Furi

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,849 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
Furi Game Cover
Furi is a rare game: unique, challenging and fun, but it will almost certainly prove insurmountable for some.
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"Furi" is a fast-paced and intense boss fight game where you must defeat "The Chain" to escape your jail. With simple controls and a 8-bit-inspired style, the game offers a challenging experience that combines shoot'em up and hack 'n' slash elements. The fight against The Chain lasts 10 to 30 minutes, and features nerve-wracking action and precise timing. This game is a gift to Furi's fans and offers a nostalgic experience with its old-school pixel art and catchy music.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,849 reviews
music3,074 positive mentions
grinding162 negative mentions
  • music5,115 mentions

    The music in *Furi* is widely praised for its exceptional quality, featuring a dynamic synthwave soundtrack composed by renowned artists like Carpenter Brut and Waveshaper. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, syncing perfectly with the intense boss fights and contributing to the game's overall atmosphere. Many players consider the soundtrack to be one of the best in gaming, often recommending it as a standalone experience worth listening to outside of the game.

    • “The mix between bullet hell and reflex gameplay is great & don't forget the epic soundtrack.”
    • “Both the visuals, which are pretty purified, and the music, a very synth-wave soundtrack composed by multiple artists, among which we can note are 'danger' and 'waveshaper', heavily participate in the sci-fi and difficult ambiance all along the game.”
    • “The music is amazing and gets you in the zone, sends you into a frenzy.”
    • “Not gonna bother saying if the art is good or not because it's mostly personal preference, but I guarantee if the music wasn't made by known artists the game would have been criticized a bit more, because apart from the very first fight, I strongly feel the music doesn't match the gameplay at all. The parts in between fights do match extremely well, but during the fights it turned into simple white noise really quickly as it didn't fit with the pacing at all nor was it noticeable enough during the phases.”
    • “The music, despite being decent, doesn't feel like much more than a background soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is powerful and fits each boss fight perfectly.”
  • gameplay3,137 mentions

    The gameplay of *Furi* is characterized by its fast-paced, challenging boss rush format that combines bullet hell mechanics with hack-and-slash elements, requiring players to master precise timing and reflexes. While many players praise the tight controls, unique boss mechanics, and engaging soundtrack, some express frustration with certain mechanics, particularly the dodge and parry systems, which can feel inconsistent. Overall, the game is well-received for its rewarding gameplay experience, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more narrative-driven or varied gameplay structure.

    • “The mix between bullet hell and reflex gameplay is great & don't forget the epic soundtrack.”
    • “Fluid, responsive controls; minimalistic but very eloquent graphic style; excellent combat design; incredible music selection - all comes together to give you an excellent, fast, difficult and rewarding action across the 9-10 bosses with their own unique mechanics.”
    • “Furi holds nothing back as it dumps you a barrage of increasingly demanding battles that squeeze every inch of a deceptively simple but well executed combat, mixing parrying duels and bullet hell mechanics.”
    • “The long slow walking sections between every boss fight get tedious very quickly; you can walk through them automatically and if you care about the story then that's great, but in my opinion they only hinder the gameplay experience.”
    • “The bosses are a drag once you've died to them more than a few times due to their insanely lengthy health bars, and the unfinished feeling mechanics only feel worse.”
    • “I get it, it's supposed to be hard, but the dodge and parry mechanics are so unforgiving that it's infuriating.”
  • story2,787 mentions

    The story in *Furi* is often described as minimalistic and cryptic, with many players finding it intriguing yet vague. While the narrative unfolds gradually through walking segments between boss fights, some reviewers criticize these sections as tedious and unskippable, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity, the story is noted for its emotional depth and thematic resonance, particularly as players progress and piece together the protagonist's journey toward freedom.

    • “The story isn't anything complicated, but as you progress various backstories, background elements and the plot will be revealed in bits and pieces, and it's up to the player to connect them.”
    • “The way the story unfolds as you progress through it, the way each character expresses depth with so little screen time, the many layers one can peel in analyzing both facets, all presented through this octane action, colorful style, and amazing synthwave.”
    • “The story is surprisingly good and the soundtrack is fire!”
    • “On top of that, rarely, attacks would be completely undodgeable - and the story is completely incomprehensible.”
    • “But the icing on the cake is the walks in between each fight; to be honest, the story is extremely slow and mysterious for honestly, not much reason. Not being able to skip these segments is insulting, because even if I didn't skip them (because I couldn't, heehee), the story didn't make any sense until the very end where it is basically all explained, and even with it explained, it could've been better.”
    • “The story is really lacking; the ending was very mediocre.”
  • graphics1,451 mentions

    The graphics of "Furi" are characterized by a unique and vibrant art style that blends neon aesthetics with a retro synthwave vibe, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements its fast-paced gameplay. While some players note that the visuals can appear simplistic or occasionally unpolished, the overall presentation is praised for its artistic coherence and engaging character designs. The game's visuals, combined with its outstanding soundtrack, contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it a visually appealing title despite some technical limitations.

