Journey of a Roach

Journey of a Roach attempts some nice ideas and is pretty cute, but altogether isn’t a particular good or enjoyable adventure. The central walking-on-walls mechanic makes things more complicated than it justifies. The music and sound effects punish you for playing. It’s harder than it needs to be thanks to a few really poor puzzles, controls, the world’s worst Hotspot Highlighter, and the lack of a hint system. Worst of all though even with bad game design to inflate the playing time the game can be finished in just a couple of hours, and even if it was the best adventure ever (it’s not) it still wouldn’t be worth £11.99/$14.99. It tries hard but I’m afraid Journey of a Roach needs a good stomping. Yes, I’ve been waiting all review to say that.

77%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, monetization

84% User Score Based on 818 reviews

Critic Score 47%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Journey of a Roach is a single player arcade puzzle game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Daedalic Entertainment and was released on November 4, 2013. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Nuclear war, post apocalypse, barren and lifeless wastelands. Lifeless? Not so much! Mutated insects have made their home in a bomb shelter and they're set on exploring the world. Let this point&click adventure welcome you to a hilariously bizarre end time world and join the roaches Jim and Bud on their journey to the surface. Journey of a Roach tells the story of two roach-buddies, who want not…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 818 reviews

story102 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Charming visuals and art style that captures the whimsical nature of the game.
Cleverly designed puzzles that provide just the right amount of challenge without being frustrating.
Unique gameplay mechanic of walking on walls and ceilings adds a fresh twist to the point-and-click genre.

The game is very short, typically completed in 2-4 hours, which may not justify the full price.
Some puzzles can be illogical or confusing, leading to frustration and reliance on walkthroughs.
Camera movement while climbing can cause motion sickness for some players.

