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GNOSIA

A hugely innovative single player social game, Gnosia blends Among Us with visual novels to create an entertaining (if slightly repetitive) experience.
GNOSIA Game Cover
91%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
94% User Score Based on 769 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox Cloud GamingXboxWindowsPlayStationPlaystation VitaXbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassCloudXbox One
GNOSIA Game Cover

About

GNOSIA is a single player role playing game with mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Petit Depotto and was released on January 23, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Gnosia" is a single-player Mystery Role Playing game with an intriguing story and masterful gameplay. As a member of a drifting spaceship crew, you must identify and put into "cold sleep" the shapeshifting alien enemies known as Gnosia, in a Sci-Fi Social Deduction RPG setting. With improved abilities and increasing difficulty, the game becomes a highly emotional and grinding experience as you never know who is truly human or Gnosia.

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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 769 reviews
story169 positive mentions
grinding34 negative mentions

  • Engaging gameplay loop that combines social deduction mechanics with a rich narrative.
  • Unique and memorable characters, each with distinct personalities and backstories that enhance the overall experience.
  • Beautiful art style and soundtrack that complement the game's atmosphere.
  • Repetitive gameplay can become tedious, especially when trying to unlock specific story events.
  • Some character interactions and dialogue can feel formulaic and lack depth over time.
  • Progression can be frustrating due to RNG elements that determine event triggers and character roles.
  • story
    508 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Gnosia* is intricately woven into its gameplay, utilizing a time-loop mechanic that allows players to gradually uncover character backstories and overarching mysteries through repeated social deduction rounds. While many players appreciate the depth and emotional weight of the narrative, some find the pacing slow and the reliance on random events to trigger story progression frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its unique blend of engaging characters and a compelling plot, though it may not satisfy those seeking a straightforward narrative experience.

    • “Gnosia is a visual novel with some gameplay based on the 'werewolf' and 'mafia' social deduction games and a story that does a great job connecting itself to the mechanics.”
    • “The story itself is supplemented by the time-loop elements of the game, in which you're encouraged to try every role and every party size in equal measures.”
    • “The more you get to know the characters through the story, the better you understand how they act when they're good or bad, just like how you would playing mafia or among us with the same group of friends.”
    • “It's a repetitive AI manipulation simulator with a story on top of it.”
    • “Overall, however, the game is sadly simply way too repetitive in comparison to the relatively small amount of story there is and the very slow meta-progression.”
    • “The story at completion was not that exciting; I think the lack of compelling backstories for the characters is partly to blame, as there is not a connection built up with each character, as most loops contain no relevant information or happenings.”
  • gameplay
    339 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gnosia features a unique blend of visual novel storytelling and social deduction gameplay reminiscent of "werewolf" and "mafia" mechanics, creating an engaging and addictive experience. While the gameplay loop can become repetitive over time, especially after numerous iterations, the distinct personalities of characters and the gradual unfolding of the story keep players invested. The integration of RPG elements and character interactions adds depth, making it a compelling choice for fans of both genres, despite some initial difficulty in grasping the mechanics.

