Ark Noir

About

"Ark Noir" is a 2.5D sidescrolling shooter game set in a dystopian future where a deadly epidemic has ravaged the world. Players control a group of survivors on a modified submarine, battling against mutated creatures and hostile human factions while trying to find a cure for the epidemic. With a focus on exploration, action-packed combat, and survival gameplay mechanics, players must manage their resources and upgrade their submarine as they progress through the game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

story14 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of visual novel storytelling and roguelite gameplay, providing an engaging experience with multiple characters and endings.
Resource management is a key aspect of the gameplay, requiring players to make strategic decisions that enhance replayability and challenge.
The music and atmosphere are well-received, contributing to an immersive experience despite the game's linear progression.

The game heavily relies on RNG, which can lead to frustrating experiences where players feel their success is out of their control.
The dialogue and character interactions can be poorly written or unrealistic, detracting from the overall narrative quality.
The gameplay can feel repetitive due to its linear nature, with many players expressing a desire for more varied content and mechanics.

story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
7%
The game's story is a blend of mystery and engaging character arcs, with players uncovering various plotlines through different protagonists. While the narrative is intriguing and the characters are well-developed, some reviewers noted inconsistencies and odd plot points, such as a 15-year-old head of security. Overall, the story is considered enjoyable, though it may not fully meet the expectations of a traditional visual novel.
- “The characters and setting are way more immersive than I was really prepared for in a translated game from the Japanese indie scene, and a lot of what you see in the story changes based on your perspective character.”
- “As you rescue passengers and progress, you unlock archive entries telling different parts of the story, and helping to flesh out the background.”
- “This game is an incredible mix of visual novel storytelling with roguelite gameplay elements.”
- “Regardless of character, the storyline is mostly the same.”
- “Totally random clicker with very little story content and very long unskippable transitions.”
- “But the story, ohh the dialogues are bad.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
83%
8%
The gameplay of Ark Noir is characterized as a linear dungeon crawler that blends visual novel elements with roguelike mechanics, focusing on resource management and RNG. Players navigate through a series of hallways, engaging in battles and making choices that impact the story, though the experience can feel luck-dependent and simplistic at times. Despite its challenges, the game offers significant replayability through multiple characters and unlockable perks, making it an intriguing mix of storytelling and gameplay.
- “Ark Noir is a short, bite-sized game that could be called a dungeon crawler with plot, or a visual novel with gameplay elements.”
- “The gameplay is pretty unique; you advance one step at a time through each floor in a linear manner. Every so often, an event will occur signaling a battle, an opportunity to rescue one of the many unique crew members, information crucial to discovering the truth from one of the members you've encountered, or a chance to rest or search for items.”
- “It is immensely replayable, between the 3 characters and the 3 dozen or so starting perks you unlock across the game's many different endings and gameplay conditions, with a helpful hint system for those who don't wish to waste time puzzling out what they might be, without spoiling themselves.”
- “The simplest way to explain the gameplay is it's a world of horror, but completely linear.”
- “The gameplay is a bit luck-dependent (you can get screwed if the game throws too many enemies and not enough items at you).”
- “Gameplay and playtime were subpar for this game to be worth $10.00.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
64%
21%
The game offers significant replayability due to its three playable characters and multiple endings, encouraging players to explore different storylines and character interactions. While some users noted that replay value diminishes after several playthroughs, the variety of perks and conditions for unlocking new content keeps each run feeling fresh and engaging. Overall, the combination of diverse gameplay options and a hint system enhances the replay experience, making it a solid choice for players seeking variety.
- “There's lots of replay value with three characters and multiple endings.”
- “Each run feels a bit different from the last and adds a lot of replay value.”
- “The stories and possible endings are a bit different depending on which character you choose, and there are a lot of conditions for opening up different perks and perk slots, so the replayability aspect is pretty solid for such an inexpensive game.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the immersive atmosphere, with many reviewers noting it as a standout feature. The soundtrack is described as "bumpin'" and complements the game's interesting story and clever design, making the overall experience enjoyable and engaging.
- “The music is nice, the story is interesting; this game is not an unpleasant experiment that I would love to see a more expanded version of someday.”
- “The music and atmosphere are a big plus.”
- “While this is technically a game about walking in a straight line until things happen to you, it is immersive, atmospheric, cleverly designed, and has a bumpin' soundtrack.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The graphics are generally considered passable, with only basic settings available, such as 1080p resolution and volume sliders. Overall, they do not stand out and may not meet the expectations of players seeking high-quality visuals.
- “There are the usual basic graphic settings, like 1080p and volume sliders, but the graphics as a whole are simply passable.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive design and engaging soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience despite its straightforward gameplay. Reviewers highlight the clever integration of music and ambiance as significant strengths.
- “The music and atmosphere are a big plus.”
- “While this is technically a game about walking in a straight line until things happen to you, it is immersive, atmospheric, cleverly designed, and has a bumpin' soundtrack.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for relying on clichéd character designs, which detracts from the depth and uniqueness of the characters. This lack of originality may lead to a less engaging narrative experience for players.
- “Cliché character designs.”
- “Cliché character designs.”