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Genesis Noir

Things aren’t always simply black and white. Although, I suppose, in the case of Genesis Noir, they sort of are.
Genesis Noir Game Cover
74%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, stability
76% User Score Based on 948 reviews
Critic Score 72%Based on 20 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassCloudMac OSXbox OneXbox Cloud GamingXboxWindows
Genesis Noir Game Cover

About

Genesis Noir is a single player platformer game with mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Feral Cat Den and was released on March 26, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

A noir adventure set before, during and after the Big Bang. Explore black holes, primordial Earth, and jazz cafes. Witness the birth and history of mankind. Find comfort in a glass of gin. Search for a way to destroy creation.

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76%
Audience ScoreBased on 948 reviews
story160 positive mentions
grinding25 negative mentions

  • Stunning and unique visual art style combining monochrome noir aesthetics with bursts of color
  • Excellent jazz-infused soundtrack that complements the immersive atmosphere
  • Innovative and abstract narrative blending a cosmic love triangle, cosmology, and noir detective themes
  • Gameplay is minimal, often repetitive, and lacks challenge, resembling more an interactive art piece than a traditional game
  • The story can be confusing, abstract, and sometimes pretentious, making it difficult to follow without external interpretation
  • Several bugs, control issues, and occasional crashes affect the overall experience, especially near the end
  • story
    568 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Genesis Noir is a visually striking, jazz-infused noir love tale intertwined with abstract cosmological concepts like the Big Bang, told primarily through imagery, music, and interaction rather than traditional dialogue. While many praise its creativity, atmosphere, and metaphorical depth, the narrative is often described as cryptic, nonlinear, and at times confusing or elusive, requiring players to actively interpret and piece together its meaning. This makes it compelling for fans of experimental storytelling but potentially frustrating or inaccessible for those seeking clear plot or traditional gameplay-driven narrative.

    • “The biggest positives this time around are the visuals, artstyle, story, and music, which ooze creativity though the story can get cryptic at some points.”
    • “Numerous erudite concepts revolving around time and space personified as astonishing characters or plot points are beyond fascinating and would merit further exploration.”
    • “Genesis noir is a biopoetic complex storytelling experience deftly weaving science, humanity and literary delight where the universe is a juxtaposition of itself beckoning you to take it piece by piece.”
    • “The problem is that none of it coheres at all. It meanders from topic to topic with very little to hold it together, it explains game mechanics poorly and in a way that fails to meaningfully link the in-game actions of the protagonist to what passes for the larger story as a whole, and it generally goes so far up its own arse that it should learn to respire methane.”
    • “Each mission I thought 'okay, so what was the point of that?' until eventually it became 'how many more of these am I going to have to do?' None of the progress you make in the game seems to really mean anything, it just feels like a bunch of disjointed ideas trying to form some sensible plot.”
    • “As for the story, they totally lost me.”
  • graphics
    381 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics receive widespread acclaim for their unique, striking black-and-white noir art style combined with psychedelic cosmic visuals, often described as artistic and mesmerizing. The visuals are deeply complemented by an outstanding jazz-infused soundtrack, together creating an immersive, sensory-rich atmosphere that feels more like interactive art than a traditional game. However, despite the praised creativity and beauty, some users note occasional technical glitches, and that the visual spectacle sometimes outshines the gameplay and storytelling.

    • “Genesis Noir stands out with its striking black-and-white noir aesthetic, imaginative artwork, and atmospheric music that creates a strong sensory experience.”
    • “Its hand-drawn black-and-white aesthetic evokes classic noir cinema, experimental animation, and abstract illustration, often within the same scene.”
    • “Every frame could be a piece of experimental animation, drenched in stark contrasts and surreal visuals.”
    • “The graphics are glitchy, the game looks like you're playing a video with compression artifacts on hardware with defects that cause pixel glitches.”
    • “- 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.”
    • “The story's point was made very clear and I came here for the black-and-white noir aesthetic; I don't need to see splashes of psychedelic colors ripped straight out of an LSD trip for a solid forty-five minutes.”
  • music
    356 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional jazz-infused soundtrack, which deeply complements the visuals and atmosphere, often responding dynamically to player interaction. Reviewers highlight its creativity, emotional impact, and integral role in storytelling, describing it as a standout, immersive experience that elevates the game despite some gameplay and narrative criticisms. While a few found certain musical sections less fitting or repetitive, overall, the soundtrack is regarded as a major highlight and a key draw for fans of jazz and artistic game design.

    • “A jazz-infused soundtrack weaves through the game, shaping tone and rhythm in ways that feel inseparable from the visuals.”
    • “The soundtrack is a masterpiece, enhancing every moment of exploration and discovery.”
    • “Genesis noir is a mesmerizing experience that blends stunning visuals, a jazzy soundtrack, and an abstract narrative about the creation of the universe.”
    • “The music also changes from relaxing jazz to the worse.”
    • “But the music, atmosphere, and story carry the experience.”
    • “More than that, the ending became unabashedly annoying because this song that was playing (which I personally did not like, in significant contrast to the rest of the OST) just would not stop.”
  • gameplay
    277 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay in Genesis Noir is minimalistic, abstract, and often feels more like interacting with an animated art piece than a traditional game, relying heavily on point-and-click mechanics and simple puzzles linked to its artistic vision. While some players appreciate its experimental and varied mechanics that complement the narrative and visuals, many criticize the gameplay as repetitive, unintuitive, and lacking depth or clear direction. Overall, the gameplay is regarded as secondary to the storytelling, aesthetics, and atmosphere, appealing mainly to those who prioritize art and narrative over mechanical challenge.

