Eidolon
- August 1, 2014
- Michael Bell
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Eidolon is a single-player Adventure game set in a beautifully sculpted, post-apocalyptic Western Washington of 2400 C.E. Explore the landscape, discover over 150 documents revealing interconnected stories of past cultures, and interact with various flora and fauna in this immersive game with excellent story, gameplay, visuals, and music."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Eidolon features a beautiful and immersive atmosphere, with stunning visuals and a calming soundtrack that enhances the exploration experience.
- The writing and environmental storytelling are excellent, providing a rich narrative that encourages players to piece together the history of the world.
- The game offers a unique and meditative experience, allowing players to explore a vast landscape at their own pace, making it a great choice for those who enjoy walking simulators.
- The gameplay can feel slow and aimless, with long distances to traverse and minimal direction, which may lead to boredom for some players.
- The survival mechanics are simplistic and often feel unnecessary, detracting from the overall experience rather than enhancing it.
- The graphics, while stylistically unique, can be perceived as primitive and lacking detail, which may not appeal to everyone.
- story113 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of Eidolon is characterized by its rich lore and immersive atmosphere, inviting players to explore a post-apocalyptic world through scattered notes and environmental storytelling. While many players appreciate the intriguing fragments of narrative and well-written lore, some find the overall story to be disjointed and lacking a cohesive plot, leading to a slow and sometimes frustrating experience. Ultimately, the game appeals to those who enjoy exploration and piecing together narratives at their own pace, though it may not satisfy players seeking a more structured storytelling approach.
“I'd call this a lore game first and foremost; not quite a mystery, not quite an adventure, but full to the brim of rich, unique, fascinating lore that paints an engaging story.”
“The atmosphere combines with the story beautifully, and the game has set up permanent residence in my brain.”
“Eidolon delivers incredible atmosphere, a unique yet unpretentious art style, and a surprisingly involved and well-written backstory.”
“The story of Eidolon has bits and pieces of interesting ideas and moving narratives, but overall does not feel complete.”
“While I appreciated the variety of the fragments, the sheer number of them made it hard for me to follow a cohesive storyline and eventually I got frustrated.”
“I've been wandering throughout the forest for a good 1.5 hours now and there has been barely any gameplay or story payoff, other than picking mushrooms, berries, using a primitive bow, and lighting a fire, and some uninteresting notes that provide no context.”
- graphics68 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and simplistic art style that some players find beautiful and atmospheric, evoking a sense of peace and exploration. While the visuals are often compared to titles like "Proteus" and "Dear Esther," opinions vary, with some praising the unique aesthetic and others criticizing the lack of detail and polish, particularly in manmade structures. Overall, the graphics contribute to the game's ambiance, though they may not appeal to everyone due to their primitive nature.
“The graphics are really pretty, and sometimes I just find myself staring up at the sky while in the middle of the forest, looking at how the stars peek through the gaps in the trees.”
“Eidolon does so much with so little, graphically; despite the low-poly environment, it never ceases to be beautiful.”
“The graphics are minimalist, but in my opinion, they are gorgeous and beautifully successful at evoking the character of the Pacific Northwest.”
“The graphics are very primitive as well.”
“Throw in some poor, children's grade graphics and you have it all.”
“You would think that this would be an invitation to explore the world, however, the graphics, to me, are ugly and basic.”
- gameplay39 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as minimal and simplistic, often described as a walking simulator with limited survival mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While the atmosphere and writing are praised, many players feel the gameplay lacks depth and engagement, with repetitive tasks like collecting items and navigating the environment overshadowing any potential for meaningful interaction. Overall, the game is seen as an exploration of ambiance rather than a robust gameplay experience, leaving some players disappointed by its lack of complexity and challenge.
“The graphics and gameplay are simple, but the soundtrack is great, the sense of atmosphere is incredible, and it’s a truly peaceful and gentle game to play.”
“Awesome game if you're into slow-paced, open-ended exploration of a huge world with some very basic, relatively low-pressure survival mechanics.”