    • “Furi's biggest strength is its aesthetic, and the disconnect between areas allows it to experiment with different palettes and themes with every enemy and its environment, and the devs show no fear to brag their creativity.”
    • “The art style is fantastic and there are a bunch of subtle nods to afro samurai (the art director is none other than takashi okazaki who is responsible for the design of afro samurai).”
    • “The visuals are beautifully aesthetic, though the unity engine leaves some things to be desired, especially clipping.”
    • “I did enjoy the different 'boss arenas' but I still believe a bit more time could have been put to great use to make the environments larger and more expanded to give the world a bit more lore and interesting designs, and I also felt like a lot of the textures were either really simple or downright missing. Like I know it's an art style choice, but it felt too simple and beta-like; it didn't feel like the one designing the art style had any real passion for the project.”
    • “The graphics are stylized so that should make it timeless, but it just looks bad and the animations are so janky.”
    • “The main issue I have with this game is the visuals. When compared to the combat, boss designs, and music, the visuals seem rather unpolished.”
  • atmosphere254 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, unique art style, and exceptional soundtrack, which together create an immersive and engaging experience. Players appreciate the way the music enhances the mood during intense boss fights and atmospheric walking sequences, contributing to a sense of tension and excitement. However, some critiques mention that the slower-paced transitions between battles can detract from the overall atmosphere, though many still find these moments valuable for world-building and emotional impact.

    • “Amazing music, story, atmosphere.”
    • “Each boss has an exclusive soundtrack that not only sets the mood to blend with the atmosphere but somehow manifests the enemy's appearance and evokes his character in the player's imagination, making him see them with his mind before his eyes.”
    • “The atmosphere is just stunning.”
    • “Instead you have this terribly slow walking transition between each boss with boring commentary that doesn't add to the atmosphere at all.”
    • “Gameplay wise: boss fights split up by walking simulator through, while pretty scenery, the atmosphere is completely lost as it's mostly a theme for the sake of being a theme, if you want cool scenery that actually means something go play hob.”
    • “However, as mentioned, most of the atmosphere is established by watching your character literally walk around.... I don't give two craps about this game's attempt to build a world/story.”
  • replayability238 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its challenging boss fights, multiple difficulty levels, and a speedrun mode that encourages players to improve their skills. While the main campaign is relatively short, many players find themselves returning for additional playthroughs, particularly to tackle the "furier" difficulty and achieve better ranks. However, some reviewers note that replay value may be limited for those not interested in completing achievements or mastering the game mechanics.

    • “Sure, it’s a short game, but it has high replayability value as you will want to keep tackling the same boss fights repeatedly!”
    • “The point of this edit is - this game turned out to have huge replay value for me, offering both a massive quality and quantity of gametime.”
    • “Furi has so much replay value I finished it once, but I can see myself going back soon to beat furier difficulty and possibly getting the rest of the achievements.”
    • “The game has next to no replay value outside of time attacks and higher difficulties.”
    • “Pick it up on sale if you're not a completionist and just planning to do one playthrough, because the replay value isn't immense unless you're itching for achievements and getting better ranks in the bosses.”
    • “I got no replay value out of it and got bored of the hard mode replay.”
  • character development204 mentions

    Character development in the game is primarily conveyed through striking character designs and engaging boss encounters, with each character showcasing unique personalities through their visual aesthetics and combat styles. The minimal dialogue and sparse narrative are offset by the depth of the character designs, crafted by Takashi Okazaki, which resonate with players and enhance the overall experience. While the story may lack depth, the memorable character designs and their integration into gameplay create a compelling atmosphere that keeps players invested.

    • “Furi is an incredible masterpiece of carefully crafted combat, soundtrack, and character design.”
    • “The character designs are all interesting, the levels themselves are really cool conceptually, I like the kind of surreal feel of all the different worlds, so on that front, this game is a success.”
    • “The character design was done by takashi okazaki, the creator of the popular manga series 'Afro Samurai', and each character has a very creative look to them.”
    • “The lack of any form of upgrades, moveset changes, or character development makes it feel like there's no progression.”
    • “One scene in particular, in the game's final moments, nearly brought tears to my eyes; surprising from a game with almost no character development whatsoever.”
    • “Not exactly a negative, but the character designer was the same character designer for Afro Samurai, and it feels a little lazy seeing so many recycled designs.”
  • grinding180 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and frustrating, with players frequently having to replay long boss fights and endure slow walking segments that detract from the overall experience. While some find satisfaction in mastering the challenging mechanics, many reviewers express that the repetitive nature of the gameplay can make it feel like a chore, especially during the lengthy interludes between battles. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy grinding through difficult boss encounters, but it may not be enjoyable for everyone due to its monotonous pacing.

