Kairo

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,019 reviews
  • atmosphere
  • story
  • graphics
Kairo Game Cover
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Kairo 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
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,019 reviews
atmosphere376 positive mentions
story76 negative mentions
  • Unique and atmospheric design that evokes a sense of mystery and exploration.
  • Clever puzzles that encourage lateral thinking and observation.
  • Engaging sound design and music that enhance the overall experience.
  • Lack of clear direction or narrative, leaving players feeling lost and confused.
  • Some puzzles can be overly abstract or frustrating, requiring external guides to solve.
  • Graphics are simplistic and may feel unpolished, detracting from immersion.
  • atmosphere590 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique, eerie, and immersive qualities, often described as haunting and surreal. Many players appreciate the minimalist design and ambient soundtrack that contribute to a sense of isolation and mystery, although some find the atmosphere overwhelming or stressful. Overall, while the atmosphere is considered the game's strongest aspect, opinions vary on how effectively it complements the gameplay and puzzle mechanics.

    • “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.”
    • “The atmosphere becomes increasingly skin-crawling and nerve-wracking as you go further into the game, and there are one or two moments that are jump scares.”
    • “Kairo is one of the most uniquely atmospheric games I've played.”
    • “The atmosphere is there, but the limited size and blandness of the areas, and the puzzles therein, hold it back.”
    • “I think there's simply not enough in this game to make the atmosphere work.”
    • “With atmosphere that loses its intrigue and no interesting gameplay, I can't recommend this game.”
  • story510 mentions

    The story in Kairo is largely abstract and minimalistic, conveyed primarily through environmental storytelling rather than traditional narrative elements. Players often find the plot elusive, requiring personal interpretation and exploration to piece together any coherent storyline, which can lead to mixed feelings about its depth and clarity. While some appreciate the atmospheric and emotional experience it offers, many express disappointment over the lack of a clear, engaging narrative, leaving them feeling unsatisfied by the overall storytelling approach.

    • “However, after reading some in-depth explanations online (and learning that the developer approved those explanations), it seems there is a relatively concrete and competent sci-fi plot hidden here after all.”
    • “The story is a kind of 'figure it out yourself' story that takes a full playthrough to finally begin understanding; but it's well worth it and the journey is enjoyable.”
    • “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.”
    • “It was really disappointing to do all of this and to not even have a coherent story at the end.”
    • “There is no story or anything it wants to tell you.”
    • “The story can be said to be completely missing.”
  • graphics432 mentions

    The graphics of the game are largely described as simplistic and minimalistic, often evoking a retro or low-budget aesthetic reminiscent of 90s titles. While some players appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric qualities it brings, others find the visuals lackluster and uninspired, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, the game's graphics may not impress everyone, but they contribute to a distinct ambiance that some players find compelling.

    • “The minimalistic visuals of Kairo are absolutely breathtaking.”
    • “Using nothing more than the most basic geometric graphics, it somehow manages to craft awe-inspiring vistas, mind-bending puzzles, and a complex open-ended backstory.”
    • “The atmosphere is very engrossing, from the otherworldly simplistic visuals to the mysterious soundtrack.”
    • “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 and, if you're feeling spicy, matching the two glowing symbols.”
    • “Unfortunately, I found the graphics extremely hard on my eyes - it triggered a lot of motion sickness and headaches for me.”
  • music364 mentions

    The music in the game is widely described as haunting, eerie, and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the overall experience and contributing to a sense of isolation and mystery. While some players appreciate the ambient soundtrack for its ability to evoke emotions and complement the visuals, others find it monotonous or unsettling, with criticisms regarding sound design and a lack of volume control options. Overall, the soundtrack is a significant aspect of the game, praised for its ability to create a unique and immersive atmosphere, despite some mixed opinions on its execution.

    • “The music is weird and ethereal, so it feels a bit like Yume Nikki, but much lonelier and more meditative.”
    • “The soundtrack absolutely helps the game and is amazingly eerie.”
    • “The music and atmospheric sounds add to the vast and lonely feeling of the world, and some elements you come across can send shivers down your spine.”
    • “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 sound design is awful, with very loud noises loading as you enter a room and ambient music disappearing when you touch a door so you can never trust that you aren't going to be jarred violently out of whatever mental state you're in.”
    • “The music is awful, and the same sound effects are used over and over.”
  • gameplay260 mentions

    The gameplay of Kairo is characterized as minimalistic and primarily revolves around exploration and simple puzzle-solving mechanics, often feeling more like a walking simulator than a traditional game. While some players appreciate the atmospheric design and the cleverness of certain puzzles, many criticize the lack of depth, coherence, and engaging mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience for those seeking more complex gameplay. Overall, the game appeals to fans of abstract, artsy experiences but may disappoint those looking for a more structured and challenging puzzle game.

