Kairo
- April 24, 2013
- Lupus Studios Limited
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamKairo is a single-player Horror Adventure game with striking visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. It offers exploration of vast, abstract monuments and puzzle-solving to bring ancient machinery back to life. The environmental storytelling and atmospheric soundtrack convey the mysterious purpose of this forgotten world, creating a highly emotional experience.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
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Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Kairo offers a unique and atmospheric experience with its surreal environments and haunting soundtrack.
- The puzzles are engaging and require creative problem-solving, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
- The minimalist art style and design create a captivating world that encourages exploration and introspection.
- The game lacks a clear narrative or direction, leaving players feeling lost and confused at times.
- Some puzzles can be overly cryptic or frustrating, requiring external guides to solve.
- The movement controls can feel sluggish and imprecise, detracting from the overall experience.
- atmosphere357 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique, eerie, and immersive qualities, often described as haunting and surreal, effectively enhancing the overall experience. While many players appreciate the captivating sound design and minimalist visuals that contribute to a sense of isolation and mystery, some find the atmosphere overwhelming or stressful, leading to mixed feelings about the gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as the game's strongest aspect, drawing players into its abstract and enigmatic world, despite criticisms regarding puzzle design and clarity.
“The atmosphere and ominous architecture are definitely the main attraction.”
“The atmosphere is captivating; every room is distinctive and fun to explore, puzzles are smart, not too hard, and interesting to solve.”
“Kairo is able to conjure up an atmosphere of loneliness and mystery that really sticks with you the whole game.”
“I wish there was a neutral option and not just recommend or not recommend... I did not play enough of this game to say that, but I did feel the need to note that the game has such a creepy atmosphere that I very quickly did not want to play it; it is just too stressful.”
“The atmosphere is there, but the limited size and blandness of the areas, and the puzzles therein, hold it back.”
“The atmosphere can be quite scary and daunting at first, but somehow evolves so you feel peaceful and calm at the end.”
- story299 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story in *Kairo* is largely abstract and minimalistic, conveyed primarily through environmental storytelling rather than explicit narrative elements. Players often find the plot vague and open to interpretation, with many hints and symbols scattered throughout the game that require careful observation to piece together. While some appreciate the atmospheric and immersive experience, others express disappointment over the lack of a coherent storyline, feeling that the game could benefit from a clearer narrative structure.
“The story is expressed entirely through the environment and the things that you see.”
“Kairo is a deeply atmospheric puzzle/exploration game which tells its story only through clues.”
“There is a story here, but one told without words, and it is a magnificent story of great scale and great aloneness, and it is masterfully told.”
“The world is more atmospheric with implied poetic themes and liminal open spaces while being very linear to traverse, so if you need a story and clear instructions, this isn't the one for you.”
“Without getting into spoilers, the ending and overarching story didn't leave me satisfied.”
“There is no real plot to be found, no idea why any of this exists, who you are supposed to be, or what the point is to 'solving' the puzzles.”
- graphics254 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting their simplicity and dated quality reminiscent of early 90s titles. While some appreciate the minimalist aesthetic and atmospheric design, others find the visuals lackluster and uninspired, detracting from the overall experience. Despite the graphical limitations, the game's unique art style and ambient soundtrack create a compelling atmosphere that resonates with certain players.
“The minimalistic visuals of Kairo are absolutely breathtaking.”
“The atmosphere is very engrossing, from the otherworldly simplistic visuals to the mysterious soundtrack.”
“Even though the graphics of this game are so easily made, the ambience it creates is incredible and I have loved playing through this entire game.”
“The graphics have the effect of an unfinished greybox demo; there is little thought or effort put into narrative purpose to any element of the setting, and the puzzles are simplistic and tedious.”
“The graphics are pretty subpar, not beautiful at all, and the puzzles do not pose much of a challenge at all and involve touching the glowing symbols.”
“The graphics look like they were made in the mid-90s; things like the original Unreal had higher poly counts than this does, and more graphical cohesion.”
- music202 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a prominent aspect, often described as eerie, ambient, and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the overall experience. While some players appreciate its haunting and mesmerizing qualities, others find it monotonous or unsettling, contributing to a sense of isolation and unease. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a critical element that shapes the game's mood, with many reviewers noting its ability to evoke strong emotional responses.
“The music is hauntingly beautiful and will likely find its way to my iTunes playlist.”
“The soundtrack absolutely helps the game and is amazingly eerie.”
“The atmosphere is fantastically mysterious, the puzzles are just the right difficulty, the whole world is wonderful to look at, the music fits perfectly and the subtlety of the storytelling is very welcome.”
“Kairo, on the other hand, can be downright oppressive and unsettling at times, with ominous ambient music, grainy textures, and acidic colors.”
“The so-called atmospheric music combined with the above explained problems makes you feel angry and want to just finish and uninstall the game ASAP.”
“The music is awful, and the same sound effects are used over and over.”
- gameplay152 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Kairo is characterized by its minimalistic approach, primarily involving exploration and simple puzzle-solving mechanics that often lack depth and cohesion. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and surreal experience, many criticize the game for its unengaging puzzles, poor mechanics, and a lack of clear objectives, leading to a sense of frustration and boredom. Overall, the gameplay appeals to those who enjoy a relaxed, art-focused experience, but may disappoint players seeking more complex and rewarding interactions.