    • “No grinding, just a skill-based boss-rush game with a beautiful soundtrack and ambiance.”
    • “There's no grinding, no unlocks, no mob enemies, just a barrage of boss fights where you'll be pushed to mastery of the fundamentals.”
    • “These no grinding, no stats, no equipment - the game gives you everything you need to succeed, and it's up to you to master it all.”
    • “The long slow walking sections between every boss fight get tedious very quickly; you can walk through them automatically, and if you care about the story then that's great, but in my opinion, they only hinder the gameplay experience. I'm playing this game because I enjoy the combat, but between every combat section, I pretty much just have to sit there for 5 minutes doing nothing.”
    • “The boss fights are tedious, long, and there is nothing to do in this game in between the boss fights except 'walk' from one fight to the next while the narrator talks at you in a cryptic manner.”
    • “If you like long, grinding, tedious boss fights interspersed with Final Fantasy XIII-esque hallway-walking simulators and meaningless dialogue you get no context for, this is the game for you.”
  • emotional124 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a profound rollercoaster, eliciting feelings of frustration, triumph, and deep connection to the story and characters. Players report a mix of intense challenges that evoke both anger and euphoria, alongside a compelling narrative and a touching soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience. While some critiques mention a disconnect between gameplay mechanics and emotional storytelling, many agree that the game successfully delivers a memorable and impactful emotional journey.

    • “But one thing is for certain, the game will send you down an emotional rollercoaster with tough challenges one after another.”
    • “This game is an emotional rollercoaster, resulting from the player's own struggles to improve, the design of each fight, and possible unexpected feelings from the plot.”
    • “The emotional impact of some scenes can be lasting.”
    • “Walking simulator that forces an extremely boring story on you that you can't skip.”
  • optimization60 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting solid performance on various systems, while others report significant performance issues, particularly during challenging encounters like the final boss. While the game rewards skill and offers opportunities for aggressive play, it appears to be better optimized for controller users, leaving keyboard and mouse players at a disadvantage. Overall, despite its impressive gameplay and audiovisuals, many players find the optimization lacking, leading to frustrating experiences.

    • “There are a lot of small optimizations that allow you to be just a little bit more aggressive and take just a little bit less hits.”
    • “Combat is fantastic, a perfect blend of bullet hell and reactionary parrying; the room for optimization for swiftly taking down bosses is absurd.”
    • “If you get a thrill out of iterating on your performance in a fight until it is practically second nature, then this game is for you.”
    • “I wanted to like this game more than I ended up enjoying it, but I think it was just a little over-optimized for controller players and keyboard/mouse players were kind of just left behind.”
    • “Amazing gameplay coupled with impressive audiovisuals and unfortunately a ton of performance issues (i7 6700k - Zotac 1080 - 16 GB RAM).”
    • “So, instead of a fluid dodging combat game, you get this stuttering stop-and-go effect.”
  • stability38 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting frequent visual glitches, animation issues, and occasional crashes, particularly on older hardware. While some users experienced smooth gameplay with minimal bugs, others faced significant frustrations due to inconsistent hit detection and problematic boss mechanics. Overall, the game exhibits a range of stability issues that can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Runs great on Proton!”
    • “This level and boss are poorly designed, buggy as hell, and break their own game mechanics.”
    • “The sound is buggy, and since there's no colorblind mode, I have to rely on that to play the game.”
    • “I had a lot of audio glitches, and there were awkward moments where the game just stopped for a second or two.”
  • humor32 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by quirky characters, particularly the "funny rabbit man," who adds a comedic flair to the gameplay and boss encounters. Players appreciate the lighthearted taunts and absurd situations, such as the rabbit's nonsensical dialogue and the amusing auto-walk feature during lengthy transitions. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making challenging moments more enjoyable, though some players find certain memes and pacing choices less effective.

    • “You're telling me I could have been dashing my way between the bosses like this the entire game, and instead you made me move like a snail and deal with fixed, jarring cameras just so you could 'build more suspense' and have your funny rabbit man teleport around like his name is Sans from Undertale?”
    • “Oh and here's one funny thing, she taunts you during the fight saying 'Is this how you fight?' which is hilarious to me considering all she does is turn invisible and run away lol.”
    • “I understand the benefit of some downtime between fights, but it's kind of hilarious that the game has an auto-walk feature just because it takes so long and all that's happening is you're getting talked at while you walk to the next boss.”
    • “The 'you can't just x ---- haha y go brrrrr' meme is not funny, and you should stop.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Furi

Play time

6hMedian play time
64hAverage play time
6hMain story
17hCompletionist
4-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 52 analyzed playthroughs

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