    • “Gnosia is a visual novel with gameplay based on the 'werewolf' and 'mafia' social deduction games, and a story that does a great job connecting itself to the mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple but addictive, and the characters' personalities and tendencies factor into the gameplay, making it engaging and rewarding.”
    • “Gnosia offers a solid set of roles, a fantastic cast of characters, a great story, and fun gameplay, blending social deduction mechanics with visual novel storytelling.”
    • “In the beginning, when you have few skills and don't grasp the core mechanics, the gameplay is also quite obscure -- you don't know when to doubt/cover for people, and you aren't sure how to make meta progress.”
    • “After the game has finished introducing its gimmicks and once the initial wow factor wears off, the gameplay with all the unlocked mechanics quickly devolves into extreme grind where you've long since become completely uninterested and frustrated with the actual 'game' part of the game, and are just blindly chasing after arbitrary hidden RNG-reliant event triggers, all of which are mandatory for the meta-progression.”
    • “The gameplay loop can very easily get repetitive since you have to play through many times over to get every necessary scene for the ending.”
  • music
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its unique and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of haunting and engaging tracks. While many players praise the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the game's art and narrative, some critiques mention repetitiveness and harshness in certain tracks. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's immersive and emotional atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack absolutely drips, each character is unique in personality with a creative and colorful art design, and the story rolls with an appropriate momentum that I am so far well invested in the concept to want to see the story play out.”
    • “The music complements the futuristic setting so well.”
    • “The very emotional story is accompanied by great characters and an unbelievable soundtrack.”
    • “The music and sound effects are creepy, with some kind of weird, distorted sounds, and the effects when seeing through lies; all those animations can be really spooky as well.”
    • “The music becomes terrible noise at times.”
    • “The ugly: the soundtrack gets very repetitive.”
  • graphics
    65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, which features beautiful watercolor aesthetics and distinct character designs that enhance the storytelling experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating atmosphere through its visuals, complemented by a fitting soundtrack. While some note that the artwork is limited in quantity, the overall impression is that the graphics significantly contribute to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The art style is absolutely stunning and unique.”
    • “The sci-fi aesthetic is sleek and slightly surreal, complementing the story’s themes of isolation, suspicion, and metaphysical dread.”
    • “Gnosia elegantly combines the session-based nature of Among Us with the story-driven, single-player experience of Danganronpa-- with a gorgeous art style and great soundtrack to boot.”
    • “Hopefully it gets remastered with proper voice acting, a graphics overhaul, and an expanded story.”
    • “The only pros are its art style and soundtrack.”
    • “The art style and music are indescribably 'dirty'; I don't think I ever saw or heard something like this, and I enjoyed it quite a lot.”
  • emotional
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy to sadness, through its complex characters and touching narrative. Many reviewers highlight the depth of character backstories and the emotional connections formed during gameplay, making the experience memorable and impactful. While some express a desire for a more satisfying conclusion, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully delivers a heartfelt journey that resonates with players long after they finish.

    • “This game made me feel every emotion that a human could possibly feel.”
    • “Each character aboard the ship is distinct and fully realized, with quirks, motivations, secrets, and emotional depth that make each loop feel personal.”
    • “The very emotional story is accompanied by great characters and an unbelievable soundtrack.”
    • “I've seen more engaging stories in Chinese novels, and I felt more emotion there. At least I experienced novelty and horror during those reads.”
    • “The emotional depth in this game is lacking; it fails to connect with players on any meaningful level.”
    • “I expected a gripping narrative, but instead, I was met with a flat storyline that left me feeling indifferent.”
  • grinding
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the mid to late game where players must fulfill specific conditions to unlock story events. While some find the gameplay addictive and engaging due to the characters and narrative, many reviewers note that the grind can detract from the overall experience, leading to moments of frustration and aimlessness. Despite its grindy nature, players are encouraged to persevere, as the payoff in terms of story and character development can be rewarding.

    • “I'd recommend not grinding it as fast as I did.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Although the repetition is purposeful and ties into the narrative, some players may find the loops become tedious after a certain point—especially in the mid-game stretch when story progress slows and you're tasked with completing certain obscure conditions to trigger new events.”
    • “There are occasional moments where you feel like you're grinding more than you're discovering, and the lack of control over when key plot beats occur can make the experience feel aimless for brief stretches.”
    • “Simply put, while it does work both in-context and as a game mechanic, it is just not that fun and a bit tedious.”
  • character development
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and visually striking character designs, which contribute to a rich narrative experience. Players appreciate the distinct personalities and behaviors of each character, although some designs received mixed reviews. Overall, the combination of engaging character traits and artistic presentation enhances the game's immersive storytelling, despite occasional critiques of certain character designs.

    • “The highlight of the game for me is the creative character designs and their distinctive behaviors throughout the game.”
    • “Their character design is quite original and they all have unique personalities that somehow mesh well during the dialogues.”
    • “Super good and engaging character designs and personalities, really makes them stand out against each other.”
    • “The art is beautiful, but I must say that some characters have a terrible character design (yup, the gray alien is a complete waste of screen) and that was a disappointment.”
    • “The developers actually acknowledged this - at the beginning there is little focus on world building and character development, letting you familiarize yourself with the main mechanics.”
    • “One of the game's biggest strengths to me were the art style, the futuristic colorful and also some strange character designs and of course the story with the main gameplay loop falling a little flat deep into the loops due to it feeling a little grindy at that point with me trying to get the last of the character notes.”
  • atmosphere
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and striking art style that together create a melancholic and tense environment. Players appreciate the intriguing characters and the sense of danger, which contribute to a unique experience that keeps them engaged and invested in the unfolding story. Overall, the combination of excellent writing, varied music, and a painterly aesthetic solidifies the game's captivating atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack, too, is wonderfully understated—atmospheric and occasionally haunting, helping to reinforce the game’s melancholic tone as you loop endlessly through scenarios, uncovering more about your crew and the gnosia virus.”
    • “Excellent writing, wonderful characters, splendid atmosphere, a gameplay loop that will make you lose sense of time.”
    • “The music, absolutely outstanding, creates a varied and eerie vibe, very fitting to keep the theme of the unknown and unsettling atmosphere of the world.”
    • “The music, absolutely outstanding, creates a varied and eerie vibe that fits the theme of the unknown and unsettling atmosphere of the world.”
    • “The atmosphere of being stuck in space with a traitor among the crew is amusing and resonates with many players, reminiscent of a certain other game.”
    • “A crew of offbeat, likable (and dislikable) weirdos adds to the atmosphere.”
  • humor
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a blend of clever, light-hearted moments and darker, more touching themes, often delivered through quirky character interactions and unexpected scenarios. Players appreciate the balance between funny scenes and serious undertones, with memorable characters adding to the comedic experience. While some moments are genuinely hilarious, others may feel more like amusing quirks rather than groundbreaking humor.

