Everhood

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,971 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • gameplay
Everhood Game Cover
An adventure that follows in the footsteps of Undertale but also dances to its own beat.
Starting at $1.33Buy now
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In "Everhood," become a wooden doll on a journey to retrieve your stolen arm from a blue gnome. Engage in music-based battles, explore a strange world, and conquer unexpected challenges with customizable difficulty. Be aware of potential photo-sensitive epilepsy triggers, adjustable in the accessibility menu. This 5-6 hour adventure offers many twists and visually striking experiences set to magical music.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,971 reviews
music2,890 positive mentions
grinding82 negative mentions
  • music5,237 mentions

    The music in *Everhood* is widely praised for its eclectic and engaging soundtrack, featuring a variety of genres that enhance the game's psychedelic visuals and unique combat mechanics. Many players highlight the music as a standout element, often describing it as "banger" material that keeps them immersed and entertained throughout challenging battles. However, some critiques mention that the gameplay does not always align with the rhythm of the music, leading to a disconnect that can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The music is fantastic, the characters are fun and well fleshed out, and the way the story unfolds is really interesting.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely banging, the gameplay feels fresh and smooth, and even for someone who's not really into rhythm games, I beat this in 2 straight sessions just because of how polished and fun the gameplay loop feels.”
    • “The music is so good that I just want to fight everything just to hear the music.”
    • “It’s a unique concept but my issue is that the combat revolves around the music, but it’s the enemies that get to move to the beat, not the player.”
    • “The music really isn't that great for being a music battler, the boss battles are very similar and the way you just fight and then just says try again idk even that doesn't feel like you accomplished anything.”
    • “The battles are music-based only at the most surface level and actually playing it feels more like a weird bullet hell.”
  • story3,655 mentions

    The story of *Everhood* has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its unique and thought-provoking themes, particularly around life, death, and morality, while others criticize it for being confusing, shallow, or overly derivative of *Undertale*. Many appreciate the emotional depth and character development, especially in the latter parts of the game, but some feel that the pacing and character engagement could be improved. Overall, while the gameplay and music are often highlighted as standout features, the story's effectiveness varies significantly among players, leading to a range of interpretations and emotional responses.

    • “A wonderfully sincere story, cute characters, and some very unique art/music direction make Everhood unforgettable.”
    • “The story is moving, charming, hilarious, and deadpan serious all at once.”
    • “The story is interesting and an intense ride, the gameplay is incredibly fun and challenging, the visuals are actually really nice, and the music is really fantastic.”
    • “The main issue I had with the game was the story.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional, and the tonal shifts and plot twists fall flat.”
    • “Biggest criticism would be that the story isn't really worth caring about.”
  • gameplay2,455 mentions

    The gameplay in *Everhood* is widely praised for its unique blend of rhythm and bullet-hell mechanics, offering a fun and challenging experience that evolves throughout the game. Players appreciate the engaging combat system, which includes dodging and deflecting musical notes, as well as the vibrant visuals and outstanding soundtrack that enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that the gameplay can become repetitive or frustrating, particularly in the later stages, and that it doesn't always align with the rhythm of the music, leading to mixed feelings about its execution.

    • “The gameplay, that being dodging, jumping, and deflecting musical notes, is really fun and unique, although I wouldn't call it a rhythm game.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic, the writing is profound yet silly, and the visuals are absolutely banging.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and continues to improve as the game progresses.”
    • “I don't understand the praise for this game, there is 0 attempt to ease you into its bullet hell mechanics, it starts off with one of the hardest fights, and then has 10 too easy ones followed by a borderline impossible one, and back to boring easy ones.”
    • “The gameplay isn't satisfying to me at all - I just feel like I'm jumping around in clunky ways to avoid clunky attacks -- there's no snappiness to anything, leaving the experience just disappointing and frustrating.”
    • “The gameplay itself is rather boring and repetitive and when it's not it's trying to show off that the devs could do something technically but they didn’t think of whether they should, which sucks because it's the only gameplay you have.”
  • graphics1,181 mentions

    The graphics in "Everhood" are widely praised for their unique and psychedelic style, blending pixel art with trippy visual effects that enhance the gameplay experience. Many reviewers note that while the visuals can be overwhelming at times, especially during intense battles, they contribute significantly to the game's charm and overall aesthetic. The combination of vibrant colors, creative designs, and a captivating soundtrack creates a visually stunning and immersive experience, though some players may find the effects challenging to handle.

