Blasphemous

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 27,208 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Blasphemous Game Cover
Blasphemous gets so much right, but also creates its own identity with its stellar art style, tight gameplay and platforming, and unique cast of characters
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Blasphemous is a punishing action-platformer set in a dark, religious world. As the Penitent One, a silent protagonist seeking redemption, you'll explore a nightmarish landscape, defeat gruesome enemies, and uncover the secrets of this cursed land. With challenging gameplay and a haunting atmosphere, Blasphemous offers a unique and intense gaming experience.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Epic Games
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 27,208 reviews
gameplay2,122 positive mentions
grinding496 negative mentions
  • gameplay5,423 mentions

    The gameplay of "Blasphemous" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its tight controls, challenging combat, and engaging mechanics, particularly the parry system. However, some players criticize the platforming elements as clunky and frustrating, often leading to cheap deaths due to poorly designed mechanics and hitboxes. Overall, while the game excels in atmosphere and art direction, its gameplay can feel uneven, with some players finding it rewarding and others deeming it tedious and lacking depth.

    • “The gameplay in this is super responsive and fun to control, and the game itself looks both gorgeous and grotesque at the same time.”
    • “The gameplay, a tapestry of skill and grace, is both engaging and rewarding.”
    • “Fantastic metroidvania with a super fun gameplay loop and gorgeous, brutally gory pixel graphics.”
    • “The gameplay itself is just tedious, making it difficult for all the wrong reasons.”
    • “The lack of polish in the hit boxes and mechanics of this game completely ruin it.”
    • “The gameplay is slow/clunky, the platforming is poorly designed (platform hitboxes are not accurate to their sprites. among other issues), the enemies encourage bad playstyles to circumvent their bad design.”
  • story4,870 mentions

    The story of *Blasphemous* is characterized by its dark, cryptic narrative that draws heavily on themes of guilt, penance, and religious symbolism, particularly from Spanish Catholicism. Players often find the storytelling reminiscent of *Dark Souls*, relying on item descriptions and environmental cues to piece together the plot, which can be both intriguing and frustrating due to its complexity and lack of clear direction. While many appreciate the depth and atmosphere of the story, some criticize its obscurity and the potential to miss key quests or items, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall coherence and accessibility.

    • “The story is very intriguing as well; if you don't want to read item descriptions to try to piece together the story, just look up an explanation online, it's worth looking into!”
    • “Blasphemous is so good; the art style and art direction are top notch, and the story is amazing.”
    • “The story of your character's journey and his penance for his guilt, combined with the incredible lore of Custodia and its inhabitants, deity and religious figures had me reading every bit of lore multiple times to learn everything I can about this story.”
    • “The mediocre difficulty (to me anyway), the over-punishing platforming segments, and the kinda confusing story to follow made for a rather boring 3.2 hours.”
    • “The story, much like a souls game, is cryptic and told mostly through lore from items and collectibles, of a land overtaken by some sort of supernatural force with some spooky exaggerations of one particular modern religion and its checkered past.”
    • “The quests are awful; between dialogues and item descriptions, you might get some vague hints about what you're supposed to do next, but the sheer amount of dialogue and items makes it impossible to keep track of it all.”
  • graphics4,414 mentions

    The graphics of *Blasphemous* are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and dark, gothic aesthetic, which effectively captures the game's themes of suffering and penance. Many reviewers highlight the intricate character designs, atmospheric environments, and fluid animations, noting that the visuals create a haunting and immersive experience. While some players appreciate the unique artistic direction, others feel that the gameplay does not always match the high quality of the graphics, leading to mixed opinions on the overall experience.

    • “Blasphemous is so good, the art style and art direction are top notch and the story is amazing.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, from the environments and the beautiful parallax backgrounds to the characters and their super detailed and smooth animations.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, and the combat is fun, but there are some questionable design choices.”
    • “I love the art style and the music but aside from that it is a very weak attempt at making a '2D Dark Souls.' Based off of what I have read, this seems to be a very unpopular opinion, but I think there are some serious gameplay philosophy missteps here that are likely a result of the hyperfocused art style.”
    • “The art style, execution animations, and the lore are all very interesting and very well done; sadly it cannot overcome the fact that the gameplay is horrible.”
    • “The art style borrows a lot from Spanish religion and gives the game a distinct look.”
  • music3,244 mentions

    The music in "Blasphemous" has received widespread acclaim for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the game's dark themes and intricate pixel art. Many players highlight the soundtrack's unique blend of Spanish guitar and choral elements, which enhances the immersive experience of the game's world. While some reviewers noted that certain tracks can feel repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's emotional impact and atmosphere, making it a standout feature.

