Ebenezer and the Invisible World

About

Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a single player open world platformer game with horror, fantasy, anime, historical and others themes. It was developed by Play on Worlds and was released on November 3, 2023. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Embark on a story-rich 2D Metroidvania adventure with breathtaking hand-drawn art, playing as miser-turned-hero Ebenezer Scrooge in a reimagined Victorian-fantasy based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel, A Christmas Carol. Enlist the help of ghosts to save the people of London before it’s too late.

Ebenezer and the Invisible World screenshot

+11

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews

story16 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

Beautiful hand-drawn art style and atmospheric Victorian Christmas setting that brings the world to life.
Unique and interesting concept of a Metroidvania sequel to A Christmas Carol with Ebenezer Scrooge using ghost powers.
Solid Metroidvania core gameplay with satisfying combat, enjoyable exploration, and balanced challenge for both new and experienced players.

Frequent bugs and technical issues including crashing, soft-locks, input lag, and menu glitches that disrupt gameplay.
Clunky controls and movement responsiveness causing frustrating combat and platforming experiences.
Poor quality of life features: insufficient fast travel points, unhelpful map design, limited inventory slots, and lack of clear quest guidance.

story
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
72%
4%
The story is a creative sequel to "A Christmas Carol," blending gothic fantasy with metroidvania gameplay and exploring themes of redemption through familiar characters and spirits. While it offers a richly atmospheric world and interesting narrative twists, the plot can feel simple and sometimes disconnected, with some players finding character development lacking and the ending abrupt. Quest design and lack of clear markers occasionally hinder pacing, but fans of the original tale and thematic storytelling will likely appreciate the game’s homage and lore.
- “This narrative foundation sets the tone for a richly woven story that explores themes of light and darkness, redemption, and the struggle for the soul of a city caught between the mortal and the supernatural.”
- “It carefully balances storytelling with gameplay, delivering a compelling tale through a mix of in-game dialogue, atmospheric set pieces, and environmental storytelling.”
- “The game takes a good amount of liberties with its source material while trying to remain as true to the story's heart as it can; the first cutscene we get establishes Scrooge as a sort of "medium" who has the unique ability to see and interact with all sorts of stray ghosts across London, all of whom are bound to earth either by their own lingering regrets and sins or refusal to move on.”
- “This game would have been better if it were not related to a Christmas Carol, because everything I don't like about the story has to do with how it's tied to a story that does not mesh with this one.”
- “But that is where his character traits end; he has nearly no personality beyond 'I'm a generous man now.' He has no personal stake in the story, which, while that makes sense for a character whose main attribute is his charity, makes him disconnected from the entire story.”
- “In summary: this is a fascinating idea rendered in gorgeous art... but this is also a video game that is shoddily put together around a story that doesn't really compel the player.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
35%
10%
The game features a striking hand-drawn 2D art style that beautifully evokes a cozy, Dickensian atmosphere with crisp, vibrant visuals and detailed, haunting character animations. Reviewers consistently praise the artwork as the standout aspect, noting its unique blend of charm and eeriness that brings the world to life, though some animations and in-game clarity could use refinement. Overall, the graphics significantly enhance the immersive experience and are considered superior within the metroidvania genre.
- “The art style masterfully balances beauty and eeriness, with detailed backgrounds and hauntingly animated characters that bring the world to life.”
- “Graphics: the art is so crisp and vibrant, you might just feel like you’ve stepped into a Dickensian postcard.”
- “I would argue that Ebenezer and the Invisible World is graphically superior to Igarashi's own Bloodstained, and in the vicinity of Hollow Knight.”
- “The art style is reminiscent of early XBLA arcade, with super sharp 2D art that can occasionally make it difficult to understand what is a platform and what is just part of the background.”
- “While I do think some in-game animations could use improvement, the hand-drawn art style manages to be very bold and with its own appeal and sense of design when it comes to the game's characters.”
- “Ebenezer isn't a metroidvania that's worth delving into, as the combat, movement, exploration and level design falls short of the visuals and story.”
gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
52%
10%
The gameplay of "Ebenezer and the Invisible World" delivers a faithful metroidvania experience with accessible combat and exploration rooted in a Dickensian setting, though it often feels simple and occasionally repetitive. While the narrative integration and atmospheric design enhance immersion, the gameplay suffers from technical bugs, lack of precise platforming, and some unfinished elements like unclear quest markers. Despite these flaws, fans of the genre and thematic storytelling may find it a charming and engaging holiday-themed adventure.
- “Gameplay in Ebenezer and the Invisible World adheres to the core tenets of the metroidvania genre, offering expansive, interconnected maps ripe for exploration.”
- “I don't know why this Christmas themed metroidvania goes so hard but is great in many ways, great if you enjoy a thematically appropriate game for the Christmas season but compelling enough in its gameplay mechanics that it can hold its own outside of the season.”
- “While the combat system is accessible and well-integrated with the game’s supernatural themes, some players might find it repetitive over time, and the platforming mechanics, although solid, occasionally lack the precision expected from the genre’s best examples.”
- “There aren't even any markers for the game's handful of quests, which are fun in terms of writing, but not in terms of gameplay, as you're left wandering aimlessly searching for NPCs to talk with.”
- “Everything from the controls to the gameplay design feels unfinished.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
