Arkaia: The Enigmatic Isle

43%
Game Brain Score Based on 17 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Arkaia: The Enigmatic Isle Game Cover
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Arkaia is an indie first-person adventure game for PC, Mac and Linux. Piece together an original and epic story while solving puzzles and exploring an interesting and fantastical environment.

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

Reviews

43%
Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews
atmosphere2 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game offers an interesting story and well-designed puzzles that are engaging to solve.
  • It has a pleasant atmosphere and colorful environments, reminiscent of classic puzzle adventure games like Myst.
  • The developer is upfront about the game's short length, and it provides a satisfying experience for its price.
  • The game is extremely short, feeling more like a teaser or demo rather than a full chapter, leading to disappointment for some players.
  • Navigation can be frustrating due to limited movement controls and unclear clickable areas, making it difficult to progress without random clicking.
  • There are several technical issues, including bugs and a poorly designed user interface that detracts from the overall experience.
  • story5 mentions

    The story is described as promising and intriguing, with a solid foundation established in the first chapter, despite its brevity. Players appreciate the engaging narrative and the colorful environment, expressing interest in how the story will develop in future chapters. Overall, there is optimism for the potential of the story to evolve into something more substantial.

    • “There's the beginnings of an interesting story, and the Myst-like puzzles work well enough.”
    • “I did not encounter any major bugs, and I'm interested to see where the story goes in any future chapters.”
    • “It is quite short, but it has a promising story already established in this first chapter.”
    • “Maybe this is the start of his success story and I'll get to play a much better second chapter.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics in Myst are praised for their stellar quality, utilizing fully prerendered screens that exceed the platform's capabilities, while the basic 3D graphics in the other game are considered underwhelming and outdated. However, the overall visual experience is marred by finicky controls, a hastily designed UI, and a lack of variety in the audio, indicating a mixed reception regarding the graphical presentation.

    • “In Myst, the view was locked to allow the developers to use fully prerendered screens, surpassing the graphical capabilities of the platform.”
    • “Its graphics are stellar; the puzzles are very intriguing and take time to work through, especially if you haven't explored the entirety of the area (and there are plenty of hidden areas to find).”
    • “This game uses basic 3D graphics; nothing taxing, so the benefit isn't there.”
    • “On the other hand, it is a proof-of-concept indeed, with all that entails: outdated generation visuals, finicky puzzle controls, and hastily put together UI elements, along with one track for the entire game, which takes about 20-30 minutes to complete.”
  • gameplay2 mentions

    The gameplay is noted for its slower pace, which extends the overall experience, but it compensates with engaging puzzles that provide a satisfying challenge, distinguishing it from other shorter titles in the genre.

    • “That said, I've seen short walking simulators sell for higher prices on Steam, and this game actually has gameplay and puzzles that are satisfying to solve.”
    • “It slows down the progress and lengthens the gameplay.”
    • “The controls feel unresponsive and clunky, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are overly complicated and detract from the overall experience.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, encouraging players to take their time and immerse themselves in the environment while solving puzzles. This suggests a rich and engaging setting that enhances the overall gameplay experience.

    • “My suggestion is to take your time, work through, and just enjoy the atmosphere while you try to figure some of these puzzles out.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the presence of a burley man-hand cursor, which some players find amusing, though it feels somewhat out of character within the overall context of the game.

    • “The burly man-hand cursor is a little funny and out of character.”
    • “The witty dialogue and clever puns had me laughing out loud.”
    • “The absurd situations and quirky characters make for a hilarious experience.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as neutral, lacking strong emotional impact or memorability. It serves its purpose without drawing significant attention, providing a background ambiance rather than enhancing the overall experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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