Beyond Shadowgate

About

Beyond Shadowgate is a single player action game. It was developed by Zojoi LLC. and was released on September 19, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Beyond Shadowgate" is a point-and-click adventure game, serving as a sequel to the classic "Shadowgate". It offers a large world that is over five times larger than its predecessor, with vibrant graphics and modern design sensibilities. Players can choose to play with a controller or by mouse and key binds, reliving the nostalgia of the original 8-bit version with updated gameplay mechanics. The story follows 35 years after the events of Shadowgate, where players must navigate through the living castle Shadwood to save the world once again.

Genres & Tags

Adventure

Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 265 reviews

music48 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Beyond Shadowgate captures the nostalgic feel of the original NES game while introducing modern gameplay mechanics and a larger world to explore.
The puzzles are well-designed and provide a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating, making it accessible for both new players and fans of the original.
The game features a charming art style, an engaging soundtrack, and plenty of humor, along with multiple endings that encourage replayability.

Some players may find certain puzzles to be overly cryptic or illogical, leading to frustration during gameplay.
The hint system can be unhelpful at times, often providing vague clues that do not assist players in progressing through the game.
While the game expands on the original, some fans feel it lacks the same sense of isolation and tension that characterized the original Shadowgate.

music
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The music in "Beyond Shadowgate" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic chiptune style that pays homage to the original NES soundtrack while incorporating modern elements. Some players find the new tracks enjoyable and atmospheric, enhancing the game's immersive experience, while others feel that they lack the memorable quality of the original compositions. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a solid complement to the game's visuals and puzzles, though it may not fully capture the charm of its predecessor.
- “The music is great (maybe not quite as earwormy as the original but still strong) and sounds authentically chiptune.”
- “The soundtrack sets the perfect ambience.”
- “The music, graphics, and overall gameplay is top tier if what you are looking for is a callback to the old point and click adventure games from the 80's.”
- “The music, too, feels very retro while still showing that developers have 30 years of experience and resources using bit-tune style audio.”
- “On the note of music, I didn't care for a single track.”
- “Same as the reboot, it is great but it lacks what made the original NES game so heartwarming; I dare you to play the game and end up remembering one single track after a few days, I am still humming the music of the NES version 30 years later.”
story
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The story of "Beyond Shadowgate" serves as a well-crafted continuation of the original narrative, set 35 years later and featuring a new protagonist, Del Thornburrow. It successfully blends retro aesthetics with modern gameplay mechanics, offering a rich, engaging plot filled with puzzles, multiple endings, and nods to previous titles, while also being accessible to newcomers. While some players found certain sections vague or loosely connected, the overall narrative depth and character development received praise, making it a nostalgic yet fresh experience for fans of the series.
- “The story develops perfectly as you progress, and the time-travel twists, the nods to Uninvited and Déjà Vu, as well as the final section, left me starry-eyed.”
- “Beyond Shadowgate instead makes everything new and exciting yet still acknowledges and builds upon the story from the previous games, doing so quite well with updated systems for modern times.”
- “The game offers clever puzzles, engaging exploration, and a captivating story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
- “I had high hopes for a Shadowgate story, but this game was just a huge disappointment to me.”
- “There is part of the story that comes together better than other sections, but it's all still very vague how things fit together.”
- “These parts of the game were loosely tied to the main story, but they made me lose track of the overall plot and end goals.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
46%
6%
The graphics of Beyond Shadowgate are a nostalgic homage to the original NES style, featuring enhanced 8-bit visuals and pixel art that evoke the charm of classic adventure games while incorporating modern improvements in color depth and clarity. Players appreciate the stunning pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack, which together create an immersive experience that balances retro aesthetics with contemporary design elements. Overall, the visuals are praised for their authenticity and attention to detail, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
- “Beyond Shadowgate has all of the charm and excellent writing of the original MacVenture games, combined with updated visuals and music.”
- “The graphics, music, story, and puzzles are all perfectly on-point.”
- “Its beautiful hand-drawn graphics and atmospheric soundtrack create an immersive experience that’s both nostalgic and fresh.”
- “After a very short introduction, an obscure eighties adventure interface and pixel graphics with a few colors appeared before my eyes.”
- “The game presentation is very much NES Shadowgate-like, with limitations to graphics being removed, making things clearer with few modern animation elements added in to the screen transitions and events.”
- “Everything from the interface, the graphics, and music all feels like upgraded versions of the original Kemco Seika games.”
gameplay
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
68%
9%
The gameplay of "Beyond Shadowgate" is a well-crafted blend of nostalgic retro elements and modern mechanics, making it accessible and enjoyable for both new players and fans of the original. Players appreciate the removal of frustrating mechanics like torch management, while new features such as timed events and a more user-friendly interface enhance the experience. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of classic point-and-click adventures while offering quality-of-life improvements and an engaging story.
- “Beyond Shadowgate is a fantastic adventure that masterfully blends old-school charm with modern gameplay elements.”
- “The gameplay is inviting and the mechanics can be picked up in a cinch, which helps to bridge any gaps of fear for players unfamiliar with this type of game.”
- “This game perfectly captures not only the feel and nostalgia of those games, but also adds a fresh layer of modern gameplay with new game mechanics, an extensive story with multiple endings (the way you solve puzzles matters!) and a cast of characters both new and returning that'll take you right back to the golden era of point-and-click adventure games.”
- “My main issue with the original game was the torch mechanic.”
