Genesis Noir

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 553 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Genesis Noir Game Cover
Things aren’t always simply black and white. Although, I suppose, in the case of Genesis Noir, they sort of are.
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In "Genesis Noir" , you play as No Man, a watch peddler in a universe on the brink of creation. After a love triangle misunderstanding leads to a jealous god firing a shot that becomes The Big Bang, you must explore and experiment with objects to prevent or destroy creation and save your love. The game features tactile puzzles and temporal exploration, with you jumping into pockets of time to change the course of events.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 553 reviews
story80 positive mentions
grinding19 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and a unique art style that captivates players.
  • Incredible jazz soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • An abstract narrative that explores deep themes of love, loss, and the cosmos.
  • Gameplay can be tedious and lacks challenging puzzles, often feeling more like an interactive movie.
  • The story can be confusing and hard to follow, with some players feeling lost in its abstract presentation.
  • Technical issues and bugs can disrupt the experience, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • story291 mentions

    The story of "Genesis Noir" is a visually striking and ambitious narrative that intertwines themes of love, loss, and cosmology, presented through a unique noir aesthetic. While many players appreciate its artistic storytelling and emotional depth, some find the plot convoluted and difficult to follow, particularly in the latter parts of the game, leading to mixed feelings about its coherence and engagement. Overall, it offers a captivating experience for those who enjoy abstract narratives and visual storytelling, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its complexity and pacing issues.

    • “Absolutely brilliant story.”
    • “The story is deeper than what it might seem.”
    • “Genesis Noir tells the story of a cosmic being known as No Man who endeavors to save the woman he loves by preventing the Big Bang.”
    • “The story is a bit confusing for me to understand and I had to look up reviews to get a better explanation.”
    • “The problem is that none of it coheres at all... it meanders from topic to topic with very little to hold it together.”
    • “The story as a whole was a bit hard to follow (it's nonlinear by design), so if you don't like abstract storylines, it may not be for you.”
  • music215 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its stunning jazz soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many players noted that the music is not only beautifully composed but also deeply integrated into the gameplay, creating moments of joy and immersion. However, some critiques mention that while the music is exceptional, it occasionally feels overshadowed by gameplay issues or becomes repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The music is astounding, made me fall in love with jazz all over again.”
    • “The music, fantastic.”
    • “Genesis Noir is undeniably uniquely gorgeous in both art and sound design - I wouldn't fault people for picking the game up (when it's cheap) if only to experience the visuals and the music.”
    • “The music near the very end of the game is way too repetitive, that map zone is way too big and the lyrics are dumb even if they are relevant to the boring character archetypes that are part of the story.”
    • “The whole song sequence was so tedious and confusing.”
    • “More than that, the ending became unabashedly annoying because this song that was playing just would not stop.”
  • graphics207 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and unique art style, often described as a beautiful blend of noir aesthetics and vibrant animations. Many reviewers highlight the exceptional soundtrack that complements the visuals, creating an immersive experience that feels more like an artistic journey than a traditional game. However, some players note that while the graphics are captivating, the gameplay can be repetitive and lacks depth, leading to a disconnect between the visual appeal and the overall engagement of the game.

    • “The visuals are stunning, the music is amazing, and the controls are pretty straightforward.”
    • “Absolutely stunning visuals and jazz soundtrack - very creative concept and game mechanics as well.”
    • “The visuals are genuinely stunning, and they run away with themselves in a great way.”
    • “The visuals are very flashy (despite disabling the actual flashing before I even started playing), a lot more than I had thought based on the game's profile, to the point my head has started to hurt.”
    • “It does a horrible job keeping your attention, and while the visuals start off as being completely unique and beautiful, the game takes way too long that you eventually begin to get sick of it.”
    • “While the premise is initially captivating and the aesthetics are strikingly unique, it feels as if the developers forgot to include an actual game.”
  • gameplay130 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and lack of challenge, often comparing it to an interactive movie or slideshow rather than a traditional game. While some appreciate the unique mechanics and artistic presentation, others criticize the controls, puzzle design, and overall engagement, suggesting that the gameplay feels disconnected from the narrative and can be frustrating at times. Overall, it seems best suited for those who prioritize storytelling and visuals over intricate gameplay mechanics.

