Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 238 reviews
  • gameplay
  • humor
  • music
Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials Game Cover
Ultimately, while Batbarian may not blow your mind, it’ll offer the odd chuckle, and mechanics just robust enough to keep you coming back.
Starting at $9.40Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

"Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials" is a humor-infused action-adventure puzzle game where you explore an abyss filled with challenges and eldritch secrets. As a barbarian, you'll team up with Pip, a mystical bat, to solve puzzles, battle monsters, and uncover the abyss's purpose, all while acquiring new skills and elemental powers. The game features a narrative-driven metroidvania style, dialogue choices, and multiple possible endings.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 238 reviews
gameplay31 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions
  • Extremely fun and engaging metroidvania with easy-to-learn mechanics and a large map for exploration.
  • The game features humorous dialogues and a captivating lore, making it enjoyable and replayable.
  • The unique bat mechanic adds depth to puzzles and combat, while the music and art design enhance the overall experience.
  • Boss fights and later game puzzles can be tedious and frustrating, leading to poor challenge balancing.
  • The game can feel overly reliant on precision platforming, which may not appeal to all players.
  • Navigation can be confusing at times, making it difficult to know where to go next.
  • gameplay97 mentions

    The gameplay in "Batbarian" is characterized by its accessible mechanics, engaging exploration, and a unique light-based system involving the player's bat companion, Pip. Players appreciate the blend of combat, puzzles, and humor, although some find certain mechanics, like the bat controls, challenging. Overall, the game offers a satisfying metroidvania experience with a mix of action and thoughtful design, though some players note that the focus on puzzles can detract from exploration.

    • “The mechanics are easy to learn, the exploration is really good, with a quite big map, the dialogues are really fun (lots of humor in this game!), the lore is pretty cool and the music catchy!”
    • “The game clearly takes elements from greats of the genre such as Symphony of the Night, Super Metroid, and La-Mulana, and implements them to great effect in a much more concise package whilst emphasizing action- and puzzle-platforming gameplay.”
    • “The mechanics (from the jump physics to melee attacks) feel solid as any decent platformer would have, but where Batbarian shines is the addition of Pip, the titular character's flying companion, and the methods in which you can use her to both solve puzzles and attack enemies.”
    • “The gameplay consists of walking, attacking, and throwing a lot, that's really it. Ironically, it isn't as bad as it sounds with the light mechanics and puzzles in the game, but it does feel repetitive.”
    • “You're just stuck in these dark caves, and whatever gameplay you see in the beginning will continue onwards, at least until my stopping point.”
    • “It has the exploration, but a vast majority of the gameplay consists of rooms that are puzzles, rather than any meaningful exploration or traversal mechanisms.”
  • humor85 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging dialogue, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. Many reviews highlight the balance between lightheartedness and the game's more serious elements, with humorous dialogue choices that enhance replayability. Overall, the humor is described as well-integrated into the gameplay, contributing to a fun and entertaining experience without being overwhelming.

    • “The humor element in the game is frickin' on point, and it doesn't take itself too seriously, and the music is really, really good.”
    • “Batbarian is a super fun and challenging metroidvania that's elevated by a fantastic soundtrack and hilarious dialogue options.”
    • “Discovery of an unexpected universe, full of smart tricks and sarcastic humor expertly distilled... tons of fun!”
  • music85 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, atmospheric, and engaging qualities that enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as fantastic, featuring a mix of retro and electronic influences that perfectly complement the game's art and humor. Players have noted that the music is not only enjoyable during gameplay but also worth listening to outside of the game, making it a standout feature.

    • “The soundtrack absolutely slaps.”
    • “Batbarian is a super fun and challenging metroidvania that's elevated by a fantastic soundtrack and hilarious dialogue options.”
    • “Everything in this game from the jokes to the character animations to the amazing soundtrack has been done with a level of hand-made care that shines through in every moment.”
    • “Music was solid but not memorable.”
    • “I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't pick up the soundtrack bundle.”
    • “It feels perfectly suited to the detailed environments and emphasizes the story beats, with the area's music fading out to an ominous, oppressive.”
  • story53 mentions

    The game's story is praised for its depth and engaging nature, effectively drip-feeding lore that keeps players intrigued. While it balances humor and seriousness, some players noted a lack of story in certain areas, yet many found the dialogue options and plot twists compelling enough to encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, the narrative unfolds intuitively alongside the gameplay, enhancing the experience with rich backstory and immersive environments.

