Children of the Sun

As macabre as it is, Children of the Sun’s addictive leaderboard chase is sure to rekindle the competitive spirit in those who find themselves lapping up this world's darkness after having ventured heavenward in Neon White.

85%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

grinding, optimization

93% User Score Based on 1,486 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 22 reviews

Platforms

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About

Children of the Sun is a single player strategy game. It was developed by René Rother and was released on April 9, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In "Children of the Sun" , players control a single bullet in a tactical third-person puzzle-shooter, guiding it through levels to take down cultists and uncover dark truths. Using precise aiming, environmental manipulation, and strategic planning, players eliminate cult members and uncover the mysteries of the mysterious order. With a focus on stylish, satisfying kills, players wage a one-woman war against the cult, one bullet at a time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,486 reviews

gameplay177 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

Unique gameplay mechanic of controlling a bullet to take down multiple enemies in one shot, providing a satisfying puzzle experience.
Stylish art direction and atmospheric sound design that enhance the overall experience, creating a compelling and immersive environment.
Short but engaging gameplay that encourages replayability through high score challenges and optional objectives.

The game is quite short, typically taking around 3-4 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some levels can be frustrating due to hidden enemies and a sudden difficulty spike, particularly in the final level.
The scoring system can be unclear, leading to confusion about how to achieve high scores and complete challenges effectively.

