Éalú

About

Éalú is a single player action game. It was developed by Beyond the Bark and was released on October 2, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Éalú is a single-player adventure offering a meditative journey through a stone-and-wood labyrinth filled with cryptic puzzles and lurking dangers. Featuring ingenious stop-motion visuals and a phenomenal soundtrack, the game combines a dense, cozy atmosphere with a wholesome story about hope and perseverance. It invites thoughtful reflection amid moments both unsettling and heartwarming.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 183 reviews

music64 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

The game features beautiful stop-motion animation and a charming aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
The soundtrack by Will Wood is captivating and perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, making it a delightful auditory experience.
The puzzles are engaging and encourage exploration, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.

The game lacks a save feature after dying, which can lead to tedious backtracking and repetition of previously solved puzzles.
Some players experienced bugs and slow loading times, which detracted from the overall gameplay experience.
The game's short length and relatively high price point may not justify the cost for some players, especially given the limited content.

music
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, largely attributed to Will Wood's composition. Players appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, fitting seamlessly with the charming visuals and stop-motion animation. While some found certain tracks repetitive, the majority agree that the music significantly elevates the game's ambiance and storytelling, making it a standout feature.
- “The music is a masterpiece; there are different tracks depending on the area you're in; it's a pleasure to listen to!”
- “The soundtrack really helps add to the ambiance.”
- “The combination of the hand-crafted world brought to life through stop motion animation and the amazing soundtrack had me addicted from start to finish.”
- “As much as I love the music and the animation, I just cannot justify recommending this game for the price it is.”
- “This game was made by the same creator of Will Wood's 'Tomcat Disposables' music video, and looking back I wish more of the unique set pieces from that video made an appearance here, as the animations here feel quite basic in comparison.”
- “While the current price is a bit steep for what it is, the world of Éalú did pull me in thanks in no small part to Will Wood's soundtrack (who I was already a fan of).”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
33%
10%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful stop-motion style and hand-crafted aesthetic, which contribute to a cozy and charming atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the high quality of the visuals and the fitting soundtrack, although some note minor bugs and gameplay issues. Overall, the unique art style and emotional impact make it a standout experience for fans of visually-driven games.
- “The stop-motion graphics, created with multiple frames, are beautiful.”
- “A charming puzzle game with a brilliant soundtrack and beautifully hand-animated graphics.”
- “In times where we praise game visuals for being super smooth or almost life-like, this game gives a breath of fresh air with its stop-motion style.”
- “I've seen games that have simple gameplay while compensating for it with visuals, music, story, etc., but in this case the gameplay really gets in the way :/”
- “A little point and click bug here and there as mentioned by others, but the visuals and music are extremely high quality.”
- “It has some bugs, which are annoying, but anyway I like the art style of this game and Will Wood's music.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of puzzles and exploration, set within an emotional narrative framework, but many players find it slow and tedious, often spending excessive time redoing simple tasks and watching repetitive animations. While the art and music receive praise, the overall experience is marred by clunky controls and a high price point that does not seem justified by the limited gameplay offered. Players express disappointment that the gameplay detracts from the otherwise appealing aesthetic and emotional themes of the game.
- “The gameplay offers a unique blend of puzzles and narrative, allowing players to experience emotional themes through exploration and mechanics without explicitly telling a story.”
- “I really appreciated the craftsmanship and the original concept of a mechanical mouse, which adds a charming element to the gameplay.”
- “The controls are slightly clunky, which is understandable and doesn't really detract from the gameplay experience.”
- “I absolutely adore the art and music; Will Wood did an incredible job with this game's score, but the gameplay is so slow and tedious for me that I'm just not having fun.”
- “I do think £21 is a somewhat absurd ask for that amount of gameplay considering most of that time is spent re-watching animations of the mouse moving between rooms you've already been inside, mostly while executing the tedious, non-challenging final puzzle of mapping out the layout of points of interest relative to each other or moving towards buttons to re-input the unchanged solution of a puzzle that has reset since you last saw it because you clicked an interactable object that the developer had deemed 'bad' and should kill you.”