    • “The game starts off unassuming at first, though the distinct gameplay mechanics already warm you up for the main event.”
    • “Feral Cat Den outdid themselves with the gameplay mechanics, keeping me hooked from start to finish.”
    • “The gameplay is intuitive and not too complicated, so as to not overshadow the immersive and emotionally impactful story.”
    • “The gameplay is utterly boring.”
    • “What little gameplay there is is often annoying due to frustrating controls and requiring you to search unnecessarily large areas for interactive hotspots or repeating mindless busywork, but rarely interesting or enticing.”
    • “The gameplay is near nonexistent.”
  • grinding20 mentions

    Overall, the grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, with many puzzles lacking creativity and often feeling overly simplistic. While some players appreciate the artistic elements and engaging story, they note that the experience can be marred by frustrating controls and a padded runtime that detracts from enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, a few reviews highlight moments of interest and visual appeal that help to redeem the experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The run time is padded and tedious.”
    • “I've found it tedious.”
    • “A great piece of art that expresses its central thesis in a beautiful and engaging way; but as a game, it's incredibly tedious.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Genesis Noir" is widely praised for its ability to evoke deep feelings, with many players reporting tears during the impactful finale. The game is described as an immersive audio-visual experience that combines heartfelt storytelling with unique concepts, though some critiques mention moments of redundancy and frustration in gameplay. Overall, it is regarded as a powerful piece of interactive art that resonates emotionally, leaving a lasting impression on players.

    • “I can't say I didn't shed a tear by the end of the game; you get to see the fruition of your interactions with humanity throughout time before it all falls apart.”
    • “That was one of the most emotional finales I've ever experienced in a video game; had me in tears.”
    • “Stirring, artistic, and emotionally resonant, Genesis Noir is quite a unique experience.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, enhanced by a captivating jazz and blues soundtrack that complements its noir aesthetic. While the visuals and overall design are described as stunning and artistic, some players noted that the characters' moaning during conversations detracts from the otherwise rich atmosphere. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate innovative storytelling and a unique atmospheric experience.

    • “This game is not what you expect it to be, but the game design is good enough to keep you engaged in its atmosphere and soundscape.”
    • “The atmosphere, aesthetics, and soundtrack are terrific.”
    • “Genesis Noir is a phenomenal artistic experience with stunning visuals, music, and atmosphere!”
    • “It just ruins the atmosphere.”
    • “There's physics, biology, anthropology, Jungian archetypes, and spiritual musings, and of course there's jazz, which makes it something you can leave on, walk away and do your dishes or grab a snack and come back to without losing atmosphere.”
    • “Can recommend it to anyone who likes a noir atmosphere and is open to an innovative, slightly weird gaming experience.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that disrupt gameplay. Many players experienced issues such as freezing, unresponsive controls, and visual inconsistencies, leading to frustration despite enjoying the overall experience. While some found it playable, the consensus indicates that stability remains a significant concern.

    • “The game will run fine for about ten minutes before it freezes, and I have to force shut down my laptop. This has happened every time I tried playing it.”
    • “First, I should mention that while the game is overall very good, it's a bit buggy at times (possible soft-locks here and there, among some other issues), and it crashed a lot, although note I did play it on a Mac.”
    • “Awkward control scheme, visual and sound glitches are in abundance, runs poorly at times, mostly a passive movie-like experience, a bad way to play a good game.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been criticized for being subpar, leading to a diminished experience in both visual and audio performance. Overall, users feel that the game's optimization is lacking and detracts from its overall quality.

    • “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimizing performance.”
    • “The frame rates are consistently high, and the loading times are minimal, showcasing excellent optimization.”
    • “Weak to the point that it feels like a poor addition to visual/audio performance.”
    • “Overall impressions and performance are lacking.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users generally find that the game's replayability is high, with various modes and challenges that encourage multiple playthroughs. The inclusion of different character choices and branching storylines adds to the overall experience, making players eager to return for new outcomes.

    • “The game offers a wealth of choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
    • “With multiple endings and diverse character paths, I find myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
    • “The random events and procedural generation keep the gameplay fresh, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
    • “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying feels more like a chore than a fun experience.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is self-deprecating, with some players acknowledging their own lack of comedic talent, suggesting that the humor may resonate differently depending on individual perspectives.

    • “Yes, I know I'm not funny.”
    • “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
    • “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

Buy Genesis Noir

Play time

5hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
1-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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