Kona

Kona is a story based game worth telling, combining aspects such as narrative world-building and free-flowing gameplay. This title cannot be overlooked.

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"Kona is a single-player, open world mystery game set in 1970's Northern Canada. As detective Carl Faubert, you'll explore an eerie village, battle harsh elements, and investigate surreal events in this narrative-driven, atmospheric game. Despite some bugs and grinding, Kona features stellar mechanics, a delightful graphical style, a fantastic soundtrack, and plenty of humor."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,323 reviews

story378 positive mentions

stability23 negative mentions

Great atmosphere and immersive environment that captures the essence of a snowy Canadian winter.
Intriguing story with a unique blend of detective work and supernatural elements.
Well-designed puzzles and exploration mechanics that encourage players to investigate thoroughly.

The game ends abruptly, leaving many plot threads unresolved and feeling rushed.
Frequent loading screens disrupt immersion and can be frustrating during exploration.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as driving and combat, feel clunky and underdeveloped.

story
858 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Kona" is generally praised for its intriguing premise and atmospheric setting, revolving around a private detective uncovering supernatural elements in a small Quebec town. While many players appreciate the organic storytelling through exploration and environmental clues, there are frequent criticisms regarding the abrupt and unsatisfying ending, which leaves some feeling that the narrative lacks depth and coherence. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy story-driven experiences, despite its pacing and execution issues.
- “The story is great (until the end) with all the mysteries and evidence, and all the visions of the frozen bodies are really cool too for 2016.”
- “The storytelling method, using both narrated segments and environmental storytelling, works well to create an engaging mystery.”
- “The story unfolds organically as you explore the snow-covered expanse.”
- “It's not bad, I can very much appreciate all the aspects it had in the first 2-3 hours, but when the story's build-up doesn't really lead to anywhere, and all the remaining story info is just dumped onto you in the last 10-20 minutes, and then the story abruptly just kind of ends... it really does feel like they've had more ideas than this and they just ran out of time.”
- “The story ends abruptly, with a monologue that explains the entirety of the game's story, which comes off feeling very rushed.”
- “The plot of the story leaves a lot to be desired; I expected that to be the strong point considering the charm and seeming polish found in most parts of the game, but you end up getting a huge exposition scene at one point and the most nonsensical ending 'boss fight' I've ever seen.”
atmosphere
319 mentions
70 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Kona" is widely praised for its immersive and chilling depiction of the Canadian wilderness, effectively capturing feelings of isolation and mystery. Players appreciate the game's attention to detail in sound design, visuals, and environmental storytelling, which enhance the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and narrative clarity. Overall, the atmospheric elements are considered the game's strongest aspect, making it a compelling choice for fans of exploration and story-driven gameplay.
- “Kona offers an intriguing mix of detective work and survival mechanics, immersing players in a mysterious and atmospheric world.”
- “The atmosphere is stunning and the 60's/70's vibe that is present throughout is wonderfully done.”
- “The atmosphere is really deep and breathtaking.”
- “Lastly, this is a personal gripe, sure, but there is a supernatural element here which ruins the slightly cool, pi atmosphere.”
- “The isolation and mystery of the forest, township, and its residents creates some spooky and moody atmospheres, but is underplayed with a lackluster end reveal and a severe lack of direction given to the player.”
- “The mentioned atmosphere drops really quickly when you notice that there isn't any real danger out there.”
gameplay
258 mentions
28 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Kona" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of survival mechanics and detective work that some players find engaging, while others criticize it for being clunky and interrupting the narrative flow. The game is often described as a walking simulator with light survival elements, which can feel shallow and repetitive, particularly as the story progresses. While the atmosphere and story are praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay mechanics could benefit from refinement to enhance the overall experience.
- “Kona offers an intriguing mix of detective work and survival mechanics, immersing players in a mysterious and atmospheric world.”
- “The gameplay is solid; it's very much a narrative game with survival elements on the side.”
- “The game rests on a solid foundation with a variety of complementary game mechanics, an original tale inspired by Native American and French-Canadian folklore, a credibly cold and lonely ambiance, and a phenomenal original score.”
- “The survival mechanics, though adding realism, occasionally feel like they interrupt the flow of detective work rather than complement it.”
