Kalinur

About

Kalinur is a single player arcade platformer game with fantasy, medieval, historical and dark fantasy themes. It was developed by Pixel vs Pixel and was released on August 18, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Kalinur is a mini metroidvania full of action and adventure. In it you will have to explore the entire castle in order to find and defeat a wizard named Kalinur, who used his power to leave the kingdom in a state of darkness and suffering. During this adventure you will have great challenges and rewards in order to bring peace back to the kingdom.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 67 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Fun and addictive gameplay with tight controls and simple mechanics that effectively capture the classic Metroidvania feel.
Well-designed boss fights and level design with non-linear exploration and useful abilities that enhance platforming and combat.
Excellent value for a short game with engaging retro pixel art, music, and affordable pricing making it a great pick for quick metroidvania sessions.

Lacks originality and innovative features, resulting in a very basic and generic experience that may not appeal to players seeking depth.
Frustrating backtracking due to absence of fast travel and limited save points, combined with enemies having unpredictable attacks leading to forced restarts.
Some control and UI issues, including unchangeable keybindings, uncomfortable controller support for certain devices, and occasional visual clarity problems during boss fights.

grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is optional but accessible, with early farming spots allowing players to easily boost health and damage upgrades without feeling mandatory. The game balances challenge and reward well, offering unlimited upgrades through coin farming, though extended grinding may lead to repetitive sounds and similar boss encounters. Overall, grinding enhances progression without becoming a tedious necessity.
- “Wonderful metroidvania, maybe a little too dependent on some grinding that the game cleverly puts right in front of you in the wizard zone.”
- “Since the game is already easy once you spend five minutes farming coins you can obliterate almost everything.”
- “I think the balance is just right with how the game is challenging, but not punishing and if it's too hard and you are willing to spend your time grinding for coins, there are unlimited upgrades for health and damage.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay is straightforward and accessible, featuring simple mechanics and basic controls that still provide an engaging and enjoyable experience. While not as complex or visually impressive as some other metroidvania titles, the game offers useful abilities and decent boss encounters that enhance exploration and fun over a short 3-4 hour playtime.
- “Fairly basic in terms of controls and graphics, but it delivers in terms of fun gameplay, decent bosses, and a nice way to spend 3-4 hours.”
- “Useful abilities, like double jump or being able to dash midair, may not seem special but they impact gameplay by making it easier and allowing access to places you couldn't otherwise reach.”
- “It's all about the gameplay in this one and it's quite engaging.”
- “I like to believe I played a handful of Metroidvania games, those with certainly more complex mechanics and deeper content, and some that are debatably more artsy.”
- “The mechanics are simple with only a horizontal attack that can attack faster the more you spam the button.”
- “Simple mechanics and easy to play.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are simple and 8-bit styled, reminiscent of classic metroidvania and Castlevania games, which adds a nostalgic charm. While basic and minimalistic, the visuals effectively complement the gameplay and overall retro aesthetic. Some players appreciate the classic look, though a few find the limited control scheme tied to the style less appealing.
- “It caught my eye because it falls into the genre that I love (metroidvanias) and features an 8-bit art style similar to classic “Castlevania” titles which I also hold in high regard.”
- “However: as simple as its graphics and tunes might be, there's a charm to them.”
- “The graphics, world map, and music are all nicely done.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The music received mixed feedback, with some users praising its quality and fit with the game's style, while others found it less appealing. Overall, it complements the pixel art and enhances the exploration experience for many players.
- “Super fun, great 8-bit graphics and music.”
- “The music is nice and it was fun to explore the map.”
- “The graphics, world map and music are all nicely done.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The story is simple and somewhat clichéd, serving more as a backdrop than the main focus of the game. While it has a basic storyline, players are more impressed by the gameplay rather than narrative depth. Some feel the story lacks complexity and leaves parts feeling incomplete.
- “Good story line, but what will impress you is the gameplay.”
- “On the game itself, it has some problems that a first game will probably have: enemies and your weapon don't have knockback, so sometimes the enemy just go 'inside' of you damaging you; the storyline has all the usual tropes; sounds get repetitive after a while (especially if you are grinding for coins); most boss fights are very similar.”
- “The storyline has all the usual tropes, making it feel unoriginal.”
- “The story is a bit bare-bones, and it felt like I was missing something.”
- “It's a simple story too.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is light and straightforward, delivering simple yet amusing moments that add to the overall fun experience.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a satisfying experience for a quick metroidvania playthrough but lacks strong replayability for extended or multiple play sessions.
- “Good if you are eager for a quick Metroidvania game, but not much replayability.”