Heavy Burden

About

Heavy Burden is a single player casual platformer game. It was developed by WRG and was released on September 11, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In Heavy Burden, a thought-provoking game inspired by Albert Camus' essay "The Myth of Sisyphus," players ponder existential questions and make life-altering decisions. Navigate challenging paths, face consequences, and reflect on the essence of existence as you journey with Sisyphus, experiencing the consequences of his arrogance in this engaging philosophical narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 168 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
It offers a unique philosophical journey inspired by the myth of Sisyphus, prompting players to reflect on life and choices.
Many players find the gameplay oddly calming and meditative, despite its repetitive nature.

The gameplay is repetitive and can become tedious, with many players expressing boredom from the constant task of carrying a rock uphill.
The controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
Visual effects such as motion blur and excessive brightness can cause discomfort and detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
51%
20%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and tedious, particularly due to the constant task of dragging a stone uphill, which can lead to boredom. However, some appreciate the unique mechanics and philosophical themes, noting that the challenging gameplay can evoke deep reflection and emotional engagement. Overall, while the game offers an interesting concept and atmospheric visuals, its execution leaves much to be desired, with many players feeling that it lacks innovation and engaging mechanics.
- “Despite its serious difficulty, the game brings a lot of positive emotions; the gameplay is engaging from the very first minutes, and the atmosphere keeps you in suspense until the very end.”
- “The weight mechanics make the journey truly impactful.”
- “Heavy burden delivers a unique philosophical experience, drawing inspiration from Albert Camus' 'The Myth of Sisyphus.' The gameplay prompts deep reflection on life, while the atmospheric visuals and music create an immersive, contemplative mood.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks innovation, making it boring after a short time.”
- “The gameplay design choices are quite poor.”
- “Boring aesthetic, boring gameplay; you'll spend almost the entirety of your time bored.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
44%
14%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful visuals and atmospheric design, while others criticize the use of blurriness and low-quality textures that can be headache-inducing. Many players appreciate the unique artistic style and how it contributes to the game's mood, but some find the overall aesthetic lacking and unoriginal. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant aspect of the experience, though opinions vary widely on their quality and effectiveness.
- “An exciting game with cool graphics and excellent music.”
- “The game stands out for its atmosphere and graphic style.”
- “Beautiful visuals and music complete the experience.”
- “Not the most difficult puzzles, but the graphics are difficult for the eyes. I'm so sick of this blur; how can you add it to games at all?”
- “Let's go through the gameplay; well, it's not that interesting. There are many other projects where you can walk with your jaw dropped from the meaning and graphics (which do not burn your eyes). I do not recommend this project and suggest staying away.”
- “The visuals are nothing to write home about either; flat-textured geometric landscapes, kaleidoscope skyboxes, and what I assume are pre-existing assets aren't really pleasing to the eyes, not to mention the overindulgent use of post-processing effects.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
22%
13%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of graphic style, music, and philosophical depth, creating an immersive experience that prompts deep reflection on life and emotional states. Players appreciate the tension and beauty of the environment, which enhances the gameplay and engages them intellectually, making it feel like a philosophical journey rather than just a game. Overall, the atmosphere is described as mesmerizing, deep, and thought-provoking, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The abstract world, music, and choices create a unique atmosphere.”
- “Heavy burden delivers a unique philosophical experience, drawing inspiration from Albert Camus' 'The Myth of Sisyphus.' The gameplay prompts deep reflection on life, while the atmospheric visuals and music create an immersive, contemplative mood.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and philosophy are top-notch.”
- “The graphics and soundtrack create an atmosphere of tension.”
- “Graphics and sound create an atmosphere of tension.”
- “Despite its serious difficulty, the game brings a lot of positive emotions, the gameplay is engaging from the very first minutes, and the atmosphere keeps you in suspense until the very end.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
28%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised for its excellence and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, creating a unique and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's emotional depth and philosophical resonance, noting how it complements the game's visuals and themes. While some describe the music as ethereal and simple, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's tension and reflective qualities.
- “The abstract world, music, and choices create a unique atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and philosophy are top-notch.”
- “The game's soundtrack is simply amazing and pleasant to the ears.”
- “The sounds and soundtrack are simple enough.”
- “As for the music...well...it fit the game but was mostly just ethereal sort of...I dunno...humming, maybe?”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
58%
18%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its philosophical themes and immersive atmosphere, while others criticize it for being simplistic and lacking depth. Many feel that the narrative, which draws on the myth of Sisyphus and philosophical quotes, fails to deliver a compelling experience, often feeling like a collection of ideas rather than a cohesive plot. Overall, while the concept is intriguing, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading some to recommend playing on "story only" mode to bypass gameplay frustrations.
- “I have truly impressed me with its intense gameplay and gripping storyline.”
- “The graphics are kinda meh but who cares, the story hooks you in and makes you wanna keep going; it's so immersive I forget to eat sometimes.”
- “Dark, atmospheric, it makes you think and just get stuck on the philosophical vibe - a biblical story.”
- “Heavy burden promised philosophical depth but delivers endless frustration – carrying that damn rock up crumbling platforms is pure torture, one slip and you're back to the start like a bad escort mission.”
- “And the story is exactly what is in the store page description; Sisyphus is an okay setup for a challenging game, but this is piss easy, and an exercise in dullness at best, while the deep text is just quotes from philosophy Wikipedia articles.”
- “The 'story' of this game, arguably its main selling point, consists of scattered quotes from the Bible and Albert Camus's 'Myth of Sisyphus'.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its surprising depth and emotional resonance, effectively challenging players to experience both intellectual and emotional growth. The protagonist's physical burdens serve as a metaphor for their emotional struggles, enhancing the game's atmospheric impact.
- “Surprisingly deep and emotional.”
- “It is a deep and atmospheric game where the physical burden on the protagonist's shoulders metaphorically reflects his emotional state.”
- “The essence of the game is to challenge the player for intellectual and emotional growth.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unengaging, likening it to a Sisyphean task rather than a meaningful experience. The repetitive gameplay and overwhelming visual effects contribute to a sense of obligation rather than enjoyment or philosophical insight.
- “In this regard, it is recommended to read an essay dedicated to the topic of Sisyphus and Camus, rather than trying to comprehend it through this game, which seems more like a tedious obligation than an existential revelation.”
- “Repetitive and slow, this game’s heavy philosophy feels more tedious than thought-provoking.”
- “Extremely tedious and uninteresting gameplay coupled with nauseating visual effects.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by hilarious tumbles and epic fails, providing a consistently entertaining experience that keeps players laughing throughout.
- “Hilarious tumbles, epic fails, and heavy-hitter fun - it's a load of laughs you won't want to drop!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever jokes and unexpected twists that keep you laughing.”
- “Every character has a unique sense of humor that adds to the overall charm and makes the gameplay even more enjoyable.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely criticized for being completely unoptimized, leading to performance issues and a subpar gaming experience.
- “Completely unoptimized.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end hardware.”
- “Performance issues make it nearly unplayable at times.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players find the game offers good replayability through alternate achievements and the opportunity for speedrunning, as it seems to be free of major bugs that could hinder repeated playthroughs.
- “There is also replayability for the alternate achievements, as well as the potential to speedrun this game since it doesn't appear to have any game-breaking bugs on the surface.”
- “There is also replayability for the alternate achievements as well as the potential to speedrun this game, as it doesn't appear to have any game-breaking bugs on the surface.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, though players have reported encountering a few minor bugs and glitches that can lead to frustration.
- “There are a few minor bugs and glitches in the game, which can be frustrating.”