Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan

About

In Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan, players assume the role of a skilled witch hunter named Suzanne. The game is a hidden object puzzle adventure set in a mystical world filled with dark intrigue and magical creatures. Suzanne must uncover the truth behind a cursed queen's transformation into a swan and save the kingdom from an evil sorcerer's grasp.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan screenshot

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 568 reviews

story194 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and art style that enhance the fairy tale atmosphere.
Engaging story with interesting twists and a variety of puzzles that keep gameplay fresh.
Good voice acting and sound design that contribute to the immersive experience.

Some puzzles can be illogical or frustrating, leading to moments of confusion.
The story can feel predictable and lacks depth in character development.
Voice acting for some characters, particularly children, is subpar and detracts from the overall experience.

story
474 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The story in "Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan" is a retelling of the classic fairy tale "The Six Swans," featuring a mix of familiar elements and new twists. While some players found the plot predictable and the pacing uneven, many appreciated the engaging narrative, beautiful artwork, and the integration of puzzles that enhance the storytelling experience. Overall, the game offers a charming yet dark fairy tale atmosphere, though opinions on its depth and coherence vary among players.
- “The story is well written and the backgrounds and graphics are beautiful.”
- “The story is a spin on the Grimm fairy tale 'the twelve brothers': a heartbroken evil sorceress curses a kingdom, turns the seven sons of the royal family into swans, and their sister mute.”
- “The game is based on the popular fairy tale 'the wild swans' by Andersen, and features gorgeous backgrounds, beautiful music and an engaging story, as well as excellent voice acting.”
- “The story is the weak part of the game.”
- “The story is dark and depressing... it made me too agitated to think about puzzles... which seemed to be twice or three times as hard as the first game.”
- “The story is very trite and made me roll my eyes several times.”
graphics
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
27%
2%
The graphics in "Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning artwork and vibrant colors, which effectively create an enchanting fairy tale atmosphere. Many reviewers noted the improvement in visuals compared to previous installments, highlighting the detailed and picturesque design that enhances the overall gaming experience. While not on par with AAA titles, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal.
- “Colors were vibrant and fairytale-like—that is what the first installment in the series also aimed for, and visuals were stunning.”
- “Stunning visuals, charming music and dramatic story immerse us in one more fairy adventure, full of mystic creatures, dark magic and beautiful landscapes.”
- “The graphics are beautifully done and the story itself is intriguing.”
- “A fun hog, but don't expect a captivating plot or eye-popping graphics.”
- “The overall design and graphics of 'Song of the Dark Swan' is inferior; the plot is not bad, but the pacing is a bit weird, and I did not connect with it as much.”
- “No, it's not like a triple-A game graphically, but in this genre, these sort of vibrant, beautiful backgrounds and characters are a standout and still hold up.”
music
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The music in *Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan* is widely praised for its beautiful and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the game's enchanting fairy tale setting. While some reviewers noted a lack of diversity in the soundtrack, the overall consensus is that the melodic orchestral pieces effectively complement the visuals and contribute to an immersive experience. Despite minor criticisms regarding repetitiveness, the music is generally considered a standout feature that adds emotional depth to the gameplay.
- “The voice acting has noticeably improved and the music fits the magical atmosphere of the game wonderfully.”
- “Beautiful, enriching music.”
- “The music is melodic and while not as memorable as Stravinsky or Tchaikovsky, the orchestral pieces fit thematically into the experience and add a nice emotional color to accompany the lush visuals.”
- “Beautifully drawn backgrounds, but with a somewhat repetitive soundtrack.”
- “Also, there are only a couple of tracks that play during the game, so even though they're very soothing, the soundtrack still lacks in diversity.”
- “The music is nothing to truly speak of and the voice acting was mediocre at best, but fitting for such a game where storyline isn't truly the primary reason we're playing.”
gameplay
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
The gameplay is a blend of point-and-click mechanics, hidden object scenes, and puzzles, offering a solid experience with beautiful visuals and sound. While some players noted a lack of innovation and a recycling of mechanics from previous titles, the inclusion of quality-of-life features like hint systems and collectible indicators enhanced the overall experience. Despite its relatively short playtime of around 4-6 hours, fans of the genre will likely appreciate the engaging gameplay and polished execution.
- “The gameplay is a mix of hidden object scenes and clever puzzles.”
- “It's an experience that is completely worth playing for those who appreciate beauty and engaging gameplay.”
- “The bulk of the gameplay consists of exploration, inventory-based puzzles, and a large variety of puzzle mini-games, and I found myself being constantly impressed by how refreshing the mini-game selection was.”
- “Tldr: even higher quality hidden object games end up recycling the same mini-games and mechanics and reskinning different art and simple thin storylines on each.”
- “Gameplay is a bit sterile in this one compared to other Artifex Mundi games.”
- “Gameplay-wise, there is only one kind of optional collectible to the previous games' two kinds, and you can no longer opt out of a hidden object puzzle for another kind of game: you now only have the option to use the hint button instead.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