story
232 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The story of "Journey of a Roach" is characterized as simple yet charming, featuring a heartwarming narrative about two cockroach friends navigating a whimsical, post-apocalyptic world filled with quirky characters and humorous situations. While some players found the storytelling engaging and the comic-strip cutscenes delightful, others felt the plot was minimal and lacked depth, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. Despite its brevity, the game’s lighthearted tone and clever integration of puzzles into the narrative create an enjoyable experience for many players.
- “Speaking of story, Journey of a Roach has a surprisingly touching narrative that unfolds as you progress through the game.”
- “With its charming visuals, clever puzzles, touching story, and immersive sound design, it's an experience that will stick with you long after you've finished playing.”
- “Journey of a Roach is a heartwarming story of two cockroaches, Jim and Bud, as Bud finds a flower and somehow immediately tumbles into a carnival kerfuffle as his dedicated friend, the protagonist, Jim, scrambles against all laws of gravity down into the depths of an occult group of ants...”
- “As for the story being told throughout the game, it isn’t terribly interesting and mostly serves to set things in motion, which works well enough.”
- “I’m not sure if I like or dislike this game, but I’m giving it a negative review because apart from the 3D visuals and the characters that are incredibly cute, the story is scrambled and most of the time I have no idea what’s going on, what the characters want, and what the objective of each 'mission' is.”
- “The story is rather flat, since you just walk around exploring the world solving puzzles.”
graphics
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The graphics of "Journey of a Roach" are widely praised for their charming and colorful art style, which effectively captures the whimsical nature of its post-apocalyptic setting. While the simplistic design and cel-shading are appreciated, some reviewers noted that the game could have benefited from more detailed models and textures. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's fun atmosphere, enhancing the engaging puzzles and storytelling.
- “The art style is charming and whimsical, perfectly capturing the post-apocalyptic world inhabited by our roach protagonist.”
- “Beautifully crafted, lovely 3D graphics, creative puzzle design-- I just loved it!”
- “The graphics are gorgeous and full of nice little background details.”
- “Journey of a Roach uses a rather simplistic art style, which fits the game well but would have definitely benefitted from some more detailed models and textures.”
- “The graphics are shell faded with the combination of 3D.”
- “The art style is a bit ugly, but whacky enough to be comical.”
gameplay
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The gameplay of "Journey of a Roach" is characterized by its unique mechanics that allow players to walk on walls and ceilings, adding a fresh twist to traditional point-and-click puzzles. While the puzzles can be engaging and the art style charming, some players find certain mechanics unintuitive and frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. The game offers a short but enjoyable adventure, typically lasting 2-6 hours, though some criticize the sound design and repetitiveness of tasks.
- “The main meat of the gameplay is found in various puzzles you’ll have to solve in order to progress, mostly tasking you with collecting various items and combining them with the environment.”
- “This game's mechanic of walking on walls is a great twist on the point-and-click genre because it allows you more freedom of movement and ties in well with the roach theme.”
- “Some of the puzzles are designed with the 2.5D/climbing mechanics in mind too, so what starts out as a little novelty, soon becomes a core gameplay element – much like the 'thinking with portals' logic, you’ll soon be making sure you explore every ceiling as well as the floor to help you progress.”
- “From story and characters to gameplay and puzzles, the game fails to excite.”
- “But the boring gameplay and the horrible sound make it unplayable.”
- “Puzzles that don't have logical solutions based on the gameplay around you but instead are random try everything with everything is no fun to me.”
humor
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Journey of a Roach" is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, featuring a funny storyline and adorable characters that elicit laughter throughout the game. Players appreciate the wacky cartoon animation, engaging cutscenes, and the light-hearted, quirky atmosphere, making it a delightful experience despite its brevity. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with puzzle-solving, creating an enjoyable adventure that resonates with players of all ages.
- “Despite the cast of creepy critters, Journey of a Roach is a cute and funny point-and-click game.”
- “The game is replete with humor, easter eggs, and quite interesting puzzles that are ready to challenge many players.”
- “Every cutscene just made me laugh, and the game was very enjoyable.”
- “I recently purchased another game that was so awful it was not funny.”
music
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
64%
14%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, while others find it repetitive and irritating. Many appreciate the sound design for its immersive qualities, but a significant number of users express frustration over certain tracks that detract from gameplay, leading to a polarized reception. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a double-edged sword, contributing positively for some while being a source of annoyance for others.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack sets the perfect mood for each scene, while the sound effects bring the world to life in a way that's both immersive and delightful.”
- “The comic atmosphere is really enhanced by the fantastic soundtrack which keeps you upbeat throughout the game.”
- “The puzzles are fun, the level design is really clever, and the ambient sounds and music add so much to the atmosphere of the game.”
- “Ten minutes spent faffing about in the spider room (which seems to be most players' end of life), having my sanity eroded by the embarrassingly bad music did me in.”
