Contrast

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,028 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Contrast Game Cover
Contrast is an intriguing and enjoyable title with a host of good gameplay ideas, fantastic visuals, beautiful music and an interesting and heartfelt story that succeeds in spite of its occasional technical problems and short length.
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"Contrast is a single-player platformer game with an interesting plot, set in a dreamlike 1920s world, where you play as Dawn, the imaginary friend of Didi, who can shift between a 3D world and a 2D shadow world. Solve puzzles by manipulating light sources and enjoy the game's excellent soundtrack, dense atmosphere, and wholesome story. However, the game is very grinding, buggy, and has low replayability."

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,028 reviews
story1,116 positive mentions
stability182 negative mentions
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that blend 2D and 3D platforming using shadows.
  • Beautiful art style and atmosphere, reminiscent of 1920s noir.
  • Engaging story with charming characters and a captivating soundtrack.
  • Short playtime, typically around 3-4 hours, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Controls can be clunky and imprecise, leading to frustrating moments.
  • Some puzzles may feel too easy or lack depth, reducing overall challenge.
  • story2,492 mentions

    The story of "Contrast" is a poignant exploration of family dynamics, focusing on a young girl named Didi and her imaginary friend, Dawn, as they navigate the complexities of her parents' troubled relationship. While the narrative is engaging and features unique storytelling through shadow play, many players feel it is somewhat rushed and lacks depth, leaving them wanting more from the characters and plot development. Overall, the game is praised for its artistic presentation and emotional resonance, despite its brevity and occasional gameplay issues.

    • “The story is amazing, unique and unfolds unexpectedly.”
    • “The voice acting is perfect, it has an awesome style, the story was engaging, some of the levels are really well designed, the gameplay/puzzling element is interesting, the collectibles add to the lore and more.”
    • “Contrast is a captivating game with its elegant, dark and mysterious setting, and a story where the truth about who you even play as slowly unfolds.”
    • “It feels like they ran out of money and had to cut it short in order to complete the story and the game.”
    • “The story is simple, yet has many layers to it.”
    • “The story is very basic and did not hook me in at all.”
  • gameplay1,519 mentions

    The gameplay of "Contrast" is characterized by its unique shadow-shifting mechanic, allowing players to transition between 3D and 2D environments to solve puzzles. While the concept is innovative and visually appealing, many players noted that the execution can be clunky and buggy, leading to frustrating moments during platforming sections. Overall, the game offers a charming experience with engaging puzzles and a captivating story, but its short length and occasional technical issues may detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Great mechanics and enjoyable puzzles.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are equally impressive, allowing players to manipulate light and shadows to navigate through the game's many puzzles and challenges.”
    • “Contrast is a short but beautiful and charming puzzle platformer with a fairly unique gameplay mechanic.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit clunky but the story is interesting, the music, visuals and atmosphere are great.”
    • “The gameplay can be a little clunky at times.”
    • “The gameplay is short and easy, the gameplay not polished.”
  • music1,094 mentions

    The music in "Contrast" has been widely praised for its beautiful jazz soundtrack, which perfectly complements the game's noir aesthetic and enhances the overall atmosphere. Many players noted that the music is not only fitting for the 1920s setting but also captivating enough to listen to outside of the game, with standout tracks performed by talented vocalists. While some reviews mentioned a lack of ambient music during gameplay, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and emotional depth.

    • “The music is fantastic and I can't stop listening to the soundtrack!”
    • “The soundtrack is simply amazing and makes the game even more enjoyable.”
    • “The music, the visuals, the story... they're absolutely fantastic.”
    • “The soundtrack has 2-3 songs and tons of simple, repetitive music that really doesn't help.”
    • “Despite what you might think having seen the trailers, there is in fact very little music in the game.”
    • “The ost provided are short 1 minute or so skits that only play at key moments, otherwise the game is disturbingly silent.”
  • graphics807 mentions

    The graphics of "Contrast" are widely praised for their stunning art style, which combines a noir aesthetic with a whimsical, 1920s atmosphere reminiscent of Tim Burton's work. While some players note that the visuals can feel dated and occasionally glitchy, the overall artistic direction and use of light and shadow create a captivating experience that enhances the game's narrative and gameplay mechanics. Despite minor technical issues, the game's unique visual presentation and atmospheric soundtrack leave a lasting impression on players.