    • “The gameplay is simple yet challenging, and the built-in hint system is helpful enough to point you in the right direction when you're stuck without outright spoiling the puzzle.”
    • “Kairo's great sound design and exploration-based gameplay makes for a very relaxing abstract experience.”
    • “The gameplay was nice and I had a lot of fun exploring the world and doing the puzzles.”
    • “The lack of common threads, themes, or mechanics between puzzles makes them feel like a random smattering of ideas against the wall.”
    • “The gameplay was not very fun; there were no enemies where it felt like there should be danger.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional38 mentions

    The game delivers a powerful emotional experience, often evoking feelings of sadness and isolation, with some players reporting intense reactions such as crying. While the puzzles may lack challenge and the graphics are subpar, the haunting soundtrack and immersive atmosphere contribute significantly to the emotional impact. Despite its flaws, the game resonates deeply with players, particularly those who may be struggling with their own emotional challenges.

    • “I have depression and this game made me cry 11/10.”
    • “The soundtrack can be eerie, futuristic, ethereal, and unnerving and serves to both enhance the impact of the visuals as well as shape the emotional experience of the player.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding28 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely tedious and frustrating, with many puzzles and collectible hunts described as simplistic and lacking intuitive design. The repetitive nature of searching for hidden items and navigating through uninspired environments contributes to a sense of monotony, making the overall experience feel like a burdensome chore rather than an engaging challenge.

    • “That's just tedious, like everything else in this game.”
    • “This is the kind of frustrating, tedious, and boring game that you're glad when it's finally over.”
    • “No such luck, unfortunately, as the game's minimalist style meant that the majority of the game was a series of isolated floating platforms and empty rooms punctuated by puzzles and tedious drag-face-along-every-wall style collectable hunts.”
  • stability20 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a bug-free experience and commend its polished aspects, others have encountered significant glitches and performance issues, particularly after recent updates. The game is perceived as having a low-budget feel due to some unfinished elements, yet many still find it enjoyable despite these flaws.

    • “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, which reveals a lasting, high quality finished product.”
    • “[i] Note: Somehow, the most recent updates to the game have made it incredibly buggy.”
    • “[*] Terrible game engine (slow, buggy, see-through walls and objects).”
    • “There were some pretty glaring geometry glitches like hairline cracks, overlapping brushwork, misaligned textures, missing faces, and gaps that looked like they weren't supposed to be there.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    The game has limited replayability, primarily offering an alternate ending and collectible hunting for those who enjoy exploring every detail. Many players found the experience linear and lacking in variety, leading to a consensus that once completed, there is little incentive to revisit the game. Overall, while some players appreciated the initial experience, they felt it was not worth more than a minimal price due to its lack of engaging replay options.

    • “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.”
    • “There isn't much replay value after the game is done, but I put in a lot of hours before completing it.”
    • “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 'collectible' 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 gets a barely thumbs down.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedic moments, such as awkward block collisions and obscure puzzle solutions, alongside intentionally funny puzzles that evoke laughter. Players may find themselves laughing at the discomfort and absurdity of certain situations, contributing to a unique and chilling experience. Overall, the humor is both situational and derived from the game's immersive atmosphere.

    • “Oh and some block collision pushes you backwards, making walking up certain stairs rather... funny.”
    • “Kairo has many different and funny puzzles.”
    • “The entire experience is rather chilling, and if you let yourself really become immersed in this world, you’ll probably find yourself making some pretty strange sounds, and laughing at points about just how uncomfortable it actually makes you.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly on lower-end hardware, some players experience performance issues that require reducing graphical settings. Despite these challenges, many appreciate the game's accessibility for budget setups, though there is a consensus that further optimization and control improvements are needed.

    • “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 dollop of a game for you to try out.”
    • “Great game, 8.5/10, needs better controls and better performance.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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