Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 987 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • graphics
Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure Game Cover
With a beautiful art style and a great cast of characters, Gibbous – A Cthulhu Adventure could be a modern day point-and-click classic.
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In "Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure," play as a detective and a librarian trying to stop an evil book from awakening Cthulhu. Solve puzzles, explore a richly detailed world, and experience a thrilling and humorous Lovecraft-inspired story. Navigate through hand-drawn 2D environments and make choices that impact the game's outcome in this point-and-click adventure game.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 987 reviews
story246 positive mentions
character development4 negative mentions
  • Great atmosphere, art direction, and humor that pays homage to classic point-and-click games.
  • Strong voice acting and engaging characters, particularly the talking cat, Kitteh.
  • Logical puzzles that, while easy, provide a satisfying experience without frustrating the player.
  • The storyline can be convoluted and difficult to follow, especially towards the end.
  • Some puzzles are overly simplistic, lacking the challenge that veteran players might expect.
  • The ending feels rushed and leaves many questions unanswered, hinting at a sequel that may not come.
  • story589 mentions

    The story of "Gibbous - A Cthulhu Adventure" is a mixed bag, with players noting its engaging humor and charming characters, but also criticizing its convoluted and sometimes disjointed narrative. While some found the Lovecraftian themes and quirky dialogue enjoyable, others felt the plot was overly complicated and lacked coherence, particularly towards the end. Overall, the game offers a fun, light-hearted take on classic adventure storytelling, though it may not satisfy those seeking a tightly woven narrative.

    • “The story is cohesive while having a degree of variation via some amount of choices at the important plot points.”
    • “The story is engaging, the humor is the right kind of silly for me, and the voice acting for the different characters is excellent.”
    • “The story spins Lovecraftian elements in a new way that has me chuckling to myself even now.”
    • “However, at the end of the day, the storyline was way too complicated and long-winded for me.”
    • “The story is a mess and the jokes are a non-stop onslaught of stale Lovecraft jokes.”
    • “The story was so diffuse that it was not easy to follow, and moreover, the later turns of the story made the reasoning behind that somewhat unbelievable.”
  • humor360 mentions

    The humor in "Gibbous - A Cthulhu Adventure" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its quirky, whimsical style reminiscent of classic point-and-click games like "Monkey Island," while others find it forced or lacking depth. Some moments genuinely elicit laughter through clever dialogue and character interactions, but there are also criticisms of cringe-worthy jokes and reliance on clichés. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted take on Lovecraftian themes, appealing to fans of both humor and adventure gaming, though its comedic effectiveness may vary among players.

    • “Really lovely little point and click game, full of funny characters and with lots of unexpected twists.”
    • “The writing is witty and fun, the game doesn't take itself seriously, without being a totally forced 'look how funny I am' experience.”
    • “This is a great game filled with witty dialogue and funny easter eggs.”
    • “Dumb, sexist attitudes are not funny to me, and they are not made funny by the dialogue in this game.”
    • “I get that it's supposed to be funny, but it ends up becoming annoying pretty fast.”
    • “But the script is so cringe and unfunny, unfortunately.”
  • graphics259 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful, hand-drawn art style and vibrant animations, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures. Many players appreciate the attention to detail and the charming character designs, although some note that the color palette can feel repetitive. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's engaging story and humor.

    • “The artwork, locations, and character design were all really beautiful and motivated me to keep playing this game because I could tell that a lot of love went into it.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the story thrilling, and there is a lot of humor.”
    • “Gibbous has outstanding 2D artwork and absolutely beautiful animation.”
    • “Unfortunately, the visuals are one-tone, with most of the game bearing the signature orange-yellow-brown-black set of colors regardless of where in the world the characters are.”
    • “Together with the persistent art style and the ever-repeating colors and shades, each location feels akin to the last - by their looks, I couldn't tell apart Paris, Forum Maris, and Fishmouth.”
    • “I found this game's art style to be uninspired and lame.”
  • music97 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the fitting soundtracks and memorable tracks, particularly the credits song. While some noted a lack of variation in certain background pieces, the majority found the music immersive and well-composed, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional depth. Overall, the combination of engaging music, beautiful art, and humorous dialogue creates a captivating experience for players.