    • “The visuals and effects throughout the fights are trippy and creative.”
    • “The characters are charming, the world is mysterious and interesting, the visual style is unlike anything I've ever seen (seamlessly blending 2D and 3D graphics), and of course the soundtrack is killer.”
    • “The visuals in this game also had my jaw drop a few times; the way they subtly introduce 3D stuff and then drop the desert area on you is very impressive.”
    • “The visuals gave me more than one small headache, so sensitive eyes be warned.”
    • “I didn't think you could do worse than Undertale in terms of graphics, but... here we are.”
    • “This game does come with a photosensitivity warning, and it is well warranted because those visuals can be overwhelming at times, with constant flashing colors, harsh lighting, spinning perspectives, and blurring effects.”
  • emotional594 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has elicited a wide range of responses from players, with many expressing profound feelings of sadness, joy, and existential reflection. While some players found the narrative deeply moving and capable of evoking tears, others criticized the lack of emotional attachment to characters, which diminished the impact of key moments. Overall, the game is described as an emotional rollercoaster, blending humor and heartache, but opinions vary on its effectiveness in delivering a resonant emotional experience compared to similar titles like Undertale.

    • “This game made me cry.”
    • “Everhood is one of those games that makes you feel on a fun, emotional rollercoaster ride.”
    • “The story is fantastically heartbreaking, and playing it for the first time was magical.”
  • humor479 mentions

    The humor in "Everhood" is often described as quirky and reminiscent of "Undertale," featuring a mix of genuinely funny moments and absurd situations that can evoke laughter. While some players find the humor hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling random or forced, many appreciate the lovable characters and engaging dialogue that contribute to the game's charm. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant aspect that enhances the game's psychedelic and emotional experience, even if it doesn't always land perfectly.

    • “The characters were fantastic, the jokes were genuinely funny, and everything just...connected.”
    • “The humor was great but at the same time the story was deeper than I first thought and the ending left a smile on my face.”
    • “The dialogue is cleverly written, and it has absolutely made me laugh on a number of occasions.”
    • “You can't go 10 feet in this game without getting into a battle with no motive or reasoning behind it. The dialogue is unfunny, unrealistic, and forced, and it tries way too hard to be like Undertale. Also, the map design is lazy; it's just a black screen with some dots on the ground half the time. Don't waste your money on this.”
    • “- The second part (big spoiler) [spoiler] where you have to kill everyone is, for me, not funny.”
    • “The dialogue is unfunny, unrealistic, and forced, and it tries way too hard to be like Undertale.”
  • replayability122 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability despite its relatively short length, featuring multiple endings, a New Game+ mode, and various secrets that encourage players to explore different paths. Custom battles and a challenging combat system further enhance replay value, making it appealing for players seeking to perfect their skills or discover new content. Overall, players find the replayability satisfying, with many expressing a desire to revisit the game for its engaging story and gameplay.

    • “Satisfying gameplay, a wonderfully crafted story, and lots of replayability.”
    • “Everything about this game I loved, the combat system, lore, the characters, and their personality, and even the style of it and how everything feels like an acid trip while playing this game was made flawlessly with a huge skill ceiling and not to even mention the huge amount of replayability in it with the different endings, custom fights, or just trying to perfect every fight.”
    • “The replayability, with the secrets, insane milestones, and no-hit achievements, alone is worth 10 dollars.”
    • “A more subjective problem is that the replay value that this game offers isn’t necessarily something I enjoy.”
    • “Keep in mind that it is a single-player game, and there is not much replay value.”
    • “Although the game is rather short, there are multiple endings and a new game + for people who want replayability.”
  • character development110 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as a weak point, with many reviewers noting that while the character designs are unique and visually appealing, they lack depth and meaningful connections. Some characters exhibit distinct personalities, but the overall narrative fails to provide sufficient exposition or emotional engagement, often leaving players feeling neutral. Despite these shortcomings, the game's rhythm-based combat and engaging music somewhat compensate for the lack of robust character development.

