Asterism

About

Asterism is a single player action game. It was developed by Claire Morwood and was released on January 17, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Asterism is a single-player musical game that takes you on a cosmic journey through a beautifully crafted solar system. Follow astronaut Ruby as she uncovers forgotten melodies, exploring alien planets and unlocking playable music videos set to a soulful indie-rock soundtrack. Immerse yourself in a unique blend of hand-crafted visuals and evocative soundscapes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

music6 positive mentions

Asterism offers a unique and immersive experience with its handcrafted visuals and diverse art styles, making each level feel distinct and engaging.
The game features a captivating soundtrack with introspective and poetic songs that enhance the overall atmosphere and storytelling.
It serves as an innovative blend of music and gameplay, allowing players to interact with the art in a way that feels personal and creative.

The gameplay is minimal and may not satisfy those looking for traditional gaming mechanics or a compelling narrative experience.
Some players may find the lack of fail conditions and the focus on exploration and art less engaging compared to conventional games.
Emotional connection to the story and character may be lacking for some, with a desire for deeper interpersonal storytelling throughout the experience.

music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
73%
9%
The music in Asterism is a standout feature, with each level functioning as a unique, immersive music video that complements the game's surreal visuals. The soundtrack, crafted by a solo developer, features 12 original songs that range from hauntingly introspective to catchy alternative rock, enhancing the overall experience. Players can engage with the music and visuals at their own pace, making it a captivating journey through a beautifully crafted audio-visual landscape.
- “In essence, each planet offers a music video that references and dovetails with the theme of the song, but each one is very different from the others, and the graphics are at least as surreal as the music.”
- “The songs are beautifully introspective, honest, and poetic, and a few really catchy ones!”
- “A beautiful experience exploring an epic soundtrack!”
- “The gameplay is minimal, but it doesn't overshadow the main spectacle of the visuals and the music.”
- “The music is very alternative-rock in the vein of Muse, and accompanies the overall themes of the story.”
- “You can play Asterism however you want - don't press any keys and just listen, use the actions to express yourself or how the music feels to you, or play it like a game with its own sub-goals.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The graphics in Asterism are a standout feature, showcasing a unique blend of handcrafted visuals that incorporate diverse media such as claymation, drawn art, and photography. Each level presents a distinct artistic style that complements the music, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of a vibrant indie-rock space opera. While the visuals may not appeal to those seeking AAA graphics or a strong narrative, they are celebrated for their innovation and tactile charm, making the game a remarkable personal passion project.
- “The visuals – created by Morwood – are trippy and diverse, using claymation, drawn images, crochet, CGI, origami, photography, and video – very diverse in terms of the media it utilizes.”
- “The handcrafted, mixed media art styles are all incredibly tactile and beautifully messy.”
- “It looks lovely, with the variations of visuals ranging from traditional hand-drawn animation to plasticine model work to cut-out paper to full motion video.”
- “The songs are haunting, the visuals a throwback to the early 90s, and the whole thing is quite unlike anything else you've played.”
- “The gameplay is minimal, but it doesn't overshadow the main spectacle of the visuals and the music.”
- “I often treated them as distractions, wanting to read the subtitles for the lyrics more than caring about whether I flew through the next hoop in the visuals, or hit the right buttons in the rhythm game.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's story revolves around a captivating mystery that unfolds through messages from a home-base solar lab and is intricately tied to the music and visuals, creating an immersive experience. Players explore various planets that serve as playable music videos, each contributing to a narrative about isolation and self-discovery, though some reviewers wished for deeper interpersonal storytelling. While the main plot is straightforward, the engaging interactivity and artistic elements enhance the overall narrative experience.
- “The mystery at the heart of the game will hook you in from the start and forms the core of a beautiful story.”
- “Each of the planets you visit are essentially playable music videos, which, taken together, tell an engaging story that ends rather brilliantly.”
- “Between each planet, there are messages from others from your home-base solar lab that advance the story; but really, this is about the music and the visuals that accompany the music, with narrative on the side.”
- “Whilst throughout there's a story about isolation and self-discovery playing in the background.”
- “The plot sounds simple - find the location of strange radio signals coming from somewhere in the solar system.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Asterism offers a unique gameplay experience characterized by handcrafted visuals and immersive music that enhance each level's distinct atmosphere. While the main story features minimal traditional gameplay elements, the interactivity and variety of mini-games keep players engaged, making it a visually and audibly captivating journey. The focus on chill gameplay allows players to fully appreciate the artistic and musical elements without distraction.
- “Asterism is a truly unique experience; its handcrafted visuals make every level feel distinct, and the music and gameplay of each place we visit pull you into its own world.”
- “Every song and level is unique, and each new art style and little mechanic for each one was such a nice surprise.”
- “The minimal, chill gameplay helps it to be super immersive, allowing you to take in the music, the vibes, and the story, along with all of the real-life handcrafted assets that look so cool.”
- “The gameplay is minimal, but it doesn't overshadow the main spectacle of the visuals and the music.”
- “The main story is light on traditional gameplay elements, but the interactivity of the music and movement kept me fully engaged, and there are some more 'gamey' elements on offer if you're a trophy seeker.”
- “Going through several mini-games with unique art styles and gameplay mechanics, you experience an immersion with the music that's being played.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express a desire for a deeper emotional connection to the protagonist, Ruby, noting that the emotional engagement intensifies significantly towards the end of the game when pivotal revelations about her past emerge.
- “Emotionally, I wish I was more connected to Ruby's journey.”
- “It only starts getting emotionally engaging for me towards the very end when we come across another figure and the revelations start coming out about a past forgotten and reconnecting.”