Cosmic Top Secret

58%
Game Brain Score Based on 22 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Cosmic Top Secret Game Cover
Cosmic Top Secret is let down by rudimentary and frustrating gameplay which stifles some otherwise fine investigative journalism.
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Do we really, truly know our parents? Based on incredible real-life events, help T uncover the truth about her parents’ work as spies during the Cold War. Featuring real audio and documentary footage in a fantastical storybook world, Cosmic Top Secret is an adventure like no other.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

58%
Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews
humor2 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and charming art style composed of cardboard cutouts and photography, creating a visually striking experience.
  • The narrative is deeply personal, providing an engaging exploration of family relationships and the impact of the Cold War on the protagonist's life.
  • The game successfully blends documentary elements with light-hearted storytelling, making serious topics accessible and enjoyable to explore.
  • The control scheme is clunky and frustrating, relying solely on mouse input which can lead to awkward movement and navigation issues.
  • Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks challenging platforming elements, which may lead to boredom for some players.
  • The game is relatively short, with limited replay value, which may not justify a full-price purchase for some players.
  • story18 mentions

    The game presents a deeply personal narrative centered around the developer's family history, specifically the experiences of her parents in Danish intelligence during the Cold War. It combines real-life recordings, documents, and a unique papercraft visual style to create an engaging storytelling experience that explores themes of relationships, secrets, and personal discovery. Players are drawn into the protagonist's journey, blending documentary elements with surreal gameplay, making it a captivating exploration of both historical and personal narratives.

    • “Really interesting and curious game, where you feel like you're part of t's journey to find out the story about her parents' job.”
    • “The story is a straight-up documentary of a daughter interviewing her father and mother who were both involved in some high-level secret stuff during the Cold War.”
    • “There is a level of storytelling that moves away from the parents and their roles as intelligence agents.”
    • “It's a story about relationships, secrets, and the Cold War all wrapped in a very charming and forgiving collect-a-thon with puzzle elements.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it clunky and boring due to its focus on walking and collecting intel, while others appreciate its engaging mechanics and storytelling. Despite some neat features and a captivating aesthetic, many feel that the gameplay is rudimentary and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “It has some really neat mechanics that make it a lot of fun to play.”
    • “It quickly drew me in with good storytelling, surreal yet deeply coherent visual design, and surprising gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay consists mostly of walking around and collecting various pieces of intel while interacting with different characters and objects.”
    • “Seemed interesting as an idea, but the gameplay is very clunky and boring.”
    • “Cosmic Top Secret is let down by rudimentary and frustrating gameplay which stifles some otherwise fine investigative journalism.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The game's graphics feature a distinctive art style that combines cardboard, paper, and photographic elements, creating a striking visual experience that enhances its narrative. While the unique aesthetic is praised for its cleverness and fitting use of declassified documents, some players noted minor graphic glitches but no serious bugs. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's quirky charm and engaging storytelling.

    • “In addition to the clever graphical style, this game sometimes morphs into something that’s part personal documentary and part history lesson (Cold War era and early computer history).”
    • “The graphics are composed entirely of paper and cardboard with pictures on it, which is very fitting since it uses declassified documents from the Danish security and intelligence service to tell the story.”
    • “It has a very unique art style where landscapes and characters are made of cardboard, paper, and photography cuts.”
    • “No serious bugs encountered, only a few graphic glitches.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game's humor is consistently praised for its low-key yet pervasive charm, providing a delightful and understated comedic experience that resonates with players.

    • “What impressed me more than anything, though, was the sense of humor in the game.”
    • “I found it tremendously funny in a kind of low-key but omnipresent way.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its weird yet personal storytelling, which resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers highlight its touching moments and commend the heartwarming ending that leaves a lasting impact.

    • “Weird, personal, and touching.”
    • “It also has a heartwarming ending.”
  • music1 mentions

    While the sound design is praised for its strength, the music has received mixed feedback, with some users finding it grating at times despite the overall striking visuals.

    • “The cardboard cutout collage visuals are striking and the sound design is generally strong, but I found the music quite grating at times.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report a stable experience with no serious bugs, though some minor graphic glitches have been noted.

    • “No serious bugs encountered, only a few graphic glitches.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

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