    • “The game's distinct art style and stunning visuals create an immersive experience that's both beautiful and haunting.”
    • “Contrast is a beautiful puzzle platformer that has stunning noir aesthetics and music.”
    • “The graphics are exceptionally good in an artistic way, both character design and overall level design.”
    • “The game reminds me of PS3/Xbox 360 era games in terms of graphics, gameplay structure, and UI.”
    • “The graphics are mediocre.”
    • “Unfortunately, dated graphics and some gameplay bugs ruin the overall experience, but if you can deal with that, you will find a very enjoyable game.”
  • atmosphere422 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Contrast" is widely praised for its immersive and unique 1920s noir setting, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and striking visuals. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a dreamlike quality, blending elements of jazz, shadow mechanics, and a rich narrative that draws them into its world. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall ambiance and artistic direction create a memorable experience that resonates with fans of atmospheric storytelling.

    • “The strongest point of this game is its ambience with noir-style artwork and color palette further enhanced by atmospheric music.”
    • “The atmosphere is beautiful with smokey dens, dirty streets, and bright spotlights.”
    • “The atmosphere, world building, and overarching plot of this game are fantastic.”
    • “The atmosphere was like a mix of Alice: Madness Returns and Psychonauts.”
    • “While the atmosphere, voices, and visuals are all in place, I wasn't drawn into the game much.”
    • “No swaying and sliding of chairs, no sloshing of alcohol, no strange poltergeist-esque atmosphere replete with drinks trays floating around the room; bartenders shaking tumblers and pouring them out, no cats in alleyways knocking over trashcans and yowling, certain conversations that dim and fall as you wander the room - there is nothing - and that is where this game really falls flat on its face.”
  • stability187 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized for being buggy, with numerous glitches affecting gameplay, such as character movement issues, collision detection problems, and frustrating mechanics that can lead to getting stuck. While some players found the experience enjoyable despite these issues, many noted that the bugs detracted from the overall enjoyment and immersion, making the game feel clumsy and at times infuriating. Overall, while the game has a unique concept and engaging elements, its stability issues are a significant drawback.

    • “Very fun game that runs great on a 4770k @4.4ghz with a gtx 1080 at 1440p 60fps.”
    • “I love the switching between 'two worlds', the story is great, no glitches at all.”
    • “No glitches at all.”
    • “With that and the buggy physics, it's more frustrating than enjoyable.”
    • “The game is really short (it took me 6 hours to beat it and I'm usually slow) and buggy.”
    • “The gameplay is good but with the bugs and glitches can become a chore.”
  • emotional108 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game "Contrast" is widely praised for its touching and heartwarming storyline, which follows a young girl navigating family struggles through imaginative shadow puzzles. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak, enhanced by the game's beautiful aesthetics, jazz-inspired soundtrack, and strong voice acting. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in certain characters and a somewhat underwhelming ending, the overall narrative is considered engaging and memorable, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “As the story unfolds, players are taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride filled with heartbreak, intrigue, and moments of sheer wonder.”
    • “It's a game that won't make you cry in the end because of the emotional attachment you experience; it's a game that will make you cry because you don't want the curtain call to be over so soon.”
    • “The story is really touching about how a little girl and her imaginary friend tries to bring back together her broken family.”
    • “This game looked interesting with an original idea, but it was poorly executed. The story was boring and left many mysteries unanswered. Characters acted irrationally, changing their minds frequently, which made them seem dumb or bipolar. The dialogue felt meaningless, and the puzzles were broken. Overall, this game isn't worth it.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters was lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles. Their decisions felt inconsistent and often illogical, which detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “I expected a gripping narrative, but instead, I was met with a disjointed story that failed to evoke any real emotions. The character development was shallow, leaving me feeling indifferent to their fates.”
  • replayability64 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits very low replayability, with most players noting that it can be completed in a short time frame of 2-5 hours. While there are some opportunities for collecting achievements and items, these do not significantly enhance the replay value, leading many to feel that once the game is finished, there is little incentive to return. The consensus suggests that the game is best enjoyed in a single playthrough rather than as a title to revisit.