“At first, I was surprised and disappointed that the survival mechanics were so limited and easy to master, but I later learned that the game is deliberately set up that way to make you focus on traversing the world and finding secrets.”
“It's a relatively horrible gameplay, wrapped into an intriguing/immersive atmosphere, dotted with some excellent writing and environmental storytelling.”
“I was hoping to find some sort of gameplay element that would surprise me or make things a bit more interesting.”
“While Eidolon is great at setting mood/atmosphere, there is a lot to be desired in terms of gameplay.”
- music38 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience without becoming repetitive or overwhelming. Reviewers highlight the haunting and meditative soundtracks that complement the game's visuals and narrative, creating a serene and captivating environment. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's mood and exploration elements.
“The use of music and ambient noise supports in-game locales and the general feel of the game very well and never becomes tiring or overbearing.”
“The world is beautiful, the music especially is enchanting, and the story is compelling.”
“The game's atmosphere is further cemented by the excellent post-rock/ambient soundtrack that I count among the very best in gaming.”
“Heard the same garbage soundtrack over and over.”
“The soundtrack; oh dear, where to begin?”
“Seems interesting with a beautiful peaceful art style and music, but the game seems pretty buggy.”
- atmosphere21 mentions
- 81 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and intriguing qualities, enhanced by excellent writing, environmental storytelling, and a captivating soundtrack. While some players find the constant grey fog visually dull, many appreciate the peaceful and relaxing ambiance, particularly during the day, contrasted with a more unsettling experience at night. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, making it a memorable experience for those who enjoy exploration and narrative depth.
“The atmosphere combines with the story beautifully, and the game has set up permanent residence in my brain.”
“Eidolon delivers incredible atmosphere, a unique yet unpretentious art style, and a surprisingly involved and well-written back-story.”
“Also, I have to admit that at times I used cheat engine to up the speed of travel - I know that goes against the intended atmosphere, but walking across Washington State, even scaled-down low-poly Washington State, is a time-consuming activity.”
“The atmosphere is peaceful and relaxing during the day and, at times, terrifying at night (though there are no baddies beyond local wildlife to elicit such terror; the darkness and the groaning of metal from what had been grand skyscrapers will do that in their stead).”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of Eidolon to be deeply impactful, highlighting its ability to evoke feelings of peace and introspection through exploration and personal narratives. While some desired a more profound conclusion, the game's serene atmosphere and touching experiences resonate strongly, likening it to the quieter, more poignant moments found in Fallout.
“Eidolon provided me with a beautiful, personal experience in a variety of ways - wandering lost and alone was peaceful, following lost lives was deeply touching, and the freedom of exploration was ultimately incredibly calming.”
“Eidolon is Fallout's quietest, most touching moments distilled into an entire game.”
“I would have loved some kind of profound or emotional ending that ties everything together.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is both intentional and unintentional, blending peaceful moments with life-and-death scenarios that create a unique tension. Players find it beautifully relaxing while also amusing, with moments of confusion, such as mistaking a bear for an oil drum, adding to the comedic experience. The interactive journal further enhances the humor, making it a standout feature.
“Funny, the idea of life-and-death at such a peaceful pace, just enough tension to keep it interesting.”
“It's beautiful, it's relaxing, it's funny intentionally and unintentionally (I mistook a bear for an oil drum!), and the interactive nature of the journal is so good.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report a smooth experience with no bugs and low system requirements, others highlight persistent optimization issues that have remained unaddressed for years, suggesting a lack of developer attention.
“The game is overall great; I have surprisingly found 0 bugs, and it all runs smoothly for a peaceful and fun survival game with low requirements.”
“Beautiful game with terrible optimization issues; it seems like the developers don't care, as there have been problems for years.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find that the grinding aspect can become tedious, particularly during extended periods of walking in the game.
“There are times when the walking is a bit tedious.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game features a beautiful art style and calming music, but players have reported significant bugs that affect its stability.
“The game has a beautiful art style and peaceful music, but it is plagued with bugs.”
“I encountered numerous crashes and glitches that ruined my experience.”
“The stability issues make it hard to enjoy what could be a great game.”
