Ice Caves of Europa

About

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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

humor1 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers a surprisingly fun experience with engaging gameplay that encourages multiple playthroughs.
The atmosphere is immersive, with a haunting and strange quality that enhances the exploration of the ice caves.
The controls for the drone can be enjoyable once mastered, and the game provides a calm and smooth platforming experience.

The story lacks depth and coherence, often feeling like it was written poorly, with humor that falls flat.
The environments are repetitive and lack variety, making exploration feel dull and uninspired.
Keyboard controls are difficult to manage, and the tutorial is excessively long, hindering the overall gameplay experience.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
18%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it shallow and poorly written, likening it to teenage fanfiction, while others appreciate its philosophical themes despite its brevity. Many reviews criticize the frequent interruptions for dialogue, which detract from gameplay, and the overall execution of the narrative, suggesting that improvements in writing and control mechanics could enhance the experience. While some players enjoyed the story's potential and expressed hope for future content, the consensus leans towards disappointment in its current form.
- “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 to gather mineral samples and melt ice barriers, but it is frequently interrupted by cutscenes and uninspired dialogue. Players have expressed frustration with the lack of engaging mechanics, as the game only introduces a few new elements and relies heavily on non-interactive simulations. Overall, the gameplay is criticized for being repetitive and lacking depth.
- “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.”
- “Every few seconds, the game wrenches control from the player to give them more boring, uninspired dialogue about some random thing. 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.”
- “The gameplay consists of you controlling a drone flying through narrow passages (specifically, the ice caves of Europa), gathering mineral samples, melting ice barriers, and watching cutscenes.”
- “That is the entirety of the gameplay.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's soundtrack has received mixed reviews; while some tracks are well-composed and evoke appropriate emotions, others feel mismatched with the gameplay, such as serene music during intense moments. Overall, the music contributes to the atmosphere but lacks consistency in fitting the game's tone.
- “The music was also chosen nicely; there was an 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 thrilling soundtrack, but instead, it was just bland and forgettable.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by well-chosen music that complements its intended emotional tone, maintaining a sense of loneliness. However, some players feel that the dark and atmospheric design becomes repetitive and lacks depth over time.
- “The music was chosen beautifully, creating an emotional shift that enhanced the lonely atmosphere.”
- “The music was also chosen nicely; there was an appropriate emotional change that didn't disrupt the lonely atmosphere.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely ineffective, with many players feeling that it fails to resonate and detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the story's lack of depth and frequent interruptions to read narrative elements are seen as more of a hindrance than an enhancement.
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.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 with 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.”