Iconoclasts

While most Metroidvanias find themselves struggling with their pace, Iconoclasts never lets up. It’s one of the best of its kind and definitely needs to be played.

84%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, optimization

83% User Score Based on 2,478 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 26 reviews

Platforms

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About

Iconoclasts is a single player platformer game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Joakim Sandberg and was released on January 23, 2018. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Iconoclasts" is a single-player Science Fiction Platformer game with a delightful story, exceptional game mechanics, masterful visuals, and outstanding music. Play as Robin, a mechanic who just wants to help people, as you navigate through numerous densely detailed locations filled with action and puzzles. Experience a heart-wrenching epic with over 20 gear-grinding boss battles and a unique difficulty tweak system, all in a sensational atmosphere.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,478 reviews

story863 positive mentions

grinding88 negative mentions

Beautiful pixel art and animations that create a vibrant world.
Engaging story with well-developed characters that tackle deep themes.
Fun and challenging boss fights that require unique strategies.

Gameplay can feel tedious with excessive backtracking and some poorly communicated mechanics.
The story can be convoluted and overly wordy, making it hard to follow at times.
The tweak system is underwhelming, as upgrades are often not impactful and can be lost upon taking damage.

story
2,466 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The story of "Iconoclasts" is a central aspect that has garnered mixed reactions from players. Many praise its depth and emotional weight, highlighting the complex characters and themes surrounding faith, societal control, and personal struggle, which contrast sharply with the game's vibrant visuals. However, some players find the narrative convoluted and overly verbose, with pacing issues that detract from the gameplay experience. Overall, while the story is engaging and thought-provoking for many, it can also be polarizing, with some players feeling it detracts from the gameplay.
- “The story is incredibly unique and it just gets crazier as you progress.”
- “The story was great, and had a bunch of (fairly brutal) curveballs thrown in that actually made it very interesting seeing what was going to happen next.”
- “Iconoclasts is a masterclass of storytelling in the metroidvania genre, with an incredible attention paid to level design and gameplay as well as its beautiful art style and soundtrack.”
- “Somehow this game got worse and worse the longer the story continued on.”
- “The story is a hodgepodge of strange ideas and attempted pathos powered by selfish pricks who constantly refuse to address their problems until they end up being destroyed by them.”
- “The story is all over the place, and the plot basically exists as a result of psychologists apparently not existing in a world where everyone lets their emotions run rampant.”
gameplay
1,371 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The gameplay of "Iconoclasts" is a blend of metroidvania-style exploration and puzzle-solving, featuring a variety of mechanics centered around the protagonist's wrench and stun gun. While many players appreciate the unique boss fights and the engaging puzzles, some criticize the gameplay for being overly linear and lacking depth, with certain mechanics feeling underutilized or poorly explained. Overall, the game is praised for its polished controls and vibrant art, but opinions vary on the overall satisfaction of the gameplay experience.
- “The gameplay is fun and the tweak system is unique.”
- “The gameplay offers unique mechanics and ways of interacting with the world, secrets and puzzles that are the right amount of challenging and interesting bosses, each with its own distinctive patterns and mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is solid, the graphics are beautiful, the soundtrack is nothing short of amazing, it's got great and memorable characters, and a nice story to wrap everything together.”
- “The gameplay was similarly dissonant, vacillating between fairly standard side-scrolling action-platforming exploration and boss fights that tended to rely on teasing out gimmicks rather than mastery of the combat mechanics.”
- “Progression felt slow, with upgrades appearing few and far between, which made the gameplay feel shallow and overly drawn out.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly mundane, with the abilities you gain not feeling empowering and not being used that creatively.”
music
619 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The music in "Iconoclasts" has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and emotional depth, with many reviewers praising its catchy and memorable tracks, particularly during boss battles. While some found certain pieces to be forgettable or repetitive, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack effectively complements the vibrant pixel art and engaging story, making it a standout feature of the game. The fact that the entire soundtrack was created by a single developer adds to the appreciation for its quality and diversity.
