Downward

Starting at $4.99Buy now

"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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 340 reviews

story35 positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and immersive environments that enhance the exploration experience.
Engaging parkour mechanics that allow for creative movement and exploration.
Active developer support with regular updates and responsiveness to community feedback.

Clunky controls and inconsistent mechanics that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Lack of a compelling story and character development, leaving players feeling disconnected.
Bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with saving and character movement.

story
207 mentions
17 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
10 % negative 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 voice acting and the potential for an intriguing narrative, most agree that the plot lacks depth and coherence, often feeling like an afterthought to the gameplay. Overall, the game is recommended for its parkour mechanics and visuals, but those seeking a compelling story may be disappointed.
- “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 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.”
- “The story develops genuine curiosity and the desire to learn more.”
- “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.”
- “The story is so bland and vague that it might as well not be part of the game, but the story isn't the focus, so it's fine.”
gameplay
202 mentions
25 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Downward" is characterized by its engaging parkour mechanics and visually appealing environments, though it suffers from inconsistencies and bugs that can hinder the experience. Players appreciate the variety of movement options and the challenge they present, but many note that the mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustration. While the game offers a fun exploration experience, the combat and overall gameplay loop can become repetitive, and the tutorial system is criticized for being inadequate in teaching players how to effectively utilize the mechanics.
- “The gameplay is great and has plenty of variety in terms of game mechanics and environments to keep the player entertained.”
- “I found the gameplay itself enjoyable, challenging enough to be interesting without being frustrating.”
- “The parkour mechanics are so much better and even though it's not open world, it's somehow more fun to explore, as well as having stuff to explore and incentives to do so.”
- “The gameplay is just boring.”
- “The game doesn't hold your hand enough to explain all of its mechanics; for example, you can design the old man's lair, I would have never known that if I didn't accidentally stumble on the custom book behind him.”
- “The basic mechanics needed a lot more work, especially for a parkouring game.”
graphics
125 mentions
47 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Downward: Enhanced Edition" are widely praised for their beauty and detail, particularly for an indie title, with many players noting the impressive use of lighting and effects. However, some users report performance issues and graphical bugs that detract from the overall experience, suggesting that while the visuals are stunning, they are not always optimized for smooth gameplay. Overall, the game's aesthetics are a highlight, making exploration enjoyable despite some technical shortcomings.
- “Downward: Enhanced Edition has beautiful graphics of a post-apocalyptic earth.”
- “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, even in the volcanic areas that are dark and pretty consist of ash & lava.”
- “This game has beautiful visuals, casual gameplay, and an interesting open world concept.”
- “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.”
stability
38 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly impact gameplay and can lead to frustrating experiences, such as getting stuck or encountering game-breaking issues. While some players find enjoyment in the parkour mechanics and overall design, the instability detracts from the overall experience, with many recommending caution before purchasing. Despite its beautiful graphics and engaging elements, the game's stability issues remain a major concern for users.
- “The game runs great on my system, achieving 60+ frames on 4K/Ultra settings.”
- “With the help of the developer, the issue caused by an NVIDIA driver has been fixed, and the game runs smoothly.”
- “The game can be buggy at times.”
- “Unfortunately what made me uninstall was the glitches became too much.”
- “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.”
optimization
31 mentions
16 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, regardless of their hardware specifications. While a few users reported stable performance after updates, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and demands excessive resources, leading to frustration and refunds. Improvements are needed to enhance the gaming experience and make it more accessible to a wider audience.
- “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.”
- “This game taxes my CPU and GPU more than any other game I've ever played. I'm playing at medium graphics and it's still stuttering and overheating sometimes, and I have more than the recommended specs.”
music
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it mediocre and lacking in variety, particularly criticizing the battle music. While the atmospheric sounds are well-executed and contribute to the game's mood, the overall soundtrack is described as minimal, leading to moments of silence that detract from the experience. Additionally, there are instances where music and sound effects cut out unexpectedly, further impacting the 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.”
- “The voice acting is passable, definitely, and the music fits well within the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Sound work is nice, though I have noticed times where the music or sound effects, such as the artifacts, will cut out occasionally.”
- “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.”
humor
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the quirky dialogue and funny character interactions, while others find the voice acting cringy and the overall humor lacking. Many appreciate the amusing bugs and easter eggs, which add a layer of fun to the gameplay, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of the main character's deadpan delivery. Overall, the humor contributes to a lighthearted experience, even if it doesn't resonate with everyone.
- “There are also some hilarious bugs to exploit too, have fun with it.”
- “You don't need a high-end PC to be able to enjoy the view of the game and run around exploring this detailed world with some funny little easter eggs and achievements; careful with cacteens in this game! ;)”
- “I do really enjoy the lines he says when you find an artifact though - those are hilarious.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring excessive precision and time investment for minimal rewards. The combat and pathfinding are described as bare-bones and obscure, contributing to an overall sense of slogging through the game rather than enjoying it.
- “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!”
atmosphere
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its excellent ambiance, visually appealing aesthetics, and immersive sound design, although some players noted a lack of music and occasional sound issues with character actions. The smooth gameplay and engaging storylines, featuring complex characters, contribute to a captivating experience that encourages exploration and interaction within the world. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the enjoyment of the stealth and parkour mechanics, making it a recommended title for fans of the genre.
- “I really like the world and atmosphere of the game, coupled with its pretty solid parkour mechanics.”
- “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.”
- “Great atmosphere, smooth gameplay.”
emotional
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for having a boring story, lacking 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.
- “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.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of this indie game appears to be a misstep, as it is marketed as more than its arcade-style gameplay might suggest, potentially leading to misunderstandings among players. The small development team may lack the resources for effective advertising, contributing to its low visibility in the gaming community.
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending extra.”
- “The in-game purchases are overpriced and detract from the overall experience, leaving a sour taste.”
replayability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its clever challenges that demand skill, encouraging continued play even after completing the main story. There is a desire for expanded content, such as alternate dimensions and NPC interactions that could lead to different story endings, which would 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 attributes and combinations, unlocking even greater skills for more difficult challenges. Each NPC character could affect alternative story endings based on the paths we choose, enhancing replayability even further.”
- “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 development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the character development of NPCs is lacking in depth and quality, resulting in a less engaging experience for players.
- “There's no quality in the character development of the NPCs you meet along the way.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable and shallow the character arcs were.”