“The gameplay is simple yet effective, delivering a challenging balance between the need to use logic and intuition.”
“Kairo's great sound design and exploration-based gameplay makes for a very relaxing abstract experience.”
“The gameplay consists mostly of puzzles and exploration, and both are quite rewarding.”
“The lack of common threads, themes, or mechanics between puzzles makes them feel like a random smattering of ideas against the wall.”
“Gameplay is pretty minimal; it's more or less a walking simulator with some puzzles thrown in, it works as more of an art piece.”
“Sadly, the novelty wears off really quickly and you find yourself walking in an artsy world with abstract puzzles and no clear objective or story and hardly any gameplay.”
- emotional25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from profound sadness and isolation to moments of touching beauty, particularly in its conclusion. While some players found the emotional impact to be powerful and immersive, others criticized the abruptness and lack of narrative depth, leading to feelings of confusion and discomfort. Overall, the game successfully evokes strong emotions, though its abstract puzzles and minimalist design may not resonate with everyone.
“The conclusion definitely has that wow factor, and while you won't find a huge compelling storyline, I think it does provide a really good emotional experience.”
“I have depression and this game made me cry 11/10.”
“It's wonderful that a game like this can be created through crowdfunding, and deliver such a hefty emotional punch despite such a small budget.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for its tedious and often nonsensical puzzles, which detract from the overall experience. Players find themselves engaged in frustrating collectable hunts and backtracking, leading to a sense of monotony rather than challenge. Overall, the game is perceived as a tedious slog, lacking satisfying gameplay elements.
“A majority of the puzzles felt tedious, with a few being completely nonsensical and maddening (rotating wheels with shapes being the worst offender).”
“This is the kind of frustrating, tedious, and boring game that you're glad when it's finally over.”
“The puzzles for me were too simplistic and tedious to get through.”
- stability13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting a lack of significant bugs and a generally polished experience, while others highlight numerous graphical glitches, poor performance, and a buggy game engine. Recent updates have exacerbated issues for some users, leading to a perception of the game as unfinished or poorly developed. While a few players found it enjoyable despite these flaws, many expressed frustration with the game's instability and lack of polish.
“I encountered no glitches at all, which is definitely a plus.”
“Some structures/objects could've been made with custom models, like the made-up coffins, which makes the game feel unfinished or poorly funded, but it really looked bug-free. I couldn't pick up one of the beads on the string, and that's it; I can't remember any other bug, which reveals a lasting, high-quality finished product.”
“It's supposed to be an atmospheric game but it is pretty ugly and not polished (weird shadows or lights, glitches, ugly textures, etc.).”
“Note: somehow, the most recent updates to the game have made it incredibly buggy.”
“Numerous graphical glitches, the far-from-smooth movement and controls made for a miserable experience for me.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, primarily offering an alternate ending and some hidden collectibles that require tedious exploration. Many players found the experience monotonous and felt that once completed, there was little incentive to revisit, despite a few hidden secrets. The linear gameplay and lack of variety contribute to a general consensus that replay value is minimal.
“I'm glad I decided to invest €0.99 into this game. Looking back, Kairo seems to have some replay value too, so I'd say that even the regular price of €5 is worth the experience.”
“Not much replay value once you've completed the game, but it's more than worth it to introduce it to other people.”
“Replay value: 6.4/10”
“My overall experience was boring and I was happy to pick it up on sale for $1. You should never pay more than this for the game since it has no replayability (apart from the 'collectable' stuff). It also clearly uses some standard assets and seems like the whole game uses just one texture, making it boring.”
“This game has very little replay value, unless you're one of those people who want to painstakingly go through every nook and cranny to find these tiny symbols tucked in corners of the levels.”
“What could be a 30-minute game with more replayability and more variety of endings turns up as an overly long walking simulator with very little redeeming value in gameplay and a non-rewarding short ending that barely gets a thumbs down.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of quirky and unexpected moments, with some puzzles eliciting genuine laughter. While certain elements, like block collisions and secret endings, provide amusing surprises, the overall tone leans more towards a chilling experience that can provoke strange reactions rather than consistent humor.
“Oh, and some block collision pushes you backwards, making walking up certain stairs rather funny.”
“Kairo has many different and funny puzzles.”
“Pus, that secret ending was pretty funny when taking the rest of the game into consideration.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some users report smooth performance on lower-end hardware, others experience significant performance issues even with reduced graphical settings. Despite its appealing graphics, many feel that the optimization does not meet expectations, particularly given the game's relatively average visual quality.
“It helps that it runs smoothly even on this little laptop of mine, so even if you're on a budget, you may have found a graphics gem of a game for you to try out.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing the game to run well on lower-end hardware without sacrificing too much detail.”
“I appreciate the effort put into optimization; it makes the game accessible to a wider audience, regardless of their system specifications.”
“The game has very bad performance for its pretty mediocre graphics.”
“Great game, 8.5/10, needs better controls and better performance.”
