ICEY

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,807 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
ICEY Game Cover
ICEY is a nice little adventure that blends in some great combat with a fourth wall breaking adventure and excellent visuals.
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ICEY is a 2D side-scrolling action game with fast-paced combat. As you progress, uncover the hidden truth behind the game's narrator and the world of ICEY. With gorgeous visuals and tight controls, players will enjoy the satisfying gameplay and intriguing storyline. However, challenging boss fights and multiple endings will keep you coming back for more.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,807 reviews
story338 positive mentions
grinding48 negative mentions
  • story1,158 mentions

    The story of "Icey" is a complex blend of meta-narrative and traditional storytelling, often drawing comparisons to games like "The Stanley Parable." While some players appreciate the humor and depth of the narrator's commentary, others find the plot convoluted and lacking substance, with many elements feeling disjointed or overly cryptic. Overall, the game offers a unique experience that rewards exploration and defiance of the narrator, but opinions on the effectiveness and coherence of the story vary widely.

    • “There's a very interesting meta-narrative that's doled out through secret areas, and the game does well to encourage you to poke around and find these bits of story.”
    • “The story is clever, with funny secrets; think Undertale meets Stanley Parable.”
    • “The story makes out that you can either follow the narrator or not, like in the Stanley Parable.”
    • “The story is convoluted and hard to follow, with the narrator's insistence on following a linear path making it even more frustrating.”
    • “The story has absolutely no substance and is a poorly executed copy of a format that works incredibly well in Stanley's Parable.”
    • “The plot is utterly impenetrable, and the narrator's attempts at humor quickly become tedious and annoying.”
  • gameplay731 mentions

    The gameplay of "Icey" is a mix of fast-paced hack-and-slash mechanics with a focus on combos and dodging, reminiscent of classic action games. While many players appreciate the fluidity and responsiveness of the combat, criticisms arise regarding repetitive mechanics, frustrating enemy designs, and an overbearing narrator that can detract from the experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable but flawed, with a balance of fun and frustration that varies depending on player skill and preferences.

    • “The gameplay itself is spot on with proper combos and directional input moves.”
    • “Icey has great gameplay but tries too hard to be meta with its narration.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth, visuals and animation are great, I only wish it was a bit longer or more complex, so as to better scratch that metroidvania itch.”
    • “The gameplay is terrible; there's no i-frames, your combos have no weight, enemies are boring, and the perfect dodge parry window is so small that even when you pull it off, it's sort of pointless.”
    • “The gameplay is already rather bland enough with some sprawled out enemies between the rather bunched-up boss type fights.”
    • “The gameplay is somewhat repetitive and the enemy variety is lacking, but the game looks absolutely gorgeous and contains both a humorous and dramatic tone to the narrator that few games outside of some very notable ones have attained.”
  • graphics377 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, unique art style, and fluid animations, creating an aesthetically pleasing experience that enhances the gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the colorful backgrounds and character designs, noting that the visuals contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game. However, some criticisms mention issues with graphical compatibility and a lack of variety in enemy designs, which can detract from the visual experience.

    • “The visuals are stunning!”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and it's easy to dig the stylistic choices.”
    • “The artwork is beautifully crafted and the effects when Icey fights are very beautiful and flashy, and gives the attacks a lot of weight.”
    • “All this game's good for is that pretty cover art and flashy visuals, that's it.”
    • “Like the character wants to say I'm a 3D and I'm part of it but the stage design rejects her so out, causing graphic incompatibility.”
    • “The graphics have rough edges and limited interaction with the environment; the narrator and overall sound is really weak.”
  • music353 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its energetic and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during combat and boss fights. While many players appreciate the free availability of the soundtrack and its ability to create an immersive atmosphere, some have noted issues with repetitive loops and a lack of memorable tracks. Overall, the music is considered a strong point of the game, contributing significantly to its appeal despite some minor criticisms.

