[ECHOSTASIS]

About

[ECHOSTASIS] is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by ENIGMA STUDIO and was released on May 30, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

is a single-player sci-fi horror action game blending first-person shooting and puzzles, where you explore personalized realities called Echoes to uncover a gripping, wholesome story. As the Administrator inside Enigma’s headquarters, you delve into the minds of lost subjects in a richly atmospheric world with masterful graphics and a compelling soundtrack. The gameplay is challenging and grind-heavy, emphasizing exploration and narrative discovery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 166 reviews

story46 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Incredible visuals and a unique aesthetic that captures a retro-futuristic vibe, enhancing the overall experience.
The story is deep and thought-provoking, tying together themes of AI, identity, and existential questions, making it a compelling narrative.
Engaging gameplay that combines puzzle-solving with exploration, offering a rewarding challenge despite some frustrating moments.

The gameplay can be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the time limits and trial-and-error mechanics that may detract from the overall enjoyment.
Some players found the dialogue and narrative pacing to be overly verbose and repetitive, which can hinder immersion.
The requirement to play previous games in the series to fully understand the story may alienate new players and create confusion.

story
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The story of "Echostasis" is a complex and deeply crafted continuation of the Enigma trilogy, praised for its intricate world-building and emotional depth, though it often requires players to have experienced the previous games to fully grasp its nuances. While some found the narrative confusing at times, many highlighted its satisfying climax and the unique storytelling methods that engage players on multiple levels. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate a rich narrative experience, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and gameplay mechanics.
- “The story is compelling too.”
- “It simultaneously tells a grounded story of a shattered family, and a soaring epic of the birth of a new form of life, and an apocalyptic end to humanity as we know it.”
- “The story of the enigma trilogy is a very interesting one about AI that all culminates in echostasis, the final of the trilogy.”
- “The story was quite confusing at times, which it is certainly meant to be, but at times I felt a little too 'lost' as to what was going on.”
- “The story of the game is extremely obtuse and vague to the point that it's hard to care after a while.”
- “All of these things combine to create a game that seemed three times longer than it needed to be, designed to frustrate and deliberately repel the player in service of a story that was 95% told in the first two games.”
gameplay
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
13%
The gameplay of the game is a polarizing aspect, with many players appreciating its unique blend of puzzle-solving, exploration, and combat, while others criticize it for being tedious, frustrating, and overly reliant on trial-and-error mechanics. The timer-based gameplay adds a sense of urgency that some find enjoyable, but it often detracts from the overall experience by making exploration feel rushed and repetitive. Overall, while the visuals and story are praised, the gameplay mechanics leave a significant number of players feeling disappointed and overwhelmed.
- “I'd call it a puzzle game, and these puzzle mechanics are super cool: one part is searching for the next word to input into a terminal by various means, the other is an FPS exploration gauntlet that will test your memorization and speedrunning skills, generously spiced with psychedelic effects and visual glitches (intentional ones).”
- “Fun gameplay, great music, and awesome aesthetics.”
- “The gameplay is really a unique mix of what feels like trying to set a best lap time in an FPS, with exploration and puzzle solving that is surprisingly addictive.”
- “The gameplay, though, leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “The gameplay is the weakest link, requiring you to contend with blind trial-and-error exploration and puzzle solving or the game's less than stellar combat.”
- “Gorgeous visuals, a compelling and gripping story but my goodness some of the gameplay is monotonous, with a lot relying on trial and error and so much repetition.”
graphics
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique aesthetic that blends retro-futuristic and analogue horror elements, creating a visually stunning experience. However, some players found the visuals overwhelming or even painful, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, while the art style and presentation are often highlighted as standout features, they can sometimes detract from the gameplay experience due to their intensity and the game's pacing.
- “The aesthetics, which were always the strongest part of all three of these games to me already, are all a few steps up from the previous two games.”
- “The visuals are something to behold in their mix of minimalism and abstract futurism.”
- “The graphics, the music, and the architecture are as impressive as the lore.”
- “The graphics were also very painful, and I struggled to play through it.”
- “Dear god, the visuals make this borderline unplayable at times. I wanted to keep going, but there come points where the screen becomes a solid color and you literally can't do anything.”
