Downward

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 680 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Downward Game Cover
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"Downward is a single-player adventure game with stunning graphics and plenty of humor, but also features numerous bugs. As humanity's last hope, you'll use parkour techniques to traverse dangerous ruins, fight ancient guardians, and collect artifacts to control deadly calamities. Explore freely, level up your character, and uncover secrets in this thrilling post-apocalyptic world."

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 680 reviews
story70 positive mentions
stability72 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and immersive environments that enhance the exploration experience.
  • Engaging parkour mechanics that provide a fun and unique gameplay experience.
  • Active developer support with frequent updates and responsiveness to community feedback.
  • Clunky controls and inconsistent parkour mechanics that can lead to frustration.
  • Weak and vague storyline that lacks depth and fails to engage players.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to loss of progress.
  • story414 mentions

    The story in this game is generally perceived as weak and disjointed, with many players finding it forgettable or poorly explained. While some appreciate the intriguing world and voice acting, the narrative often feels shallow, lacking depth and a satisfying conclusion. Overall, the gameplay and parkour mechanics are highlighted as the main attractions, overshadowing the underwhelming story.

    • “The story is enough to keep you interested, but you play for the game mechanics and the looks and the parkour system that is truly unique.”
    • “The story follows our unnamed protagonist as he navigates some kind of ancient ruins after a civilization that annihilated itself in some kind of war.”
    • “The storyline and puzzles have been entertaining enough thus far, and I'm sure that like Portal 2, I'll probably play this one straight through to the end, if for no other reason than just to find out how the story turns out.”
    • “It's a parkour walking sim, with little else to do since there is little to no story.”
    • “The story is meritless and every character is thoroughly annoying, the old man is a perfect example of botched eccentricity horrendously backfiring and deserves particular ire.”
    • “A weak story that feels unfinished, along with dull characters, doesn't provide this game any favors.”
  • gameplay404 mentions

    The gameplay of "Downward" is characterized by its parkour mechanics, which are generally enjoyable but often marred by bugs and inconsistencies, leading to a frustrating experience at times. While the game features a variety of mechanics and visually appealing environments, many players find the combat lacking and the overall gameplay loop repetitive. Despite these issues, the game has moments of fun and exploration, making it a decent choice for fans of the genre, especially if they can overlook its shortcomings.

    • “With all things considered within the first few minutes of gameplay, I still recommend it for the platforming and world detail.”
    • “I found the gameplay itself enjoyable, challenging enough to be interesting without being frustrating.”
    • “The gameplay is great and has plenty of variety in terms of game mechanics and environments to keep the player entertained.”
    • “The gameplay is just boring.”
    • “The game does a poor job of teaching the mechanics.”
    • “The basic mechanics needed a lot more work, especially for a parkouring game.”
  • graphics250 mentions

    The graphics in "Downward: Enhanced Edition" are frequently praised for their beauty and detail, particularly for an indie title, showcasing impressive visuals that enhance the exploration experience. However, many players report issues with optimization, including bugs and performance problems that detract from the overall experience. While the art style and lighting are often highlighted as standout features, some users note that the game's graphical fidelity can be inconsistent, with moments of poor visibility and graphical glitches.

    • “But jokes aside, I wasn't expecting to like it so much. After completing the tutorial, I started getting into it and dropping down from the cliff and emerging in the main hub made me realize how pretty it looks. Amazing graphics for a small indie game, and the sensation I had all the time while exploring and jumping around was that of visiting a dream.”
    • “This level of depth, combined with some remarkable graphics and a high level of attention to detail, make traversing through Downward feel more like a journey, as opposed to a chore.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, even in the volcanic areas that are dark and pretty consist of ash & lava.”
    • “For starters, the graphics are buggy as all hell.”
    • “The real graphical problems stem from its, quite frankly, terrible lighting/gamma-correction model: the game loves putting you through scenes that are either pitch black or extremely washed out; there is no brightness setting that offers a nice medium between these two extremes.”
    • “Unfortunately the game lacks graphical optimization, and it struggled to run smoothly on my PC which usually has no issue with AAA titles.”
  • stability76 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly impact gameplay and overall experience. Players report frequent game-breaking issues, frustrating mechanics, and graphical problems, leading to a mixed reception despite some enjoyment of the parkour elements. While some users found the game fun and engaging, the instability remains a major concern, with many recommending caution before purchasing.

    • “The game runs great on my system, 60+ frames on 4K/ultra settings, but the load times after dying are quite long.”
    • “With the help of the developer, the issue caused by having an NVIDIA driver has been fixed, and the game runs great.”
    • “The second issue I had was graphical glitches, lots of them, getting stuck behind or inside walls, under ladders, and other places I could not get out of without exiting and restarting the game, which can set you back a long way.”
    • “From my experience playing through the game, be prepared for 2-3 extremely annoying glitches per hour, that you will have to reload an old save/reset the game/hope it fixes itself to move on.”
    • “Unfortunately what made me uninstall was the glitches became too much.”
  • optimization62 mentions

    The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, even on systems that meet or exceed the recommended specifications. While a few users reported stable performance, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to frustration and refunds. Improvements are needed to enhance the gaming experience and address the hardware demands.