    • “The soundtrack is very enjoyable and really good for the setting and aesthetic of the game, and I would 98% recommend it. It's a high A-tier game, but there are a couple of things not everyone would universally enjoy; however, it's still worth it.”
    • “The music does a good job of keeping ambience when you're in quieter areas and kicks up hard with this EDM epicness during boss fights.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful and the game is a joy to play.”
    • “The music looped horribly; you can clearly notice when the sound ends and when it starts playing again, and the music itself became quite boring, making me want to mute it if I could.”
    • “The music is bland, gameplay gets too repetitive, and the story is practically non-existent.”
    • “The soundtrack is very forgettable, so just pick your own tunes in the background.”
  • humor341 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely centered around its quirky narrator, who provides a mix of witty commentary and meta-humor reminiscent of titles like "The Stanley Parable." While many players find the narrator's antics and the resulting interactions amusing, opinions vary; some appreciate the humor as clever and engaging, while others feel it can become tedious or overly intrusive. Overall, the game offers a blend of funny moments and unexpected twists that enhance the gameplay experience, though the effectiveness of the humor may depend on individual taste.

    • “The humor of the game is just brilliant!”
    • “The narrator is very funny, very interactive about what actions we do and he already predicts what things we will do and I really like that lol.”
    • “This game is hilarious.”
    • “Then you're forced to sit through unfunny gags with the narrator.”
    • “I hope you like hearing the name 'Icey' and unfunny jokes about following arrows, because they're going to spew from my mouth non-stop!”
    • “It's supposed to be funny and 'meta' but I found it tedious and boring.”
  • grinding50 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the need for grinding to level up and unlock achievements, many express frustration with the combat mechanics and the lengthy, unskippable dialogues that contribute to a sense of monotony. Despite these criticisms, a few players still find moments of fun and satisfaction in the gameplay, particularly when exploring or engaging in combat.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A game that's hellbent on having you do things weird; a straightforward, bland progression system is just weighing down the experience for the sake of unnecessary grinding.”
    • “The actual gameplay is repetitive at best, tedious at worst.”
    • “While the combat is not the sole selling point of this game, I did find it a tad grindy by the end of the game.”
  • replayability49 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the ability to explore different paths, endings, and secrets, while others find it limited due to its short length and repetitive elements. Many reviews highlight that once players uncover all the secrets and achievements, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly. Overall, while there are moments of fun and exploration, the consensus leans towards low replay value, particularly after the initial playthrough.

    • “There's various easter eggs around, allowing for replayability, and you can level up skills.”
    • “Really fun mechanically, good amount of replayability and an interesting unique story.”
    • “This approach is charming in its own way and offers quite a lot of replay value due to branching paths, loads of secrets and also the ability to upgrade your character.”
    • “You might see everything there is to see in five hours, and the only replay value is if you want to play the game on a harder difficulty.”
    • “Though I must say this game has a number of shortcomings; for starters, it's incredibly short (I've nearly completed the game 100% in less than 7 hours) and lacks replayability after a certain point.”
    • “The game has very limited content and no replayability, so once you've put 2-3 hours into it, that's all, you're done.”
  • emotional38 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players finding the true ending and certain moments surprisingly heartfelt, while others criticize the narrator's delivery as lacking depth and emotional resonance. The original voice acting in Mandarin or Japanese is recommended for a more impactful experience, contrasting with the less effective English version. Overall, while the game features a blend of humor and action, it ultimately delivers emotional moments that resonate with players, particularly in its conclusion.

    • “The true ending is quite touching.”
    • “The end, the 'true' end in 'to meet you again', was more touching than I expected out of a game that was mostly hack and slash and funny narrator banter.”
    • “It's not very long, but it's got cool lore, a charming bit of story and character, and can be pretty emotional.”
    • “Button-mashy combat (played on hard), a boring story that seems to be trying to sound like it has some meaning behind it, and 'meta' elements that just amount to a poorly-acted narrator breaking the fourth wall while you have to stand there and listen to him say his lines.”
    • “Tedious button masher with a boring story.”
  • atmosphere21 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stylish graphics, immersive soundtracks, and engaging visuals, creating a captivating experience that enhances gameplay. While some players appreciate the contributions of unique narrators and composers, others feel that certain elements, like the English voice acting, detract from the overall mood. Overall, the combination of beautiful backgrounds, smooth animations, and a diverse soundtrack effectively establishes a compelling and dynamic atmosphere.

