AudioSurf

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AudioSurf is a rhythm-based puzzle game where you ride a music-reactive highway. The shape, speed, and mood of the highway are all influenced by the song you choose to play. Your goal is to collect colored blocks that appear on the highway and convert them into points, while avoiding obstacles for a high score. A wide variety of songs and online scoreboards provide endless replayability.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,415 reviews

music1,721 positive mentions

story12 negative mentions

music
6,501 mentions
26 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music aspect of Audiosurf has been widely praised for its innovative integration of players' personal music libraries, allowing them to "ride" their favorite songs as dynamic tracks. Players appreciate the game's ability to generate unique levels based on the tempo and intensity of the chosen music, creating a personalized and immersive experience. However, some users note that the synchronization between gameplay and music can be inconsistent, particularly with slower or less rhythmic tracks, which may detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game remains a beloved choice for music lovers seeking an engaging way to interact with their music.
- “For many tracks, a lot of the blocks don't make any sense; it seems to just spit out a lot of false notes or most of the track isn't in sync at all. Slow parts of songs are boring, but fast parts are often way too crazy, which would be fine if it were a certain setting, but it's pretty impossible to match the upcoming blocks.”
- “It gets boring really fast and the only things it's good for is getting high scores, listening to music, and passing the time.”
- “The visuals do not match the music as well as they could. And yes, every level is not random; it's all generated by the game to fit the beat and pace of the song you picked.”
gameplay
426 mentions
33 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Audiosurf is a unique blend of music and mechanics, allowing players to ride tracks generated from their own music library while collecting colored blocks that correspond to the song's beats. While many find the simple controls and various gameplay modes enjoyable and addictive, some criticize the gameplay for being repetitive or lacking depth. Overall, it offers a casual yet engaging experience that can be both relaxing and challenging, depending on the chosen music and difficulty settings.
- “Audiosurf is a riveting fusion of music and gameplay, offering a unique experience where players literally ride the waves of their favorite songs.”
- “The gameplay is simple, yet deep and ranges in difficulty from basic to near-impossible.”
- “With a wide selection of game modes and difficulties, a near-endless supply of unique gameplay experiences using the contents of your music library and online leaderboards for every song in existence, can I recommend Audiosurf highly enough?”
- “Putting the algorithm aside though, the actual gameplay is really strange.”
- “The gameplay was boring, and it got old really fast.”
- “Unfortunately, for a game that offers so much, the gameplay left me unsatiated.”
graphics
333 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of Audiosurf are often described as dated yet charming, with many players appreciating the simplistic, colorful visuals that effectively synchronize with the music. While some reviews note that the graphics can be a bit clunky or lack polish, they still manage to create a captivating and immersive experience, especially when played on higher settings. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, enhancing the enjoyment of the music while being accessible even on lower-end hardware.
- “The combination of music and skill makes it a unique experience that impresses above all with its aesthetics.”
- “The visuals and sound effects really are a pleasure to see/hear, combine that with any music you want and you get a relaxing and nostalgic game.”
- “The graphics are amazing!!”
- “The graphics are simplistic, even by 2008 standards.”
- “The animations and art direction are atrocious, with terrible low-res graphics, even when set on HD resolutions.”
- “The visuals do not match the music as well as they could.”
replayability
131 mentions
44 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
Audiosurf boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its ability to generate unique tracks from any song in the player's music library, offering virtually limitless gameplay experiences. Players appreciate the variety of characters, difficulties, and online leaderboards, which further enhance the game's longevity and challenge. Overall, the game's replay value is highly regarded, with many users noting that it remains engaging as long as there is new music to explore.
- “With its ability to use any song from your music library, Audiosurf becomes an endlessly replayable and deeply personal experience.”
- “The fact that I'm still playing 11 years later goes to show that this game has longevity and replayability!”
- “Audiosurf is one of those games that has infinite replayability, as long as you have the music library to back it up!”
- “The fact that it creates a unique track based on the song you load gives it almost infinite replayability.”
- “But its replayability depends solely on how extensive a music collection and/or how much you like listening to it.”
- “The game changes with every different song you choose, which provides infinite replay value and a way of experiencing your music like never before.”
story
52 mentions
13 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional story or narrative, with many users noting that it doesn't need one to be enjoyable. Instead, it focuses on gameplay mechanics that allow players to engage with their own music, making it more about the experience than a plot. Overall, the absence of a storyline is seen as a non-issue, as the game excels in providing fun and challenging gameplay.
- “As someone who comprehends music through a storytelling perspective, this is the perfect game for me to just let my mind wander.”
- “The music selection may not be great, but the story is compelling.”
- “It quickly turns any sound file into a level for this game in which you ride a track with various bumps, slowdowns, and accelerations in your quest to pick up multicolored blocks.”
- “Or in other words, there is no story.”
- “There is no story, background, or setup to the game.”
- “This game has no story, but it doesn't need it.”
humor
