Effie

About

Effie is a single-player 3D platformer action-adventure game with a marvelous extended world to explore. As Galand, cursed with premature old age, you’ll wield a magical shield, battling sinister creatures, overcoming platforming challenges, and solving puzzles. Relive the nostalgic feeling of old-school video games with stellar visuals, ingenious music, and a dose of humor in this unique fantasy adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 265 reviews

story30 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Effie evokes the charm of classic 3D platformers, delivering a nostalgic experience reminiscent of games like Spyro and Jak & Daxter.
The vibrant world of Oblena is beautifully designed, with colorful landscapes and engaging environments that encourage exploration.
The gameplay features fluid platforming mechanics and well-designed puzzles, making for an enjoyable adventure that is accessible to players of all ages.

The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 5-8 hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
Combat can feel repetitive and simplistic, lacking depth and variety, which may detract from the overall experience.
Technical issues such as frame rate drops and occasional bugs can disrupt gameplay, and the inability to backtrack in levels can lead to frustration when trying to collect missed items.

story
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
75%
5%
The story centers around Galand, a young man cursed with old age by a witch, who embarks on a quest to regain his youth and save his region. While some players find the narrative charming and heartwarming, others criticize it as simplistic, generic, and lacking depth, often feeling more like a children's tale. Overall, the storytelling is presented in a whimsical manner, but many reviewers agree that it doesn't offer much in terms of originality or engagement.
- “You play as Galand, a young man cursed with old age by a wicked witch, who must set out on a quest to regain his youth and save the region from the encroaching darkness.”
- “Effie is an action platformer set in a story told by the protagonist to a young child by a fireplace.”
- “The story is simple, but the voice acting makes it really amusing, and favors fun moments like when you die and the narrator says 'that didn't happen!'.”
- “Well, it is so lame that there is basically no story.”
- “The game's main story, which took me roughly three hours to complete, felt more like a tutorial or tech demo than a full game.”
- “The story is so shallow it might as well not exist; wouldn't surprise me if they made the game first and just stamped the story on top via voice overs, as that is the entire story, just a long voice over.”
gameplay
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic charm, engaging mechanics, and beautiful visuals, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and repetitive. Players appreciate the introduction of unique mechanics like shield surfing and varied level designs, but many feel that the combat and overall challenge are lacking. Overall, the game offers a light and enjoyable experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking depth or complexity in gameplay.
- “While it may be short and have a few minor flaws, its beautiful world, engaging gameplay, and nostalgic charm make it a journey worth taking.”
- “The gameplay features the classic mix between platforming, simple puzzles, and combat, and mixes it with the novelty of non-linear exploration with the awesome 'shield-surfing'.”
- “The combat is satisfying, the locations are well designed, and there’s a good balance of gameplay elements.”
- “4 hours of lame, boring gameplay isn’t something I can recommend spending your money on.”
- “The gameplay itself is fairly simple, with only a light attack and heavy attack with their own combos, along with some special moves you unlock in each of the 3 main levels.”
- “The gameplay of Effie is a bit lackluster.”
graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, cartoonish art style and nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of classic platformers. While some players find the visuals stunning and well-crafted, others describe them as simplistic or bland, indicating a divide in opinion on their overall impact. Overall, the game's graphics are generally considered appealing, especially for a small studio, but may not resonate with all players.
- “The graphics are stunning for something made by a small studio and the mechanics are solid.”
- “The graphic consists of beautifully crafted environments using vibrant color schemes, the narrator comments regularly on the story progression.”
- “Everything from the gameplay to the bright graphics and voice-overs is sure to bring back nostalgia for fans of the genre.”
- “The visuals look bland and boring; nothing really sticks with you while playing it.”
- “I hate the art style, but love the genre.”
- “No save files, lack of ability to skip cut scenes that drag on and on, ambiguous ending, headache-inducing graphics, and so much more make this game more of a chore to complete.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
47%
10%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to complement the adventurous and fairy-tale aesthetic, enhancing the overall atmosphere. While the soundtrack features charming and fitting tunes, some players noted issues with volume mixing and a desire for more musical variety. Overall, the combination of good voice acting and a solid soundtrack contributes positively to the game's experience.
- “The characters are brought to life with charming voice acting, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the game's adventurous tone.”
- “The songs featured in this game brilliantly work in tandem with the visuals, both supporting and influencing the atmosphere with tranquil and innocent but also epic and heroic tracks.”
- “The music is great and the feel of surfing around the open world is freeing.”
- “Also, at random points in the game, the volume mixing becomes imbalanced (music & sounds too loud/quiet).”
- “Music: the music really eats your brain with repeatable tunes.”