    • “Brilliant optimization here!”
    • “[b]performance:[/b] consistent 60fps from start to finish, with no noticeable stutters.”
    • “This game is very enjoyable, I noticed a lot of people have complained about the optimization and while that may be an issue for some, I have had no issues so far.”
    • “In addition, it's very poorly optimized and runs like molasses no matter how much I try to turn down the settings.”
    • “I would even go as far as to say there is no optimization in this game at certain spots at this time.”
    • “At the moment I cannot recommend this game because it lacks optimization; the best I get on low settings is around 27 fps, which can jump up to around 40 fps on high or ultra. I enjoyed the premise, gameplay, and overall design of the game, but in this state, I cannot play it, so I refunded it. I will be back when this game leaves early access and is better optimized.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as mediocre, with some reviewers noting particularly poor battle music and instances where the background music abruptly cuts out. While the atmospheric sounds are praised for enhancing the mood, the overall sound design suffers from a lack of variety and impactful sound effects, leading to moments that feel eerily quiet or empty. Voice acting is considered passable, but the writing detracts from the overall audio experience.

    • “From the eerie feeling when first meeting the possessed skull in an almost completely dark underground passage to the warmth of the desert when climbing under the burning sun or the almost dreamlike feeling when you shift the planets to alter the world around you, mainly the lighting supported by sounds and music rarely fail to draw you into the mood they set.”
    • “Sound work is nice though I have noticed times where the music or sound effects, such as the artifacts, will cut out occasionally.”
    • “The music fits the game well, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience.”
    • “Very mediocre music (and terrible battle music).”
    • “There was also one point where the background music stopped for about 30 seconds for no reason and then kicked back on.”
    • “The atmospheric sounds are very well done, what is lacking is music and certain actions from the main character don't seem to make any sound sometimes.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny, particularly the main character's deadpan delivery and artifact discovery lines. However, others criticize the voice acting as cringy and the overall humor as lacking depth. Additionally, players enjoy the unintentional humor from bugs and glitches, which adds a layer of amusement to the gameplay experience.

    • “There are also some hilarious bugs to exploit too, have fun with it.”
    • “Dialogue with the NPCs is humorous.”
    • “I do really enjoy the lines he says when you find an artifact though - those are hilarious.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring excessive effort for minimal rewards. Many reviews highlight the combat and pathfinding as particularly bare-bones and obscure, leading to a slog-like experience that detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the game's design choices contribute to a sense of monotony and challenge that feels more punishing than engaging.

    • “There's no way I'm grinding for gold times when simply finishing them seems to require inhuman precision.”
    • “Paths can be way too obscure or downright tedious to follow.”
    • “Conclusion: downward has the scaffolding of a potentially good game but, once past the prologue, the game's tedious design, many poor choices, and often-frustrating implementation make it an absolute slog!”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its excellent ambiance, visually appealing aesthetics, and immersive sound design, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the smooth gameplay and engaging storylines, although some note a lack of music and occasional sound omissions during character actions. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a recommended choice for fans of stealth and parkour genres.

    • “I really like the world and atmosphere of the game, coupled with its pretty solid parkour mechanics.”
    • “Excellent ambiance, atmosphere, sounds, aesthetics, visually appealing, smooth gameplay that is not glitchy or sticky. The game makes you want to look and touch everything for extremely close analysis, never a boring moment.”
    • “Great atmosphere, smooth gameplay.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for having a boring story that lacks depth and engagement. Reviewers suggest that a more dramatic backstory and a wholesome ending could have enhanced the emotional impact, comparing it unfavorably to other games with more compelling narratives, such as "A Story About My Uncle."

    • “For those who are interested in these sorts of games, I highly recommend 'A Story About My Uncle', which is similar; however, it is actually fun and has a nice and touching story to go along with it.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game appears to be modest, reflecting the efforts of a small indie development team. While the game is positioned as a new and unique arcade experience, some reviewers feel that it may have been overhyped in its marketing, potentially impacting its visibility and sales.

  • replayability4 mentions

    Players find the game highly replayable due to its clever challenges that demand skill, even after completing the main story. There is a strong desire for additional content, such as alternate dimensions and branching storylines influenced by NPC interactions, which could further enhance replayability.

    • “The challenges are extremely clever and require a fair bit of skill, making the game very replayable, even after finishing the main story.”
    • “I would love to see this game expand on more playable alternate dimensions with unique world attributes and combinations, unlocking even greater skills for more difficult challenges, and having each NPC character affect alternative story endings based on the paths we choose, for even greater replayability.”
    • “The clever challenges and skill requirements ensure that the game remains engaging and replayable, even after completing the main storyline.”
    • “I'd most like to see this game expand on more playable alternate dimensions with world attributes and combinations, unlocking even greater skills for more difficult challenges, and have each NPC character affect alternative story endings with the paths we choose, for even greater replayability.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for lacking depth and quality, particularly regarding the NPCs encountered throughout the journey. Players feel that these characters do not evolve or contribute meaningfully to the narrative.

    • “There's no quality in the character development from the NPCs you meet along the way.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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