Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

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Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a single player hack and slash game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Ninja Theory and was released on October 24, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Enslaved" is a post-apocalyptic adventure game set 150 years in the future, where nature has reclaimed the world and mysterious slave ships capture the remaining humans. The story follows Trip, a technologically skilled woman who escapes a slave ship, and Monkey, a powerful loner who becomes linked to Trip through a slave headband. They form an uneasy partnership as they traverse through dangerous terrain and enemies, with the threat of death for both if Trip dies. The game focuses on the complex relationship between Trip and Monkey as they fight to return Trip to her home.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West screenshot

+17

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,266 reviews

story2k positive mentions

stability178 negative mentions

Engaging story with well-developed characters, particularly the dynamic between Monkey and Trip.
Beautiful visuals and art direction that hold up well despite the game's age.
Fun gameplay mechanics that combine platforming, combat, and puzzle-solving.

Camera controls are frustrating and can lead to disorientation during gameplay.
Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited enemy variety.
The ending feels rushed and leaves many questions unanswered, lacking closure.

story
4,194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The story of "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West" is widely praised for its engaging narrative and character development, drawing inspiration from the classic Chinese tale "Journey to the West." Players appreciate the emotional depth and chemistry between the main characters, Monkey and Trip, although some critiques highlight pacing issues and a somewhat abrupt ending. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling storytelling, strong voice acting, and beautiful visuals, making it a memorable experience despite its gameplay shortcomings.
- “The story is great, the combat and characters are engaging and the set pieces are fun to watch too.”
- “The story, while it doesn't reach not even half of its potential, is fine.”
- “The story is well written and I like the futuristic retelling of a Chinese myth.”
- “The story is meh, and the ending was really anticlimactic.”
- “The ending is also really disappointing, and honestly, the story is just not worth your time.”
- “The story lacks initiative and is very bland throughout most of the game.”
gameplay
1,986 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The gameplay of "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West" is characterized by a mix of platforming and combat, often described as simplistic and linear, with many players noting its repetitive mechanics and dated design. While some appreciate the engaging story and character interactions, others find the gameplay lacks depth and can become tedious, particularly due to fixed camera angles and a lack of variety in combat. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for its narrative and visuals, but the gameplay may not satisfy those seeking a more challenging or innovative experience.
- “Though it wasn't properly adapted to PC, most of the controls respond well, the gameplay is fun, the combat is satisfying, the platform elements are very fun, it's really cool to jump around like a monkey, and it's really interesting to explore this world, which by design feels like it's filled with a deeper story than it appears to be, even though it's a post-apocalyptic earth.”
- “This enchanting action-adventure game from Ninja Theory takes players on an unforgettable journey through a post-apocalyptic world, weaving together a masterful narrative, breathtaking visuals, and captivating gameplay.”
- “The gameplay, the story, and most of all the character growth both Monkey and Trip undergo.”
- “The gameplay is dull and repetitive and gets boring too quickly.”
- “The gameplay is frustrating and repetitive, with simplistic platforming and very basic (though cinematic) combat rendered difficult through poor controls and frustrating camera angles.”
- “The gameplay is extremely linear, repetitive and predictable.”
graphics
1,324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
46%
6%
The graphics of "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West" are generally praised for their vibrant art style and impressive visuals, especially considering the game's age (originally released in 2010). While some players note that the graphics show signs of aging, with occasional glitches and limitations in the PC port, many agree that the overall aesthetic remains appealing and immersive. Players recommend tweaking settings for optimal visual performance, highlighting the game's colorful environments and character animations as standout features.
- “The graphics are very colorful and detailed, if not quite up to 2024 standards.”
- “The graphics hold up really well though, world and enemy/boss design is beautiful and creative, set-pieces are great, and the really good voice acting along with expressive facial animations sell the fun humour and character moments throughout the game, making the story involving.”
- “The graphics are stunning, characters are well developed (Trip and Monkey are great together), and well voice acted.”
- “The graphics are dated and not the greatest, and the world is a bit lonely with not all that many characters.”
- “It also has some graphical issues with the shadows, that'll cause some very distracting 'lines', that weren't fixed despite using the fixes provided by the community.”
- “The graphics quality somewhat shows the game's age in 2022, but on the deck the overall experience is still pleasant, as the game always runs smooth.”
music
238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others find it forgettable or bland. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement the game's environments and emotional moments, though a significant number also note that it often goes unnoticed. Overall, while the music is generally considered good, it varies in impact and memorability among players.
- “The soundtrack is amazing, and helps to accentuate the rest of the game's high points.”
- “The soundtrack sets the mood right in every scene, whether being chased by a mechanical rhino or chilling in a boat gazing at the stars, the soundtrack is mesmerizing.”