- “Whenever you open a chest you hear a fanfare that is out of time and key with the rest of the music that continues playing.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
82%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and underwhelming, often describing it as repetitive and unnecessary. Many feel that the need to repeatedly gather items or defeat respawning enemies detracts from the overall experience, making certain sections feel like a chore rather than an engaging challenge.
- “There's a lot of grinding involved, but it feels rewarding.”
- “You'll need a second life for all the grinding, but it's worth it for the progress.”
- “The grinding can be intense, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “I guess it is just tedious at points and feels underwhelming.”
- “I feel like the grinding is kind of useless.”
- “Speaking of collecting again, the same applies if you accidentally die in a room, like when falling in the water (instant kill), you’ll have to gather all runes again, and also all enemies respawn, which can get kind of tedious in levels where you have a lot of water.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of playful and quirky elements, including a humorous narrator and witty commentary that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the charming and cartoonish world, with comedic moments woven into the gameplay, such as character interactions and amusing animations. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the adventure, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “A hilarious foray into gaming frustration where Scooby and Shaggy just want a snack and Lil Jon drops some Shakespearean bars!”
- “The humor that comes back in everything from the narrator to the world design to the pause animation is just worth it.”
- “During the game, Galand - as the narrator - will comment on what the player makes Galand - as the tale's protagonist - do in a humorous way and in third person (like Effie doesn't know it's supposed to be him).”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, while others report a smooth experience with minimal issues. Notably, the game runs well on the Steam Deck without adjustments, but there are still occasional graphical glitches and camera angle problems that may disrupt immersion. Overall, while some users find the game unplayable due to its bugs, others enjoy it despite these flaws.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck; no adjustments required.”
- “The story is bland and childish, and the game is quite buggy.”
- “Buggy to the point of unplayable.”
- “This game is not perfect (there are some glitches), can make you angry sometimes (there are one hit kill traps) – but it’s beautiful, both outside and inside!”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its detailed environments, appealing visuals, and effective sound design, including a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While the voice acting received mixed reviews, the combination of music and visuals creates a captivating ambiance reminiscent of beloved titles like *Kingdom Hearts* and works well to immerse players in the game. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The songs featured in this game brilliantly work in tandem with the visuals, both supporting and influencing the atmosphere with tranquil and innocent but also epic and heroic tracks, and at times, even tunes that sound like something out of 'Kingdom Hearts' or a 'Tim Burton' movie.”
- “I really like the atmosphere that the game has, and the environment has so many details for something that gives off vibes of a free mobile game.”
- “Additionally, the game also has some cool voice acting and neat soundtracks, so the overall atmosphere of the game is well-made!”
- “The songs featured in this game brilliantly work in tandem with the visuals, both supporting and influencing the atmosphere with tranquil and innocent but also epic and heroic tracks and, at times, even tunes that sound like something out of 'Kingdom Hearts' or a 'Tim Burton' movie.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find the story of Galand's quest to be heartwarming and engaging, others criticize it for being bland and lacking depth. The contrasting experiences highlight a divide between those who appreciate the narrative and those who feel disconnected from the character and overall storytelling.
- “While simple, the story of Galand's quest is heartwarming and keeps you invested in his journey.”
- “It's a fun puzzle platformer, with a touching story.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game is well-optimized, offering solid gameplay with appealing visuals and unique locations, resulting in an enjoyable experience. Users have rated its performance highly, with an 8/10 score, and appreciate the unlimited framerate.
- “Enjoyable simple platformer, well optimized. The gameplay was solid, each location was unique, and the visuals are appealing.”
- “It's well optimized, and you have unlimited framerate.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are unacceptably long, even for simple tasks.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has limited replayability, with some users expressing a desire for expanded features like the colosseum and quick imp areas to enhance replay value. However, others note that it offers infinite replayability in multiplayer modes.
- “The game is infinitely replayable, especially in multiplayer mode.”
- “I would enjoy it if the colosseum and quick imp areas were expanded or made to be replayable!”
- “Little to no replayability.”
- “I would enjoy it if the colosseum and quick imp areas were expanded or made to be replayable.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is criticized for its lack of polish, with users noting that the designs, voice acting, and storytelling elements appear amateurish and unrefined.
- “The character designs, voice acting, story, and cutscenes are derpy and amateurish.”

67%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

Buy Effie

6h Median play time

6h Average play time

4-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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