Kio's Adventure

About

Kio's Adventure is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Spacelight Studio and was released on April 5, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Kio's Adventure" is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with a sensational 16bit pixel style and a stellar atmosphere. The game follows Kio, a high school girl trying to escape a gruesome, organ-filled world filled with monsters after a strange earthquake. With a fabulous soundtrack, intense horror decryption, and bloody scenes, this game is for mature audiences only.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 448 reviews

story35 positive mentions

gameplay14 negative mentions

The pixel art and death illustrations are well done and add a unique charm to the game.
The game offers a mix of horror and dark humor, making it an interesting experience.
For its low price, the game provides a decent amount of content and entertainment.

The English translation is poor, making some dialogue difficult to understand.
The story becomes nonsensical and loses its initial horror elements as the game progresses.
The game features graphic and sexualized content that may be off-putting to many players.

story
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
61%
15%
The story of the game is widely criticized for being nonsensical, poorly executed, and often overshadowed by its graphic content and humor. Many reviewers noted that while the initial premise showed potential, it quickly devolved into a chaotic mix of absurd events and fourth-wall breaks, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and confused by the lack of coherence. Overall, the narrative is seen as a weak point, with some players suggesting that the game is better enjoyed for its horror elements rather than its storytelling.
- “The story is light on but for $2 it is interesting enough to make it through its couple hour campaign.”
- “Not usually a fan of the horror genre but pleasantly surprised by an interesting story, a short gruesome adventure with odd twists and surprises, feels like it has ideas taken from other games but it's unique enough to keep you investigating for more :)”
- “The story, seems decent enough, and the only downside for this game is that some of the text is not translated, and some sentences were not translated correctly.”
- “What I think is the biggest offender though is that the story doesn't do anything to justify any of the events going on.”
- “The gameplay is nothing special and what little coherent story there is is bland or contrived, so you won't miss out on anything by just finding a different horror RPG to play if that's what you're here for.”
- “The story itself is non-existent, or should I say pretty much non-existent.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many praising the unique blend of cutesy pixel art and graphic death scenes that evoke a strong emotional response. While some players appreciate the artistic quality and atmosphere reminiscent of classic RPG Maker horror titles, others find the explicit and disturbing imagery, particularly involving underage characters, to be off-putting and inappropriate. Overall, the visuals are well-executed but come with significant content warnings due to their graphic nature.
- “The art style fits exactly the mood the game is trying to communicate.”
- “The graphics are very smooth and nice to look at, and the sketches of the deaths are very decent.”
- “The artwork overall is very well done, combining both anime and 8-bit styles.”
- “Just looking at the artwork and some animations in-game will make you sick and disgusted - the use of genitalia as a monster and characters in-game is 16 years old being slaughtered viciously.”
- “Some may be turned off by just how gruesome many of the game over artworks are, and the English translation is far from perfect.”
- “I bought this thinking it looked a bit like Binding of Isaac, it's not, it's just messed up, not fun, with poor mechanics where you just die all the time and really graphically violent and sexual.”
gameplay
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
71%
19%
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some praising its well-crafted mechanics, fast-paced action, and nods to classic horror games, while others criticize it for being basic, clunky, and often tedious. Many players noted that the combat feels unrefined and the story lacks depth, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, while the game has its enjoyable moments, it suffers from issues like poor controls, trial-and-error gameplay, and a lack of engaging content.
- “Gameplay itself is really well made; the distribution of ammunition, the inventory system, the amount of enemies, and the puzzles were all very well designed.”
- “There are some great nods to classic horror games in the game mechanics (such as manual reloading), and the bosses are challenging and fun.”
- “A unique 16-bit style survival horror game with gameplay similar to Silent Hill/Resident Evil; it's a shame that the game is short but still fun to play.”
- “The gameplay is boring and dull, the plot is basically non-existent and littered with dumb in-jokes which end up being more numerous than any story-related dialogue, and once you're done, you just feel upset for even bothering with it in the first place.”
- “I bought this thinking it looked a bit like Binding of Isaac, it's not, it's just messed up, not fun, with poor mechanics where you just die all the time and really graphically violent and sexual.”
- “However, get ready to see them a lot since the game is chock full of beginner's traps and clunky, spastic combat mechanics, and crap like enemies that always appear in doorways that you just entered a room in, which makes it impossible to avoid dying.”