    • “The music is very good with plenty of great tracks that fit the mood of the game very well, the voice acting was good, at first it takes a little bit of getting used to, but after a while you actually really enjoy it.”
    • “The art is amazing, the music is fantastic, the combination of cultures and lore is original, and the humor - in all its forms - is awesome.”
    • “The music sets a great mood and graphics and animations show amazing dedication to detail.”
    • “The music element of the game is solidly middle-of-the-road.”
    • “It's indie, I'm sure there were budget and time reasons for this, but there are many times where you casually walk off screen and the next instant dramatic music is playing, perspective's changed, the setting has completely changed, and it takes you a couple of moments to figure out how you even got here.”
    • “You'll hear a few different songs but the exploration one is the same, which I personally was not fond of.”
  • gameplay81 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a standard point-and-click adventure, featuring a mix of clever puzzles and unique mechanics that keep it engaging, though some players found it linear and lacking in depth. While the art style and humor received praise, the dialogue and character development were often criticized as uninteresting. Overall, the game offers a casual experience with enjoyable mechanics, but may not satisfy those seeking more complexity or innovation in the genre.

    • “I enjoyed the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is very good; it is your standard point-and-click puzzle game, but it's quite enjoyable, especially with how it handles puzzles. It also introduces unique gameplay like playing as Kerwan or Ketype, where Kerwan has a kitty who can get things from very high places or squeeze through certain areas, and Detective Ketype has the ability to look into the past of objects. It all helps to keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.”
    • “Great game with fun puzzles, dialogue, and interesting mechanics that make sense for the medium without taking away from the fun of the game.”
    • “After a certain point, the game felt more like a mechanical demonstration of a paca instead of a story told via paca. I don’t think I’ll ever revisit it.”
    • “Writing is pretty bad (in the 'not engaging at all' sense); puzzles are silly; dialogues are most of the time unnecessary (read: absolute waste of time); characters don't have any charisma; gameplay is just too linear. All in all, other than the art, the game just fails to be interesting.”
    • “Sadly, there really isn't anything new that would push the genre forward, which it desperately needs, like story choices or adding some different gameplay mechanics.”
  • atmosphere41 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, blending charming art direction, clever humor, and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the effective world-building and character design, which contribute to a unique and captivating ambiance, often drawing comparisons to Lovecraftian themes. Despite some minor criticisms, the overall sentiment is that the atmosphere is a standout feature that keeps players invested in the story and characters.

    • “References abound, and the atmosphere and story definitely have the right feel for a Lovecraft-inspired story.”
    • “The level design creates great atmosphere, making you immerse very easily.”
    • “The atmosphere is creepy but in a cartoony style that still evokes some playfulness.”
    • “The writing clearly comes from a place of pure fanboy love, and while the story goes off the rails a few times, the characters and weirdly genuine Lovecraftian atmosphere kept me engaged enough to make this the first game I fired up in the morning.”
    • “Some will say that this amount of time is absolutely normal for this kind of game, others will disagree with them, but there is one thing I can say for sure - that whole atmosphere of the game makes you want to stay there longer and the player really bonds to the characters.”
  • character development16 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the beautiful artwork and unique character designs, many feel that the story lacks depth and coherence, resulting in minimal character growth. Several reviewers noted a desire for more substantial character arcs and connections, as well as criticism of abrupt behavior changes without proper development. Overall, while the game excels in visual presentation, it falls short in delivering a compelling narrative and character evolution.

