26%
2%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning beauty and unique art style, often compared to Pixar's animation quality. Players appreciate the emotional depth conveyed through minimalist visuals and vibrant environments, which complement the game's touching narrative and soundtrack. While some critiques mention gameplay issues, the overall consensus is that the visuals are a standout feature that enhances the storytelling experience.
- “The visuals are stunning too, from what I could see through my constant stream of tears.”
- “A beautiful and emotional tale of life, love, and loss, with gorgeous visuals and an equally spectacular soundtrack.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, the music is beautiful, the story is emotional, gorgeous and engaging.”
- “Unfortunately, the pretty visuals and music do not compensate for the unresponsive mechanics. I had to constantly reload the checkpoint after using the grappling hook once because the second time it wouldn't work, and I got stuck on the second chapter because the character would not jump high enough on the cobweb.”
- “Clumsy and inconsistent controls, exacerbated by the fact that you cannot control the camera, utterly decimate any joy to be found in the pretty visuals and simple, but heartfelt story.”
- “Fun for kids, otherwise a generic platformer with pretty cell-shaded graphics.”
atmosphere
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
38%
10%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its strong emotional impact, beautiful visuals, and immersive music that enhances the narrative experience. Players appreciate the calming and sometimes poignant ambiance, which invites them to engage deeply with the story and its artistic representation. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics and a well-crafted soundtrack creates a memorable and atmospheric journey, though some note that the gameplay may take a backseat to the artistic elements.
- “The design invites players to pause and absorb the scenes, allowing the atmosphere itself to communicate mood and narrative depth.”
- “The music adapts to the story's highs and lows, enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
- “A very atmospheric story through visuals rather than dialogue.”
- “The whole atmosphere and music makes it a really calm (but at some points emotional) experience.”
- “It has a really chilling and relaxing atmosphere, and there are no hard puzzles that make your brain go off.”
- “For example, I believe that the beginning of the story may be more narrative than focusing on puzzles and atmosphere.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's replayability is limited due to its linear structure and short playtime of around four hours, with most players noting that it primarily revolves around collecting memories and achievements. While some may find value in attempting to complete levels without dying or gathering collectibles, overall, many reviewers feel that the game lacks significant replay value, making it more of a one-time experience.
- “The game holds some replayability in the form of collectible memories and certain achievements requiring you to interact with things in the levels a lot or complete some levels without dying once.”
- “So there is replay value in that.”
- “ infinitely replayable”
- “Additionally, the game’s linear structure and relatively brief playtime—typically around four hours—may leave some wanting more content or replayability.”
- “I also wouldn't say the game has much replayability either apart from trying to get all of the collectibles.”
- “Despite being a shorter game that offers very little replay value, it is definitely worth playing for the experience.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
12%
75%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, particularly as they progress to higher levels where the gameplay becomes repetitive and slow. While some appreciate the art and core mechanics, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the grinding experience, often describing it as a chore that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I quickly found this boring and tedious.”
- “This game is sort of cute and creative... until you reach level 9, where all design flaws turn it into boringly tedious nonsense.”
- “Honestly, the gameplay felt a little tedious as your character feels like they run and move so slowly in such vast environments.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs that hinder gameplay, such as issues with achievements and character mechanics. While some users found the game relatively solid and enjoyable, others experienced frequent crashes and frustrating gameplay interruptions, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Overall, it is a solid, relatively bug-free game with a decent story and an interesting approach to co-op.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any major glitches, making for a stable and enjoyable experience.”
- “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; I haven't encountered any crashes or significant issues.”
- “I spent maybe 4 hours playing, while the rest of the time I was on forums troubleshooting issues that the developers themselves should have fixed a long time ago.”
- “The achievements are buggy; even if you try to complete them again, it won't work.”
- “This game is insanely buggy. Sure, the overall vibe of the game is nice, but man does it suck to not be able to play a game.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, delivering great graphics and consistent performance at 60 fps without any bugs or glitches. Overall, players commend the game's polish and smooth gameplay, particularly in the platforming aspects.
- “Graphics are great and well-optimized.”
- “Hats off to that performance.”
- “Performance: constant 60 fps without facing any sort of bug, glitch, or issue.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is reflective and poignant, highlighting the bittersweet nature of loss and the importance of cherishing joyful moments. It blends lightheartedness with deeper themes, creating a unique comedic experience that resonates emotionally.
- “With that knowledge, we should hold on to each joyful, funny, loving moment we experience.”
- “Loss is a funny thing because in order to feel it, you must have something originally.”

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81%Critics’ scoreBased on 31 critic reviews

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

4-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Arise: A Simple Story is a action adventure game with drama theme.

Arise: A Simple Story is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Arise: A Simple Story.

Arise: A Simple Story was released on December 3, 2020.

Arise: A Simple Story was developed by Piccolo Studio.

Arise: A Simple Story has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Arise: A Simple Story is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include GRIS, RiME, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Neva, Spirit of the North and others.

Arise: A Simple Story

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