    • “Several of the special character events made me laugh pretty hard.”
    • “It's funny, unsettling, touching, and heart-rending, in turn.”
    • “A game with great artwork, characters, unexpected funny moments, and an interesting great story that really goes full circle.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability, with players drawn back by its fascinating characters, intricate storylines, and customizable gameplay options. While some may find certain aspects tedious, the randomized loops and the ability to explore different character arcs encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, it provides a rich experience for those interested in delving deeper into its lore and character dynamics.

    • “Tons of replayability, fascinating characters and story, unique and subtle soundtrack, and utterly addictive gameplay make this game a special gem among the sea of visual novels to choose from.”
    • “Setsu's mindset is explored in detail, about how she wants the loops to end but has no clue how to end them, and all characters have much to learn about them, which unveils why they act the way they do. This adds replayability as a player seeks to find out everything they can about their favorite characters.”
    • “There's a lot of replay value: once a session ends, you're given the opportunity to start a new one, and as you progress through the game, you'll unlock new options to customize the session to your liking.”
    • “Getting some of the event dialogue to proc is a little tedious, but at the same time there is a lot of replayability if you're not going for story beats.”
    • “No replayability value at all.”
    • “The loops being randomized definitely let it keep much replay value; in the end, I do recommend this game if you want something to keep you entertained in a 'I want to pick apart the lore' kind of way; just be wary, it'll take some time for it to make sense.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization aspect of the game allows players to customize their character's skills, such as logic, charisma, and stealth, influencing gameplay strategies like debating and deception. Players can focus on different stats to enhance their effectiveness in various roles, with no reported performance issues during gameplay. This flexibility in stat allocation encourages diverse approaches and replayability.

    • “You allocate stat points to skills like logic, charisma, performance, stealth, and intuition, all of which influence how well you can debate, lie, detect lies, or avoid suspicion.”
    • “This ties into the fact that you get to choose your own stats and build and decide the approach you want to take; I went extremely high in intuition (spotting lies), performance (telling lies), and logic, but was generally weak in terms of keeping below the radar and lost a bunch of sessions because I made too many folks angry even when I was right about something.”
    • “For example, you can level up your performance, making your lies hard to spot, or you can opt into charisma, making it easier to convince others into believing you.”
    • “This ties into the fact that you get to choose your own stats and build and decide the approach you want to take; I went extremely high in intuition (spotting lies), performance (telling lies) and logic, but was generally weak in terms of keeping below the radar and lost a bunch of sessions because I made too many folks angry even when I was right about something.”
    • “For crew stats, I went for stealth, charm, and intuition, but when I play as the Gnosia, I went for charisma and performance and for skills, logic!”
    • “There are some stats that you can increase by gaining experience after each loop: charisma, intuition, logic, charm, performance, and stealth.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is mixed; while some users report it as a buggy port, others have experienced no glitches or bugs during their gameplay. Overall, opinions vary significantly among players regarding the game's stability.

    • “This is an unfortunately buggy port of an otherwise fantastic visual novel.”
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14h Median play time
14h Average play time
8-25h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

GNOSIA is a role playing game with mystery and science fiction themes.

GNOSIA is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 14 hours playing GNOSIA.

GNOSIA was released on January 23, 2022.

GNOSIA was developed by Petit Depotto.

GNOSIA has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

GNOSIA is a single player game.

Similar games include Blue Prince, Zero Escape: The Nonary Games, Gamedec, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, Cultist Simulator and others.