    • “This game's music choices and character development led me down a deep path and kept me hooked.”
    • “Great characters (green mage all the way), awesome character development, and boy howdy the twist that hits you the first time you play it.”
    • “The character development and the story itself are engaging, and then the music makes you want to buy the soundtrack immediately.”
    • “The story, characters, and character designs feel like a failed attempt to reverse engineer Undertale.”
    • “Character development is unfortunately on the weaker end of the spectrum, but each character does have their own personality which is quite nice!”
    • “There was not enough exposition or character development for that, and it seemed forced overall.”
  • atmosphere108 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and compelling qualities, drawing comparisons to titles like Undertale and Yume Nikki. While many players appreciate the distinct themes and immersive music that enhance the experience, some critique the occasional lack of depth in visuals and the presence of silence that can detract from immersion. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as trippy, mysterious, and engaging, contributing significantly to its appeal.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is fantastic.”
    • “The atmosphere in general is amazingly trippy and unique.”
    • “Everhood, however, proves to be quite a refreshing journey that manages to keep the thoughtful elements one expects from the genre, but brings a whole new level of exciting atmosphere.”
    • “So you spend like 2-3 hours in this depressing atmosphere.”
    • “Lots of the backgrounds/environments are barren, or just straight up black, which definitely took away from the immersion factor/atmosphere at points.”
    • “Once you get to the hub area, though, the game's atmosphere loses its luster, as it almost looks like a dev room with its blank black background and randomly strewn door sprites.”
  • grinding100 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to achievement hunting and repetitive battles. While some enjoy the challenge of learning fight patterns, the overall sentiment is that the lengthy and often frustrating grind detracts from the game's enjoyment, especially during backtracking and post-game content. Players recommend caution for those seeking to complete all achievements, as the grind can feel excessive and unfulfilling.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “For achievement hunters, the jump grinding is super tedious and some challenges are annoying to repeat due to a lot of downtime before it really starts.”
    • “Getting hit once in a 5 minute 'fight' means you have to restart from the beginning, and the first 3-4 minutes are tedious.”
    • “In summary, the fights are fun, but the rest of the gameplay is incredibly tedious and boring, and the story is depressing, hardly in a deep or thought-provoking way.”
  • optimization22 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance even on low-end hardware. However, some users have experienced significant performance drops during later levels and certain fights, suggesting inconsistencies in optimization throughout the game. While the Switch port has some loading time issues, it still runs well, indicating that performance may vary depending on the platform and specific gameplay scenarios.

    • “The game consistently gives small breaks midsong to regain health, meaning your performance up until that point does not matter so long as you survived.”
    • “(also for the record I have a potato laptop computer and Everhood runs great, so do not worry about performance unless you are playing on Windows 98 or something!)”
    • “[b]Performance:[/b] overall very smooth.”
    • “In others, it's mainly overcharting that makes it feel frustrating to play and also caused issues with optimization.”
    • “People have complained of performance issues, but I am leaving this review after playing the Switch port, which played smoothly other than some awkwardly long loading times here and there.”
    • “I've had very few problems with overall performance, but there might be a small data leak or something.”
  • stability12 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most players reporting only minor glitches that do not significantly impact gameplay. While some complex battles may introduce visual distortions, these are manageable and do not lead to crashes or major bugs. Custom battles may experience occasional issues, but the game runs well on a variety of systems, including lower-end hardware.

    • “There were no glitches, crashes, or bugs to speak of.”
    • “There were no glitches, crashes, or bugs to speak of.”
    • “As you progress, you encounter more and more complex battles, some of which begin to distort the game itself and cause visual glitches - which you have to factor into your gameplay in order to win.”
    • “I guess the only thing would be custom battles; I've had a couple of glitches in that mode, nothing major though!”
    • “There are a few very small glitches here and there, nothing game breaking.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

Buy Everhood

Play time

7hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs

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