GNOSIA

A hugely innovative single player social game, Gnosia blends Among Us with visual novels to create an entertaining (if slightly repetitive) experience.

91%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, replayability

94% User Score Based on 573 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 576 reviews

story122 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Gnosia offers a unique blend of social deduction gameplay and visual novel storytelling, making it a refreshing experience.
The characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities and backstories that enhance the overall narrative.
The art style and soundtrack are both beautiful and immersive, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere.

The gameplay can become repetitive after many loops, leading to potential boredom for some players.
Progressing the story often relies on RNG, which can be frustrating when trying to unlock specific character events.
Some players may find the AI's decision-making inconsistent, leading to illogical outcomes during gameplay.

story
376 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The story of Gnosia is a unique blend of sci-fi and social deduction, set within a time loop that gradually reveals character backstories and overarching mysteries through gameplay. While many players appreciate the depth and emotional weight of the characters, some criticize the pacing and randomness of story progression, which can lead to frustration as key events are often gated behind specific conditions. Overall, the narrative is engaging and well-crafted, though it may not satisfy those seeking a purely linear or traditional visual novel experience.
- “The story involves time-loops, and unraveling the mysteries behind them is an incredible journey.”
- “A very engaging and surprisingly deep story in what could be summarized as a 'single player among us' visual novel, featuring a time looping story of mystery and social deduction mechanics.”
- “The characters have well-written and properly developed storylines that flow so well that you really only notice just how crazy some of the reveals are afterwards.”
- “The story at completion was not that exciting; I think the lack of compelling backstories for the characters is partly to blame. There is not a connection built up with each character as most loops contain no relevant information or happenings.”
- “I must say that even after 10 hours of gameplay and reading the entire plot in a guide and videos, I still don't understand much and have completely lost interest in the game's plot.”
- “The actual story is, for lack of a better term, drip-fed, and you may not learn anything new for several loops at a time.”
gameplay
253 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
63%
8%
The gameplay of Gnosia is a unique blend of social deduction mechanics reminiscent of games like Werewolf and Mafia, set within a time-loop narrative that encourages repeated play. While many players find the core gameplay loop engaging and addictive, some criticize it for becoming repetitive and tedious over time, particularly in the later stages. Overall, the integration of character development and story elements into the gameplay is praised, though the experience may vary significantly based on individual preferences for gameplay versus narrative focus.
- “Incredible mix of story and gameplay, and every character was fantastic.”
- “The gameplay loop is fun, only problem being that it can take too long to trigger certain events causing you to halt on story progress.”
- “The gameplay is social deduction 'Among Us' style mystery but with RPG elements, dynamic dialogue, and outcomes that your decisions affect.”
- “Overall, the gameplay is boring and time-consuming.”
- “The gameplay loop may become stale over the 100+ loops that are required to complete the game.”
- “The gameplay can very easily get repetitive since you have to play through many times over to get every necessary scene for the ending.”
music
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
43%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its uniqueness and quality, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the experience. While some noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive, the majority found it to be a standout feature, with a variety of tracks that fit well within the game's aesthetic. Overall, the combination of great music and striking visuals contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The music is also top-tier and I wish the soundtrack was on sale here on Steam so I could get that legally too (I'm an old man, I like to own my music) and the aesthetic is also unique enough to make it stand out in a 'generic anime' world of visual novels.”
- “The very emotional story is accompanied by great characters and an unbelievable soundtrack.”
- “It's absolutely gorgeous and the soundtrack does a great job setting the mood for each scene.”
- “The ugly: soundtrack gets very repetitive.”
- “The main song is harsh sounding with crappy speakers such as laptop/steam deck, so make sure you use headphones if you don't have a nice sound system handy.”
- “The game is a good game, but the production team is too lazy, a lot of repetitive text, NPCs say believe you in front, say doubt you in the back, repetitive music, doomed this game late boring, and no late detail updates, do not expect too much from this game, praise is only it play novelty.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and gorgeous art style, which enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. While some users noted a limited amount of artwork, the visuals are described as stunning and visually distinct, contributing significantly to character development and player engagement. The combination of beautiful graphics and a compelling soundtrack creates a memorable aesthetic experience that stands out in the visual novel genre.
- “The art style is absolutely gorgeous, if the screenshots didn't already show.”
- “The characters and setting are all fantastic with a beautiful art style, as well as compelling secrets to discover.”
- “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 characters look moderately pornographic; whether that's a plus or a minus is up to you.”
- “The art style and music are indescribably 'dirty'; I don't think I've ever seen or heard something like this, and I enjoyed it quite a lot.”
emotional
