Existensis
- November 28, 2020
- Librarium Studios
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Get on itch.io Store"Existensis" is a single-player Fantasy Platformer game, where you journey as an artist known as 'The Mayor', seeking inspiration and the meanings of life and death. Hand-drawn by Ozzie Sneddon, explore over fifteen unique areas, meet colorful characters, and experience branching paths and multiple endings in this vibrant world. The game features around 3-4 hours of hand-crafted content, available to play in the demo.
Mac OS
Windows
Reviews
- The game features absolutely gorgeous art and music, creating a visually stunning and immersive experience.
- Existensis offers a unique and thought-provoking narrative that explores deep philosophical themes about life and creativity.
- Gameplay is smooth and enjoyable, with each level providing unique mechanics and a relaxing exploration experience.
- Some players found the game to be a bit broken up and discontinuous, affecting the overall flow of the experience.
- Navigation can be confusing, particularly with the level selection screen and the lack of clear prompts for actions.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more in terms of content and challenge.
- music19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a well-crafted soundtrack that varies by area. While some players find certain tracks annoying or odd, the majority appreciate the music's ability to evoke emotions and complement the game's beautiful visuals and lore. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, encouraging players to revisit areas just to enjoy the music and the accompanying narrative.
“After having played Existensis repeatedly, I must say that it’s truly an amazing game: the colorful world, fantastically illustrated, wonderful music, backstory unveiling simple truths about the meaning of life that we all instinctively know, all this keeps drawing me back to the game and I can’t get enough of it.”
“The soundtrack of the game is a masterpiece; every area's soundtrack gets better as you spend more time in the area and proceeds only to get better each time you revisit, being the reason I have over 15 hours in this game, as I liked to spend my time in each area, re-experiencing it over and over while proceeding to another.”
“You would keep returning to areas just for the music and the lore; it is splendid.”
“Highly annoying music, awkward gameplay, idiotic interactions... I admit I held out for 13 minutes before requesting a refund.”
“Essentially, it doesn't matter if gameplay-wise this game doesn't offer much, although it tries to tweak some things with little mechanics here and there, if it's too short, if the music is sometimes irritating, and if lore bits are ciphered from stupid people like me (thanks for the tip ozzie, tho) — all these things are negated by what it leaves afterwards, that is, reemerged feeling of childish joy and excitement.”
“The music is... odd sometimes, but ultimately sets the mood quite well.”
- story13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story of "Existensis" follows a wandering artist, the mayor, on a quest for inspiration across beautifully illustrated environments, exploring profound themes about life and creativity. Players are captivated by the engaging narrative, intriguing characters, and the game's unique storytelling approach, which enhances the overall experience. The lore evolves from a simple premise to a deeper exploration of meaning, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that resonates with players.
“The story is intriguing, and the characters have interesting dialogues.”
“The lore is beautiful, starting off with a simple story of an artisan seeking inspiration for his magnum opus, a tower representing the meaning of life and death, and delves deeper and deeper, ending with a banger after having experienced every area in the game.”
“It's not only a well-told story, but one that meshes especially well with an idiosyncratic, one-person project like this one.”
“This game has no story.”
“It's like playing Temple Run for the story.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its smooth mechanics and casual nature, featuring short levels that encourage exploration and replay without causing frustration. While it lacks significant challenge and complexity, it offers unique elements in each level and a satisfying experience for those seeking light, interactive entertainment. Overall, the game provides a blend of simple mechanics, atmospheric music, and engaging lore that evokes a sense of joy and nostalgia.
“Gameplay is smooth and of middle length; you need to replay some levels several times to gain access to all the following stages, but the levels are relatively short so it doesn’t get frustrating. I liked that every level had something unique in them, a mechanic or element not seen in others.”
“On the mechanical level, the game runs and plays well - movement is wonderfully fluid, and while the levels are relatively small, there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.”
“The gameplay is good; your job is to traverse and explore areas, interact with the characters to expand yourself into the lore, achieve different endings, find secrets, and make decisions.”
“There is not a lot of challenge here, gameplay-wise, nor is there meant to be.”
“The gameplay itself is fairly simple, with some minor platforming puzzles, no damage or game overs.”
“The gameplay is exceedingly simple; you can move left, right, jump, and interact with the people and world around you.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been highly praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, created by a solo developer, which complements the imaginative writing and deep lore. Players appreciate the beauty of the visuals and soundtrack, often finding themselves immersed in the experience and motivated to explore the game further. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's philosophical themes and emotional depth.
“I bought this the day it came out because I immediately loved the artwork and the fact that it's all hand-drawn by one person; I just wish I started playing it sooner.”
“The imaginative writing is matched with the equally imaginative art style and character design.”
“Beautiful both in visuals and sounds, with a philosophical message.”
“The graphics don't matter in this game.”
“Depending on the person, the game lasts; I spent my time repeating areas because the game was so beautiful in terms of the soundtrack, visuals, the lore, and the will to complete it to 100% because of its magnificence.”
“Prices are set regionally by the developer and are affordable; one can say it is under-priced not for the length of gameplay it offers, which is average, but for the lore, the soundtrack, the visuals, and the experience.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
While some players find grinding to be a bit tedious, it is generally viewed as a minor drawback in an otherwise captivating experience. The short areas help mitigate the repetitiveness, making the journey to the final ending feel rewarding.
“This can be a little tedious at times, but is the only downside to this otherwise fascinating world.”
“The grinding feels repetitive and can take away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is frustrating and makes the game feel like a chore.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game offers infinite replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy it repeatedly without losing interest.
“The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“Every time I dive back in, I discover something new, making it a game I can enjoy over and over.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
“The game offers a linear experience with no real variations in outcomes, which severely limits its replayability.”
“After finishing the main story, I found that the side quests were repetitive and didn't add much value, making it hard to justify a second playthrough.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users have reported excellent optimization, with many experiencing no performance or stability issues during gameplay.
“I am happy to report I experienced absolutely zero performance or stability issues.”
“The game's optimization is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimization.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its hypnotic music and minimalist design, creating a surprisingly satisfying experience for players.
“The music is atmospheric and hypnotic, and the design-by-subtraction gameplay is surprisingly satisfying.”
“The game's environment immerses you in a hauntingly beautiful world that feels alive.”
“Every sound and visual detail contributes to an overwhelming sense of atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be heart-warming and emotionally uplifting, highlighting its overall positive and feel-good experience.
“It's heart-warming, just such a nice game.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its imaginative writing and unique art style, which together enhance the depth and appeal of the characters.
“The imaginative writing is matched with the equally imaginative art style and character design.”
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