6%
19%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its magical and fairy tale qualities, enhanced by improved voice acting, diverse colors, and an immersive soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the detailed artwork and enchanting environments that contribute to a captivating experience, making it a strong follow-up to its predecessor. Overall, the combination of visuals and music creates a rich and engaging atmosphere that draws players into its fantasy world.
- “The voice acting has noticeably improved and the music fits the magical atmosphere of the game wonderfully.”
- “I took my time, admired the art, and enjoyed this game's classic fairy tale atmosphere.”
- “The colors are so diverse and create a magical fantasy atmosphere.”
- “Fairy tale atmosphere.”
- “Detailed artwork that will immerse you in a fairytale-like atmosphere.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some users noting minimal value and a low score of 2/10, while others highlight the presence of bonus content and achievements that enhance replay potential for completionists. While some find it very playable and enjoyable, the general consensus leans towards limited replayability outside of pursuing achievements.
- “Another quality and very playable/re-playable title from this publisher.”
- “This means that aside from the main game/story, there's also a (much smaller) bonus game/story, as well as goodies to include wallpapers, concept art, and replayable hidden object mini-games.”
- “Excellent replay value for getting all of the achievements.”
- “Replay value: 2/10 to complete achievements.”
- “The replay value for the game is low.”
- “There's really not much replayability here unless you're a completionist.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by clever and customized prompts that add a comedic touch to puzzle-solving, alongside a humorous take on the healer role, where players often hilariously fail to save characters. While the overall tone can be dark and may unsettle some players, particularly with its creepy animated elements, there are also lighthearted moments, especially in the bonus content, which offers a fun and relaxing experience.
- “Puzzles aren't excessively repetitive, and even the prompts are customized (rather than saying 'that won't work,' it explains why or adds something funny).”
- “Although be ready to hilariously fail as a healer: I've never seen more people die in a co-op game than this one, where you are specifically supposed to save lives.”
- “Last but not least, the bonus part was very funny and nice to play, [spoiler], even when it wasn't a proceeding or flashback of the main story.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as lacking depth compared to its predecessor, with a more lighthearted and less engaging narrative due to the absence of personal stakes. While the story unfolds an intriguing mystery, it does not evoke strong feelings, and the moral choices feel superficial. However, the melodic orchestral music enhances the overall experience, adding a layer of emotional richness to the visuals.
- “The story is a bit less developed and emotional than the original's, but the game makes up for it by offering an intriguing mystery that slowly unfolds as you progress.”
- “Like most hidden object games, we are expected to act morally and compassionately without giving any incentive to do so, or with true heartfelt meaning.”
- “The music is melodic and, while not as memorable as Stravinsky or Tchaikovsky, the orchestral pieces fit thematically into the experience and add a nice emotional color to accompany the lush visuals.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some hidden object scenes and puzzles are enjoyable and challenging, others can feel tedious, particularly in casual mode. The overall balance leans towards a lighter presence of hidden object scenes, with fragmented object puzzles providing a more engaging challenge without excessive grinding.
- “The hidden object scenes and puzzles were a bit easy (I did play in casual mode which may have affected the difficulty), with the exception of one puzzle: the pearl puzzle was a headache for me, very tedious.”
- “Some were fun, but some were too tedious for my tastes.”
- “Though it's perhaps a bit light on hidden object scenes and more towards the fragmented object-type, what is there is generally challenging without becoming tedious.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development is generally well-received, noted for its pacing and emotional depth, though some feel the ending is rushed. The character designs are praised for their fitting aesthetics and vibrant animations, leaving players wanting to see more of them.
- “Well-developed, perfectly paced, plenty of drama and tragedy, decent character development. The ending is a tad bit rushed but not a big deal.”
- “I really like the character designs and would have liked to see more of them!”
- “Character designs themselves are quite fitting for the tale, with thriving animations, mimics, and color choices.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I expected more growth and transformation from the characters, but they remained static throughout the game.”
- “While the character designs are appealing, the development of their personalities and backstories is disappointingly minimal.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game is praised for its exceptional stability, with users reporting no glitches or technical issues, contributing to a smooth gaming experience.
- “There are no glitches or technical problems at all.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
- “I haven't encountered any bugs, making for a seamless experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting smooth performance and efficient resource usage, while others experience significant lag and frame rate drops, indicating that optimization may vary depending on system specifications.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate a sense of frustration with the monetization practices of Artifex Mundi games, suggesting that the games feel overly commercialized, akin to a paid advertisement, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Whenever I write about one of these games from Artifex Mundi, I feel like I'm working on a paid advertisement; but I swear that's not the case.”
- “The monetization in this game feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”