- “The sound design, world, lore, soundtrack, all of it comes together into this beautiful masterpiece as you journey across what remains of a desolate North America.”
- “The music was for the most part forgettable and I can't remember a single piece from the game; it wasn't terrible, just not anything amazing either.”
- “- the music didn't stand out very much when/if it was noticed at all.”
- “Overall an enjoyable journey with a mix of platform & combat, good characters but lackluster story; the soundtrack is pretty meh as well, I didn't even notice it the vast majority of the game.”
humor
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the witty banter between characters, particularly the interactions involving Monkey and Pigsy, which often lead to genuinely funny moments. While some humor is described as cringy or forced, especially in later parts of the game and its DLC, the overall comedic elements contribute positively to the engaging story and character dynamics. The voice acting and character animations enhance the humor, making it a notable aspect of the gameplay experience.
- “Your companion NPC, Trip, is actually really useful and you get to throw her around to get across obstacles, and the animation for it is hilarious.”
- “Monkey as a character offers a layered and entertaining protagonist to follow; he's resourceful, grumpy yet funny and focused, and has great rapport with Trip, making their banter enjoyable.”
- “The acting is very believable and the game made me laugh out loud at times.”
- “They try to fill the story gaps with small moments that are supposed to be funny, but almost all of them boil down to Monkey is an asshole and Trip is a nice girl.”
- “Monkey is the usual sexist depiction of the male hero: far too muscular to be able to jump (but jumps and climbs like a monkey nonetheless), manly grunts each time he makes the slightest effort (like opening a door), comically stupid (except it's not funny).”
stability
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
1%
95%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly disrupt gameplay, including texture issues, frame rate drops, and game-breaking errors that require restarts. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on higher-end systems or specific configurations like the Steam Deck, the overall consensus is that the PC port is poorly optimized and plagued by instability, making it frustrating for many players. Despite its engaging story and visuals, the frequent technical issues detract from the overall experience.
- “The movement is nice and fluid; everything runs great.”
- “It runs great on Steam Deck as well (on Proton 7.0-6).”
- “I personally have had no glitches or bugs.”
- “The native configuration of the application simply doesn't work correctly and, nowadays, some glitches with shadows and textures (especially one that makes strange lines appear on characters) break the game's immersion completely.”
- “One of the worst PC ports I've ever seen, full of glitches and problems that never will be fixed.”
- “The story isn't compelling, there isn't a real threat of danger, and there are too many gameplay glitches that completely halt your experience.”
optimization
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant issues such as poor mouse and keyboard support, frequent crashes, and frame rate drops, particularly during cutscenes. While some praise the game's smooth performance on older hardware and commend its artistic qualities, the overall consensus is that it remains an unoptimized port from console to PC, requiring manual tweaks for an improved experience. Despite these drawbacks, the strong voice acting and engaging story help to elevate the game, making it a worthwhile experience for those willing to overlook its technical flaws.
- “Game still runs smoothly, like eleven years ago when it came on the PC platform.”
- “Beautiful graphics actually, good level design and well optimized.”
- “Great story, great character development (a rare thing to see), great gameplay and excellent optimization for the PC.”
- “2 full system reboots, 7 game crashes, 9 soft locks, a camera system that was designed by 5 year olds, music stuttering, and menus that clearly do not work properly.”
- “My biggest issue with the game is that the controls don't seem very optimized for mouse and keyboard.”
- “Weird shadows all over the place, improper lighting, incredibly ridiculous framerate and performance hiccups whenever the game needs to load a new area, and a complete lack of any sort of control over the settings.”
character development
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many reviewers praising the strong voice acting and the evolving relationship between the main characters, particularly the dynamic between the strongman and the sharp-witted heroine. However, some critics feel that the character development is rushed or superficial, lacking depth and leaving players wanting more. Overall, while the game showcases impressive character design and animation, opinions vary on the effectiveness and depth of the character arcs throughout the story.
- “Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a masterpiece of storytelling, world-building, and character development that is unfortunately marred by a few missteps.”
- “Voice acting is one of the best I have ever seen in a video game, and character development and expression are on par, if not better than many Oscar-winning films in the last few years.”
- “Great story, great character development (a rare thing to see), great gameplay, and excellent optimization for the PC.”
- “The story is meh, character development is shallow and cliché, the platforming is fake and doesn't require any skill.”
- “Sadly, the character development sucked.”
- “You meet close to no other people and these people inspiring and adventurous as they are just did not cut it for me.. character development, gameplay & story feels so rushed that I never got to truly enjoy the game.”
atmosphere
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and engaging storytelling, creating a captivating post-apocalyptic world that resonates with players. Many reviews highlight the unique blend of beauty and melancholy in the environments, alongside strong character development and voice acting. While some note that gameplay mechanics may falter, the overall atmospheric experience remains a standout feature that enhances the game's narrative depth.
- “Awesome story with great character arc progression and a beautiful atmosphere!”
