Ice Caves of Europa

About

Ice Caves of Europa is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Io Normal and was released on July 9, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Ice Caves of Europa will challenge your reflexes and your mind, blending free-flowing precision flight with confronting science fiction ideas about the nature of humanity. An inquisitive flying robot exploring the hazardous caves beneath Europa stumbles upon a sinister interplanetary conspiracy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews

atmosphere2 positive mentions

The game features impressive graphics with a captivating atmosphere, showcasing cold light and detailed ice formations.
Gameplay combines exploration, shooting, and puzzle-solving, providing a unique experience in a dangerous environment.
The drone controls can be enjoyable once mastered, and the game offers a haunting and immersive experience with a nice soundtrack.

The campaign is relatively short, and the gameplay mechanics can feel repetitive over time.
The story lacks depth and coherence, with dialogue that can be tedious and unengaging.
Controlling the drone can be challenging, especially with keyboard controls, and the tutorial is overly long and intrusive.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it lacking depth and poorly executed, often feeling like a hindrance rather than an enhancement to the gameplay. While some appreciate the philosophical themes and the attempt to integrate narrative elements, many criticize the reliance on uninspired dialogue and frequent interruptions that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the story's execution leaves much to be desired, suggesting a need for improvement in writing and integration with gameplay mechanics.
- “Cool little game where the cave navigation is tricky, but fun, and a nice story putting forward some interesting philosophical points!”
- “Took me 8 hours to complete the game story.”
- “Hope there will be some future DLC or follow-on story.”
- “The humor attempts fall flat, the story lacks any real depth, and you'll find the interruptions to read story elements to be more of a hindrance than a positive.”
- “The negative review is due to an underwhelming story and difficult/ borderline impossible drone control if you don't use a dedicated controller.”
- “Every few seconds the game wrenches control from the player to give them more boring, uninspired dialogue about some random thing, and every mission or two when a new mechanic needs to be introduced (don't get your hopes up, there's only about three), the game breaks from the actual events to run the player through a no-risk 'simulation' filled with, yep, you guessed it.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay involves controlling a drone in the ice caves of Europa, focusing on tasks like gathering mineral samples and melting ice barriers, interspersed with cutscenes. However, players criticize the frequent interruptions for dialogue and tutorial simulations, which detract from the overall experience and limit the introduction of new mechanics.
- “The gameplay involves you controlling a drone flying through narrow passages, specifically the ice caves of Europa, gathering mineral samples, melting ice barriers, and watching cutscenes.”
- “I saw this game at PAX AUS 2018 and wanted to give it a try since I enjoy fine-control vehicular gameplay and aircraft.”
- “Good games will show the player what to do through the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is you controlling a drone flying through narrow passages (specifically, the ice caves of Europa) gathering mineral samples, melting ice barriers, and watching cutscenes.”
- “Every few seconds, the game wrenches control from the player to give them more boring, uninspired dialogue about some random thing, and every mission or two when a new mechanic needs to be introduced (don't get your hopes up, there's only about three), the game breaks from the actual events to run the player through a no-risk 'simulation' filled with, yep, you guessed it.”
- “That is the entirety of the gameplay.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The music in the game creates a nice atmosphere and features a well-chosen soundtrack that effectively conveys emotional shifts. However, some players feel that the serene, spacey music does not always match the game's intense moments, leading to a disconnect during critical gameplay sequences.
- “Definitely has a nice atmosphere with the music and sounds.”
- “You're flying for your life to get out of the caves and there's just some serene spacey music playing.”
- “The music was also chosen nicely; there was appropriate emotional change that didn't disrupt the lonely atmosphere.”
- “You're flying for your life to get out of the caves, and there's just some serene, spacey music playing.”
- “The music feels completely out of place and doesn't match the intensity of the gameplay.”
- “I expected a dynamic soundtrack, but the repetitive tunes quickly became annoying.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its well-chosen music and sound design, effectively enhancing the emotional depth and loneliness. However, some players feel that the levels can become monotonous over time, detracting from the intended dark and immersive experience.
- “Definitely has a nice atmosphere with the music and sounds.”
- “While the game style was clearly meant to be dark and atmospheric, the levels felt dry after a while.”
- “The music was also chosen nicely; there was an appropriate emotional change that didn't disrupt the lonely atmosphere.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are highly praised for their quality, complementing the game's overall aesthetic, while the inclusion of a dry sense of humor adds a unique charm to the visual experience.
- “The graphics are stunning, bringing the game world to life in incredible detail.”
- “The visual design is breathtaking, with vibrant colors and beautifully crafted environments.”
- “The character models are incredibly realistic, making the gameplay experience immersive and engaging.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally perceived as ineffective, with many finding the attempts at comedy to be unsuccessful. Additionally, the narrative's lack of depth and frequent interruptions for story elements detract from the overall experience.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the game's music effectively enhances the emotional experience, with well-timed changes that complement the overall sense of loneliness without breaking immersion.
- “The music was chosen beautifully, creating an emotional shift that enhanced the lonely atmosphere.”