- “The story was deeper than expected and the music fits the game like a well-fitted glove.”
- “The music is stellar, blending with the expert visual design of each area to give the world such a unique and mysterious vibe.”
- “The music is top notch, there was not one track I did not enjoy in my entire playthrough; they all had their place and fulfilled their purpose.”
- “Other than the music in the first town, I honestly don't remember any of the other songs, and I just finished playing it like 5 minutes ago.”
- “A lot of the music is forgettable.”
- “The music is good but not great.”
graphics
494 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The graphics of "Iconoclasts" are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and vibrant color palette, showcasing detailed animations and expressive character designs that enhance the storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the game's unique art style, which contrasts with its darker themes, creating a compelling visual experience that captivates players. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional depth.
- “The visuals are also very unique with detailed pixel art, especially in terms of character expressions that further underline the story, but also for the environments.”
- “The graphics are absolutely lovely and it has a well-made story with a lot of different characters.”
- “Iconoclasts nails its aesthetic, discrete world building and tight controls.”
- “The bright colorful graphics and chipper music completely betray what this game really is.”
- “There's a weird disconnect between the cutesy-tootsy graphics, the light-hearted quips, and the very, very brutal plot.”
- “The animation of the characters reminds me more of a game that would be geared toward children, but it's jarring to see some mature themes played out in a Scribblenauts aesthetic.”
humor
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a unique blend of cutesy slapstick and dark themes, often juxtaposing light-hearted moments with serious undertones. Many players appreciate the witty dialogue and character interactions, which provide both comedic relief and emotional depth, although some feel that the humor can occasionally fall flat or feel out of place. Overall, the game successfully balances its humorous elements with a compelling narrative, making for an engaging experience that resonates with players.
- “The narrative balances its more dramatic segments with humor and overall doesn’t take itself too seriously, making for a fun and engaging story overall.”
- “The characters are quirky and funny, and there's lots of really great humor and cute little scenes that keep coming, which is good because this is a tragically dark tale.”
- “The game has an immersive, interesting world, a ton of great characters, many excellent boss fights, and some actually funny moments.”
emotional
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its complex characters and impactful narrative, which evoke a range of feelings from joy to heartbreak. While some players found the story to be convoluted or overly drawn out, many praised its ability to deliver touching moments and profound themes, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging gameplay with a heartfelt story that resonates deeply with players, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and character development.
- “The final hours of Iconoclasts were an emotional whirlwind... heart-wrenching, gripping, and intense.”
- “What ensues is a surprisingly emotional tale of grief, recovery, wanting to do the best by people, overcoming the expectations of others and, of course, the dangers of theocratic rule - a lesson that I suspect we will need to take to heart in the coming years.”
- “The story itself is phenomenal, and it's what made me feel a connection to the characters and their journey.”
- “One big annoyance is the amount of cutscenes for a game with a boring story.”
- “Boring story, too much story, too many 2D cutscenes; every time you start thinking the game is fun, you get hit by long story segments.”
grinding
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many describing the level design, puzzles, and combat as uninspiring and overly drawn out. While some elements, like the art and story, are praised, the gameplay often devolves into frustrating backtracking and unengaging tasks that detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers express a desire for more meaningful challenges rather than the monotonous grind that characterizes much of the gameplay.
- “No grinding for materials by killing enemies, as all of them are found via exploration.”
- “After about two hours, the experience started to feel repetitive and tedious.”
- “The combat is easy and often tedious.”
- “The puzzles just get increasingly tedious, the fights more so - I'm fighting this group of robots at the minute, 2 at a time, that almost act like minibosses considering the ludicrous amount of health that they have, and it's just totally joyless.”
character development
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the believable growth and depth of certain characters, while others express disappointment in the lack of development for key figures. The dialogue and interactions are often highlighted as strong points, contributing to a rich narrative experience, though some characters feel underutilized or poorly motivated. Overall, the character designs are well-received, but there are calls for more consistent and meaningful development throughout the story.
