Havsala: Into the Soul Palace

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Havsala: Into the Soul Palace is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Stratera Games and was released on June 21, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

CAN YOU ESCAPE THE SOUL PALACE?...OR SHOULD YOU? Havsala features: - Beautiful hand-drawn artwork - Unique and challenging puzzles - Rich story with historical references and mysticism - A note taking system to help you unravel the mysteries - Original soundtrack and voice acting INVESTIGATE THE ROOM Find hidden objects, read the books of your ancient fellows, take notes on your special notebook…

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Single-Player

Havsala: Into the Soul Palace screenshot

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 138 reviews

graphics21 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
Puzzles are thoughtfully designed, providing a satisfying challenge that encourages critical thinking and exploration.
The integration of historical and philosophical themes adds depth to the narrative, making it an engaging experience for players who enjoy learning while playing.

Many puzzles can feel overly obscure and require extensive reading, which may overwhelm players who prefer a more straightforward approach.
The hint system is limited and sometimes unhelpful, leading to frustration when players get stuck on certain puzzles.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and depth in their gameplay experience.

graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
22%
10%
The graphics of Havsala are widely praised for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, which effectively immerses players in a visually rich and charming atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the appealing aesthetics and unique artistic charm, although some note that while the visuals are impressive, they may not fully compensate for the game's shortcomings in gameplay and puzzle design. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “Visually, Havsala excels in immersing players through its rich, hand-drawn artwork that brings each area of the soul palace to life.”
- “Havsala is a beautifully crafted game that stands out with its gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and a distinct artistic charm.”
- “A little bit on the short side, but it makes up for it with a very unique and pleasant to look at art style, charming atmosphere and quite intriguing puzzles.”
- “The art style is okay and the puzzles looked like they were going to be interesting, but there was loads of pretty dull reading to do in order to get any sense of what the puzzles were about - which is okay if you enjoy that kind of thing, but I wouldn't have bought it if I'd realized this.”
- “Maybe get it on sale if you really want it just for the art style.”
- “That's too bad because I really like the graphic style.”
story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
43%
10%
The game's story is praised for its immersive and thought-provoking themes, exploring concepts like memory and identity, while being complemented by atmospheric visuals and sound. Many players appreciate the depth and educational elements woven into the narrative, although some find it convoluted or overly philosophical. Overall, it is regarded as a compelling aspect of the game that enhances the puzzle-solving experience, making it a memorable choice for fans of story-rich gameplay.
- “This framework sets the stage for a narrative that goes beyond simple storytelling, encouraging players to ponder themes of memory, identity, and the cyclical nature of existence.”
- “This visual storytelling is complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack and nuanced voice acting, both of which deepen the emotional resonance of the unfolding narrative and enrich the player’s connection to the characters and the world they inhabit.”
- “The game has a beautiful atmosphere, immersive storytelling, and fun, interesting puzzles.”
- “The story also fell flat for me - felt like the developer was trying so hard to be philosophical but it just didn't come together in the end.”
- “It was really hard to even care what the story was about as there is just too much minutia to deal with.”
- “While I greatly respect the amount of research that went into the storytelling aspect of this game and the puzzle complexity, I found little enjoyment in the copious amount of reading and obscurity of some of the puzzles.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative and player experience. Many reviewers appreciate the soothing soundtrack and its integration with the game's visual storytelling, while some note that certain puzzles require musical skills, adding a unique challenge. Overall, the combination of engaging music, art, and thoughtful design contributes to a relaxing and immersive gameplay experience.
- “The music and sound is lovely and calming.”
- “This visual storytelling is complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack and nuanced voice acting, both of which deepen the emotional resonance of the unfolding narrative and enrich the player’s connection to the characters and the world they inhabit.”
- “Pretty relaxing game with soft and cute music.”
- “There's a bunch of philosophical, mythological and astronomical stuff to read (writing and spelling are a bit iffy sometimes) and some puzzles are based on math, music and rotation, all downsides for me.”
- “I can imagine an entire puzzle game based on this sort of thing, without the musical nonsense, of course.”
