Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

About

"Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist" is a dark fantasy 2D side-scrolling action RPG set in the post-apocalyptic Land of Fumes. Play as Lilac, an "Attuner" with the power to save feral Homunculi, once artificial life forms turned monsters due to toxic fumes. Embark on a journey to retrieve lost memories and precious friends, accompanied by Homunculi, as you explore the desolate world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist screenshot

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,694 reviews

music337 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Ender Magnolia improves on almost every aspect of its predecessor, Ender Lilies, with enhanced gameplay, visuals, and music.
The map design is exceptional, providing clear indicators for completed areas and making exploration rewarding.
The combat system is fluid and engaging, allowing for a variety of playstyles with customizable abilities and difficulty settings.

The story feels less impactful and cohesive compared to Ender Lilies, with some characters and plot points feeling underdeveloped.
Certain bosses can feel unbalanced, with some being significantly easier or harder than others, leading to frustration.
The game can be completed relatively quickly, leaving some players wanting more content and depth.

music
594 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
1%
The music in "Ender Magnolia" has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the return of composer Mili, whose work is described as hauntingly beautiful and perfectly complementing the game's atmosphere. Reviewers note that the soundtrack enhances the emotional depth of the game, with distinct tracks for different areas that prevent monotony. While some players feel the music may not reach the same heights as its predecessor, "Ender Lilies," the overall consensus is that the soundtrack remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “A solid metroidvania with an incredible soundtrack.”
- “The music is outstandingly good for almost all areas.”
- “The music, drenched in the musical prowess of Mili, was there, right alongside the subtle and tasteful worldbuilding, and the scattered notes which fed you the story one agonizing hint at a time.”
- “I also had to turn off the background music because it can get annoyingly repetitive.”
- “The music was maybe not up to the standards of the previous game, but there were some standout tracks like the old city vocal track.”
- “The loneliness of the previous game’s atmosphere doesn’t mesh well, and the music isn’t strong enough to fill the gap.”
story
453 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
68%
3%
The story of "Ender Magnolia" is generally seen as an interesting continuation of its predecessor, "Ender Lilies," with a more lively and less grim tone, featuring a talking protagonist and more NPC interactions. While many players appreciate the character-driven narrative and improved storytelling mechanics, some feel that the plot can be convoluted and less impactful than the original, with certain story elements feeling rushed or underdeveloped. Overall, the game offers a solid narrative experience, though opinions vary on its emotional depth and coherence compared to "Ender Lilies."
- “The story is interesting and doesn't require players to have played Ender Lilies before, while still referencing it.”
- “The storyline is great, and the combat, movement, and story all were good.”
- “The story is much livelier this time too, less depressing than Ender Lilies. If you didn't prefer the saddening tone of Ender Lilies, you should definitely try this; if you did prefer that tone... still give this a try!”
- “The story felt pretty non-cohesive and I was left feeling apathetic about the fate of the characters.”
- “The only part that wasn't as good as the first is the story, which is still pretty solid, but man that first one made me tear up; this one did not.”
- “The story still feels pretty weak, and is like a repurposed version of the story in Ender Lilies but more convoluted.”
gameplay
380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The gameplay of "Ender Magnolia" has been widely praised for its smoothness, polish, and significant improvements over its predecessor, "Ender Lilies." Players appreciate the refined mechanics, dynamic combat, and enhanced exploration features, which allow for varied playstyles and strategies. While some critiques mention occasional frustrations with enemy mechanics and difficulty balance, the overall consensus highlights the game's engaging and rewarding gameplay experience, complemented by stunning visuals and an exceptional soundtrack.
- “The gameplay is very fun, feels dynamic, and gives you control over how you want to play the game.”
- “Gameplay-wise, Ender Magnolia is an upgrade from Ender Lilies in nearly every way.”
- “The gameplay is executed at such a high level.”
- “The progression feels very dull... a leveling mechanic that is borderline meaningless beyond making you progressively stronger, which in turn trivializes areas as you backtrack.”
- “Despite turning dials up as high as possible, the game never actually finds a way to push back against you, it all ends up being very trivial, compounded by choices the dev made to remove staple mechanics like contact damage and the brief invulnerability period upon taking damage.”