- “Fantastic dialogue between characters as well as some very believable character development, all incredibly well done.”
- “The ongoing story and character development have me loving it more and more.”
- “There's a great deal of character development and interesting twists in the writing.”
- “Poor character development (Elro and Royal), unbeatable and annoying enemies, and a less than stellar climax has me walking away from Iconoclasts really disappointed after seeing what it could have been.”
- “Lastly, they took all the opportunity for character development for Royal and just killed him in a weird moment towards the end for no reason.”
- “There was little to no character development for any of the characters.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, engaging soundtrack, and immersive environments that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the unique charm and emotional depth of the atmosphere, drawing comparisons to beloved titles like Earthbound, while also noting the effective use of sound to complement the gameplay. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in the atmosphere and gameplay, suggesting that while the visuals and music are strong, the overall execution can feel lacking in certain areas.
- “A charming sidescrolling action adventure with beautiful spritework and a unique atmosphere, setting, and narrative.”
- “The artwork is breathtaking and the soundtrack works with that to create a compelling atmosphere that almost perfectly suits every situation the main character finds herself in.”
- “Every inch of this game oozes life and atmosphere.”
- “But the atmosphere and story of this game are all over the place.”
- “No atmosphere, banal dialogue, generic art design, forgettable music.”
- “He has spent such tremendous effort polishing cutscenes and building atmosphere that the music just falls lightyears short.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
72%
12%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the inclusion of new game modes and difficulty levels that enhance replay value, others find it limited due to its linearity and story-driven nature. Customization options are lacking, which detracts from potential replay enjoyment, and many players feel that once the puzzles and story are fully explored, there is little incentive to replay. However, for completionists and those who enjoy challenge modes, there are still elements that can provide additional playtime.
- “Also, after beating the game once you get some new game modes (boss rush and challenge mode come to mind and are dope, even if hard as hell), so great replayability value too.”
- “The story is so twisted that it gives you a different point of view about the characters and events when you play New Game+, which adds to the replay value.”
- “There's beautiful sprite work and animations, smooth controls, challenging bosses, replayability... and it's all made by one guy over the course of just under a decade.”
- “It's fun but pretty short, and not much replayability other than boss rushes or speedruns.”
- “Because the game is so story-driven, I think it has limited replayability.”
- “Replayability is limited, in my opinion.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with players reporting smooth performance across various platforms, including the Steam Deck, and minimal bugs or glitches. The framerate remains solid outside of cutscenes, and while the graphics are beautifully rendered, some users noted that performance could be improved further. Overall, it appears that the game has been well-tuned for a variety of systems.
- “I played through the entire game on Steam Deck without any performance issues.”
- “Graphics and art are beautifully drawn, yet performance is sound on any machine; it's clear that this game was heavily fine-tuned.”
- “Performance was perfect.”
- “It does the job, but it doesn't do it at peak performance.”
- “Outside of cutscenes, framerate and performance were solid.”
- “Music was serviceable, performance was smooth and I encountered only a couple of minor glitches.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth performance with minimal glitches, others describe it as somewhat buggy and inconsistent. The programming is noted to be precise, yet there are frustrations regarding the game's execution and stability, leading to a varied experience among users.
- “The game is great, with no glitches or bugs, making it a lot of fun and allowing for character development.”
- “Tl;dr frustrating, inconsistent, and buggy.”
- “First off: the game is somewhat buggy/unstable.”
- “It's not that the developer doesn't know how to program a game - this isn't a game that suffers from glitches, in fact a lot of the time the programming is too precise - it's that he doesn't seem to understand - or care - what fans of this genre want.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the monetization model frustrating, as it often requires watching ads to regain lost advantages, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to a negative experience.
- “It's frustrating to lose my speed buff to an unforeseen enemy, and then be unable to recover it without grinding through ads.”
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I find it disappointing that essential features are locked behind paywalls, forcing players to choose between spending money or missing out.”