Ato

About

"Ato is a single-player, mystery Metroidvania sword-dueling game set in feudal Japan, where every combat encounter is an intense duel. With masterful visuals, an amazing soundtrack, and a visually driven story of a father seeking to retrieve his child, Ato offers challenging difficulty options and environmental puzzles. Explore colorful atmospheric environments and uncover the mystery of this compelling world."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 255 reviews

story28 positive mentions

optimization1 negative mentions

Ato features tight controls and fluid combat, making boss fights engaging and satisfying.
The game has a unique storytelling approach, conveying emotions and narrative without any dialogue, which enhances the overall experience.
The pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack create a beautiful and immersive world, complemented by a variety of secrets and collectibles to discover.

The game can feel short, with some players completing it in around 5-7 hours, which may leave some wanting more content.
Backtracking can become tedious, especially when trying to locate missed collectibles, as the map does not always clearly indicate unexplored areas.
Some players found the combat mechanics, particularly the charged attack and parry system, to be a bit clunky or difficult to master.

story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The game's story is primarily conveyed through visual storytelling, with no dialogue, allowing players to interpret character motivations and emotions through animations and environmental cues. While the narrative is simple and somewhat thin, it effectively serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, providing enough emotional weight to keep players engaged. Overall, the story is appreciated for its artistic execution, though some players feel it takes a backseat to the gameplay experience.
- “You play an eastern feline warrior in his quest to protect his family, slashing and dashing your way through a masked cult of fighters, soaking in the beautiful and somber worldbuilding on the way.”
- “The story is told entirely without dialogue, and yet the characters and motivations were still pretty clear throughout the relatively short (~6-7 hours to 100%) runtime.”
- “The story is completely unobtrusive, without a line of text in-game, but what is there is communicated exactly as much as it needs to in order to give you all the motivation you need.”
- “The story isn't very bad, and the game can be beautiful at times, but this really proves that great art doesn't make a great game, although it helps.”
- “There's not much that happens in the 'middle' of the story to connect the two, since the game is too busy with gameplay to focus on the story.”
- “I find the solely visual storytelling can be a bit troublesome, in that without the proper context, I'm just left wandering around not really clear why I'm doing anything.”
gameplay
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The gameplay of "ato" is widely praised for its fluidity, depth, and engaging mechanics, drawing favorable comparisons to titles like Hollow Knight. Players appreciate the fast-paced combat, intricate boss fights, and the rewarding challenge that encourages mastery of various mechanics, including parrying and charged attacks. While some found the narrative thin and certain controls awkward, the overall consensus highlights the game's satisfying platforming and exploration, making it a standout metroidvania experience.
- “An absolute gem that bleeds soul out of its pores and has some surprisingly deep mechanics for how simple I assumed it'd be going into it.”
- “The dueling combat is a great blend of beating the heck out of your opponent and tactical parries/precise dodges; I like that you can approach the combat in different ways casually and love that the skill ceiling increases as you learn more about the hidden mechanics of the game, which adds a metric ton of replay value to an already interesting game to run through.”
- “Fast-paced gameplay, engaging platforming that just... feels good, a nice amount of exploration and secret-hunting, challenging but fair combat, lots and lots of bosses (somewhere around 30-40ish I think? I lost count), beautiful visuals, a solid story (it at least gives motivation for the protagonist and I appreciate that, even if it's fairly minimal overall).”
- “The main flaw with this game is that it doesn't have enough depth to its mechanics.”
- “Its a nice looking and sounding game but the control mechanics are atrocious; by the time I got to the bouncy balls, I was stuck - having to use the same key for three different fast-time mechanics is just silly.”
- “Also, the fighting mechanics like the hold attack move and the weapon only hitting twice were kind of annoying; it felt kind of janky, and the jumping seemed odd, like it didn't respond well to my button presses.”
graphics
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The graphics of the game are primarily in a charming pixel art style that, while simple and sometimes reminiscent of mobile games, effectively conveys emotion and atmosphere. Many players appreciate the beautiful color compositions and the immersive environments, though some note that certain in-game objects could benefit from better integration with the overall aesthetic. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some minor criticisms.
- “The art style was extremely beautiful and the gameplay was fun.”
- “Gorgeous art style, immersive atmosphere, great music, incredibly fun and satisfying gameplay.”
- “The exploration, combat, and music are all hugely nailed, and the minimalist art style of the game works well with the overall themes and never feels stale given the variety of looks between areas, the constant movement of trees, grass, and water, and the surprisingly gorgeous vistas this game has to offer.”
- “The game could've used a little more polish on the graphical side; a lot of the in-game objects like the gem walls, arrow circles, and barrier blocks don't match the graphical style of the game at all and end up standing out against the beautiful scenery.”
- “When I first saw the game, it didn't exactly impress me with its graphics.”
- “A lot of people may be put off by the kind of rough-looking graphics, but I really recommend trying it out and not judging a game by the screenshots.”
music
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
24%
6%
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the experience. While some noted a limited number of tracks, the soundtrack effectively varies in tone, ranging from serene and contemplative to energetic and intense, particularly during boss fights. Overall, the music is described as beautiful and immersive, complementing the game's visuals and gameplay well.
- “Fortunately, Ato has a great soundtrack to immerse yourself in it.”
- “The soundtrack varies greatly between tones, swinging from subdued and atmospheric, to energetic and intense, to ominous and foreboding, to sorrowful and apprehensive.”
- “The exploration, combat, and music are all hugely nailed, and the minimalist art style of the game works well with the overall themes and never feels stale.”
- “The audio relies on just a few tracks; many rooms completely lack any ambient music. I would have preferred a few more, but they succeed in conveying the evocative/contemplative atmosphere of the game at least.”