- “While the visual style is certainly unique, it sometimes gets a little too much, with me getting legitimate headaches from especially aggressive jittery visuals.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
36%
14%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players noting its catchy soundtracks and ability to evoke strong emotions. The blend of 80s and 90s influences, along with a dreamlike aesthetic, creates a memorable auditory experience that complements the visuals and gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and chilling ambiance.
- “The music and atmosphere are so good.”
- “The aesthetic and the music really makes this game stand out.”
- “Incredible music and delicious visual effects that my eyes can't stop drinking, and a world that is unsettling, yet begs to be explored.”
- “It's a Cronenberg dream with an elevator soundtrack.”
- “The visuals/graphics are phenomenal, so much so that it deserves its epilepsy warning, it excels at what it aimed for especially with the glitch effects and the low poly PS1 era art style and the same could be said for the music; it's hard to choose a favorite track, which combines to create a chilling atmosphere fitting the game's themes, with no intentional jump scares.”
- “I want to mention the music too, as it is so well done and captures the mood of the scenes perfectly, whether it be a horrific revelation or some chill tunes to relax to.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
25%
19%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining haunting music, dark environments, and striking visuals that enhance the storytelling and thematic depth. Players appreciate the chilling and foreboding ambiance, which effectively draws them into the game's mysteries, although some express frustration when gameplay mechanics disrupt this immersion. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal and emotional impact.
- “I love this game for how it makes you think about these metaphysical questions and the atmosphere just pulls you into the mystery.”
- “The visuals, the music, the atmosphere... I'll be thinking about this game for a while.”
- “Absolutely phenomenal atmosphere, interesting gameplay, great story.”
- “Minor: speedrun timer doesn't appropriately let the atmosphere kick in.”
- “Any and all atmosphere that Enigma Studio worked so hard to immerse you in is lost because you are too enraged at the gameplay to feel anything but apathy towards the setting and story.”
- “The visuals/graphics are phenomenal, so much so that it deserves its epilepsy warning; it excels at what it aimed for, especially with the glitch effects and the low poly PS1 era art style. The music combines to create a chilling atmosphere fitting the game's themes, with no intentional jump scares.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for its tedious and repetitive gameplay, which can detract from the overall experience despite the intriguing story and visuals. Players often find themselves navigating frustrating mechanics and lengthy loops, leading to a sense of monotony that can be alleviated with walkthroughs. While some appreciate the rewarding moments that follow the grind, many feel that the gameplay detracts significantly from the game's potential.
- “Incredible visuals and a story that has a lot of potential, unfortunately made extremely tedious by gameplay and design decisions.”
- “The gameplay itself was tedious at best, frustrating and annoying at its worst.”
- “The story from what I saw was amazing, but my god is the gameplay tedious and annoying. If they just got rid of the gameplay and had just the terminal, I would have had much more fun, but no, they just had to add this horrible gameplay to an otherwise amazing concept with amazing lore.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the trilogy is profound, with many players expressing deep connections to its narrative and characters, often leading to tears and reflection on heavy themes like abuse and existential horror. The storytelling is praised for its heartfelt and tragic elements, culminating in a satisfying yet bittersweet conclusion that resonates long after the game ends. Overall, it is recommended for those willing to engage with its emotional depth, as it offers a unique and touching experience.
- “I admit I cried a little once all was said and done.”
- “There are very few games (pretty much only Disco Elysium and Night in the Woods) that have managed to have the emotional effect on me that this trilogy has, and I would recommend it to basically anyone who is okay with dealing with some of the heavier elements of abuse and existential horror.”
- “The narrative is well written and well paced, simple yet emotionally effective.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is characterized by intentional visual glitches and psychedelic effects that enhance the experience, though they may affect gameplay. Players appreciate the unique puzzle mechanics and exploration elements, suggesting that while the game is engaging, its stability may be influenced by these design choices.
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, causing me to restart levels multiple times.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with players experiencing constant stuttering that renders it unplayable for some.
- “The game is currently unplayable for me; I'm experiencing constant stuttering.”
- “Performance issues make it difficult to enjoy the game.”
- “The optimization is so poor that it ruins the overall experience.”