Janosik

About

Janosik is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by Onix Games and was released on September 25, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

Challenging retro pixel graphics action-platformer. Become a legendary rogue Janosik and explore the big mountain castle level full of secrets.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 380 reviews

gameplay30 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game is free, fun, and offers a charming retro platforming experience with great pixel art and music.
Levels are well-designed with plenty of checkpoints, making the gameplay enjoyable and forgiving despite some difficulty.
The game features a mix of platforming, exploration, and simple combat, providing a satisfying experience for fans of the genre.

Combat can be frustrating due to inconsistent hit detection and some bosses being overly difficult, particularly the spider boss.
The game suffers from some rough mechanics, such as clunky controls and a lack of a map, which can lead to confusion and frustration.
There are several bugs and design issues, including enemies respawning upon death and a lack of polish in certain areas.

gameplay
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
31%
6%
The gameplay is generally described as fun and satisfying, with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games, though it suffers from some balance issues and janky mechanics. Players appreciate the simple yet enjoyable mechanics, but some find the controls and enemy setups to be a bit rough. Overall, while there are minor bugs and frustrations, the game offers a charming experience with engaging challenges, making it suitable for both casual play and speedrunning.
- “There are a few very minor bugs (e.g., sometimes the locked door doesn't open instantly), but the gameplay is really fun, slightly challenging, and really satisfying.”
- “It's tried and true gameplay, and it will probably be enjoyed timelessly over the years.”
- “The gameplay mechanics reminded me of the good old Commander Keen days, just not set in space.”
- “In summary: poor gameplay design decisions.”
- “You start playing with only basic mechanics like walking, jumping, and hitting enemies with your hand.”
- “Good news, this game is just like a ZX Spectrum game: collect keys and gold, avoid enemies and death pits, go through traps and maze-like levels using a pistol sometimes... it has some sort of extra mechanics like double jump and swimming, plus some secrets around, but that's it.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their well-executed pixel art style and clean visuals, evoking nostalgia for 90s PC games. While many players appreciate the slick design and vibrant 2D aesthetics, some note inconsistencies, such as the inferior sprite for the water boss. Overall, the artwork and animations contribute positively to the game's charm, despite occasional performance issues on lower-end hardware.
- “Amazing, I love the art style, storyline, and the gameplay isn't just a piece of cake!”
- “Awesome animations and pixel art style, the music is fantastic!”
- “Beautiful art style and didn't encounter a single bug!”
- “The sprite for the water boss seemed inferior compared to the rest of the graphics.”
- “The graphics remind me of PC games from the 90's.”
- “To make it worse, this simple 2D game struggles to keep 60fps (Intel graphics on a non-gaming laptop).”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
34%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and varied soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience with a nostalgic pixel aesthetic reminiscent of classic games. While some players noted issues with abrupt transitions between tracks, the majority found the music to be engaging and well-composed, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, complementing the game's visuals and gameplay effectively.
- “The music was so nice too - varied and I never felt like it was repetitive.”
- “Awesome animations and pixel art style, the music is fantastic!”
- “Overall this game was amazing, the music is on point and it feels heckin' rewarding to win!”
- “Just filling noises, no music.”
- “When it comes to music, sometimes the transition from one environment to another can make a sudden change between songs or even have both playing at the same time.”
- “The music is catchy for the most part, but the transitions can be jarring.”
story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The game's story is generally described as enjoyable and charming, with a simple yet engaging premise that unfolds through character interactions. While some players appreciate the unique art style and the balance of gameplay, others note that the story feels short and ends abruptly after introducing key plot points. Overall, it offers a fun and lighthearted narrative experience, particularly for a 2D platformer.
- “I really liked the premise and how the story unfolds through character interactions.”
- “The simple story gives you a motive, there's just enough challenge to get you to stay focused, and the art and characters make it feel like an adventure.”
- “Enjoyable 2D platformer with an interesting story, great artwork.”
- “Story just ends after it introduces what should be an important plot point.”
- “ this game has no story”
- “I finished the story in 2.5 hours, looking forward to seeing the sequel.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
Players express a desire for additional modes, such as a hardcore option, to enhance the game's replayability. Many consider the game to be infinitely replayable or nearly so, indicating a strong foundation for repeated playthroughs.
- “Infinitely replayable (or almost)”
- “Could you add a hardcore mode for more replayability?”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players highlighting its funny gameplay and pleasant sense of humor, particularly in the context of its sidescroller/platformer style. Overall, it contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game.
- “Really funny and nice gameplay.”
- “A pleasant sense of humor.”
- “Funny sidescroller/platformer, what do you call it? :D”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users appreciating its retro pixel art style and immersive feel. Many find the overall aesthetic and ambiance to significantly enhance their gaming experience.
- “Overall, I loved the atmosphere and the look and feel of the game.”
- “I enjoy this retro pixel game with a great atmosphere for play.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its numerous bugs, which, although minor, significantly disrupt gameplay for many users. Overall, stability is a major concern, with glitches being described as game-breaking.
- “This game is buggy as all out.”
- “Minor as these glitches may seem, they are play breakers for me.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding experience tedious, particularly due to the placement of save points, which require them to repeatedly navigate back to the spider boss fight after each defeat. This design choice contributes to a frustrating cycle of attempts that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Save points are dispersed enough, but the one before the spider boss fight makes it very tedious to go up and around again multiple times to get to the boss room just to die again.”