The music is largely described as underwhelming and minimal, featuring mostly quiet sleigh bells and simple Christmas-themed chimes that create a festive ambience but fail to stand out or elevate the experience. Many users found the soundtrack monotonous and lacking in depth, often preferring to play their own music instead. While it complements the Victorian setting, the soundtrack is generally seen as missed potential rather than a memorable element.
- “The soundtrack complements the visuals perfectly, featuring melancholic melodies and atmospheric soundscapes that deepen the sense of immersion and enhance emotional engagement throughout the journey.”
- “The Victorian setting and weather effects along with the music make for some great festive ambiance.”
- “A good soundtrack could have elevated this game greatly, focusing on Christmas or even Victorian tones, so it is a shame to find it lacking.”
- “The boss was really easy, the air felt dead as far as sounds go, the music felt underwhelming.”
- “The end cutscene was slightly moving images with no audio outside of, again, music that felt underwhelming and you don't even see the stupid machine that was supposed to be the big issue get destroyed.”
- “There is pretty much zero music in this game, just a continual quiet jingle of sleigh bells.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game exhibits several stability issues, including occasional freezes, map and menu glitches, and occasional unresponsive controls. While some major bugs may have been patched, players still encounter inconsistent room exploration indicators and minor glitches, indicating a need for further polish. Despite these technical shortcomings, the core gameplay and content remain enjoyable.
- “Reading other comments, I saw that a lot of people had problems locking themselves at one point on the map and couldn't progress, but that never happened to me. No glitches or crashes.”
- “A main game-stopping one was apparently patched, but I still encountered a few freezes, and the map and menus were quite glitchy.”
- “However, this game is full of jank and glitches that show either a lack of testing or care, which is a shame because it clearly had love put into it in other places.”
- “There have been a couple of times when the game glitches and won't respond to me pressing the attack button.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Ebenezer and the Invisible World offers a richly atmospheric experience, blending dark fantasy visuals with melancholic soundscapes that enhance immersion and storytelling. While its moody, gothic ambiance and literary inspirations create a compelling setting, some players find the atmosphere becomes repetitive over time. Overall, the game’s strong presentation and immersive environment stand out despite minor pacing issues.
- “Ebenezer and the Invisible World by Orbit Studio and Play on Worlds presents a fresh and atmospheric spin on the metroidvania genre, blending classic literature with dark fantasy aesthetics.”
- “The soundtrack complements the visuals perfectly, featuring melancholic melodies and atmospheric soundscapes that deepen the sense of immersion and enhance emotional engagement throughout the journey.”
- “For players seeking a game that combines literary inspiration with immersive metroidvania mechanics and a dark, moody atmosphere, this title offers a deeply engaging and thoughtfully crafted journey.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is widely seen as tedious and frustrating, especially when farming for level 3 items and managing backtracking due to limited and poorly placed fast travel points. This repetitive process undermines exploration and progression, making the overall experience feel slow and tiresome.
- “Grinding for level 3 items is extremely annoying.”
- “The backtracking and side questing become very tedious due to the lack of fast travel points.”
- “Exploring and then having to return to a save point to secure progress feels tedious.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect is highlighted by a melancholic and immersive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, while the unique portrayal of Scrooge adds warmth and depth. The challenging combat also contributes to a more engaging and thoughtful journey.
- “The soundtrack complements the visuals perfectly, featuring melancholic melodies and atmospheric soundscapes that deepen the sense of immersion and enhance emotional engagement throughout the journey.”
- “It's both cool and heartwarming to see Scrooge portrayed in this way.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Optimization in the game is inconsistent, with some users experiencing occasional crashes and performance issues, particularly on certain console versions, while others report stable performance with minimal lag or crashes. Overall, the polish and optimization feel lacking and could benefit from improvement.
- “Technical issues, such as occasional crashes and performance hiccups, have been reported, especially on some console versions, which can disrupt immersion and frustrate players.”
- “Luckily the game didn't crash or lag but that's all that can be said in terms of polish and optimization.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated for its funny moments, such as the character Actionhero Scrooge, though some players found the rapid pacing of the intro cutscene challenging to read aloud during streams. Overall, it adds entertaining content despite minor timing issues.
- “I did, however, have a problem trying to read the intro cutscene out loud for a stream, as there was not much time to read each segment. It did make for funny content, though.”
- “Actionhero Scrooge is just a funny thing.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Improved controls and general fixes have enhanced the game's playability, contributing positively to its replayability.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is widely regarded as the standout feature of the game, with a holiday-themed, post-Christmas carol setting that resonates strongly with players.

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50%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a open world platformer game with horror, fantasy, anime, historical and others themes.

Ebenezer and the Invisible World is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Ebenezer and the Invisible World was released on November 3, 2023.

Ebenezer and the Invisible World was developed by Play on Worlds.

Ebenezer and the Invisible World has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked Ebenezer and the Invisible World for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a single player game.

Similar games include The Last Faith, Ghost Song, ITORAH, Biomorph, Blasphemous 2 and others.

Ebenezer and the Invisible World

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