- “This could be a very nice and fun adventure game but the music is annoying as hell, the voices make my ears bleed, and items that you pick up get shown off as badly drawn objects in your inventory just for the style of it but gameplay-wise it's annoying since sometimes you pick up an object and you don't even know what it is and looking in the inventory will only confuse you more. Now imagine having to solve a puzzle while terrible music plays, you don't know what items you have and the characters won't shut up with their annoying squeaking noises, so basically you just get absolutely annoyed and turn off the game in frustration.”
- “Early in the game, the music is so terrible that it was making me sick.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some replay value through achievements and challenges, its short length (around 2 hours) and fixed solutions limit overall replay potential. Players seeking to complete achievements may find reasons to revisit, but those uninterested in such goals may not feel compelled to replay. Overall, it caters more to completionists than to casual players looking for extensive replayability.
- “It's quite a short game, but there are achievements that add replay value.”
- “Fun achievements add replay value.”
- “There’s a little replay value here too for you 100% completion junkies - I'm not one for achievements myself, so I doubt I’ll be replaying it anytime soon, but for those of you that are, there are plenty in there that challenge you to not only replay the game, but beat it in 18 minutes.”
- “Especially if it's based on solutions that will be the same every time, which means this game has very little replay value unless you just want to soak up the atmosphere and art a little more.”
- “With the limited replayability value inherent to most puzzle games, that's a place it doesn't belong.”
- “It has no replayability whatsoever.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and whimsical qualities, enhanced by a delightful soundtrack and engaging sound effects that bring the world to life. The stylized graphics and vibrant NPCs contribute to a fun, comic ambiance, making the overall presentation feel cohesive and enjoyable. While the puzzles may lack replay value, players appreciate the opportunity to soak in the charming atmosphere and art.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack sets the perfect mood for each scene, while the sound effects bring the world to life in a way that's both immersive and delightful.”
- “The NPCs are bursting with personality even though they don't say a single word, and the stylized graphics and music create a fun and whimsical atmosphere.”
- “Especially if it's based on solutions that will be the same every time, which means this game has very little replay value unless you just want to soak up the atmosphere and art a little more.”
- “The music was not obtrusive, and added to the atmosphere.”
- “The puzzles are fun, the level design is really clever, and the ambient sounds and music add so much to the atmosphere of the game.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Journey of a Roach" is praised for its surprisingly touching narrative that combines charming visuals, clever puzzles, and immersive sound design, creating a heartwarming experience that resonates with players long after completion. The story of two cockroaches, Jim and Bud, is both wholesome and humorous, culminating in a light-hearted adventure that evokes laughter and warmth. Overall, it offers a delightful emotional journey that is both engaging and memorable.
- “Journey of a Roach is a heartwarming story of two cockroaches, Jim and Bud, as Bud finds a flower and somehow immediately tumbles into a carnival kerfuffle, while his dedicated friend, the protagonist Jim, scrambles against all laws of gravity down into the depths of an occult group of ants.”
- “With its charming visuals, clever puzzles, touching story, and immersive sound design, it's an experience that will stick with you long after you've finished playing.”
- “Beautiful game and heartwarming story.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that while the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious, particularly with certain achievements and abstract puzzles requiring trial-and-error, the sense of reward upon completion is appreciated. However, the excessive text and some overly complex puzzles detract from the overall experience, making parts of the game feel more boring than challenging.
- “Some puzzles are easy, some difficult, and that's cool, but some are just so abstract that you can only solve them through a tedious process of trial-and-error, which is not good.”
- “That's not difficult, it's just tedious and boring.”
- “While most of them are a little too text heavy and tedious, they are overall great games that are bringing back the point-and-click gaming era.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game has received positive feedback for its monetization approach, with users appreciating the absence of microtransactions and additional downloadable content (DLC). This policy has contributed to a favorable impression, distinguishing it from many other games that rely heavily on such monetization strategies.
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “I saw it come up as a Steam advertisement, and after having seen a dozen or more 'stupid' games being advertised, something in me decided to check out one of them.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The optimization of the game has been criticized, as it struggles to run smoothly even in development, with performance issues noted despite the absence of significant bugs. While controls are generally functional for an adventure game, some mechanics, like crawling on walls, can become frustrating.
- “Most everything works fine, no bugs (well, not performance-wise) or problems to speak of. Controls operate fine for an adventure game, though there are some cases where changing crawling on walls can get annoying, though not enough to really be a problem.”
- “The game runs smoothly for the most part, but there are significant performance issues that detract from the overall experience.”
- “While the controls are generally responsive, there are frustrating moments, especially when navigating crawling mechanics on walls.”
- “Despite the absence of major bugs, the optimization leaves much to be desired, particularly in terms of performance.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only minor bugs and occasional lag reported, which may be influenced by individual hardware. These issues are not considered game-breaking and are typical for point-and-click genres.
- “I experienced a couple minor glitches, and occasionally the game lagged a bit, although the latter is probably just due to my computer.”
- “Only hangups are minor bugginess at certain corners (not at all gamebreaking), and the inherent frustration of point and click games.”