    • “The music is possibly my favorite soundtrack from a game yet, and the art is incomprehensibly beautiful.”
    • “The soundtrack is a perfect blend of somber and epic tunes that stick with you long after you’ve stopped playing.”
    • “The music, the enemies and character designs, the writing.”
    • “Except for the music, its game is very little, and the one that is there does not correspond to the expressiveness of artstyle and is not memorable at all.”
    • “The music sounds like airport elevator music, sleep inducing and uninteresting.”
    • “The music can get a bit repetitive, but recommended for anyone that likes the genre.”
  • atmosphere1,960 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Blasphemous" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, characterized by stunning pixel art, a dark and oppressive tone, and a rich tapestry of religious iconography that evokes themes of guilt and fanaticism. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a deeply engaging world filled with grotesque beauty, complemented by a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some find the atmosphere overwhelming or exhausting, it remains a standout feature that captivates many, making it a must-play for fans of dark, atmospheric games.

    • “The game oozes this astounding atmosphere with structures, references, and odes to Spanish Catholicism and Spanish artworks.”
    • “Its haunting atmosphere, stunning pixel art, and rich, cryptic lore make it a captivating experience for fans of tough, rewarding gameplay.”
    • “The atmosphere and the art direction are excellent.”
    • “The oppressive atmosphere and constant barrage of grotesque imagery can make it difficult to maintain interest and motivation.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is too stuffy and tiring.”
    • “Unfortunately that mood never changes, it is just constantly grim, there is never a shift in atmosphere it stays constant no matter what location you are in.”
  • grinding536 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with many players expressing dissatisfaction over the excessive backtracking, slow traversal, and repetitive combat mechanics. While some found enjoyment in the challenge and nostalgia of grinding, the overall sentiment leans towards the experience being more of a chore than a rewarding endeavor, often requiring the use of guides to navigate the convoluted gameplay. Players noted that the lack of fast travel options and frequent instant-death traps further exacerbated the tedious nature of grinding, making it a significant drawback in the game's design.

    • “Not too grindy but does require some practice (especially the bosses).”
    • “No grinding required to level up or reach 100% achievements.”
    • “2D metroidvania with no grinding, skill-based with decent boss difficulty and tight control.”
    • “Exploring is tedious with ridiculous 'instant death' traps you have no chance of knowing or avoiding beforehand, and there isn't really anything rewarding to find.”
    • “The gameplay itself is just tedious, making it difficult for all the wrong reasons.”
    • “Backtracking is tedious and anti-fun.”
  • stability281 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, including issues with controls, platforming, and enemy interactions. While some users noted that the game runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, many expressed frustration over persistent problems that can lead to unfair deaths and hinder progress. Overall, the game is seen as needing further polish to address these stability concerns.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck with very low battery usage.”
    • “I played it on my Steam Deck, which is just perfect for metroidvanias like this, and it runs great!”
    • “The audio is great, nearly two hours of quality soundtrack and ambience with no glitches.”
    • “The only thing I don't like about the game is the glitches; I've encountered a lot of glitches that ruin the gameplay and just kill the mood (for example, after I killed a boss, his projectiles didn't disappear and kept hitting me while I was stunned because of the win screen until I died and didn't get to see the cutscene).”
    • “The game is buggy in many ways, has too many annoying questlines, and also for some reason the game cannot lock your controls to one type (keyboard/gamepad), making it difficult to navigate as it sometimes disables a button on the gamepad because I alt-tab often.”
    • “I have had to play the same levels repeatedly not because I'm bad at the game but because at certain points the game changes the pattern, or glitches, or something, and an enemy will simply hit me and kill me even though the special attack I performed the first dozen times oddly kills me.”
  • replayability275 mentions

    Blasphemous is praised for its high replayability, featuring multiple endings, a New Game Plus mode, and various challenge runs that encourage players to explore different playstyles and secrets. Many players appreciate the depth added by unlockable content and the engaging lore, making each playthrough feel fresh and rewarding. However, some critics note that once 100% completion is achieved, the incentive to replay may diminish, particularly for those seeking specific achievements.

    • “Blasphemous offers some replay value with its multiple endings and new game plus mode, and there's plenty to do for 100% completion.”
    • “With its high level of replayability and new game plus mode, Blasphemous offers an experience that keeps players coming back for more, uncovering new secrets with each playthrough.”
    • “The game has amazing replayability as you can take different bosses on first to change your experience as well as a host of new bosses only available in ng+!”
    • “The only downside I could find at first was that it didn't last long (10-15 hours I believe is the usual playthrough time, 20+ with full completion) and it didn't add too much for replayability.”
    • “Fantastic game overall, but a bit short, and lacks replayability.”
    • “I'd say the biggest problem with this game is that there is zero postgame or replay value.”
  • character development159 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its stunning and unique character designs, which blend horror and beauty, contributing to an immersive and eerie atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the intricate details and thematic depth of the characters, often inspired by religious imagery, which enhances the storytelling and overall experience. The art style, combined with memorable enemy and NPC designs, creates a captivating world that players find both haunting and fascinating.