    • “I will admit, there's probably not too much in the way of replayability, and the story itself is quite short - I finished everything in I'd guess 4-5 hours, but it was a pleasure to play.”
    • “It has an awesome replayability, an awesome story, awesome mechanics and the collectibles are hard to find and pretty damn awesome to get entirely.”
    • “To conclude, great game, worth the money I paid, and I plan to play it again to collect all of the collectibles, so replay value is moderate.”
    • “Replayability is non-existent; you can get nearly all the collectibles in even less time than I took to complete the game.”
    • “Once completed, there is no replay value.”
    • “The world is beautiful and intriguing, but the game has a short lifespan, with no replay value whatsoever.”
  • character development31 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the character designs are praised for their uniqueness and aesthetic appeal, many reviewers feel that the actual development of the characters is lacking, often described as simplistic or choppy. Some players noted that the narrative offers hints of backstory through collectibles, but these do not create a coherent understanding of the characters. Overall, while the art and atmosphere are well-received, the depth of character development leaves much to be desired.

    • “The character development was choppy at times, but each character was unique in their own personalities.”
    • “There is a lot of love and care in the art direction, music, character designs, and voice acting.”
    • “The story is great and dark as well; love the setting, love the art style, love the character design.”
    • “And furthermore she has the least character development, I still had 0 idea who she exactly was after finishing the game.”
    • “I would have liked to see more complex routes, more character development, and a deeper plot line.”
    • “The story is kind of simplistic, character development is... weird (like that one scene where one character changes their mind by 180°)... you get hints of a back story in the form of collectibles, but they don't really reveal any coherent whole.”
  • humor27 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and often absurd scenarios, such as the juxtaposition of urgent tasks with the temptation of shiny collectibles, and features amusing elements like shadow puppet scenes and clever dialogue. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and comedic twists within the storyline, which, while not groundbreaking, provide a charming and entertaining experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging puzzles and a visually appealing atmosphere, making it a delightful play.

    • “It's a bit hilarious how the game is trying to immerse you in a scenario where you need to urgently help a little girl, but you're encouraged to run off to pick up a shiny collectible item, especially because after certain cutscenes trigger you can't go back to explore the map.”
    • “The humoristic elements such as hidden mature jokes really made me happy and sometimes I even laughed out loud.”
    • “There's even a hilarious sub-story about a princess rescuing a prince.”
  • grinding25 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many puzzles and platforming challenges feeling overly simplistic or poorly executed. While some elements are engaging, the lack of clear mechanics and the repetitive nature of certain tasks detract from the overall experience, leading to moments of annoyance rather than enjoyment. The game's visual and auditory design is praised, but it struggles to maintain player interest due to its tedious gameplay elements.

    • “The transitions from shadows to 3D are done very well, and the puzzles are neat and not tedious unless you've played through a couple of times (to get achievements or whatnot).”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay was boring: puzzles were too simple and the movement or execution for solving them was slow and tedious.”
    • “The game explains almost nothing and fails to do it through the level design, leading to a lot of hair-pulling moments, and can be very tedious.”
    • “While not a bad game per se, unless you are looking for a short indie platformer reminiscent of American McGee's Alice with an interesting mechanic poorly executed, I found it to be dull and tedious, and you are better off looking elsewhere.”
  • optimization22 mentions

    The optimization of the game is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on platforms like Proton for Linux and is generally well-optimized for an Unreal Engine title, players have reported issues with keyboard and mouse controls, suggesting that the game is better suited for controllers. Additionally, some users noted performance problems and a lack of polish in certain scenes, indicating that the game could benefit from further optimization and refinement. Overall, the strong aesthetic and audio elements are overshadowed by technical shortcomings that detract from the experience.

    • “Also, it runs smoothly on Proton in Linux.”
    • “Contrast is running on Unreal Engine 3, so the performance is good, and you can do some tweaking of things via the config file if you want to.”
    • “Quite well optimized for an Unreal Engine title.”
    • “The main downside is that the game seems optimized for a controller, and the keyboard-mouse setup was quite unpleasant at times.”
    • “Very cool concept, poorly optimized.”
    • “Audio, graphical, and performance issues round out the family of technical incompetency that more than anything sell home the fact that Contrast needed more time in the oven.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

59% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3hMain story
4hCompletionist
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 61 analyzed playthroughs

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