- “However, its slow pacing, average graphics, and somewhat clunky mechanics might deter players looking for a more polished or fast-paced experience.”
- “An interesting premise of investigating a murder in a remote snow-beaten northern Quebec town is let down by pointless game mechanics, tedious detective work, poor organization of information, and terrible narration.”
graphics
209 mentions
57 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players praising the beautiful environments, atmospheric lighting, and artistic style, particularly in capturing the harshness of snowy landscapes. However, some reviews note that while the visuals are decent for a game released in 2017, they may not meet the standards of more polished AAA titles, with occasional technical issues and a somewhat outdated engine. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the immersive experience, despite some criticisms regarding performance and consistency.
- “While the graphics might not be cutting-edge, the snowy landscapes are hauntingly beautiful, perfectly capturing the isolation and harshness of the environment.”
- “The graphics are positively delightful to look at, from the frozen bushes swaying in the wind, to the wolf paw prints on the ground, to the cluttered inside of a general store.”
- “The graphics, music, sound effects, and voice acting are great, though.”
- “However, some might find the graphical fidelity lacking compared to more polished titles.”
- “It seemed to stutter quite a lot and the graphics look less 2017 and more 2007.”
- “The first thing that jumped in my eyes (I had to check graphic settings twice) were the really bad graphics.”
music
125 mentions
45 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric qualities and fitting folk elements, particularly the Quebec-inspired tracks that enhance the snowy setting. However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive and limited, leading to frustration over the lack of variety. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's immersive experience, its repetitiveness detracts from long-term enjoyment.
- “The sound design, including the ambient noises and the occasional eerie music, contributes significantly to the game's immersive quality.”
- “The atmosphere here is the USP and it's done brilliantly, utilizing every element of presentation from graphics to music.”
- “The music and graphics create a very unique atmosphere.”
- “The music on the radio in the car is a 5 second loop, very repetitive and annoying.”
- “My biggest and only problem with the game is the music; your car and stereos in houses play the exact same song on repeat.”
- “I never complain when it comes to video game music - even generic ambience or something like that is plenty enough to satisfy me... but Kona's music is literal dogshit.”
optimization
28 mentions
50 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players reporting stable performance and the ability to run on high settings without significant issues. However, some users have experienced occasional micro stutters and frame rate drops, particularly at higher refresh rates or on specific hardware configurations. While most players enjoy a smooth experience, a few have noted performance inconsistencies that may vary based on individual system specifications.
- “Not only is this game beautiful, it also has really good optimization.”
- “The optimization is very good; I could run the game on max settings very well with no hiccups whatsoever.”
- “The technical implementation is staggering, very well done, no crashes or weird things, good performance, good resolution textures, I really can't complain.”
- “This is because there is a known issue with the game's objects stuttering when strafing if you are running the game at 144Hz.”
- “Optimization is pretty bad though; my rig usually powers through games like this on ultra with a stable 60 frames, but I was getting around 50-60 with constant jumps to 30-40, and once it dropped from 60 fps to around 25, causing me to crash the truck at almost top speed.”
- “I do realize that my rig is more than enough to run almost all current games at max settings, so I did some research in the Steam forums and saw that there are people experiencing performance issues.”
stability
25 mentions
8 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent freezes and glitches that disrupt gameplay, particularly during transitions between areas. While some users experienced significant issues, such as a buggy save system and persistent loading screens, others noted that their gameplay was relatively smooth with minimal bugs. Overall, the game appears to be plagued by stability problems, especially on certain platforms, despite some players having a more stable experience.
- “I only died to them once during my playthrough, and overall they're a welcome addition. The combat, despite being janky, is functional and surprisingly bug-free, at least in my experience. I wouldn't push it, but it's rare enough to not be an issue for most of the game.”
- “Runs great on ultra settings on my mid-tier computer.”
- “Buggy mess, couldn't even get past the gas station in the beginning because of the bugs.”
- “You can be driving down the street and all of a sudden the picture freezes, the truck engine audio replays in a loop, while you sit there with a loading circle showing.”
- “It's so buggy and barely works and the controls are terrible.”
grinding
22 mentions
9 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