    • “The story is wonderful and the game has this macabre ambience surrounding the character so it always feels like you need to be on your toes. The character designs are made in such a specific way that you will have an interesting time finding who is foe and who is friend!”
    • “Every character design in this game has so much thought and detail put into it that I would recommend getting the art book just to see the concepts.”
    • “The character design is second to none and where the game really shines.”
    • “I found the character design to be... boring.”
    • “The character designs range from hellish creatures and deformed popes to the design of our hero and his allies, which seem to be mostly inspired by Spanish Catholicism and the Spanish Inquisition.”
    • “It's the singular theme exploring the ugliness and violence of extreme penitence, and how it is supported through visual motifs, character designs, dialogue, world building, etc. that make this game compelling.”
  • emotional140 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with players expressing feelings of frustration and challenge due to the punishing mechanics, such as taking damage from merely touching enemies. However, many also highlight the game's rich themes of guilt, redemption, and atonement, alongside its haunting atmosphere and stunning art, which evoke strong emotional responses, ranging from nostalgia to deep engagement with the narrative. Overall, while the gameplay can be infuriating, the emotional depth and artistic presentation resonate with players, making it a memorable experience.

    • “The themes of guilt, redemption, and atonement are woven into the fabric of the game, adding emotional weight to the dark journey of the penitent one.”
    • “This game is an art piece, every background, every little detail that compliments the pixel scenery, the instrumentals, really made me feel something I don't think I can explain with just words.”
    • “Blasphemous has been the first 2D game I've truly enjoyed on this level; no 2D game can ever be more souls-like than this one. The bosses are amazing, and knowing there's like 8 more on NG+ makes me not only want to cry but play once more.”
  • humor105 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by absurd and whimsical elements, such as funny character designs (like a cone-headed protagonist) and amusing animations that evoke laughter amidst the darker themes. Players appreciate the comedic aspects of boss fights and the quirky situations encountered, although some feel the overall tone leans more towards frustration than humor. While there are moments of levity, the game lacks consistent light-heartedness, leading to mixed feelings about its comedic effectiveness.

    • “Funny boss fights.”
    • “You play as a guy that looks like a funny traffic cone.”
    • “Its artwork, animations and overall aesthetic are among the best in the business: baroque, gothic and dripping with bilious humor.”
    • “I love metroidvania and soul-like games, but this game is not funny, just hard.”
    • “The game is designed to be annoying and frustrating instead of fun, with badly designed unfunny bosses.”
    • “From sluggish movement speed to a lackluster magic system, the humor is completely absent.”
  • optimization61 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing smooth performance and clear animations, while others report significant issues such as frame rate drops, microstuttering, and poor Vsync implementation. While it runs well on lower-end systems and has good controls, many users feel it is primarily optimized for consoles rather than PC, leading to frustrations with performance inconsistencies. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience for those who can navigate its optimization challenges.

    • “Their animations are clear and well-optimized, with precise timing that allows the player to parry or dodge in time.”
    • “Lastly, performance and polish are stellar. I did not encounter a single crash or frame drop in 25 hours of playing, while bugs were only few and barely noticeable.”
    • “Blasphemous, in as few words as I can manage, consistently and almost endlessly rewards higher degrees of gameplay efficiency, optimization, and knowledge.”
    • “The performance was absolutely terrible no matter how much I fiddled with resolution and other graphics settings.”
    • “Also, technically the game is limited to 60fps, Vsync is an absolute catastrophe and the game has microstuttering in some areas and in some it doesn't.”
    • “It's strikingly evident that this game is not optimized for this kind of movement.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of monetization, with no in-game advertisements or DLC pressure, making the launch price feel reasonable compared to other modern titles. Players appreciate that it avoids the pitfalls of being a cash grab, despite initial perceptions of it being a "souls-like" game.

    • “At first glance, you'd call this game a soulsborne ripoff made for nothing more than a quick cash grab.”
    • “The launch price is very, very reasonable compared to what you'll get out of modern games, with no blatant in-game advertisement for DLC or glaring quality control issues.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

Buy Blasphemous

Play time

17hMedian play time
27hAverage play time
14hMain story
29hCompletionist
7-32hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 94 analyzed playthroughs

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