Crossing Souls

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 478 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Crossing Souls Game Cover
Crossing Souls tries to channel the camaraderie of The Goonies, the whimsy of Back to the Future and the magic of E.T. and combine it all into one unforgettable video game. Safe to say, it achieves this – and a whole lot more.
Starting at $2.65Buy now
Get on Steam

In Crossing Souls, play as a group of kids with unique abilities who discover a mysterious pink stone that lets them travel between realms. Set in 1986 California, this action-adventure game has you fighting enemies, solving puzzles, and battling bosses, all while saving your families and the world. Experience special arcade-inspired levels and switch between characters to utilize their special skills.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 478 reviews
story153 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and vibrant colors that capture the 80s aesthetic perfectly.
  • The story is engaging and emotional, with unexpected twists that resonate with themes of friendship and loss.
  • The soundtrack is fantastic, blending retro synthwave with orchestral elements that enhance the nostalgic feel.
  • The gameplay can be frustrating due to clunky controls and poorly designed platforming sections that lead to frequent deaths.
  • Unskippable cutscenes before boss fights can be tedious, especially after repeated failures, making the experience feel drawn out.
  • The character switching mechanic, while interesting, often feels unnecessary as many characters have similar abilities, leading to repetitive gameplay.
  • story405 mentions

    The story of the game is a nostalgic homage to the 80s, filled with pop culture references and a heartfelt narrative about friendship and overcoming challenges. While the initial setup is engaging, many players feel the plot becomes rushed and convoluted, particularly in the latter half, leading to a disappointing conclusion. Despite its flaws, the story resonates with those who appreciate its retro aesthetic and emotional depth, though some criticize it for being cliché and lacking character development.

    • “The story is beautiful and the pop culture references are super fun.”
    • “Behind its vibrant art style and lighthearted (and at times cheesy) 80's references is a story much deeper, darker and more complex than I could have ever imagined.”
    • “The story promotes values like friendship, teamwork & family while using scientific explanations that are absolutely moronic but sound cool.”
    • “The story is kinda weak and generic (very Goonies/Stranger Things reminiscent but without originality) and a bit rushed at the beginning.”
    • “The story has an incredibly disappointing conclusion, where the strong initial setup is rushed to give more 80's references until it bursts.”
    • “The story starts well but just kind of never finds its traction and ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied, so I really can't recommend it for that reason.”
  • gameplay223 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its nostalgic charm and variety in mechanics, including character switching and puzzle-solving. However, criticisms highlight issues such as repetitive and simplistic gameplay, lack of depth in character abilities, and frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some players found enjoyment in the combat and exploration, others felt the gameplay was ultimately unpolished and uninspired, leading to a disconnect between the engaging story and the mechanics.

    • “Combining nostalgic 80s vibes with action-adventure gameplay, it features a charming blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat.”
    • “The gameplay is very good; it's a top-down game where you play up to five characters, each with their own abilities that can help you in both puzzles and combat. The combat was good, although it did have some difficulty spikes sometimes with some bosses, but it was not too bad.”
    • “This game is an absolute masterpiece, its amazing and perfect, satisfying gameplay and mechanics, very good story and gameplay loop, so far, the best top-down pixel style RPG ever.”
    • “The gameplay is one of the worst systems I've ever seen, committing the cardinal sin of not providing enough information to the player, making most of the platforming a guessing game.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is repetitive, boring, and frustrating (not a fun challenge).”
    • “The gameplay is bland, the story is intentionally over-cliched, so much it's annoying.”
  • music156 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic 80s synthwave style and orchestral influences reminiscent of composers like John Williams. The soundtrack is described as engaging and fitting for various game moments, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact. While some noted limitations in variety, the general consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal, making it a standout feature.

    • “The music is very good with plenty of great tracks that fit every part of the game very well, with dramatic and emotional themes and just random songs that just make you want to stop and listen too.”
    • “The soundtrack is an absolute banger.”
    • “The soundtrack and cartoon-style cutscenes really tie the entire experience together.”
    • “I also hate it sometimes when you go into battle with random enemies you encounter and barely hear any fighting music going on in the background, except for bosses where it is epic as hell, but with normal enemies, it is the same boring music with very loud attacking sounds when hitting the enemies.”
    • “The music is incredibly annoying.”
    • “The devs don't know how to handle gameplay; it is very clear that all the budget went to art and soundtrack.”
  • graphics144 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant pixel art style and nostalgic 80s aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of retro cartoons and video games. Many reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the visuals, including beautifully animated cutscenes that evoke a sense of nostalgia, although some note inconsistencies in art style and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal and immersive experience.

