Concrete Genie
- October 8, 2019
- Pixelopus
Concrete Genie is a heartwarming story about friendship and restoration, and an absolute must-play.
Get on PS StoreConcrete Genie is a game about Ash, a bullied teen who discovers a magical paintbrush that brings his colorful sketches to life, cleaning up pollution in his once vibrant hometown, Denska. Interacting with mischievous Genies, Ash harnesses his artistic skills to restore Denska and overcome personal struggles. This heartwarming journey combines creativity, adventure, and self-discovery as Ash paints his hometown back to life.
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Virtual Reality
PlayStation
PlayStation VR
Reviews
- Concrete Genie features stunning visuals and a charming narrative that captivates players with its heartwarming themes of creativity and friendship.
- The painting mechanic is engaging and allows for a unique form of expression, making the gameplay enjoyable and accessible for players of all ages.
- The game is filled with delightful characters and imaginative environments, providing a wholesome experience that stands out in the indie game scene.
- The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 5 to 10 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Combat elements feel tacked on and underwhelming, detracting from the overall experience and pacing of the game.
- Some players may find the gameplay simplistic and the puzzles too easy, limiting the challenge and depth of the experience.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Concrete Genie is characterized by its charming painting mechanic, which allows for creative expression and transforms the game world, though it can feel underwhelming outside of this core feature. While the emotional story and beautiful artwork enhance the experience, some players find the late-game shifts in gameplay and simplistic puzzles detract from overall engagement. Despite its flaws, the game is praised for its delightful characters and innovative mechanics, making it a wholesome adventure.
“An emotional story blended with beautiful artwork and seamless gameplay creates an incredible experience.”
“Concrete Genie paints an impressive picture with delightful gameplay and heartwarming characters.”
“Denska is beautiful before and after you've had your way with it, with mechanics that feed directly into your creative side, making you feel creative in a way that few things can.”
“Concrete Genie may not scratch the gameplay itch that you have, but rather it delivers an important story to tell.”
“The game, in spite of a late-game gameplay pivot, never truly manages to engage beyond its admittedly charming painting mechanic.”
“When you aren’t painting, the gameplay is underwhelming; the gameplay takes a drastic turn, but still falls flat, and dictating the art to you takes away the best aspect of the game.”
- story14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story of Concrete Genie is a heartfelt and emotional journey centered around themes of friendship and restoration, complemented by beautifully stylized visuals and lovable characters. While some players found the narrative engaging and transformative, others noted its brevity and a jarring genre shift that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game delivers a unique and touching story that resonates with players, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and depth.
“Concrete Genie is a heartwarming story about friendship and restoration, and an absolute must-play.”
“An emotional story blended with beautiful artwork and seamless gameplay creates an incredible experience.”
“Concrete Genie has a warmth to it, and I felt like the team at Pixel Opus put their hearts into this. The story and themes don’t come off forced or cheap, but instead feel real and honest.”
“Too short, even for a budget title; jarring transition into a near-totally different genre two-thirds into the story; stealth elements with the bullies feel unneeded.”
“The storyline is somewhat disappointing.”
“Concrete Genie may not scratch the gameplay itch that you have, but rather it delivers an important story to tell.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Concrete Genie is widely praised for its heartwarming and emotionally resonant narrative, featuring themes of friendship, restoration, and creativity. The game's beautiful artwork and charming characters enhance the storytelling experience, making it a memorable journey that resonates deeply with players. Overall, it is celebrated as a wholesome adventure that effectively combines emotional depth with engaging gameplay.
“Concrete Genie is a heartwarming story about friendship and restoration, and an absolute must-play.”
“An emotional story blended with beautiful artwork and seamless gameplay creates an incredible experience.”
“I haven't had a game hit me emotionally quite as Concrete Genie has.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty and charming art style, reminiscent of a Laika film, which appeals particularly to younger audiences and those who appreciate drawing. Players enjoy the whimsical player-created genies and the engaging, emotionally resonant narrative, enhanced by fluid movement and intuitive controls that make exploration enjoyable. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to a relaxing and immersive gameplay experience.
“Concrete Genie has some stunning visuals when you're free to paint, and the story is interesting enough to keep you playing until the end.”
“An emotional story blended with beautiful artwork and seamless gameplay creates an incredible experience.”
“The concept of bringing positivity with beautiful artworks is cute and well-executed; interactions between Ash and the genies are sweet and fun to watch, and fluid movement makes exploring a joyous experience.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its gorgeous quality and attention to detail, evoking deep emotional connections and enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate how it complements the charming visuals and gameplay, making it a standout feature.
Critic Reviews
"A uniquely heartfelt story bursting with imagination"
Concrete Genie takes you on a uniquely heartwarming journey teeming with creativity and charm that will capture your imagination.
90%Concrete Genie Review – Piece of Art
Concrete Genie is held back slightly by its reluctance to trust us with more freedom of creation, and its third act combat feels somewhat out of place. Still, it still manages to do a wonderful job of giving players a reason to explore its eerie and beautiful town and interact with its colorful genies, and its narrative is successful in merging two very different tones to tell a tale that bounces admirably between somber and lighthearted.
80%Concrete Genie review
Concrete Genie has some stunning visuals when you're free to paint, and the story is interesting enough to keep you playing until the end.
80%