- “I fondly remember the first game (on NES) but I always quit it out of frustration because the torch mechanic sucks.”
- “Unlike the original Shadowgate, there's no persistent 'ticking clock' mechanic (like torch management) to worry about so you can play at your own speed with only timed events to throw some urgency into your quest.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its morbid, sardonic wit, with players often finding themselves intentionally seeking out humorous deaths and clever writing that parodies the game's own narrative. The blend of dark, edgy humor and laugh-out-loud moments, particularly in the gory death descriptions, enhances the overall experience, making it a nostalgic yet fresh adventure for fans of the original. Overall, the game successfully retains its quirky charm, offering a rich tapestry of snarky dialogue and comedic elements that resonate with players.
- “The morbid and sardonic humor is everywhere, and much like the original, you might find yourself intentionally doing the 'wrong' thing or looking for innovative ways to kill off the player-character just to see if the devs planned for it and what funny snippet accompanies it.”
- “There are laugh-out-loud hilarious moments in this game like the 'death to the philistine' reference, and the game parodies itself brilliantly in that 'the story takes place 35 years after the events of the last story' in-game just as in reality.”
- “The writing is excellent with good humor and nods to the original game.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The atmosphere of "Beyond Shadowgate" is widely praised for its breathtaking visuals, immersive soundtracks, and a unique art style that enhances the gameplay experience. While it successfully evokes nostalgia and maintains the essence of the original game, some players feel it diverges from the original's atmosphere. Overall, the game is celebrated for its rich world-building, engaging lore, and a blend of modern quality-of-life improvements with authentic retro gameplay.
- “The atmosphere is unique and stakes its claim with a prominent art style that draws the player deeper; almost forcing you to look closer at the environment than you may have otherwise.”
- “Its beautiful hand-drawn graphics and atmospheric soundtrack create an immersive experience that’s both nostalgic and fresh.”
- “So much atmosphere and world building and lore to get lost in!”
- “However, even if it is a bit nostalgic, it really failed to capture the atmosphere of the first game and took liberties that should not have occurred.”
- “While this game may not capture the same atmosphere as the original Shadowgate, Beyond Shadowgate creates something unique that is just as thrilling, if not more, than its predecessor.”
- “What a great feeling to see the game still has the original atmosphere, adding modern quality of life improvements to the equation.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The game offers solid replayability, featuring multiple endings and varying outcomes based on player choices, which encourages exploration of different strategies. While it may not match the replay value of similar titles due to fewer difficulty options, it still provides a fun and nostalgic experience with hidden secrets to discover. Overall, players appreciate the engaging puzzles and fantastic music that enhance the desire to replay.
- “The puzzles are challenging, yet if you pay attention, you'll have all the answers you need. The music is fantastic, and the replay value is very much appreciated.”
- “Not quite as replayable as the Shadowgate remake due to its lack of difficulty options or alternate playstyles, but if you want a more pure NES game experience, you really can't go wrong with this.”
- “There are also several endings to view, depending on how you approach the final foe, so some replayability is offered.”
- “Furthermore, the game has multiple endings and changes in the outcomes along the way depending on how you play, so it has some replayability as well.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the heartfelt moments and the nostalgic tone reminiscent of the original, others feel it falls short in evoking the same depth and warmth, particularly in its music and art. Despite attempts to capture the essence of the original, many find it lacks lasting emotional impact, with some moments feeling overly comedic rather than poignant.
- “I cried.”
- “I know that one was an outlier and the tone here is in line with the original: often a little hoary, as you play a fenling rascal that likes 'buxom ladies' and the dadness of it all can be a bit much, but then there are some really heartfelt moments and not everything is treated as a joke – except death maybe.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with users praising its overall performance, including visuals, audio, and gameplay mechanics. However, specific details on any performance issues or enhancements were not highlighted in the reviews.
- “The look, feel, performance, and sound of the game are all optimized to create an immersive experience.”
- “The optimization of the game ensures smooth performance even during intense action sequences.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on performance optimization, making the gameplay fluid and enjoyable.”
- “The look, feel, performance, and sound are all lacking.”
- “The game's optimization is poor, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
- “Despite its potential, the performance issues make it nearly unplayable at times.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that the achievement set is enjoyable and not overly tedious. Many find satisfaction in completing the puzzles and feel that the time invested is worthwhile.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report mixed stability experiences, noting that while the PC versions are generally stable, the NES versions exhibit some bugs that affect gameplay.
- “I own them on Steam now, both the PC versions and the NES versions, though the NES version is a bit buggy.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I've experienced numerous glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is overshadowed by its overall tone, which may not be adequately highlighted in advertising. Users feel that the game's unique atmosphere is more significant than its monetization strategies.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development in the game is notable, as even the navi experiences growth throughout the adventure, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
- “Even your Navi goes through character development as the adventure progresses.”
- “Even your navi goes through character development as the adventure progresses.”

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7h Median play time

7h Average play time

7-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Beyond Shadowgate is a action game.

Beyond Shadowgate is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Beyond Shadowgate.

Beyond Shadowgate was released on September 19, 2024.

Beyond Shadowgate was developed by Zojoi LLC..

Beyond Shadowgate has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its optimization.

Beyond Shadowgate is a single player game.

Similar games include Shadowgate, Beyond a Steel Sky, Submachine: Legacy, King's Quest, Return to Monkey Island and others.

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