- “If you want a challenge and some history, culture, mythology, philosophy, geometry, music, astronomy, with a touch of frustration - go for it.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay in "Havsala: Into the Soul Palace" is characterized by its unique hint mechanics and emphasis on observation and critical thinking, making it a standout in the puzzle genre. While some players find the gameplay engaging and smooth, others express frustration with the puzzle mechanics and overall execution. The game features helpful automatic note-taking and a clue-highlighting system, enhancing the player experience despite mixed reviews on its overall enjoyment.
- “The mechanic for getting hints is different from other games I've played, and fits right into the theme.”
- “Gameplay in Havsala revolves around thorough observation and critical thinking.”
- “Overall, Havsala: Into the Soul Palace is a standout title within the puzzle genre, distinguished by its artistic presentation, thoughtful gameplay design, and profound narrative themes.”
- “This is a point-and-click puzzle game from a few decades ago; gameplay-wise, it is frustrating and boring.”
- “Half the time I knew what the puzzle was getting at, but understanding the game mechanics of putting it together was difficult.”
- “Gameplay: 6”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
11%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visual storytelling, complemented by an evocative soundtrack and strong voice acting that enhance emotional engagement. Players appreciate the charming art style and immersive world, which, despite some critiques of the puzzles, contribute to a rewarding and captivating experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as beautiful and engaging, making it a standout feature.
- “This visual storytelling is complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack and nuanced voice acting, both of which deepen the emotional resonance of the unfolding narrative and enrich the player’s connection to the characters and the world they inhabit.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, and the voice actors did a great job. It's a great point-and-click game involved with history and mythology; all the information you need is given to you in books, so don't worry if you're not great with history. It's really rewarding, and the achievements are fairly easy to get. The game is really thought out and well worth the price and your time.”
- “The game has a beautiful atmosphere, immersive storytelling, and fun and interesting puzzles.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, as it often involves tedious and precise actions, such as pixel-perfect item placements, which detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Even with a walkthrough, some of the puzzles required pixel-perfect placement of items or other tedious manipulations that were more frustrating than enjoyable.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- “I found myself spending hours on mindless tasks that offered little reward, which made the overall experience feel like a chore.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in emotional engagement through its visual storytelling, atmospheric soundtrack, and nuanced voice acting, which enhance the player's connection to the characters and narrative. This combination creates a contemplative experience that intertwines intellectual challenge with profound emotional depth, elevating it beyond a typical puzzle game.
- “This visual storytelling is complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack and nuanced voice acting, both of which deepen the emotional resonance of the unfolding narrative and enrich the player’s connection to the characters and the world they inhabit.”
- “It invites players into a contemplative experience that blends intellectual challenge with emotional depth, making it much more than a conventional puzzle game.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game offers strong replayability through multiple endings that encourage players to explore different choices and their consequences, adding personal depth to the experience. However, the replay value may diminish for puzzle gamers, as their strong memory can limit the novelty of revisiting the game.
- “Look for new books on the shelves at the start of each chapter. The only downside to this game is that the replay value depends on your memory fading, and puzzle gamers usually have good memories.”
- “The multiple endings available further encourage replayability, allowing players to explore different facets of Phryne’s soul and the consequences of their choices, thus adding layers of personal meaning and interpretation.”
- “The only downside to this game is that the replay value depends on your memory fading, and puzzle gamers usually have good memories.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is effective, with some players finding it genuinely funny, particularly in moments like the unexpected "broken flute" reference that catches them off guard.
- “It even made me laugh in the end, since I really didn't get the 'broken flute' reference before.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Havsala: Into the Soul Palace is a role playing game.

Havsala: Into the Soul Palace is available on PC and Windows.

Havsala: Into the Soul Palace was released on June 21, 2022.

Havsala: Into the Soul Palace was developed by Stratera Games.

Havsala: Into the Soul Palace has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its gameplay.

Havsala: Into the Soul Palace is a single player game.

Similar games include Quern: Undying Thoughts, The Room, Discolored, The Frostrune, Tormentum: Dark Sorrow and others.

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