27 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it hilarious due to its quirky mechanics, amusing music integration, and entertaining visuals. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its unique gameplay and the use of meme music, making it a fun experience, especially in casual or relaxed settings. Overall, the game is described as funny, addictive, and a delightful way to enjoy music while engaging in lighthearted gameplay.
- “This game is hilarious because you run into fun, cool colored blocks while playing Connect 4 at the same time.”
- “Audiosurf is a funny and unique music/puzzle racer game!”
- “It can be played with any music in your library, and causes many hilarious instances.”
stability
18 mentions
11 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in fullscreen mode and during menu navigation. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others express frustration over the overall performance and reliability. A few users noted that their experience was largely free of stutters or crashes, but these instances appear to be exceptions rather than the norm.
- “Still runs great in 2019!”
- “I have a pretty crappy laptop and this runs great. Audiosurf 2 lags a bit, so I just don't bother with it. Most of the difference between the two is customization in skins and such.”
- “It's buggy and I experienced crashes.”
- “This game is good, but sometimes there are glitches (the blocks not showing up, full screen acting up to where it makes the game uncontrollable until you ctrl-alt-del it, etc.).”
- “Furthermore, the game glitches all the time; the picture will cut up and display in strange ways, and the game stutters a lot (though it is admittedly difficult at times to tell what's stuttering and what's just a particularly powerful beat in the song).”
grinding
13 mentions
8 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
62 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the simple gameplay is addictive and reminiscent of early 2000s nostalgia, the requirement to manually add local music is seen as tedious and outdated. Many users express that the grinding for achievements is challenging rather than overly tedious, but the cumbersome process of managing music files detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is viewed as better suited for casual play, though the grinding can feel excessive at times.
- “It's a bit too grindy.”
- “I get this is 15 years old and it was good back in the day, but today it's very tedious to play because it uses only local music and we're past that age.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Nothing in the game is too tedious other than your choice of song, or the insanely elaborate file pathways you have to traverse just to find that piece of noise that you're looking for.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
67 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique visual implementation, combining vibrant neon environments and a cyberpunk aesthetic that evokes comparisons to films like "Tron" and "Throne: Legacy." While some music tracks enhance the experience, particularly from "Team Fortress 2," the overall ambiance is described as immersive and enjoyable, contributing significantly to the game's replayability and fun factor. Reviewers consistently highlight the effective integration of music and visuals, resulting in an engaging and memorable atmosphere.
- “This visual implementation gives the game a very special atmosphere.”
- “From the atmosphere, to the replayability, to the delectable music taste the developers have, this game is a win-win-win.”
- “I was paying enough attention to want to restart over and over to try and get bonuses though... this game is just brilliant and really creates a Tron-like atmosphere when listening to your music.”
- “From the atmosphere, to the re-playability, to the delectable music taste the devs have, this game is a win-win-win.”
- “I also think what I like about this game most is the layout and atmosphere, from the beautifully designed background to the glowing neon environment; it makes the trip an enjoyable one.”
optimization
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues and instability, while others report smooth gameplay without crashes or lags. Despite some improvements allowing for better performance on older hardware, many users still find the game poorly optimized overall, leading to glitches and stuttering during play.
- “[*][b][u]Optimization:[/u] 10/10[/b] [i](I had no crashes, no lags, or any kind of bugs since my first play).”
- “Performance 10/10”
- “The game runs smoothly and I don't think I have had too many issues with it.”
- “For mentioned account/social removal, and nowadays, plenty of performance issues, which were never here before, I do not recommend this title, sadly.”
- “As much as I wanted to like this game, it is extremely unoptimized.”
- “Incredibly unstable, badly optimized, bad options, and just terrible in general.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, ranging from joy to nostalgia, despite a dated interface. Players express a deep connection to the music and narrative, particularly in the poignant story of Nick, a deaf surfer navigating personal and social challenges, which adds layers of emotional depth to the gameplay experience. Overall, the game successfully intertwines music and storytelling to create a resonant emotional journey.
- “Made me cry from enjoyment, this is the only game that got me to do that.”
- “Audiosurf is the touching, tragicomic dark comedy drama about a young boy named Nick, who was born deaf, then wasn't deaf, then he was deaf again, and he's a surfer.”
- “Face up to classmates who make fun of his disability, out-compete bigoted surfers who won't accept him, and do your best to forge an emotional connection between Nick and his single dad, who seems to harbor a feeling that he has somehow failed Nick simply because Nick is deaf.”
monetization
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is positively received, with users appreciating the absence of microtransactions and additional downloadable content (DLC), indicating a preference for a straightforward purchasing model without ongoing costs.
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “The DLC policy is fair and adds value to the game.”
- “I appreciate that the game doesn't pressure players into spending more money.”
- “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
- “I can't believe how much they charge for basic content; it feels like a cash grab.”
- “The DLC policy is frustrating, as it locks essential features behind a paywall.”