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Gnosia" resonates strongly with players, who praise its heartfelt narrative, memorable characters, and the ability to evoke genuine feelings, including tears. While some critiques mention a lack of emotional depth in certain character backstories and an abrupt ending, the overall experience is described as touching, with a mix of humor and seriousness that enhances its emotional impact. Players appreciate the game's unique blend of character-driven storytelling and complex mechanics, making it a compelling journey that leaves a lasting impression.
- “The very emotional story is accompanied by great characters and an unbelievable soundtrack.”
- “If you like character-driven games, Gnosia is a heart-wrenching yet wholesome detective game you should not pass up.”
- “The game made me cry a few times; it was an incredibly memorable experience.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly towards the end when trying to unlock character events and level up stats. While some appreciate the engaging story and character backstories that motivate them to push through the grind, many criticize the gameplay loop for becoming stale and frustrating, especially due to RNG elements and a low story-to-gameplay ratio. Despite its creative premise, the grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to mixed feelings about the game's pacing and mechanics.
- “I'd recommend not grinding it as fast as I did.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Takes a while to build your stats up, and can feel tedious up until that point.”
- “It gets ridiculously grindy and the story payoffs are just not worth it because they make barely any sense.”
- “Unlocking the character events can become tedious and annoying due to some RNG, but there's a way to get around this by maxing out your stats, which lets you easily manipulate the characters into the outcomes you need.”
character development
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive and unique character designs, which contribute to distinct personalities and engaging interactions. While some designs received criticism for being less appealing, the overall art style is praised for its vibrancy and creativity. Players appreciate the depth of character traits and behaviors, which enhance the gameplay experience, despite some concerns about the pacing and world-building early on.
- “The highlight of the game for me is the creative character designs and their distinctive behaviors throughout the game.”
- “This brings me to the character design; each character feels unique and has their own personality.”
- “Their character design is quite original and they all have unique personalities that somehow mesh well during the dialogues.”
- “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.”
- “They are a few iffy designs or eye-rolling moments (mainly Comet I think, but the general art and other character designs are great), some bad endings that are brief and subtle but maybe uncomfortable.”
- “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
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unique blend of art style, music, and writing, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Reviewers note the tension and immediacy of the setting, likening it to other titles while emphasizing its distinctiveness. The combination of well-developed characters and a captivating gameplay loop further enhances the overall ambiance, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The art style, the vibe/atmosphere, the writing, it's all really good to look at and absorb.”
- “Excellent writing, wonderful characters, splendid atmosphere, a gameplay loop that will make you lose sense of time.”
- “The music, characters, and art style of this game are eye-catching, and the atmosphere of being stuck in space with a traitor among the crew is amusing and is something I'm sure a lot of people know of thanks to a certain other game.”
- “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 is something I'm sure a lot of people recognize from a certain other game.”
- “A crew of offbeat, likable (and dislikable) weirdos adds to the atmosphere.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of clever wit and unsettling moments, balancing light-heartedness with serious themes. Players appreciate the unexpected funny scenes and quirky characters, though some feel that certain characters serve more as visual elements than integral parts of the humor. Overall, the game delivers amusing moments without relying on lengthy exposition, making it engaging and entertaining.
- “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.”
- “Tone ranges from light-hearted and funny to serious and touching.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game offers significant replayability due to its deep character exploration and randomized loops, encouraging players to uncover the intricacies of the story and characters. Players can customize their roles and game sessions, enhancing the experience and providing new insights with each playthrough. However, some users noted a lack of replay value, suggesting that the enjoyment may vary based on individual preferences.
- “Setsu's mindset is explored in detail, revealing her desire for the loops to end while she remains uncertain about how to achieve that. All characters have much to learn about themselves, which adds replayability as players seek to uncover everything they can about their favorite characters.”
- “There is a lot going on underneath the hood here, culminating in a unique experience that definitely leaves room for replayability.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players appreciate the game's optimization in allowing for diverse character builds and stat choices, which significantly impact gameplay strategies. Many report a smooth experience with no performance issues during their sessions, highlighting the effective leveling system that enhances skills like charisma and logic. Overall, the optimization supports a personalized and engaging gameplay experience.
- “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.”
- “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
100%
The stability of the game is mixed; while some users report it as a buggy port, others have experienced no glitches or issues during gameplay. Overall, opinions vary significantly among players regarding stability.
- “This is an unfortunately buggy port of an otherwise fantastic visual novel.”

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews

Buy GNOSIA

21h Median play time

16h Average play time

10-26h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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