- “Some of the bosses have mechanics that incentivize waiting around for a surefire opening to attack, which I dislike a lot.”
graphics
189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
2%
The graphics in "Ender Magnolia" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and improved art style compared to its predecessor, "Ender Lilies." Reviewers highlight the vibrant colors, detailed environments, and polished animations that enhance the overall aesthetic experience, making the game visually captivating. The combination of beautiful artwork and a compelling soundtrack further elevates the game's presentation, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that players find enchanting.
- “The visuals are breathtaking, with a world that's meticulously crafted and visually stunning.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the music is amazing, and the gameplay is fun and engaging, and the story is gripping.”
- “The artwork, the music, and the overall setting is simply immaculate.”
- “There are lots of glitches and the most reported issue is graphics and driver issues; old devices had a high probability of not being able to open the game.”
- “The movement of Lilac feels a bit sluggish at times, and that is the only aspect of those 4 hours that left me a little bit unsatisfied.”
- “While I prefer the artistic aesthetic of the first game, everything else has been improved upon in this one.”
atmosphere
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty, combining melancholic art and an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience. Many reviewers note the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from serene to eerie, while also highlighting the distinctiveness of each area. While some feel that the sequel's atmosphere is less isolating compared to its predecessor, it still maintains a captivating and engaging world that resonates with players.
- “The music is great and with the world it creates an atmosphere that is beautiful and dark at the same time.”
- “Packed full of melancholic atmosphere, excellent art and beautiful music.”
- “The atmosphere is gloomy, albeit not as isolating as the first title, and is punctuated by a gorgeous OST and incredible art style that makes each area feel bespoke.”
- “The game is high quality, but so far I'm not liking the atmosphere/execution as much as I did the first game.”
- “Unfortunately, while I think the gameplay has drastically improved compared to Ender Lilies, I believe the exact opposite for almost everything else, including the story, atmosphere, music, etc. Maybe it's my nostalgia for the first game, but Ender Magnolia doesn't carry the same 'feeling' that made me fall in love with Ender Lilies.”
- “So far, it's not the atmosphere I fell in love with in Ender Lilies, but it's addictive enough for me to marathon the content that's here.”
character development
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
Overall, character development in the game is praised for its significant improvements, with many reviewers highlighting the enhanced character designs and the depth added to individual characters, particularly the homunculi. The visuals, including character and background designs, are described as striking and engaging, contributing to a captivating storytelling experience. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in character design quality and a lack of depth in certain characters, indicating a mixed reception in this aspect.
- “The character designs are much more pretty to look at, the music is incredible, and the game does a much better job of delivering story via dialogue than the first one does, too.”
- “Honestly, that added a creative layer of character development I'd seen before or since, and I'm in love with that style of storytelling now.”
- “The animation, character design, and particle effects have been magnified from Ender Lilies and really bring its characters and environments to life like never before.”
- “We end up with a souls-like game with all its overdone hype, crap character development, terrible writing, and badly balanced on release.”
- “Sometimes the movesets just weren't that fun to me, and the character designs also seemed a bit less interesting.”
- “I feel the character designs are very similar to that of the first game.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the emotional impact of "Ender Magnolia" is seen as a mixed bag compared to its predecessor, "Ender Lilies." While some players appreciate the deeper character interactions and heartwarming finale, many feel that the story lacks the same emotional weight and tragic elements that made the first game resonate more profoundly. The soundtrack and visuals are praised for their beauty, but some characters are described as uninspired, contributing to a less impactful emotional experience.
- “Ender Magnolia closes the tales of the blighted land in a more heartwarming, bright finale for the series.”
- “These games are beautiful, emotional, and I feel a little sad knowing it's over.”
- “Every character you meet adds incredible emotional depth to the journey, making each interaction feel meaningful and fulfilling.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
9%
