Gemini Rue

About

Gemini Rue is a single player role playing game with thriller and science fiction themes. It was developed by Joshua Nuernberger and was released on October 26, 2011. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Gemini Rue" is a cyberpunk adventure game set in a dystopian future. The game follows the interconnected stories of Azriel Odin, a former assassin searching for his brother, and Delta-Six, a prisoner in a mysterious medical facility. Using a combination of action and puzzle-solving, players must navigate the gritty world and uncover a conspiracy involving mind-wiping and organ harvesting.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,736 reviews

story826 positive mentions

grinding54 negative mentions

Engaging and thought-provoking story with unexpected twists.
Atmospheric pixel art and sound design that create a compelling noir sci-fi setting.
Logical puzzles that enhance the narrative without being overly difficult.

Clunky controls and interface that can be frustrating to navigate.
Combat mechanics feel awkward and detract from the overall experience.
Some puzzles require tedious pixel hunting, making progression occasionally frustrating.

story
1,655 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
The story of "Gemini Rue" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich atmosphere, and compelling character arcs, often drawing comparisons to classic noir and sci-fi influences like "Blade Runner." Players appreciate the intertwining storylines of the two main characters, Azriel and Delta-Six, which unfold with unexpected twists and a satisfying conclusion, despite some critiques regarding pacing and predictability. Overall, the game's narrative depth and emotional resonance make it a standout experience for fans of story-driven adventure games.
- “I'm all about story and atmosphere in games, and in this one both of them were perfectly executed.”
- “The story is excellent, with many twists and turns, and is quite addictive, just like a good mystery novel.”
- “The story is really good; including a few twists and turns that might surprise you, but tie in really well.”
- “The story was very mediocre, and in my opinion disappointing, with uninteresting characters, and a very bland feeling throughout the story in general.”
- “I liked the atmosphere and at least didn't actively dislike the story, but the puzzles were either too easy, just tedious or outright annoying.”
- “The story peaks toward the ending but there is very little meat.”
graphics
450 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The graphics of "Gemini Rue" are characterized by a retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic point-and-click adventures, reminiscent of early 90s games. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and thematic fit of the pixelated visuals, others criticize them as primitive and occasionally muddled, hindering gameplay and object interaction. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting that despite their dated appearance, they complement the game's compelling narrative and noir aesthetic.
- “The graphics greatly enhance the ambiance of the game, and the story makes it a game that you will definitely revisit!”
- “The graphics are perfectly dark and brooding, with an atmosphere of brutalist dread hanging over every location.”
- “The art style was absolutely my favorite aspect of the game.”
- “The graphics are mostly pretty but do feel cheap at times, the music swings between brilliant and generic and the characters aren't especially complex, but I find it hard to be overly critical of what is clearly a passion project.”
- “The amount of different environments are a bit low and the art style could have been better.”
- “It was partially really no fun just because of bad graphics :-(”
atmosphere
372 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, drawing strong comparisons to classic works like "Blade Runner" and embodying a rich cyberpunk and noir aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the effective use of pixel art, a moody soundtrack, and sound design that enhances the overall experience, creating a dark, gritty, and engaging world. While some critiques mention a lack of vibrancy in color and occasional gameplay frustrations, the consensus remains that the atmosphere is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The atmosphere is thick, accentuated by the quiet noir soundtrack and the ever-pouring rain.”
- “The dark and mysterious atmosphere created by the extremely good soundtrack, gorgeous visuals and outstanding voice acting create a world that immerses you on such a high level you forget you are sitting in front of a computer.”
- “The graphics are perfectly dark and brooding, with an atmosphere of brutalist dread hanging over every location.”
- “Despite being set in a 'dark future' world, I must say that atmosphere-wise it doesn't really feel like one.”
- “Grey as lazy atmosphere for an allegedly noir dystopia, which never feels fleshed out, misses how Blade Runner and other games used color as contrast to the shadows.”
- “For me, though, the atmosphere is so worn down as to make it not worth the slightly clunky and frustrating puzzles and gunplay.”
gameplay
366 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The gameplay of "Gemini Rue" is a mixed bag, featuring traditional point-and-click mechanics alongside unique elements like character swapping and combat sequences. While some players appreciate the engaging story and clever puzzles, many criticize the clunky controls, tedious mechanics, and pixel-hunting frustrations that detract from the overall experience. Overall, it appeals to fans of the genre but may leave others wanting due to its outdated design and execution.
- “I really enjoyed the shooting mechanic, and the multiple options for resolving problems.”
- “It's not overly heavy with nonsensical puzzles, and it's got a fantastic story and great gameplay.”
- “Different puzzles and game mechanics (shooting, using other characters to solve puzzles, and the ability to switch between characters at one point) were definitely a breath of fresh air.”
- “The gameplay, however, leaves a little to be desired, with puzzles often dipping into frustrating, pixel hunting territory with a considerable amount of backtracking.”
- “Story is decent but with the gameplay being so awful I'd recommend watching a walkthrough instead.”
- “The 'combat' mechanics are terrible, the controls are clumsy and some 'puzzles' make you wonder how you were supposed to solve them without involving guesswork.”
music
284 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its noir-inspired and cyberpunk qualities that complement the storytelling. The soundtrack, composed by Nathan Allen Pinard, is described as both immersive and fitting, effectively setting a melancholic tone that resonates with the game's themes. While some critiques mention moments of sparse sound or missed opportunities for heightened urgency, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's engaging experience.
- “The soundtrack is very fitting for the atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music is superb and really gets across the noir futuristic atmosphere the game is trying to convey.”