- “Beautiful sceneries of nature slowly taking back and swallowing former civilization creations creates a unique melancholic atmosphere where you look at something beautiful but you feel the history.”
- “Enslaved: Odyssey to the West's main draw is its absolutely gorgeous visuals, which are bright, detailed, and compelling for such a somber post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere this strange waste of studio recording equipment and voice talent creates is frankly akin to replaying a level in Mario for the optional stars and dealing with the titular Italian stallion reminding you every thirty seconds that he won't be able to get his bing-bing wahoo's off until you jointly get to the final stage, which for him, delusionally features a warp-pipe leading directly beneath Princess Peach's chaste, perpetually knackered frock, to which I would respond: 'save you and myself some time and just go for Daisy, man.'”
- “The atmosphere, the story, the whole scope of the game should be absolutely enthralling, but to me... it feels like a soft-spoken echo I've done before.”
- “Only the atmosphere and the world stand out, this is where Enslaved is brilliant, still a breathtaking experience at some points.”
emotional
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching and thought-provoking narrative, which explores themes of love, loss, and redemption through well-developed characters. Players report feeling a strong emotional connection to the protagonists, Monkey and Trip, as their relationship evolves throughout the story, leading to genuine moments of heartache and joy. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and the ending, the game's ability to evoke deep feelings and create memorable experiences is consistently highlighted as a standout feature.
- “The game's bold reimagining of Journey to the West, captivating characters, stunning environments, and emotional depth make it a truly unforgettable experience.”
- “By the end of the game, I felt connected to Monkey and Trip; you could see an almost tangible emotional connection form between the two of them.”
- “The story tackles themes of love, loss, and redemption with surprising depth and nuance, leaving a lasting impact on the player.”
- “I had a hard time finishing this game due to its boring story and lack of emotional depth.”
- “The emotional moments felt forced and didn't resonate with me at all.”
- “I expected a gripping narrative, but the emotional impact was minimal and disappointing.”
grinding
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
11%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that the combat lacks variety and becomes monotonous over time. Collecting hidden items and completing achievements can also feel like a chore, detracting from the overall enjoyment and pacing of the game. While some players appreciate the upgrade system, the general consensus is that the gameplay often feels clunky and frustrating, leading to a lack of motivation to continue.
- “The upgrade system is great in that about twice per level you can upgrade in a way that makes a difference to your play style, not grinding for 2-3 levels for one upgrade that you may not ever use.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The setting and story are interesting, but the rest of the game makes the progress tedious.”
- “The gameplay is boring, tedious, and repetitive.”
replayability
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
61%
23%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with most players completing it in 10-12 hours and finding little incentive to replay beyond achieving collectibles or trying different difficulty levels. While some players appreciate the initial experience and the potential for future content, the linear storytelling and lack of alternate paths significantly reduce the reasons to revisit the game. A few users noted that the upgrade system and "game +" features offer some replay value, but many agree that it is primarily a one-time playthrough experience.
- “Game has excellent replay value because you get to keep all the skills you have unlocked and you can start any chapter again.”
- “It delivers until the very end and its 'game +' style replay value makes it one worth keeping in your collection.”
- “Short game, plenty of replay value.”
- “The game has little to no replay value as you will unlock almost everything in the perk tree and there are no alternate ways to progress.”
- “However, if you're looking for deep gameplay or replayability, look elsewhere.”
- “- zero replayability (definitely story-driven, no multiple endings or changes for multiple playthroughs.)”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Reviewers express concern that the inclusion of microtransactions and quick-time events (QTEs) could detract from the game's quality, likening it to a trend in modern gaming where engaging single-player experiences are overshadowed by soulless multiplayer models driven by monetization. There is a desire for the developers to revisit the game with a stronger marketing push, as its current obscurity limits its potential audience.
- “So many games today are lost on those simple principles in replacement of making the game an online sandbox with soulless multiplayer driven by microtransactions and endless grinding.”
- “I keep hoping Ninja Theory will revisit this world with a larger advertising budget so it gets more of the hype it deserves.”
- “At first glance, Enslaved appears to be quite an obscure release, with no major first-party push or advertising.”

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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10h Median play time

9h Average play time

9h Main story

19h Completionist

6-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 62 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a hack and slash game with science fiction theme.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is available on PC, Steam Deck, Windows, PlayStation 3 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 9 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 19 hours to finish. On average players spend around 9 hours playing Enslaved: Odyssey to the West.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was released on October 24, 2013.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was developed by Ninja Theory.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a single player game.

Similar games include Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Tomb Raider, Remember Me, Alice Madness Returns, Ryse: Son of Rome and others.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

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