gameplay
409 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The gameplay of "Children of the Sun" is characterized by its unique mechanic of controlling a bullet after firing, allowing players to execute strategic shots in a puzzle-like fashion. While the core gameplay loop is engaging and evolves with new mechanics introduced throughout the game, some players noted issues with polish and repetitiveness, particularly in later levels. Overall, the combination of stylish visuals, addictive mechanics, and a dark atmosphere creates a compelling experience, though its short length may leave some wanting more.
- “Gameplay is fun and gets expanded upon gradually by adding new mechanics. If you love puzzle games, something with a unique and dark atmosphere, and don't mind if it's a short game, by all means, get it.”
- “The core mechanic is simple to understand, and its iterations benefit from the creative and challenging (but fair) level/puzzle design.”
- “The gameplay loop is the right mixture of challenging and enjoyable, making you consider every angle for the perfect shot.”
- “Sometimes the bullets would teleport when shooting, not giving any chance to use the steer mechanics or stopping you from killing an armored enemy.”
- “A severe lack of polish with almost everything; the style is cool but it lacks coherence within itself. The gameplay was alright but not exploited to its full potential.”
- “The gameplay started out fine, but as more things were added, the more cluttered the game got. The new skills are great in concept, but the developers failed to make them work with the base gameplay on any level of depth.”
story
347 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The game's story is a brief, stylized revenge narrative centered on a young girl's quest against a cult, conveyed through fragmented, comic-book-style cutscenes with minimal dialogue. While some players found the storytelling disjointed and difficult to follow, many appreciated its dark themes and unique aesthetic, noting that the visuals and sound design effectively enhance the overall experience. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, providing just enough context to engage players without overshadowing the puzzle mechanics.
- “The story is dark and cinematic, not wasting a moment on screen, leaving you breathless with its dark imagery.”
- “The story is angry, concise, and so well established that I understood without a word needing to be said.”
- “The story follows a young girl's quest for revenge on a cult and its leader for the abuse and suffering they inflicted on her and her family.”
- “The story feels disjointed and the snapshot sequences roll by too fast for you to even get an idea of what each sequence is about.”
- “Unfortunately, a lot of the story went over my head, so I can't comment on it.”
- “I like the idea, but I don't think I got the full meaning of what was happening simply from the still frame images and occasional text, which is a pity since they dedicated a whole mission to storytelling.”
graphics
289 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique, stylized aesthetic that blends lo-fi, grungy visuals with psychedelic art design, creating a compelling atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While some players noted that the graphics are basic and at times difficult to discern, the overall artistic direction and vibrant visuals received high praise for their creativity and ability to complement the game's narrative. The combination of striking visuals, engaging sound design, and innovative mechanics contributes to a memorable and immersive experience, despite the game's brevity.
- “The trippy visuals and grotesque cutscenes complement each other well.”
- “The art style adds a lot of character and the soundtrack just adds to that as well.”
- “Incredible in all fronts, I'm especially fond of the art style from the cutscenes.”
- “The graphics aren't anything to write home about for this game, but they're perfectly serviceable for an indie title.”
- “- at the start of each enemy, you're meant to tag the targets before sniping but due to a combination of the pixelated muddy visuals and how dark the levels are it is extremely hard to make out where each enemy is.”
- “After completing the game and most of the challenges in about 3 hours, I would say the game is underwhelming and is largely carried by the aesthetics.”
music
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
60%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric and adaptive qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others find it repetitive or lacking in variety. The soundtrack, often described as grungy and unsettling, complements the game's unique visual style, creating a compelling atmosphere, though some players noted that it can be overwhelming or uncomfortable at times. Overall, while the music design is appreciated for its creativity and fit within the game's aesthetic, there are calls for more variety and standout tracks.
- “One of the things I appreciated the most was the soundtrack, which is adaptive and really adds a whole lot to the experience.”
- “The music, sound effects, VFX, animations, color schemes, fonts, and other visual elements create such a fun, distinctive style that makes the game ten times more engaging than it already is.”
- “Most creative shooter I've played since Superhot, the soundtrack and mood of the game are incredible, plus the main character is literally me.”
- “It's hard to be enthusiastic about ambient drone music.”
- “I was disappointed the music wasn't as fun as the trailer (was there even any music?), but the game played as promised.”
- “The story is a simple tale of revenge which is told through brief cutscenes before and after each level with beautifully unhinged artstyle showcasing the grim aesthetics; moreover, there's no dialogue or soundtrack, just silent white noise in the background coupled with the gritty visuals even during the gameplay.”
replayability
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
72%
8%
The game offers moderate to high replayability primarily through its scoring system and leaderboard challenges, encouraging players to optimize their runs and explore different strategies for completing levels. While some reviewers noted the game's short length and lack of variety as potential drawbacks, many found the gameplay satisfying enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, especially for achievement hunters and competitive players. Overall, the replay value is enhanced by the ability to tackle levels in various ways and the pursuit of higher scores.
- “This game has high replayability thanks to the scoring system and the pretty open-ended solutions, of which you should take advantage not only to get your money's worth but also because it is really satisfying.”
- “Really great game, wish it was maybe a little longer or had a bit more variety in enemies, or maybe even a few more mini games or unique levels to break up the pace, but the amount of replayability on display here from the sheer number of ways you can tackle each and every stage is beyond satisfying and I can absolutely see myself replaying this endlessly, if not to grind the leaderboards.”
- “The game is pretty short and the puzzles aren't too hard, but the replay value comes from optimizing your runs and trying to climb the leaderboards.”
- “Also, the game could stand to be a little longer - as of the writing of this review, the only replay value it has is if you want to get one of the achievements tied to the secondary objectives or climb the ranks of the leaderboard.”
- “Game is extremely short and primitive, provides no challenge and has zero replayability.”
- “It's a short play-through and there's not really much more replay value after you clear all the levels.”
atmosphere
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
37%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and abstract art style, which, combined with compelling music and sound design, creates a surreal and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the game's visual flair and storytelling, noting that the atmosphere enhances the overall gameplay, making it a standout feature despite the game's brevity. While some may find the style unsettling, many agree that it leaves a lasting impression and is a significant draw for puzzle enthusiasts.
- “Everything from the colours, lighting, sound and definitely the story projects a surreal atmosphere that, even though might not be for everyone, sure is original.”
- “It has a very unique and unsettling art style, which combined with the music creates a really compelling atmosphere for the game.”
- “Excellent visuals, phenomenal atmosphere, fun mechanics, and doesn't outstay its welcome.”
- “The style, atmosphere, and storytelling weren't really appealing to me, but it's nice to play something truly unique. A game I didn't spend long in, but it certainly left an impression that I won't be forgetting for a long time.”
- “The atmosphere and feeling of the environment for such a short game is unmatched.”
- “It is quite simply the best sniping game I’ve ever played and, better yet, it has a story, vibes, and atmosphere you just want to bathe in, much like the blood of your enemies.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
6%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later levels, which may deter some players from replaying. While perfectionists might appreciate the challenge and various approaches to each level, many reviewers found the trial-and-error mechanics frustrating and overly time-consuming. Overall, the grinding can detract from the enjoyment, despite some fun elements like art direction and unique gameplay features.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's tedious and boring failing and re-shooting everywhere just to maybe find some guy behind a wall, car, or inside a building.”
- “Not something I would play again due to the tediousness of harder levels, but I recommend this game.”
- “Whoever signed off on that 'collect the bullets' mini-game needs a talking to; it's borderline unplayable, and I only finished it by getting stuck on the terrain and waiting until all of the enemies slowly, tediously bounced into me for a whopping -17,000 points on the stage.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The game's optimization is criticized for significant stuttering and pixelation, even at lower resolutions like 720p. While the experience may be rewarding for players interested in optimizing gameplay and pursuing achievements, those who prefer a straightforward playthrough may find the game lacking, as it can be completed in about three hours.
- “Though short, it is well worth your time and money if you are going to do anything other than simply play through once, without any regard for optimization and score (which is where the bulk of the game's excellence will be experienced).”
- “Lots of stuttering and it looks very pixelated even on 720p setting.”
- “If you are not into endless optimization of kill routes or into achievement hunting, you will be done after about 3 hours.”
- “Though short, it is well worth your time and money if you are gonna do anything other than simply play through once, without any regard for optimization and score (which is where the bulk of the game's excellence will be experienced).”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny slow-motion gunplay, which adds a comedic element to the gameplay. However, some users feel that while the game is enjoyable, it doesn't necessarily focus on humor, instead emphasizing its quality as a solid indie title.
- “Funny slowmo gun game”
- “Funny game”
- “This is just a really good indie game with a great sense of humor.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, users report a stable experience with the game, particularly on the Steam Deck when the FPS cap is set to 40, with no significant issues like freezes or crashes noted. However, there is a lingering concern about potential stability problems in the future.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck at default settings; just set the FPS cap to 40 and didn’t run into any issues.”
- “I just hope I can play it fully without freezes or crashes in the future.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong sense of emotional satisfaction and accomplishment as they navigate through challenging levels, highlighting the rewarding feeling of overcoming obstacles without feeling frustrated or stuck. This blend of challenge and achievement contributes to a positive emotional experience throughout the game.
- “After figuring out the controls, each level took some thinking, but it never made me feel stuck. On the later levels, where it took quite a few tries, it was so satisfying to feel that sense of accomplishment.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is noted for its engaging design and fun progression, complemented by a decent story that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique character aesthetics and the replayability factor, which adds depth to the gameplay.

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 22 critic reviews

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4h Median play time

4h Average play time

3-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Children of the Sun is a strategy game.

Children of the Sun is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Children of the Sun.

Children of the Sun was released on April 9, 2024.

Children of the Sun was developed by René Rother.

Children of the Sun has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Children of the Sun is a single player game.

Similar games include Timelie, Katana ZERO, DEADBOLT, My Friend Pedro, I Am Your Beast and others.

Children of the Sun

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