- “The rest of the time was spent: 40% waiting for rooms to load + 50% walking back to redo 'puzzles' (more like chores) after dying + 10% actually attempting to solve the one real (and ridiculously easy) puzzle I found in those 30 minutes of gameplay.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The game's story is characterized by minimal dialogue, allowing visuals and puzzles to convey deeper themes of loneliness, escape, and the complexity of life. Players find the narrative both heartwarming and haunting, with a charming main story that leaves a lasting impression. Overall, the blend of emotional storytelling, engaging puzzles, and a captivating atmosphere creates a unique and memorable experience.
- “It's more than a game; it's an experience created by people, and if you look beyond the puzzles you will see a story about the unique complexity of life and nature.”
- “The story of the mouse is heartwarming.”
- “The puzzles and narrative blend: the game isn’t just visual, but offers puzzle mechanics, exploration, and emotional themes without really telling a story, just by experiencing the maze and playing the game (breaking cycles, loneliness, escape).”
- “The story that exists within is fascinating and leaves you wondering what more there could be beyond the framework it's presented in.”
- “I've seen games that have simple gameplay while compensating for it with visuals, music, story, etc., but in this case, the gameplay really gets in the way.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players expressing deep connections to the narrative and characters, particularly the wooden mouse, which evokes feelings of empathy and heartbreak. The blend of puzzles, exploration, and a heartfelt soundtrack enhances the experience, leading many to describe it as a bittersweet journey that resonates on a personal level. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to elicit strong emotional responses, often leaving players in tears.
- “The way the game hits emotionally is almost impossible to put into words.”
- “What éalú is meant to be is a short yet heartfelt experience, trying to find a happier ending given how Tomcat Disposables goes.”
- “The connection made with the mouse is awful; it makes me want to cry each time I accidentally kill them. He just wants to play and eat cheese; it is so unfair that he gets punished.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming and cozy design, enhanced by aesthetically pleasing visuals and fitting music that creates an enchanting and immersive experience. Reviewers note a consistent style that balances whimsy with a touch of eeriness, making the atmosphere both relaxing and occasionally unsettling. Overall, the combination of captivating melodies and atmospheric elements significantly elevates the gameplay experience.
- “The atmosphere is quite cozy, the visuals are aesthetically pleasing, and the music is fitting.”
- “All of the puzzles and the surprises and the secrets and the atmospheric music and the whole labyrinthine journey; enchanting and absorbing, all of it.”
- “The quaint, calming piano going to ominous vocalizations and intense atmospheric tracks whenever you left the 'safe' wooden areas was super immersive and I just loved the little melodies through the main loop.”
- “Strong atmosphere and mood.”
- “Its supposed to be a normal puzzle game, but lowkey scaring me with the music and atmosphere.”
- “If you're a fan of Will Wood, you'll like the music and whimsically eerie (and occasionally somber) atmosphere and story.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of puzzle resets and the slow pace of gameplay. While some appreciate the intentional design that evokes a sense of being trapped in a maze, many express frustration with the frequent need to re-watch animations and redo puzzles after dying, leading to a less enjoyable experience overall. Despite the artistic merits of the game, the grinding elements detract from the fun for several users.
- “I absolutely adore the art and music; Will Wood did an incredible job with this game's score, but the gameplay is so slow and tedious for me that I'm just not having fun.”
- “I do think £21 is a somewhat absurd ask for that amount of gameplay considering most of that time is spent re-watching animations of the mouse moving between rooms you've already been inside, mostly while executing the tedious, non-challenging final puzzle of mapping out the layout of points of interest relative to each other or moving towards buttons to re-input the unchanged solution of a puzzle that has reset since you last saw it because you clicked an interactable object that the developer had deemed 'bad' and should kill you.”
- “The deaths part was just tedious, as the closest one to the beginning is 5 rooms away and through a puzzle, so when I wanted to get the achievement I needed to do the same actions 19 times, waiting for the animation to play each time and then redoing the puzzle again.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game experiences notable stability issues, including bugs related to achievements and notifications, as well as slow input response and glitches in puzzles. These problems suggest a lack of thorough playtesting prior to release.
- “It's kind of buggy sometimes; achievements and 'friend is playing x game' notifications stayed in the bottom right and freaked me out. It was crazy.”
- “I honestly didn't find this game that thrilling – not to say that it's bad at all, but it has a pretty slow pace, the input can be pretty slow and buggy.”
- “I'm a bit surprised that the puzzle glitches went unnoticed in playtesting.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's exceptional music as a key factor contributing to its high replayability, making it enjoyable to revisit multiple times.
- “The music is amazing, and the game offers great replayability.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh, thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes.”
- “The variety of characters and storylines keeps me coming back for more.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is praised for enhancing the overall experience, with the musical performance by Will Wood adding a nostalgic and immersive quality that elevates the gameplay.