humor
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its self-awareness, absurdity, and the comedic value of its poor translation, which often leads to unintentional hilarity. While some found the blend of dark humor and horror effective, others criticized the humor as forced or poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as funny and entertaining, particularly for those who enjoy quirky, offbeat humor, despite its uneven delivery.
- “Another cool thing about Kio's adventure is that it has a beautiful balance (which is pretty rare for games in this category); there are lots of humor and jokes between horrifying horror scenes which create a really interesting atmosphere.”
- “The writing is either bad translation or meant to be the way it is, but it's hilarious and I wouldn't have it any other way.”
- “This game is short and very comedic - I found myself laughing at some of the most childish things ever.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The music in the game is generally described as decent and fitting for the atmosphere, with some standout tracks, particularly during boss fights. While it may not be groundbreaking or particularly memorable, it effectively complements the game's aesthetic and enhances the overall experience. However, some reviewers noted that the soundtrack could be more varied and that certain sound elements felt lacking.
- “It's music is great and the story is really entertaining and aesthetically it might remind you of some of the older RPG Maker horror titles which feels good.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and design really make you feel tense.”
- “Kio's adventure has some good music and the story is very well done.”
- “In terms of sounds, they're okay for the game's standard, which means it leaves a lot to be desired from me. The same goes for the soundtrack; there is basic ambient music and a music box style jingle in the main menu.”
- “The music is almost non-existent, and the only things there are nothing worth listening to.”
- “The music loops in a really obvious spot, especially in the school.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
39%
13%
The atmosphere in "Kio's Adventure" is a unique blend of humor and horror, creating an intriguing vibe that balances lighthearted moments with intense, eerie scenes. The game's art style and sound design contribute significantly to its deep, dark atmosphere, reminiscent of classic RPG Maker horror games, while the incorporation of gore and unexpected elements adds to its unsettling charm. However, opinions vary, with some players feeling that the atmosphere lacks consistency and depth, particularly during moments of abrupt tonal shifts.
- “Another cool thing about Kio's Adventure is that it has a beautiful balance (which is pretty rare for games in this category); there are lots of humor and jokes between horrifying horror scenes, which create a really interesting atmosphere.”
- “You can tell a lot of consideration went into creating an atmosphere very early on.”
- “There's little to no atmosphere, no dread or shocks - just gore and loud noises.”
- “The atmosphere can be creepy and depressing even with the pixel art style.”
- “Game atmosphere is total bullshit.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly during the final boss fight, which many describe as frustrating and lacking in engaging mechanics. While some appreciate the overall experience and value for money, the slow pacing and repetitive item collection detract from the enjoyment.
- “That fun 'haha whoops probably shouldn't have touched those spikes' gameplay turns into a tedious item/event collection slog.”
- “Tedious and a waste of time.”
- “The game was cheap and I felt like I got my money’s worth out of it, but it was still tedious and there is no way in hell I’m fighting that final boss again.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its unsettling atmosphere and impactful storytelling, which evoke feelings of discomfort and sickness rather than fear. The 16-bit style enhances the emotional weight, creating a stark contrast between the visuals and the dark themes, reminiscent of other emotionally charged titles like "Lisa."
- “While these depictions aren't graphic, they're displayed in the same 16-bit style as the rest of the game; it made me feel genuinely sick - and it wasn't because of the gore.”
- “It made me feel sick more than scared me.”
- “I bought this expecting something like 'Lisa' - which was gory, but the storyline was darkly artistic and emotional.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's replayability is enhanced by its achievement system that encourages players to discover hidden rooms, though some users note that poor translation and limited replay options can detract from the experience. For those who enjoy challenges, the game's complexity adds to its charm and length, making it more engaging.
- “It's part of the achievement system to find all of the hidden rooms, and it gives the game a lot of replay value, in my opinion.”
- “Bad translation and lack of replay value can be a turn-off.”
- “It's a little hard for someone who is game-challenged like me and plays mostly visual novels, but that adds to the replay value and length of the game, which is charming rather than frustrating.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report stability issues, particularly noting that the game frequently freezes when attempting to acquire new items, and some sprites can be difficult to interpret.
- “Some of the sprites are hard to figure out, and when I try to get new items, the game just freezes.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
- “I've experienced multiple instances of the game freezing during crucial moments, which is incredibly frustrating.”