Gemini Rue

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"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 868 reviews

story413 positive mentions

grinding27 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 frustrating.

Clunky controls and interface that can hinder gameplay experience.
Combat mechanics feel awkward and detract from the overall adventure.
Some puzzles require pixel hunting, which can be tedious and frustrating.

story
827 mentions
50 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Gemini Rue" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich atmosphere, and compelling characters, often drawing comparisons to classic noir and sci-fi works like "Blade Runner." Players appreciate the intertwining storylines of the two main characters, which unfold with unexpected twists and a satisfying conclusion, although some find the pacing slow and the puzzles occasionally tedious. Overall, the game's narrative depth and emotional resonance make it a standout in the point-and-click genre, appealing to fans of story-driven experiences.
- “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 engaging and compelling, although you will need to forgive a few non-sequiturs.”
- “The story was very mediocre, and in my opinion disappointing, with uninteresting characters and a very bland feeling throughout the story in general.”
- “I don't mind if the story takes its time, but it felt this way for most of the game, which made it feel too slow.”
- “The story is a bit too predictable in my opinion; I figured out the ending about halfway through the story.”
graphics
225 mentions
31 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly retro, featuring pixelated art that evokes nostalgia for classic point-and-click adventures, though opinions vary widely on their quality. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and stylistic choices that align with the noir and cyberpunk themes, others criticize the visuals as primitive or lacking detail, which can hinder gameplay. Overall, the graphics serve the narrative well for fans of the genre, but may not appeal to those seeking modern visual fidelity.
- “The art style was absolutely my favorite aspect of the game.”
- “The graphics are perfectly dark and brooding, with an atmosphere of brutalist dread hanging over every location.”
- “The graphics are beautifully drawn and make the world feel immersive.”
- “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.”
- “The amount of different environments are a bit low, and the art style could have been better.”
- “The graphics are horribly pixelated, just as games from that era were, with audio and voice acting to make up for the lack of graphical attractiveness.”
atmosphere
186 mentions
61 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, drawing strong comparisons to classic titles like "Blade Runner" and embodying a noir-inspired, dystopian aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the effective use of pixel art, a moody soundtrack, and sound design that enhance the overall experience, creating a rich, engaging world that complements the intriguing story. 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 makes the game worth playing.
- “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 story is great, the atmosphere and music are phenomenal, and the pixel art is perfect for this type of game.”
- “Despite being set in a 'dark future' world, I must say that atmosphere-wise it doesn't really feel like one.”
- “Grey as a 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
183 mentions
21 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Gemini Rue" is a mixed bag, featuring classic point-and-click mechanics alongside some unique elements like character swapping and shooting sequences. While many players appreciate the engaging story and atmosphere, they often criticize the clunky controls, tedious pixel hunting, and frustrating combat mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a nostalgic return to old-school adventure gaming, appealing to fans of the genre who prioritize narrative over gameplay.
- “I really enjoyed the shooting mechanic, and the multiple options for resolving problems.”
- “The gameplay is fluid and easy to pick up, challenging at times but never frustrating.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are really well done and intuitive for anyone who played at least one adventure game in his/her life.”
- “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
142 mentions
61 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its noir-inspired and cyberpunk qualities. Composed by Nathan Allen Pinard, the soundtrack is described as fitting, immersive, and emotionally resonant, effectively complementing the game's narrative and visuals. While some noted that the music could be sparse at times, overall, it is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's engaging experience.
- “The soundtrack is very noir-inspired too, with saxophone melodies dominating in Azriel's sections.”
- “The atmosphere is strengthened by a fantastic original soundtrack by Nathan Allen Pinard, who I was excited to find out also did the soundtrack for Technobabylon.”
- “The music is superb and really gets across the noir futuristic atmosphere the game is trying to convey.”
- “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
27 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many describing the puzzles and combat sequences as repetitive and lacking engagement. The cumbersome interface and mechanics contribute to a sense of boredom, making tasks feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the experience. While some appreciate the story and atmosphere, the overwhelming sentiment is that the gameplay is marred by tedious elements that detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Things quickly become tedious, and I found myself bored halfway through.”
- “The gameplay is tedious and irritating.”
- “The interface is cumbersome, the puzzles are unchallenging or the most basic timing puzzles that get very tedious quickly.”
emotional
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game received mixed reviews, with some players feeling disconnected from the characters and lacking investment in the story, which diminished the impact of key moments. However, others praised the game's evocative graphics, emotional character development, and engaging narrative, noting that it successfully elicited strong feelings and even tears. Overall, while some found the emotional depth lacking, others appreciated the game's ability to touch on complex themes and create a memorable experience.
- “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
13 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and graphical glitches that can detract from the overall experience. While some players noted that these issues were minor and did not significantly impact gameplay, others experienced game-breaking bugs, particularly on Mac. Overall, the user interface and interactions are described as clunky and unintuitive, making it challenging to distinguish between glitches and design flaws.
- “The user interface in this game is absolutely terrible and everything feels clunky and buggy.”
- “It's impossible to differentiate between glitches, bad UI, and missing parts of the puzzle along the way.”
- “The main complaint, however, is that the game is rather buggy in game-breaking ways.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in Gemini Rue is described as subtle and contextually integrated, with some players finding it amusing despite the overall serious tone of the narrative. While the game features clever dialogue and occasional comedic moments, it is noted that the humor is not a dominant aspect, often taking a backseat to the mature storytelling and world-building. Some players appreciated the light-hearted touches, such as quirky character interactions and developer commentary bloopers, but overall, the humor is seen as understated rather than a central focus.
- “Good storytelling with sly humor, superlative world building, and just a bit of contextual verbing shenanigans and inventory puzzling.”
- “The voice acting, characters, dialog, and humorous respite work together to make a very well-rounded and satisfying game.”
- “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
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of this 2010 pixel art thriller is generally well-received, with commendable voice acting that enhances the experience, despite some recordings sounding cheap and featuring mostly non-professional talent. The writing is strong, and while there are a few standout performances, the overall quality avoids the pitfalls often associated with student projects.
- “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.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
While adventure games typically lack high replay value, this game offers a "commentary mode" that enhances the experience during a second playthrough, making it more appealing. Additionally, players find it enjoyable to revisit even after several years.
- “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
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is mixed; while some players find the protagonists and supporting characters to be bland and lacking depth, others praise the emotional and well-crafted character arcs, particularly in the context of the game's rich narrative and artistic presentation. Overall, opinions vary significantly, highlighting a divide between those who appreciate the character depth and those who feel it falls short.
- “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.”
- “The characters lack depth, making it hard to connect with their journeys.”
- “I was disappointed by the predictable arcs and one-dimensional personalities of the characters.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users express concerns that the monetization strategy appears to be a cash grab from developers, particularly in relation to Steam Deck compatibility.
- “The monetization strategy feels like a cash grab from the developers, in my opinion.”
- “The in-game purchases are excessively priced and seem designed to exploit players rather than enhance the experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”