    • “The pixel art style and engaging story make for a fun and retro-inspired experience.”
    • “The pixel graphics art style is really good with a nice use of color even in darker areas; there is also plenty of beautiful detail that makes the whole game's world stand out.”
    • “With pixel graphics, VHS-styled cut-scenes, and a story-line that would not look out of place in a blockbuster rental, this game oozes with style and nostalgia for anyone with any history or knowledge of the 1980's movie/tv/music scene.”
    • “The cardinal sin is the inconsistent art style though; I really hate that every single one of your party members is depicted in four different ways.”
    • “While the game's art and story are very nice and evocative of a 90s kids TV show aesthetic, the game is ruined by its actual gameplay.”
    • “The graphics are the standard pixel graphics that have been all the rage for quite some time now.”
  • emotional31 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, nostalgic references to the 80s, and a mix of touching, funny, and tragic moments that resonate with players. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with some experiencing laughter and tears throughout their journey. However, there are criticisms regarding character depth and story structure, which some felt detracted from the overall emotional impact.

    • “The story and adventure of the whole game was wonderful; I laughed, I cried, and I'll tell you, this game was well worth playing to the very end.”
    • “The last levels were so painful that it almost ruined the ending, which had a strong emotional charge and was kind of a bittersweet ending - something that surprised me and almost made me drop a tear, an epic ending for an 80's adventure movie.”
    • “A marvellous, emotional game, that just gets deeper as it goes on.”
  • grinding20 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the lack of engaging gameplay and the need to constantly switch characters for basic actions. The combat and platforming sections are described as boring and frustrating, often leading to a diminished enjoyment of the game. Many reviews highlight that the game feels like a mind-numbing grind, lacking depth and inspiration, making it a chore rather than a rewarding experience.

    • “The plot fizzles out around the death of the second main character; the platform section at the end was just tediously frustrating, robbing me of all enjoyment built up at the start of the game.”
    • “Killing enemies is tedious and repetitive, also not rewarding.”
    • “The protagonists and story are void of depth, passion, or creativity; the gameplay is basic but made tedious by the five different characters you have to cycle through every time you want to perform one single action.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is a blend of clever dialogue, nostalgic 80s references, and hidden gems that elicit smiles, though not all jokes land as "laugh out loud" funny. While some players appreciate the campy and corny elements, others feel the humor can become repetitive and awkward over time. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of the 80s with a mix of heartfelt moments and comedic relief, making it enjoyable for fans of the era.

    • “The dialog is top notch, not to mention very funny, and the game is packed with hilarious hidden gems.”
    • “The game is equally devastating and hilarious with many easter eggs and hidden achievements to find/collect.”
    • “It captures the 80s magic and references the period with humor.”
    • “It's not funny.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
    • “I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its nostalgic 80s vibe, vibrant graphics, and engaging soundtrack that evoke a sense of childhood wonder. However, some critiques highlight inconsistencies, with certain areas feeling disjointed or lacking purpose, and a few elements, like ambient sounds, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the atmosphere is celebrated for its charm and nostalgic references, it can also feel uneven at times.

    • “Pretty epic piece of nostalgia with an awesome atmosphere and tons of film references.”
    • “The atmosphere, the soundtrack, and the graphics really add to the nostalgia, and I found the cut scenes to be amazing.”
    • “Brilliant action adventure with a charming tale and a lot of heart, capturing the atmosphere of the 80s perfectly.”
    • “There is dog barking in a handful of areas of the game that does not suit the atmosphere, oddly in most indoor areas.”
    • “Unless ambient sound or music adds value to the atmosphere and overall gameplay experience, there is no need for it.”
    • “I understand that the developers wanted to create a specific mood and atmosphere but it was a misfire.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, particularly during combat and platforming. While some players found the overall experience enjoyable despite these issues, many expressed frustration with the frequency and severity of the bugs, leading to a perception of the game as a "buggy and trite mess." Overall, stability remains a significant concern for players, detracting from the game's potential enjoyment.

    • “This game had everyone hooked with the first trailer, but little did we know it would be a buggy and trite mess.”
    • “The gameplay is relatively easy and unrewarding at its best and downright infuriating and buggy at its worst.”
    • “Also, how can a game made by an established studio be so damn buggy.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Overall, character development in the game is criticized for being shallow and lacking depth, with many players feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys. While some appreciate the aesthetic and design, they note that the character arcs do not evolve meaningfully throughout the game, leading to a lack of emotional investment. Despite some positive remarks about pop culture references, the consensus leans towards disappointment in the character development aspect.

    • “The scenery was beautiful at times and the character design was great.”
    • “From the pop culture references to the character development, this game is on point.”
    • “My problem is that it is not long enough and there is not a lot of character development.”
    • “Besides plot-driven character development, everything you start the game with is what you finish the game with.”
    • “Character development is not the greatest in my opinion; I didn't care about any of the characters.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game has low replayability, with most players indicating that it primarily offers a one-time experience focused on collecting missed items or achievements. While it can provide over 10 hours of gameplay if players explore all character perspectives, there is little incentive to replay once those elements are completed. Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale due to the limited replay value.

    • “Because of this, its replayability is pretty low; you'd mostly just be starting a new game to find collectibles you missed the first time around.”
    • “Not much replay value, but you will at least get 10+ hours as long as you try to get and see everything from each character's viewpoint.”
    • “The game has no replay value at all, other than getting the achievements.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Crossing Souls

Play time

21hMedian play time
17hAverage play time
10-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games