    • “The story is fun and does a fantastic job of drip-feeding lore to the player that makes them want to know more.”
    • “Graffiti and old notes line the caverns, providing hints, clues, and backstory to the world which can change how you perceive the threats around you, or nudge you in the right direction and give you an 'aha!' moment for a puzzle you've long since abandoned.”
    • “I really like these style of metroidvania games... I found the story very gripping so I had to finish it before the weekend was out.”
    • “My biggest complaint is the lack of story.”
    • “Also, your personal backstory is neat, but you only get a couple glimpses.”
    • “I did not feel the need to read the papers and notes scattered around the game, but I did feel compelled to read all the dialogue (but it should be noted that following the story is important).”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful, detailed pixel art and the effective use of light and dark to enhance gameplay. However, some players find the visuals to be somewhat bland, possibly due to the game's darker design elements. Overall, the graphics are described as top-tier, contributing to a solid metroidvania experience with a unique art style.

    • “Graphics are top-tier.”
    • “Visuals are beautiful, with that crisp, detailed pixel art we ought to expect from such a game: dark and moody yet colorful.”
    • “The graphics play with pools of light and dark and the gameplay works into it, balancing between frantic slashing and cautious exploration.”
    • “The visuals are pretty bland, maybe it's because the game is partially designed around the darkness, but so far nothing stands out much.”
    • “The graphics play with pools of light and dark, and the gameplay works into it, balancing between frantic slashing and cautious exploration.”
    • “☼ graphics ☼”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere in Batbarian is highly praised for its cohesive and immersive dungeon-crawling experience, enhanced by fantastic sound design and atmospheric music. Reviewers appreciate the blend of spooky and humorous dialogue, alongside well-crafted puzzles and engaging art and animations, which collectively contribute to a captivating and enjoyable gameplay environment. Overall, the game successfully captures the feeling of being trapped in a dungeon while maintaining a fun and surprising tone.

    • “The atmosphere is great and cohesive; it isn't just 'cave level the game'—it's got some bite to it. I attribute a lot of this to fantastic sound design and the lore directly reflecting the enemies. The writing is on point, and the puzzles were shockingly well made!”
    • “Dialogue hits the right balance of spooky but also funny and light, with excellent atmospheric art and animations.”
    • “Batbarian focuses on atmosphere; it captures the feeling of being trapped within a dungeon.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and clunky, particularly in relation to boss fights and navigation challenges. While some appreciate the lack of emphasis on backtracking and the intuitive story progression, the necessity of grinding for currency to recover items detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a frustrating element that hinders the game's fun factor.

    • “I really really really wanted to like this game but its boss fights and later game puzzles/navigation are too tedious, obtuse, or annoying to be fun.”
    • “And there is no reliable way to get them back, short of grinding a single unit of currency to go buy them from a shop.”
    • “It's just a bit clunky and tedious compared to other games.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game boasts strong replayability due to its branching dialogue trees and an intricately designed world filled with clever puzzles, secrets, and humor, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes in multiple playthroughs.

    • “It made the game replayable.”
    • “The branching dialogue trees offer some replay value for future runs through the dungeon (and many times had me chuckling).”
    • “[Incredibly designed world that's filled with clever puzzles and tricky situations, great music and sense of humor, lots of secrets add substantial replay value].”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is limited, yet it adds a charming layer to the experience, reminiscent of Hollow Knight. This approach successfully balances character charm with an atmosphere that evokes feelings of isolation and fear of the unknown.

    • “There isn't a huge amount of character development in the game, but what there is presents a welcome addition to the genre, reinforcing the fact popularized (for many) by Hollow Knight that you don't need to forego all sense of charm in your characters to provide an experience which can still leave players feeling isolated and afraid of the unknown.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

Buy Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials

Play time

28hMedian play time
25hAverage play time
20-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News