Genesis Noir

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 821 reviews

story139 positive mentions

grinding23 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and unique art style that create a captivating atmosphere.
Beautiful jazz soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Innovative storytelling that combines themes of love, loss, and the creation of the universe.

Gameplay can feel tedious and repetitive, with many puzzles being overly simplistic.
The narrative can be confusing and abstract, making it hard to follow at times.
Technical issues such as bugs and lack of clear instructions can detract from the experience.

story
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
64%
6%
The story of *Genesis Noir* is a complex and abstract narrative that intertwines themes of love, loss, and the cosmos, often leaving players confused due to its non-linear structure and minimal dialogue. While the visuals and music are widely praised for their artistic merit, many reviewers found the storytelling to be overly convoluted and lacking coherence, making it difficult to fully engage with the plot. Despite its artistic ambitions, the game may not resonate with everyone, as its unique approach to narrative can feel more like an interactive visual experience than a traditional story-driven game.
- “Genesis Noir is a wonderful adventure game with an amazing story that talks about love, life, and death.”
- “The story is presented in a very interesting way, very visual.”
- “The uniqueness of this game stems from the fact that it wonderfully mixes film noir aesthetic and storytelling, cosmology, and the story of life.”
- “The story is so abstract that I could not understand what was going on; I was just here to spectate and enjoy the trippy experience.”
- “The problem is that none of it coheres at all... 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.”
- “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.”
graphics
316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, which combines noir aesthetics with vibrant cosmic visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere enhanced by a fantastic jazz soundtrack. Many reviewers highlight the visuals as the standout feature, often describing the experience as more of an artistic journey than a traditional game, with some noting that the gameplay itself can feel secondary or lacking. Overall, while the visuals and music receive high acclaim, opinions vary on the depth and engagement of the gameplay and story.
- “This game is an experience you don't come across much due to how pretty the visuals are across the whole game, especially the ending.”
- “The visuals are stunning, the music is amazing, and the controls are pretty straightforward.”
- “Genesis Noir is a mesmerizing experience that blends stunning visuals, a jazzy soundtrack, and an abstract narrative about the creation of the universe.”
- “The combination of lackluster gameplay, an average story, a drawn-out plot, and an overall boring experience cannot make up for the unique visuals and sound design.”
- “While the premise is initially captivating and the aesthetics are strikingly unique, it feels as if the developers forgot to include an actual game.”
- “The aesthetic holds true to noir, but the story does not actually have you solving any mysteries.”
music
307 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its captivating jazz soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and complements the stunning visuals. Many players describe the music as magical and integral to the experience, with some noting its ability to evoke deep emotions and create a unique ambiance. However, there are occasional criticisms regarding certain sections of the soundtrack that feel out of place or repetitive, detracting from the otherwise exceptional audio-visual experience.
- “The jazz music that is played across this game feels magical at times and creates an experience that perfectly ties in with its 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 soundtrack has grating parts in a particular section though, which was an unnecessary mess given how well the rest of it works.”
- “But then that part at the end that was neither noir nor jazz music was incongruous and broke the spell, such as it was.”
- “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
229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
72%
10%
The gameplay of "Genesis Noir" has been widely criticized for its simplicity and repetitiveness, often feeling more like an interactive movie than a traditional game. While the stunning visuals and unique art style are praised, many reviewers noted that the gameplay mechanics are poorly explained, lacking challenge, and can become tedious, leading to a disjointed experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize narrative and aesthetics over engaging gameplay.
- “The gameplay feels great and is so intuitive I found myself doing what was needed to progress the story without even thinking about it.”
- “Its captivating visuals and inventive gameplay mechanics immerse you in a unique narrative experience.”
- “The first thing that drew me into this game was the stunning visuals, but the rest of the game had more than enough to keep me playing: a fantastic jazz soundtrack, exploration-focused gameplay, relaxing puzzles, and an intricate storyline that kept me guessing what was going to happen next.”
- “Gameplay is reduced to the simplest actions, and the rest of the time you just watch what's going on.”
- “The gameplay is very simple and, to be honest, got quite repetitive after the first 40 minutes.”
- “The gameplay is poorly designed, the story is simply not interesting, and it’s just not fun to play.”
grinding
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
4%
85%
