Gorogoa
- December 14, 2017
- Buried Signal
- 2h median play time
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Gorogoa is a single-player mystery point-and-click game that offers a great story, sensational gameplay, and impressive graphics, accompanied by spectacular music. Winner of multiple awards, it features uniquely imaginative puzzles and gorgeously hand-drawn illustrations, creating a new kind of storytelling experience through its charming and soulful art style.
Reviews
- Absolutely stunning artwork and sound design that creates a mesmerizing atmosphere.
- Innovative puzzle mechanics that challenge players to think outside the box.
- A unique storytelling experience that unfolds through visual cues rather than dialogue.
- The game is very short, typically completed in under 2 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
- Some puzzles can feel more like trial and error rather than logical problem-solving.
- The story can be vague and open to interpretation, which may leave some players feeling unsatisfied.
- story2,311 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in *Gorogoa* is abstract and non-linear, conveyed entirely through stunning hand-drawn visuals and innovative puzzle mechanics, without any dialogue or text. Players piece together a narrative about a boy's life and his quest to collect fruits, which unfolds subtly and invites personal interpretation, often leaving the meaning open-ended and elusive. While some find the storytelling deeply engaging and poignant, others feel it lacks clarity and coherence, making it a unique yet polarizing experience.
“The way the game portrays story is incredibly poignant & I was super invested.”
“Gorogoa is a fascinating game that tells the story of a boy through a series of frames up until his golden ages.”
“The story unfolds through the player's interpretation of the visuals, creating a deep and personal connection with the game's world and characters.”
“However, despite starting and restarting the game 4 separate times, I wasn’t able to feel connected to this game and its overall story.”
“The narrative is ambiguous, and there’s no dialogue or voice acting—only thought bubbles provide hints as you piece together the story.”
“I still have no idea what the story was supposed to mean, but I don't really care.”
- gameplay1,596 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
Gorogoa features innovative gameplay centered around a unique mechanic of manipulating panels within a 2x2 grid to solve puzzles, creating a visually stunning and engaging experience. While the game is praised for its artistic design and clever mechanics, many reviewers note that its relatively short playtime of about 1.5 to 2 hours may not justify the price for some players. Overall, the gameplay is described as refreshing and intellectually stimulating, though it can feel repetitive at times.
“Gorogoa is a unique, visually appealing puzzle game with a clever gameplay mechanic.”
“The gameplay revolves around manipulating panels in a 2x2 grid.”
“Moreover, the gameplay is ingeniously unique, giving me a refreshing experience.”
“Unfortunately, the actual gameplay can be a bit cumbersome.”
“Not sure I'd recommend getting it at full price as it's just about an hour and a half of gameplay, which feels like not very much for twelve quid.”
“The gameplay loses some intuitiveness in the unusual interface; some major variance in puzzle difficulty.”
- graphics1,415 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of Gorogoa are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which combines intricate visuals with a unique puzzle mechanic that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating atmosphere through its beautiful artwork and soothing soundtrack, making it feel more like an interactive piece of art than a traditional game. While some note the brevity of the gameplay, the visual presentation and innovative design leave a lasting impression, making it a must-play for fans of aesthetically pleasing games.
“Gorogoa is an incredibly well-made game with stunning graphics and innovative gameplay.”
“The visuals are breathtakingly beautiful, with each scene worthy of careful appreciation.”
“The art style is gorgeous, being in a hand-drawn, almost watercolor design.”
“Graphics are very average, but the gameplay is clever and original.”
“The game is a one-trick pony slathered in pompous overly artistic graphics.”
“I was really wanting to like this, but it seems once you get past the art style and the basic 'move 4 screens around' gimmick, there's not much else here.”
- music756 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in Gorogoa is widely praised for its haunting, soothing, and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience of the game. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack complements the beautiful hand-drawn visuals and the unique puzzle mechanics, creating a meditative ambiance that draws players into the narrative. While some found the music to be subtle and occasionally unnoticeable, many appreciated its ability to evoke emotions and set the mood throughout the gameplay.
“I love the lack of instruction or tutorial, and the soundtrack is haunting and immersive.”
“The art style is intricate and carefully crafted, with calm, gentle music playing softly in the background.”
“The music is good, works perfectly as a companion, is there, you enjoy it and never gets in the way.”
“The soundtrack is an unremarkable sound carpet, nothing I'd spend money for.”
“I paid $15 for like >30 minutes of content, this is just a pop-up book with some dumb gears and stolen ambient music, I have no idea how you can make a game so uninspired, there's no story and plot, it's just a bunch of stupid symbolism thrown together, hands down the most boring slideshow I've ever wasted my money on.”
“The music didn't stand out too much in my opinion.”