    • “Genesis noir makes a serious, artistic attempt to reinvent its mechanics with every new section.”
    • “The gameplay evolves to match the concept: one moment you’re manipulating the growth of a universe, the next you’re tuning radio frequencies in a silent film.”
    • “The soundtrack and art style are incredibly unique, and the use of different gameplay elements in each level kept things fresh and interesting.”
    • “Genesis Noir unfolds as a phenomenal narrative experiment with incomparable artistic vision, down throttled by contrastingly stale gameplay.”
    • “I can't count the number of restarts I've had to do to get through each and every level (and without video walkthroughs would not have been able to do many of them because the game mechanics don't work or freeze).”
    • “On top of all of this, the gameplay itself feels very messy, frustrating, and unpolished when compared to the intense focus on the visuals.”
  • atmosphere
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Genesis Noir is widely praised for its moody, immersive blend of noir aesthetics, cosmic imagery, and a jazzy, hypnotic soundtrack that together create a unique, contemplative, and surreal experience. Its strong visual storytelling and thematic depth evoke a hypnotic, expressive art piece-like quality, though occasional bugs and moody pacing may not appeal to all players. Overall, the game's striking audiovisual style and rich ambiance are considered its greatest strengths, captivating those who appreciate symbolism and experimental atmosphere.

    • “Its atmosphere is its greatest triumph: a moody, dreamlike blend of noir aesthetics and cosmic imagery that feels unlike anything else in the medium.”
    • “Genesis Noir stands out with its striking black-and-white noir aesthetic, imaginative artwork, and atmospheric music that creates a strong sensory experience.”
    • “While it may not appeal to everyone, its commitment to atmosphere, visual storytelling, and thematic depth makes it a standout example of how games can function as expressive, introspective experiences.”
    • “Sometimes it frustrated me and I encountered a bug at the end where some code would display over the ending scene and credits which destroyed the atmosphere, but other than that it was a good game.”
    • “This doesn't quite hit the mark as a game – it's more like an interactive animation art project that tries to captivate you with its stunning visuals and a soundtrack that does create the right atmosphere.”
    • “It just ruins the atmosphere.”
  • grinding
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in this game is widely described as tedious and repetitive, with many puzzles feeling overly simple yet frustratingly drawn out, disrupting the flow and engagement. While some players appreciate the artistic and narrative aspects that offset the monotony, the gameplay often feels like it exists mainly to pad the experience, leading to mixed feelings about its interactivity and overall pacing.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “A narrative that stops and then waits for you to discover what UI they decided to use, tediously trying combinations of clicking on things until you guess what they want and the next bit plays.”
    • “If this had been presented as an animated movie I think it would have worked a lot better - sure, the experience would have been more passive but it feels like the player involvement is just there for the sake of having the player do something while things are happening, and it's even a little tedious and repetitive in places which actually detracts from the experience a bit.”
    • “The 'puzzles' are incredibly simple to the point of tediousness and often the only difficulty in playing the game is the control scheme which is either counterintuitive or buggy.”
  • emotional
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game delivers a deeply emotional and thought-provoking experience, exploring themes of love, time, and creation through a visually striking, abstract narrative. While some players find its ambiguity and linear progression frustrating, many praise its touching story, immersive atmosphere, and powerful finale that evoke strong emotional responses. Overall, it is celebrated as a unique, artistic journey that resonates on a personal and cosmic level.

    • “It uses the medium to explore ideas of love, violence, time, and creation with rare ambition and restraint, trusting players to engage emotionally rather than mechanically.”
    • “This is a touching, time-travelling story about love, life, and self-reflection, told through an interactive narrative with puzzles throughout the multiple levels.”
    • “That was one of the most emotional finales I've ever experienced in a video game; had me in tears.”
  • stability
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is frequently described as buggy and glitchy, with issues ranging from graphic glitches and crashes (notably on certain platforms like Mac) to slow or unresponsive controls and awkward schemes. While these stability problems can be frustrating and detract from gameplay, many players find them manageable and still enjoy the overall experience despite the technical roughness.

    • “It should be Steam Deck verified; it runs great, everything was smooth.”
    • “First, I should mention that while the game is overall very cracked, it's a bit buggy at times (possible soft-locks here and there, among some other jankness), and it crashed a lot, although note I did play it on a Mac.”
    • “The graphics are glitchy; the game looks like you're playing a video with compression artifacts on hardware with defects that cause pixel glitches.”
    • “Flashy and buggy, slow/unresponsive updating for setting changes, texts keep jumping between bold and normal.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Optimization on the Steam Deck is mediocre, with significant performance dips that detract from the overall experience. The game's later stages also suffer from pacing issues and tonal inconsistencies, further impacting its smoothness and engagement.

    • “Performance on the Steam Deck was mediocre, with some parts experiencing significant dips.”
    • “Weak to the point that it feels like a poor addition to visual/audio performance.”
    • “Overall impressions and performance were lacking.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is noted to be short and not particularly replayable, with users generally not considering it worth multiple playthroughs.

    • “I'd suggest this game, albeit it's short, so keep that in mind, and I wouldn't say it's replayable by any stretch of the imagination.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's monetization is handled through intermittent captcha challenges instead of traditional ads, which some users find disruptive but less intrusive than standard advertising.

  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is subtle and may not appeal to everyone, with some users feeling it lacks strong comedic elements. Overall, the humor is understated and might be missed by those expecting more overt jokes.

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5h Median play time
4h Average play time
4-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Genesis Noir is a platformer game with mystery and science fiction themes.

Genesis Noir is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Genesis Noir.

Genesis Noir was released on March 26, 2021.

Genesis Noir was developed by Feral Cat Den.

Genesis Noir has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked Genesis Noir for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Genesis Noir is a single player game.

Similar games include RiME, Kentucky Route Zero, INMOST, INSIDE, GRIS and others.