- “The atmosphere is thick, accentuated by the quiet noir soundtrack and the ever-pouring rain.”
- “The different music tracks in the game seem to play whenever they want to... sometimes, it's silent.”
- “If I was to make any criticism of Gemini Rue at all, it's that I think they could have pushed it even harder with the music to really hammer home the urgency in a couple of the big scenes or to add some real unease and suspense to some of the smaller ones, simply because Nathan Allen Pinard is so obviously capable of doing it.”
- “Graphics are pretty old-school but it works, music I can't remember, and that's usually a pretty good sign.”
grinding
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspects of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many citing cumbersome controls, repetitive tasks, and unchallenging puzzles that detract from the experience. Combat sequences and certain mechanics are also described as tedious, leading to a sense of boredom and disengagement. While some appreciate the story and atmosphere, the overwhelming sentiment is that the gameplay mechanics hinder enjoyment and make progression feel laborious.
- “Things quickly become tedious, and I found myself bored halfway through.”
- “The gameplay is tedious and irritating.”
- “The main issue is that what your time is spent on is very tedious, niggling clicks to get from place to place.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is mixed among players; while some found it deeply moving with strong character development and a gripping narrative, others felt disconnected from the characters, leading to a lack of emotional resonance, particularly in key moments. The voice acting and character interactions were criticized for being flat or robotic, detracting from the overall emotional experience. Despite these shortcomings, the game's evocative graphics and themes of identity and materialism were appreciated, suggesting that it has the potential for a more profound emotional engagement if executed better.
- “One of the best adventure games I have ever played - and one of the few games that made me cry.”
- “An amazing sci-fi adventure with a gritty, emotional world that is brought to life with beautiful art, breathtaking emotional character development, and fantastic soundtrack and voice acting.”
- “Beautiful pixel-art, sophisticated yet emotional story, fitting music, pretty well-done voice-over - all in all excellent game everyone should experience given the chance.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is frequently described as "buggy," with numerous graphical glitches and a clunky user interface that can detract from the overall experience. While some players noted that these issues were minor and did not significantly impact gameplay, others reported game-breaking bugs, particularly on the Mac version. Overall, familiarity with point-and-click adventure games may help mitigate some frustrations related to stability.
- “The user interface in this game is absolutely terrible and everything feels clunky and buggy.”
- “The main complaint, however, is that the game is rather buggy in game-breaking ways.”
- “It's impossible to differentiate between glitches, bad UI, and missing parts of the puzzle along the way.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Gemini Rue is subtle and often intertwined with its mature storytelling, featuring sly wit and contextual jokes that enhance the experience without overshadowing the serious narrative. While some players found moments of humor, particularly in character interactions and developer commentary, others noted that the game leans more towards a suspenseful tone, with humor being a secondary element rather than a focal point. Overall, the humor is appreciated for its cleverness but is not the primary draw of the game.
- “Good storytelling with sly humor, superlative world building, and just a bit of contextual verbing shenanigans and inventory puzzling.”
- “I spilled my drink laughing when I saw that an unconscious character was put on the table, not on the sofa, because I guess the devs didn't feel like drawing a lying character in the proper position for the sofa.”
- “Once you have finished the around 6-7 hour story, you can enable developer commentary, which gives you an inside look at the development process as well as some funny bloopers.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with players appreciating the detailed pixel art and engaging narrative. However, the voice-over quality is inconsistent, featuring a mix of amateur recordings and a few standout performances, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the writing and character depth contribute positively to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “This pixel art hardboiled thriller from 2010 will train your eye for detail, pulling you in to the point where you will feel lightly role-playing with your performance.”
- “It's well-written, features a couple of standout voice performances--I particularly enjoy Azriel--and almost none of the cringeworthy, 'developer's brother's friend in a closet' stuff you might expect from what was formerly a student project.”
- “All of the characters have voice-overs, and I commend the great performances of the voice actors.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
While adventure games typically lack high replay value, this game stands out with its "commentary mode," enhancing the appeal of a second playthrough. Players have noted that it remains enjoyable even after several years, suggesting a degree of lasting replayability.
- “Adventure games don't usually have a lot of replay value, but this game has a 'commentary mode', which makes a second playthrough quite attractive.”
- “Adventures games don't usually have a lot of replay value, but this game has a 'commentary mode', which makes a second playthrough quite attractive.”
- “(no replay value)”
- “Even replayable after some years.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
16%
17%
Character development in the game is notably inconsistent; while some reviews highlight breathtaking emotional depth and well-designed characters, others criticize the protagonists and supporting cast as bland and lacking growth. Overall, the game's ability to create a rich narrative world is acknowledged, but opinions on character depth vary significantly.
- “An amazing sci-fi adventure with a gritty, emotional world that is brought to life with beautiful art, breathtaking emotional character development, and fantastic soundtrack and voice acting.”
- “Although the game is short, Gemini Rue manages to present a story-rich world with well-done character designs.”
- “There's also very little character development, and I found our protagonists and supporting characters to be bland.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express concerns that the monetization strategies employed by developers appear to be cash grabs, particularly in relation to Steam Deck compatibility.
- “The monetization feels like a cash grab from the developers, in my opinion.”
- “The monetization strategy is clearly designed to exploit players rather than enhance the gaming experience.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be excessive and detrimental to the overall enjoyment of the game.”