    • “The visuals, concept, and atmosphere are all up my alley.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic and really pushes you forward.”
    • “It's stunningly beautiful, meticulously fluid, intriguingly dense, and brilliantly colorful while retaining a dismal atmosphere on the environment.”
    • “Gee, thanks, guys for ruining any semblance of mood or atmosphere.”
    • “I enjoyed the technical aspects, but the atmosphere of the game was horrible.”
    • “Also, the narrator just takes away from the atmosphere of the whole game, dragging it down when it could be so much more impactful.”
  • character development19 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with many players expressing indifference towards the characters due to minimal growth or emotional engagement. While the character designs and animations are praised for their quality and appeal, the narrative fails to provide sufficient depth or reasons for players to care about the characters, resulting in a disconnect despite the game's strong visual and auditory elements. Overall, the focus seems to be more on aesthetics and gameplay rather than meaningful character arcs.

    • “Character art like Arknights, with a surprising character development arc for major players.”
    • “Dust has more content, a richer combat system, deeper plot and character development, and a more interesting universe.”
    • “Overall, this is a great action game with lots of good enemy and character designs, with a story that is mostly tame but has many funny, sad, and insightful offshoots.”
    • “The game doesn't give you a reason to care about any character in the game.”
    • “There is no character development for Icey in the first place, so when I found Ucey, I was just like: 'meh, so what.'”
    • “The heroine doesn't get any character development to get me to care about her; the only attachment is that I've been controlling her for a few hours.”
  • optimization19 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization received mixed reviews, with some players noting smooth performance and stability, while others criticized poorly-tuned gameplay and frustrating menu navigation. The voice acting was a significant point of contention, with opinions divided on its quality, impacting the overall experience. Despite these issues, many found the game enjoyable as a filler title, particularly praising its price-performance ratio.

    • “With that in mind, the price-performance ratio is actually very good and it is an enjoyable filler game for when you have nothing else to play.”
    • “5/5 performance as it goes, I didn't find too many frame drops; when you kill an enemy with a special kill, sometimes there are drops but nothing crazy. I didn't have crashes, so the performance is stable.”
    • “So 9/10 for performance.”
    • “From the shockingly poorly-tuned gameplay, to the lazy, unfunny, and amateurish writing, to the completely lifeless English vocal performance, this game gave me very few positive things to say about it.”
    • “First of all, optimization in this game is ridiculous, especially when you enter the menu while playing or checkpoint to make an upgrade of something.”
    • “The English narrator ruins the experience; the voice performance is just terrible.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and crashes that hinder gameplay, while others appreciate the glitches as part of the overall experience. Despite the presence of technical issues, many users found the game engaging and enjoyable, suggesting that the glitches can sometimes enhance the narrative rather than detract from it. Overall, while stability is a concern, it does not universally ruin the experience for all players.

    • “Downloaded the game and played for 9 minutes before encountering a bug that caused it to crash on me.”
    • “Would be a really great game if it wasn't infested with glitches; it nearly makes it unplayable.”
    • “However, the dialogue might have some lagging problems, and some lines sound too buggy.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy in the game has been criticized for relying heavily on in-game purchases and advertisements, which detracts from the overall experience and makes boss fights feel tedious. While the game attempts to innovate within the Chinese gaming market, it still reflects the prevalent trend of excessive microtransactions typical of casual MMORPGs and mobile games.

    • “It's refreshing to see a game that tries to break the mold of the current Chinese gaming market, which is often dominated by casual MMORPGs and mobile games filled with endless microtransactions.”
    • “The game successfully incorporates various concepts while maintaining a fair approach to monetization, avoiding the pitfalls of excessive in-game purchases.”
    • “I appreciate that the developers are focusing on creating a great gaming experience rather than relying solely on in-game purchases.”
    • “Though the game borrows rather greatly from a multitude of concepts from the likes of the aforementioned Stanley Parable meta-narrator, the Issen mechanics of Onimusha, and the aesthetics of an even more cyberpunk Mega Man Zero, it is good to see Chinese games that are trying to break the mold of the current Chinese gaming market, which is a market dedicated to casual MMORPGs, MOBAs, and phone games with endless microtransactions.”
    • “I don't really like the boss philosophy here; a lot of them are just big, barely moving things with a bunch of ads that make the fight just annoying.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy ICEY

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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