Genesis Noir

Things aren’t always simply black and white. Although, I suppose, in the case of Genesis Noir, they sort of are.

75%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, stability

77% User Score Based on 1,642 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 20 reviews

Platforms

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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

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,642 reviews

story280 positive mentions

grinding47 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and a unique art style that captivates players.
A beautiful jazz soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
An innovative narrative that intertwines themes of love, loss, and the creation of the universe.

Gameplay is often simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth and challenge.
The story can be confusing and abstract, making it hard for players to follow.
Technical issues, such as bugs and lack of save points, can disrupt the experience.

story
946 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 plot difficult to follow and lacking coherence, with some feeling that the gameplay detracted from the storytelling experience. Overall, the game is seen as a unique artistic endeavor that may appeal to those who appreciate visual storytelling, but it may not resonate with everyone due to its convoluted narrative and pacing issues.
- “Genesis Noir is a wonderful adventure game with an amazing story that talks about love, life, and death.”
- “The story is deeper than what it might seem. It's ultimately a love story hidden underneath seemingly complicated scientific concepts.”
- “The game certainly does excel in its visual storytelling and crafting an intriguing and enticing world, and the story it tells without words is an enjoyable ride.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Unfortunately, the plot and monotony of the game just tended to overshadow the enjoyable parts.”
graphics
636 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The graphics of "Genesis Noir" are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, which combines noir aesthetics with vibrant cosmic visuals and a captivating jazz soundtrack. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create an immersive atmosphere through its artistic presentation, though some note that the visuals often overshadow the gameplay and narrative depth. Overall, the game is considered a visual masterpiece, appealing primarily to those who appreciate artistic expression over traditional gameplay mechanics.
- “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.”
- “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.”
music
619 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in "Genesis Noir" is widely praised for its enchanting jazz soundtrack, which enhances the game's atmospheric visuals and emotional storytelling. Many players found the music to be a standout feature, describing it as beautiful, immersive, and integral to the overall experience, although some noted that certain sections felt disjointed or repetitive. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack creates a unique and artistic journey, appealing to both music lovers and fans of innovative game design.
- “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 music is astounding, made me fall in love with jazz all over again.”
- “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
463 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
73%
10%
The gameplay of "Genesis Noir" has been widely criticized for its simplicity and repetitiveness, often reducing player interaction to basic point-and-click mechanics with minimal challenge. While the stunning visuals and unique artistic presentation are praised, many reviewers feel that the gameplay lacks depth and coherence, making it feel more like an interactive movie than a traditional game. Overall, players are advised to approach it as an artistic experience rather than a gameplay-focused title, with expectations set for a narrative-driven journey rather than engaging mechanics.
- “The story is also interesting with how it portrays certain subjects, and I enjoyed the variety of gameplay that it has even though it wasn't perfect.”
- “Its captivating visuals and inventive gameplay mechanics immerse you in a unique narrative experience.”
- “The gameplay feels great and is so intuitive I found myself doing what was needed to progress the story without even thinking about it.”
- “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.”
- “I found the gameplay annoying sometimes, mostly because the mechanics of what you were actually supposed to do are not really explained at all, leaving you to click, drag, and pull the mouse all over the place hoping something will happen.”
grinding
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
11%
85%
The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing many puzzles and interactions as tedious and repetitive, which disrupts the overall flow and enjoyment. While some players appreciate the artistic elements and narrative, they often find the gameplay mechanics frustratingly simplistic or confusing, leading to a sense of unnecessary grinding. Overall, the experience is marred by moments of tedium that detract from the game's potential, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging interactive experience.
- “You'll need a second life for 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.”
- “A great piece of art that expresses its central thesis in a beautiful and engaging way; but as a game, it's incredibly tedious.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
34%
8%
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 the gameplay can feel clunky and character interactions may detract from the vibe, the overall artistic vision and aesthetic are considered exceptional, making it a unique and engaging experience. Many reviewers recommend it for those who appreciate innovative storytelling and atmospheric design.
- “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 game was just really cool; it has an amazing story and concept as well as a visually stunning design and atmosphere, along with a really good soundtrack. It's just a beautiful game, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to experience and be a part of an incredible story.”
- “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
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Genesis Noir" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, captivating music, and a deeply touching story that resonates with players, often evoking tears and profound reflections on life. Many reviewers describe the experience as a heartfelt journey that combines art and narrative in a way that feels both relatable and cathartic, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay constraints and narrative redundancy. Overall, it is seen as a powerful, immersive experience that leaves a lasting emotional impact.
- “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.”
- “It is a beautiful experience full of emotional connections, and that is told genuinely and with such intelligence that it is deeply relatable.”
stability
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players noting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly on certain platforms like Mac. While some found these issues minor and manageable, others felt they significantly detracted from the overall experience, leading to frustration with gameplay and controls. Despite these concerns, a few players still enjoyed the game, highlighting moments of delight amidst the technical shortcomings.
- “It should be Steam Deck verified; it runs great, and 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.”
- “Flashy and buggy, slow and unresponsive updating for setting changes, texts keep jumping between bold and normal.”
- “[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]”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization, particularly on the Steam Deck, has been criticized for its mediocre performance, with noticeable frame rate dips that detract from the overall visual and audio experience. Additionally, the final act is seen as a significant letdown, marked by repetitive gameplay and a jarring tonal shift that undermines the game's initial appeal.
- “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.”
- “The last act of the game lets it down significantly, from 'middling' into 'Jesus wept, is this ever going to stop overstaying its welcome?' The player is forced to revisit all the previous scenes of the game with tiresome self-importance, leading to a violent disharmony of tone with the rest of the game.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game is generally considered short and lacks significant replayability, with many users indicating that it does not offer enough content or variation to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “Infinitely replayable with multiplayer options.”
- “Playability and replayability are key features of this game.”
- “Replayability is a significant aspect that enhances the overall experience.”
- “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.”
- “=== ( replayability ) ===”
- “☐ infinitely replayable/multiplayer”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for interrupting gameplay with captcha prompts instead of traditional ads, which detracts from the overall experience. Users find this approach frustrating and disruptive, likening it to an art cartoon that prioritizes monetization over player engagement.
- “It's basically an art cartoon that periodically stops and makes you perform captchas instead of showing ads.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game appears to be self-deprecating, with players acknowledging their own lack of comedic talent. This suggests a light-hearted and relatable approach to humor, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “Yes, I know I'm not funny.”
- “Yes, I know I'm not funny.”

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 20 critic reviews

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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