- “Soundtrack - meh.”
- “Music was fine, although I much prefer a spankin' soundtrack to quiet-ish stuff.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
12%
19%
The atmosphere of "ato" is widely praised for its evocative and immersive qualities, enhanced by a charming art style and a varied soundtrack that shifts between different emotional tones. While some players noted a lack of ambient music in certain areas, the overall ambiance effectively complements the game's boss-oriented gameplay and intense combat. The combination of relaxing exploration and intense battles creates a unique atmosphere that resonates well with players, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Gorgeous art style, immersive atmosphere, great music, incredibly fun and satisfying gameplay.”
- “The graphics are charming and pretty, and the music combines to give a cohesive atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack varies greatly between tones, swinging from subdued and atmospheric, to energetic and intense, to ominous and foreboding, to sorrowful and apprehensive.”
- “The audio relies on just a few tracks; many rooms completely lack any ambient music. I would have preferred a few more, but they succeed in conveying the evocative and contemplative atmosphere of the game at least.”
- “I would've liked if more zones were decorated further to enhance the atmosphere or to distinguish themselves from others.”
- “The relaxing atmosphere is shattered by the quick, intense, skill-based battles against the many unique and interesting bosses the world holds.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game offers significant replayability through multiple difficulty levels, secret hunting, and additional challenge modes unlocked after the initial completion. While the main storyline is relatively short, players can enjoy varied gameplay experiences and increased challenges, making it appealing for those who appreciate depth and skill progression. Overall, it is highly regarded for its replay value, especially for fans of the genre.
- “There's even quite a few fun and original mechanics too, not to mention there is a fair amount of replayability with secret hunting and trying the more challenging modes (like the mode where everything dies in one hit, including you, unlocked by beating the game). I could not recommend this game more to people who loved Hollow Knight.”
- “Between the beautiful soundtrack and aesthetics, and the excellent combat and movement options, I was immediately drawn to replay the game on the next difficulty after my first playthrough, and I would consider the game to be highly replayable in general.”
- “And with six difficulty levels and even a boss rush, there is a lot of replayability to it, which means despite its short length you'll get a lot out of the game.”
- “Beating the game for the first time unlocks 3 new difficulties, which helps with replayability in case you are worried that 7 hours is too short.”
- “That said, the runtime of the game is a bit short (my first playthrough was about 7 hours with nearly full completion of the map), but additional difficulty modes unlocked after the first playthrough certainly bring a decent bit of replayability for those seeking a proper challenge.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently highlight the game's emotional impact, noting it evokes strong feelings ranging from joy to sadness through its touching story, stunning visuals, and engaging combat. The combination of heartfelt narrative and charming atmosphere creates a memorable experience that resonates deeply with players. Overall, it is praised as a heartfelt adventure that successfully blends emotional depth with enjoyable gameplay.
- “This game made me cry in every way possible.”
- “Great combat, movement, story, art style, and quite the emotional ride.”
- “Overall, Alto is a fantastic game for those looking for a heartfelt adventure with riveting combat.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal and well-balanced, with one reviewer noting that while accessing the final boss can be tedious, the overall experience is engaging and free of unnecessary grinding. The game is praised for its satisfying combat and enjoyable exploration, making it feel rewarding rather than tedious.
- “This game is an incredible metroidvania with satisfying combat, fun but not tedious exploration, and a slight amount of difficulty for those who are looking for it.”
- “The grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps you engaged without becoming a chore.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; they encourage exploration and skill development without feeling overwhelming.”
- “So good, but the door to open the final boss is a bit tedious.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Users have expressed dissatisfaction with the game's optimization, indicating that it falls short of expectations despite some positive performance metrics highlighted in the annual report.
- “But the optimization kind of sucks.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating its cleverness and balance with the compelling story. The lighthearted tone is exemplified by its quirky premise, such as a funny samurai cat, which adds to the overall enjoyment without veering into overly emotional territory.
- “Compelling story, good humor, and an earnest balance between the two.”
- “Funny samurai cat game which definitely didn't make me cry.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's impressive success in garnering a high number of reviews without any advertising suggests that its monetization strategy is effective, relying on organic player engagement rather than paid promotions.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible for everyone while still providing optional purchases for those who want to enhance their experience.”
- “The in-game purchases are reasonably priced and provide real value, making it easy to support the developers without breaking the bank.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Character development in the game is conveyed through visual storytelling rather than dialogue, with simplistic yet effective narrative elements that enhance the overall atmosphere. The design of characters and environmental details, particularly the statues of the final boss and its minions, play a crucial role in illustrating the story as players progress towards their goal.
- “The story, although simplistic in its nature, fits quite well with the whole vibe of the game and is easily understood through character action and small pieces of the scenery and character design, especially the statues of the final boss and its minions scattered around as you approach your goal.”
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their backstories unfold throughout the game.”
- “I love how the characters evolve based on the choices you make, making each playthrough feel unique and personal.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the characters to be one-dimensional, with little to no growth throughout the game.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the character arcs are predictable and fail to engage the player emotionally.”

Buy Ato

17h Median play time

15h Average play time

9-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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