The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and frustrating, particularly in puzzle-solving and fetch quests. Many players found the gameplay repetitive and uncreative, leading to a sense of disengagement, although some noted that the visuals and narrative could redeem the experience at times. Overall, the grinding aspect detracts from the enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging gameplay experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “Both punny and profound, it strikes the right balance of a story-driven point and click in that the puzzles are clever, not tedious, all dripping out story.”
- “A narrative that stops and then waits for you to discover what UI they decided to use and tediously try combinations of clicking on things until you guess what they want and the next bit plays.”
- “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.”
- “I am sorry that I stuck with it after recognizing it was getting really tedious.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
26%
16%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals and captivating jazz soundtrack, which effectively create an immersive noir experience. While some players note that character interactions can detract from the overall vibe, the artistic vision and aesthetic elements are considered exceptional, making it a unique and engaging experience. Overall, the combination of music, art, and storytelling contributes to a memorable and atmospheric gameplay 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 puzzles are smart and entertaining, the visuals and music are amazing and the general atmosphere created absorbs you.”
- “Genesis Noir is a phenomenal artistic experience with stunning visuals, music, and atmosphere!”
- “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.”
- “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.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals and music, which enhance a touching and thought-provoking story that resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers noted that the experience is both cathartic and relatable, often evoking strong feelings and even tears, despite some criticism regarding certain narrative elements. Overall, it is described as a heartfelt journey that effectively combines art and emotion, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
- “Gorgeous feast for the senses, love letter to cosmology, and a game that nearly made me cry.”
- “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.”
- “It is a beautiful experience full of emotional connections, and that is told genuinely and with such intelligence that it is deeply relatable.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
92%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players noting frequent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including soft-locks and crashes, particularly on certain platforms like Mac. However, some users report a smooth experience on devices like the Steam Deck, suggesting that performance may vary by system. Overall, while the game has its share of stability issues, many players still find enjoyment despite these flaws.
- “It should be Steam Deck verified; it runs great and everything was smooth.”
- “The game has excellent stability, with no crashes or major bugs during my playthrough.”
- “I appreciate how stable the online multiplayer is; I rarely experience lag or disconnections.”
- “First, I should mention that while the game is overall very enjoyable, it's a bit buggy at times (possible soft-locks here and there, among some other jankiness), and it crashed a lot, although note I did play it on a Mac.”
- “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.”
- “But as of now, I will not recommend this buggy mess.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's optimization has been criticized for its mediocre performance on the Steam Deck, with noticeable frame rate dips that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the final act is seen as a significant letdown, featuring repetitive content and a jarring tonal shift that undermines the game's initial appeal.
- “The optimization of the game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even in the most demanding scenes.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on performance, ensuring that the game runs seamlessly across various platforms.”
- “The overall optimization enhances the experience, making it easy to immerse myself in the game's world without any frustrating lag or glitches.”
- “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 and audio performance.”
- “The last act of the game lets it down significantly, from 'middling' to 'is this ever going to stop overstaying its welcome?' The player is forced to revisit all the previous scenes of the game, which feels tiresome and self-indulgent, creating a violent disharmony of tone with the rest of the game.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game is generally considered not very replayable due to its short length, with some users suggesting it lacks the depth to warrant multiple playthroughs. However, there are mentions of infinitely replayable aspects in multiplayer modes, indicating that replayability may vary depending on the mode of play.
- “This game offers infinite replayability, especially in multiplayer mode.”
- “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
300%
The monetization strategy is criticized for interrupting gameplay with captcha prompts instead of traditional ads, detracting from the overall experience.
- “It's basically an art cartoon that periodically stops and makes you perform captchas instead of showing ads.”
- “The monetization strategy feels intrusive and disrupts the overall experience.”
- “I can't enjoy the game because I'm constantly bombarded with prompts to spend money.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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.”