    • “The references, the tone, and character development are very well done.”
    • “The story and character development absorb you and drag you into the world that was created.”
    • “It's a very laid-back game with strong character development, humor, and a compelling story that will have you speculating about what's next.”
    • “However, the character design itself felt a little rote.”
    • “Despite the wonderful art style and animation, sadly the story is very shallow and starts slow, stays mediocre with no character development, and slaps you with a very unsatisfying ending.”
    • “There is no character development in this game, but there are out-of-nowhere behavior changes.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players; while some found it capable of evoking laughter and tears through its engaging story and immersive music, others criticized the characters as dull, undermining the emotional impact. The game's attempt to blend humor with heartfelt moments resonates well with some, particularly in its unique take on Lovecraftian themes, but fails to connect for others due to perceived shallow storytelling. Overall, the emotional experience varies significantly among players, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.

    • “Great game, funny story and characters, it even made me shed a tear at one point.”
    • “I laughed, I cried.”
    • “Speaking of background music, Gibbous uses classic instruments to create an emotional and mysterious atmosphere.”
    • “Not so much a 'game' as a very shallow and boring story.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to lengthy dialogue options and repetitive interactions that can detract from the experience. While some appreciate the depth of exploration, many feel that the execution becomes monotonous, especially during certain puzzles and interactions that drag on unnecessarily. Despite these criticisms, some players still enjoy the game, indicating that the grinding may not be a dealbreaker for everyone.

    • “My main issue is that if you're exhausting every dialogue option and every description – as is common in point & click games – the game gets very tedious and lengthy.”
    • “I can't believe I'm writing this down, despite giving a thumbs up, but this was a really tedious experience.”
    • “This became tedious quickly.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for running smoothly without significant performance issues or bugs, earning a commendable score of 8/10. While some users experienced minor stuttering during animated cutscenes, the majority found the performance to be solid, with standout voice acting in later acts despite some unevenness in earlier performances.

    • “Ran perfectly and without any performance issues.”
    • “It looks stylish, it runs smoothly, and it doesn’t come with the bugs you’d expect from modern gaming.”
    • “The only downside is I have some stuttering in the animated cutscenes, but that could be my machine; aside from a few missed jokes, I haven't lost anything.”
    • “The dialogue is mostly lifeless; the detective and the cat are capable of quality performance since they are the very few that have a character, but even that does not last.”
    • “As for performance and bugs, I had no issues at all in those regards, so well done for optimizing it so nicely.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable to revisit for missed achievements and character dynamics, others feel it lacks substantial replay value due to its short length and limited content. However, the engaging story and challenging puzzles provide enough incentive for players to experience it multiple times, akin to rewatching a favorite film.

    • “Definitely replayable, which is good, because unlike other reviewers, I did miss quite a few achievements the first playthrough!”
    • “There's some replayability with the dialogue and the puzzles are usually fair, but still challenging.”
    • “For fans of the genre, I'd say the 20€ price tag is worth it, but for others, I'd recommend waiting for a sale because the game is rather short and doesn't offer a lot of replayability.”
    • “No apparent replay value.”
    • “More so, despite being a game that is extremely story-centric, it doesn’t really lose any of the replay value once you finish it, since you’ll most likely replay it the way you watch a rerun of your favorite movie.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, players report a stable gaming experience with minimal bugs or glitches, highlighting smooth gameplay. However, some users have noted occasional UI glitches, particularly when multitasking, and a single buggy achievement. Despite these minor issues, the game is generally regarded as reliable and free from significant technical problems.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any bugs or crashes.”
    • “I appreciate the consistent performance; it never feels unstable.”
    • “The stability of the game allows me to fully immerse myself in the experience.”
    • “One buggy achievement.”
    • “Besides some UI glitches I have encountered, especially when switching to different windows (played alongside my kids doing crazy stuff around), I would not play it all along to receive 100% of achievements.”
    • “You definitely won't be annoyed at a lot of graphical glitches or similar things, because there simply aren't any of that sort in the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

12hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
10-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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