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Joyspring

78%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
optimization, stability
78% User Score Based on 160 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinuxMac OSMac OS
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About

Ascend the peak in search of the Joyspring. Explore every cavern and cave, crevasse and chasm. Hear the wind sing. Keep dashing and find the spring. And when you return, return smiling.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Joyspring screenshot
Joyspring screenshot
Joyspring screenshot
Joyspring screenshot
Joyspring screenshot
Joyspring screenshot
Joyspring screenshot
Joyspring screenshot

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 160 reviews
gameplay16 positive mentions
optimization4 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful visuals, a charming soundtrack, and an interesting storyline that resonates with players.
  • Joyspring offers a challenging gameplay experience that can be rewarding for those who enjoy difficult platformers, reminiscent of Celeste.
  • It's a free game that showcases innovative mechanics and level design, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
  • The controls are clunky and unresponsive, particularly the wall jump mechanic, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Many players have reported performance issues, including lag and unassigned controls, making the game unplayable on certain platforms.
  • The game feels overly difficult at times, with some levels being frustratingly hard and lacking clear guidance on mechanics.
  • gameplay
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the innovative mechanics and visuals but criticizing the execution and consistency, particularly with wall jumping and controller mapping. While some find the "touch it and die" platforming engaging, others feel overwhelmed by the complexity and lack of fluidity, leading to frustration. Overall, the game is seen as a visually appealing platformer with potential, but it struggles with balancing its mechanics and providing a smooth experience.

    • “The soundtrack is really great, the story is well thought out, and the mechanics in the game are innovative compared to other free platformer games.”
    • “In general, this game is a pretty nice looking platforming game with all the gameplay mechanics you would expect from a game of the genre, but with a few extra ideas added to the formula to make it a little bit more interesting.”
    • “A pretty good platformer overall; though the gameplay mechanics may feel uninspired and the story a tad simple, it does not hold the game back from being fun and challenging to play.”
    • “The jumping from the wall mechanic was very inconsistent on controller, or maybe I was doing it wrong the entire time.”
    • “It's a very mediocre Celeste ripoff even beyond that - the swapping mechanic is nothing fresh and mostly just intrudes on what would already be fairly challenging platforming, and there's no way to comfortably map all five action buttons in a way that makes them easily accessible since L2/R2 or the Xbox controller equivalents can't be mapped to on the controller either.”
    • “I'll be blunt; to me, the primary mechanic of the game is more annoying than fun.”
  • music
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its soothing and chill qualities, enhancing the overall aesthetic and experience. However, some players feel it lacks variation, leading to moments of boredom, and a few opted to play their own music instead. Overall, while the soundtrack is well-received, it is noted that the game is not primarily defined by its music.

    • “The landscapes in the background, together with the feel of the soundtrack, re-inject some serenity after the gameplay has you tearing your hair out.”
    • “The soundtrack is really great, the story is well thought out, and the mechanics in the game are innovative compared to other free platformer games.”
    • “Great game with an interesting storyline and fire music.”
    • “The music sounded like the playhouse area of Paper Mario, or it was created in a simple 16-bit program.”
    • “I wish the music, although soothing, had more variation to it; at times I often felt bored due to the lack of immersion. I think that if it had more exciting music and sound design, it would be better.”
    • “It even got to the point where I would play my own music over the game rather than the music that came with the game.”
  • story
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story revolves around a young character on a quest to find a mystical spring that can restore joy to a bleak world, emphasizing themes of perseverance and the value of joy. While some players appreciate the beautiful art and music accompanying the narrative, others find the plot simplistic and lacking depth, with story elements often overshadowed by challenging gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a mixed bag—engaging for some, yet easily overlooked by others.

    • “It's a beautiful story about perseverance, and joy being something worth fighting for.”
    • “The soundtrack is really great, the story is well thought out, and the mechanics in the game are innovative compared to other free platformer games.”
    • “A 2D puzzle-like platformer with a twist and an interesting story, a simple yet captivating art style accompanied by soothing music, hard and frustrating at times, but when you manage to pass a level you feel joy as the weight of failing over and over lifts from your shoulders.”
    • “The story in general went nowhere, and was 'deep' for the sake of sounding like there was a message.”
    • “Also, the plot (however much there is of it) is honestly boring and easy to overlook.”
    • “Story drops are relatively spaced out though, especially as you spend real-life weeks stuck on one level.”
  • graphics
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style and captivating aesthetics, complemented by a cool soundtrack. While many players appreciate the attention to detail and overall visual appeal, some have noted issues with gameplay fluency and occasional bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's charm, despite some frustrations with controls and difficulty.

    • “The game has a beautiful art style, great story, and awesome music, but the platforming is super difficult, though not always in a great way.”
    • “A 2D puzzle-like platformer with a twist and an interesting story, featuring a simple yet captivating art style accompanied by soothing music. It's hard and frustrating at times, but when you manage to pass a level, you feel joy as the weight of failing over and over lifts from your shoulders.”
    • “This game is super fun and addicting with the cute graphics and music, and it is also very challenging in the later levels.”
    • “Didn't beat, but good game graphically, just shit controls though”
    • “A 2D puzzle-like platformer with a twist and an interesting story, a simple yet captivating art style accompanied by soothing music, hard and frustrating at times, but when you manage to pass a level you feel joy as the weight of failing over and over lifts from your shoulders.”
    • “Altogether, a pretty aesthetic vibe”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, particularly due to inefficient rendering that affects gameplay. Many feel that a greater focus on optimization could have improved the overall experience, likening it unfavorably to other titles that handle performance better. Overall, the game's optimization is considered severely lacking.

    • “Performance was lackluster half the time because I figure the game is rendering the entire screen at once, so some screens were unbearable.”
    • “If the game was more focused on optimizations and simple gameplay like the game it's obviously trying to follow in the steps of, I would love to play that game instead of this passion project with no clear goals.”
    • “Optimized like absolute shit though.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is noted for its cool soundtrack and graphics, but users report occasional bugs that affect stability. Despite these issues, there is optimism that future patches could enhance the overall experience.

    • “The game has a cool soundtrack and graphics, but it's often buggy. With some patchwork, I think it could be great, but for now, it's just pretty good.”
    • “The game has a cool soundtrack and graphics, but it's often buggy. With some patchwork, I think it could be great, but for now, it's just pretty good.”

Buy Joyspring

1h Median play time
1h Average play time
1-1h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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