82%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the map's design that aids in exploration and item collection, many feel that certain areas and enemy encounters can be tedious and frustrating, particularly when it comes to farming for achievements or currency. Overall, the grinding can lead to overleveling and a less rewarding experience, but it also offers opportunities for completionists to engage with the game more deeply.
- “Oh and the map is great - enough info to make going for 100% completion fun but not tedious.”
- “Very flexible difficulty settings and not grindy or too hard on default settings.”
- “A lot of the enemies have really annoying attack patterns, but are placed in locations where you can kill them in some completely safe but extremely tedious way.”
- “Unlike Ender Lilies, to finish getting all of the Steam achievements would mean spending many additional hours farming currency to buy everything, which doesn't seem like fun to me.”
- “Certain main bosses like N.7's tower rush were annoying as hell; every time I died, I had to repeatedly go back to slay those three minor bosses just to get to the main boss, which was extremely tedious.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs throughout their playthroughs. While some minor animation flaws exist, the game is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, and its early access status suggests further enhancements are expected. Players appreciate the fluidity of combat and the overall stability on various machines.
- “Lastly, the game runs smoothly with very few bugs.”
- “The entire game runs smoothly and I had literally zero issues throughout my 100% playthrough.”
- “Having played the first game and been enchanted by it, I can say that Ender Magnolia is a worthy successor, having optimized all aspects of gameplay.”
- “Nothing of note when it comes to performance otherwise.”
- “Heck, there are small flaws in the animation, when you move with Lilac and the worldbuilding of Ender Magnolia isn't as sublime as it was in Ender Lilies, but at the end of the day, you have to remind yourself that this is only early access, meaning that the game will still get more content, will become better balanced, and will become even better optimized.”
- “From the game optimization and mechanics to the sound design.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its unintentional moments, such as the absurdity of mice posing a legitimate threat and the amusing contrasts in music choices that don't quite fit the scenes. Players also find humor in the game's lore, drawing funny parallels to other titles like Hollow Knight, while some character interactions and design choices elicit laughter despite the game's overall deficiencies.
- “Hilariously, mice pose a legitimate threat that doesn't quite feel intended, due to the very short cooldown on attacks.”
- “Cute and funny stand user.”
- “My only hiccup was that the music for the guy at the bottom right of the map (near the red forest area) didn't fit to the point it was funny.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting zero glitches or bugs, particularly in the v1.0 release. However, some players have encountered issues, especially on older devices, with graphics and driver-related glitches being the most common complaints. Despite these issues, the game remains largely playable for most users.
- “There are lots of glitches, and the most reported issue is related to graphics and driver compatibility; old devices have a high probability of not being able to open the game.”
- “- It's still buggy but is fairly playable otherwise.”
- “There are almost no bugs or glitches despite the v1.0 release.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting a lack of incentive to change their approach, while others appreciate the variety of abilities and the inclusion of a New Game+ mode that enhances replay value. However, the consensus leans towards limited replayability, suggesting that more features could improve this aspect.
- “The variety of abilities does lend itself to replayability value.”
- “There is a lot of replayability in Ender Lilies because of the New Game+ mode with the Chapter 10 difficulty.”
- “Adding some kind of replayability, similar to Ender Lilies, enhances the overall experience.”
- “The last point is that the game has no replayability.”
- “Third is adding some kind of replayability, kind of like Ender Lilies.”
- “Didn't feel the need to switch up from the character I was using during early access, but the variety of abilities does lend itself to replayability value.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Reviewers appreciate the game's monetization model for its simplicity, highlighting the absence of microtransactions and intrusive prompts to purchase cosmetic items, which fosters a more immersive and enjoyable experience.
- “The monetization model is refreshingly fair, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring additional purchases, making it accessible for everyone.”
- “It calls back to a simpler time—no microtransactions, no endless prompts to buy clothes for a character you have zero attachment to.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money just to enjoy basic features.”
- “I can't believe how many in-game purchases are shoved in your face; it ruins the overall experience.”