- atmosphere216 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its serene, dream-like quality, enhanced by beautiful hand-drawn art and a subtle, immersive soundtrack. Players appreciate the unique blend of calming and occasionally eerie elements, which contribute to a meditative experience that complements the puzzle mechanics. Despite its short length, the game's artistic and atmospheric design leaves a lasting impression, making it a recommended choice for fans of atmospheric and artistic puzzle games.
“Crazy good atmosphere; art good, but excellent sound design brings it way up.”
“The atmosphere is incredible; it's just a bit short for its price.”
“The overall atmosphere is almost dream-like, a blend of mystery and discovery all cloaked in layers of abstraction.”
“I found that the general atmosphere didn't do much for me either -- I think there was some (potentially profound?) stuff about aging and memory, but it never really made sense, and I never found much of a reason to attempt to connect to the 'story'.”
“There isn't too much to say about the atmosphere as it is a puzzle game.”
“The atmosphere changes between relaxing and threatening, thanks to the story (which I still do not fully understand - very mysterious but also intriguing).”
- replayability194 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many players noting that it can be completed in a short time (around 1 to 2 hours) and lacks substantial content to warrant multiple playthroughs. While some players mention the potential for revisiting the game to achieve hidden achievements or to appreciate its artistic elements, the consensus is that it primarily offers a one-time experience rather than ongoing engagement. Many recommend purchasing it on sale due to its brief playtime and limited replay value.
“But I would say there is definitely replay value (especially if you want to get all of the achievements).”
“The story is expressed through charming art, rife with religious symbolism that potentially gives the game good replay value since you'll probably spend most of your brain processing power solving the puzzles.”
“However since the story is also non-linear, there is actually some replay value: if you play the game a second time, you will notice a lot of small details and will have a better grasp of the underlying themes that were previously escaping you.”
“It's very expensive relative to the time it takes to complete with no replay value, so it's a one-time experience.”
“The game takes approximately 1.5-2 hours (depending on how fast you figure out the puzzles) and has exactly zero replay value.”
“It is a ludicrously quick game with no replayability - if you're good at puzzles, you're gonna nail it in under an hour and never play it again.”
- emotional144 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Gorogoa" is widely praised for its ability to convey a profound and touching story without any dialogue, utilizing beautiful hand-drawn art and innovative puzzle design. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from sadness to a sense of accomplishment, as they engage with the game's abstract narrative and visual storytelling. While some found the emotional impact somewhat diluted by the puzzle mechanics, many agree that the game offers a unique and heartfelt journey that resonates deeply.
“Without a single word, Gorogoa manages to convey a deeply existential and emotional message.”
“Gorogoa feels like it filled a hole in my heart; around the climax of the story, I had one of the most emotional responses I've ever had to an artwork.”
“Through beautiful hand-drawn puzzles, Gorogoa manages to tell a touching life story by manipulating the player's perception of time and space and truly stands out in my eyes.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 58 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be quite tedious, requiring significant time investment and repetitive clicking to find layouts. While some players appreciate the meditative pace and beautiful art style, others find the gameplay frustrating and unintuitive, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall enjoyment of the experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It was not tedious to solve them, and the story being told through images was great.”
“It's 2 hours long at most and is filled with tedious clicking between pictures, trying to find the correct layout.”
“It's a shame because I normally love these unique kinds of puzzle games, but this one just didn't make much sense to me and I found it more frustrating and tedious than anything else.”
“It started to feel a little tedious to me halfway through once you understand how the game works.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game is well-optimized, with smooth gameplay and solid technical performance.
“The gameplay was smooth and well-optimized.”
- stability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a mixed experience with stability; while some describe the game as "basically bug free," others encounter frequent bugs, including specific issues like missing game panels. This inconsistency suggests that while the game can function well, certain scenarios may lead to frustrating glitches.
“Basically bug free, but there is no real reason you should experience bugs.”
“Often buggy.”
“I had an issue on the train track where it went buggy and left me with just one panel to play with, with the second panel missing.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is consistently described as funny, indicating that humor is a prominent and enjoyable aspect of the experience.
“A hilarious game that keeps you laughing throughout!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch and adds so much to the experience.”
“I couldn't stop chuckling at the witty dialogue and clever jokes!”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game appears to rely heavily on ads, similar to other mobile games that promote themselves through misleading or overly simplistic puzzle challenges. Players feel that the game lacks depth and often resorts to trial and error, which may detract from the overall experience and engagement.
Critic Reviews
Review: Gorogoa
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
90%Gorogoa Review
An intelligent puzzle game, Gorogoa certainly tests your logic skills, but it also forgets to really teach you how to handle later chapters when things suddenly get much more complicated.
65%Gorogoa review
A fantastic feat of interlocking storytelling and design.
85%