82 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious, with repetitive tasks, long travel times, and excessive backtracking detracting from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the engaging story and varied achievements, many find the exploration and puzzle-solving elements to be overly laborious, leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers an interesting premise but suffers from mechanics that can feel unnecessarily drawn out.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
- “It can feel a bit grindy.”
- “The mix of walking, driving through the snow, and solving environmental puzzles is engaging but can sometimes feel tedious due to repetitive tasks and long stretches of travel without much happening.”
- “Many aspects of the gameplay are tedious, for example driving (there really should be a fast-travel option), exhaustively searching through drawers, and constantly walking back to a building to warm up.”
- “You walk around in a Canadian snowstorm solving tiny and tedious puzzles and scavenging through abandoned cabins hoping to find the story (or anything more entertaining for that matter).”
replayability
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally viewed as limited, with some players noting that it offers opportunities to discover missed clues or achievements. While a few find value in revisiting the game for exploration or to fill in story gaps, many agree that the overall experience does not warrant multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is considered enjoyable but not highly replayable, with some recommending it for a single playthrough rather than repeated sessions.
- “While not the longest game, it does have replay value if you miss some clues or items scattered around the map.”
- “This game is not too long; it has some replayability for achievements or to fill the journal to understand the full story about what happened and why.”
- “Replayability is there because of all the little secrets that you might've skipped.”
- “I get to play it again every now and then during the cold months of the year, although the story by itself doesn't feature any replay value.”
- “Anyway, would I recommend this game? In a way, yes, as a different style game with some innovations. At full price, no, as it does not take very long to complete and there is not much replay value to the game.”
- “Replayability is minimal unless you want all the achievements.”
humor
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of clever narration and quirky character interactions, often drawing comparisons to the style of the Stanley Parable, though it lacks some of its sharpness. Players appreciate the dry, sarcastic wit of the protagonist and the humorous side quests, which provide a lighthearted contrast to the game's more serious themes. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the storytelling and keeps players engaged, making the experience enjoyable even in tense moments.
- “At first I wanted to gouge his eyes out, but after an hour I started to almost enjoy his occasional quips, finding his voice and personality to be not unlike the Stanley Parable narrator in tone and humor.”
- “I love the dry, sarcastic humor of the narrator; it is fantastic.”
- “The humor, although intentionally provincial, is thankfully interjected when the terror needle is skirting the red and, for this reviewer, makes the game playable at night.”
emotional
7 mentions
86 % positive mentions
-29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is generally perceived as lacking depth, with players finding the story generic and failing to form attachments to the characters. While some moments attempt to evoke feelings, they often fall flat, leading to a sense of detachment and a cold experience overall. The gameplay mechanics, such as limited inventory space and linear item collection, further detract from any potential emotional impact.
- “I found the story a little generic but still emotional.”
- “Playing the game made me feel cold and I had to put on extra layers just sitting at my computer.”
- “Upon touching this unassuming ice-bound man, the good detective is given this vision of the past, in the form of apparitions going about the day they disappeared.”
- “The game tried to emulate the emotional depth of titles like Firewatch and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, but ultimately fell short, resulting in a linear experience of driving to houses to collect items and uncovering a dull story.”
- “Despite its attempts to evoke emotion, the game feels more like a collection of borrowed ideas rather than a cohesive narrative, leaving players disengaged.”
- “The emotional impact of the game is undermined by its predictable storyline and lack of character development, making it hard to connect with the experience.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The character development of the main protagonist is intriguing, as it unfolds gradually through brief glimpses into his past, creating a sense of mystery that engages players.
- “The character development of the main protagonist provides a real sense of mystery as we learn about his past through subtle hints.”
- “The depth of character development allows players to form a genuine connection with the characters, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
- “Each character evolves in a way that feels organic, with their backstories and motivations intricately woven into the narrative.”
- “The character development of the supporting cast feels shallow and underexplored, leaving them one-dimensional.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no real growth or change throughout the game.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development made my decisions feel irrelevant and uninspired.”