Kona

About

"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

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,842 reviews

story524 positive mentions

grinding32 negative mentions

Kona offers a strong sense of atmosphere, immersing players in a chilling 1970s Canadian winter setting.
The game features an intriguing narrative that unfolds through exploration and environmental storytelling, keeping players engaged.
The survival mechanics, while not overly challenging, add a layer of tension and realism to the gameplay.

The game suffers from frequent loading screens that disrupt immersion and can be frustrating during exploration.
The ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many plot threads unresolved and diminishing the overall experience.
The inventory management system is cumbersome, with many items being unnecessary and leading to tedious backtracking.

story
1,243 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The story of "Kona" is a blend of mystery and supernatural elements set in a snowy Canadian landscape, where players take on the role of a private investigator uncovering the dark secrets of a small town. While many players find the narrative engaging and atmospheric, with intriguing twists and character backstories, the conclusion often feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving some plot threads unresolved. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its immersive quality, though it can be hampered by pacing issues and a lack of clear direction at times.
- “The story is engaging, and the atmosphere is very immersive.”
- “The story unfolds organically as you explore the snow-covered expanse.”
- “Kona is a solid walking simulator with an interesting and intriguing story.”
- “Lastly, the main storyline was fine for a weak video game, but the end resolution was extremely disappointing given the buildup to it.”
- “The lack of story signposting does not make this an 'open world' nor a 'detective' game.”
- “The story is a bit loose so it's hard to know what you're missing in your journal when you want to piece a middle part between two other parts.”
atmosphere
465 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
28%
2%
The atmosphere in "Kona" is widely praised for its immersive and chilling depiction of a snowy, desolate Canadian village, effectively capturing a sense of isolation and mystery. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric visuals, sound design, and music that enhance the game's narrative, making it a compelling experience for fans of atmospheric storytelling and exploration. While some critiques mention pacing and technical issues, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to create a captivating and eerie environment that draws players into its world.
- “The atmosphere and music of this game were really on point.”
- “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 didn't immerse me either, sadly.”
- “However, there were a couple of issues that I found with it: firstly, the game will freeze to load new areas which shatters the atmosphere the game otherwise succeeds in creating.”
- “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.”
gameplay
409 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The gameplay of *Kona* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its blend of exploration, survival mechanics, and detective work. While some appreciate the atmospheric setting and engaging story, others criticize the clunky controls, tedious mechanics, and a lack of meaningful gameplay depth, often feeling that the survival elements detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a unique but flawed mix of genres that may appeal to fans of narrative-driven adventures, albeit with some reservations regarding its execution.
- “Incredible atmosphere, immersive and good gameplay mixing survival mechanics along with detective elements.”
- “Kona offers an intriguing mix of detective work and survival mechanics, immersing players in a mysterious and atmospheric world.”
- “The gameplay is very intuitive, allowing you to explore the village at your own pace and go back and forth as you please.”
- “Unfortunately, almost every minute of gameplay for me was spent in frustration of handling tedious actions that should have never even been a significant part of gameplay.”
- “I wish the developers had spent a little time getting some feedback on their UI choices and gameplay mechanics, as well as the main script.”
- “The gameplay itself wasn't fun; it was just rather confusing and most of the clues you uncover were irrelevant to the story, which also didn't make much sense with almost solely loose ends.”
graphics
290 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
39%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the beautiful environments and atmospheric lighting, particularly in snowy settings. While some noted that the visuals are impressive for an indie title, others felt the graphics were outdated or lacking compared to more polished games. Overall, the aesthetic and art style are generally well-received, contributing positively to the immersive experience, despite some technical issues and repetitiveness in graphical assets.
- “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 look beautiful, especially the lighting.”
- “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.”
- “However, some might find the graphical fidelity lacking compared to more polished titles.”
- “The graphics feel dated in quality, 3-5 years old, and VR wouldn't do anything to help them.”
- “It seemed to stutter quite a lot and the graphics look less 2017 and more 2007.”
music
180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
46%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance immersion, particularly through the use of folk and ambient tracks. However, several players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and lacks variety, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the music is often described as beautiful and fitting for the game's setting, contributing significantly to its eerie and engaging atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere and music of this game were really on point.”
- “The music was beautiful; not many tracks available, but the ones that were were very enjoyable to listen to and masterfully made.”
- “The soundtrack is excellent as well!”
- “The music that plays dulls your brain until it aches.”
- “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.”
optimization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
38%
23%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and good graphics on mid-level machines, while others experience occasional stuttering and frame rate drops, particularly at higher refresh rates. Many users noted that lowering graphics settings can alleviate some performance issues, but there are still concerns about optimization, especially for those with older hardware. Overall, while some players praise the game's optimization, others highlight significant performance inconsistencies that need addressing.
- “There are no stability, optimization, or technical problems to report.”
- “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.”
- “2/10 (atmosphere, optimization)”
- “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, 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.”
grinding
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
5%
86%
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium in the game's grinding mechanics, with players frequently expressing frustration over repetitive tasks, tedious exploration, and backtracking. While some appreciate the engaging story and atmosphere, many feel that the gameplay is bogged down by unnecessary actions and poorly designed mechanics, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as requiring significant patience to navigate its grind-heavy elements.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “A bit grindy.”
- “Unfortunately, almost every minute of gameplay for me was spent in frustration of handling tedious actions that should have never even been a significant part of gameplay.”
- “The game starts off strong with a great setting and atmosphere but unfortunately for me, it was bogged down by tedious management and what seems to be an unfocused vision.”
- “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.”
stability
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent freezes and glitches that disrupt gameplay, particularly during area transitions. While some users experienced minimal issues and found the game to run smoothly, others faced significant bugs that hindered their progress, leading to frustration. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, with a notable divide between those who encountered severe problems and those who had a relatively smooth experience.
- “No glitches or bugs were found in the almost 7 hours it took me to finish the storyline.”
- “Runs great on ultra on my mid-tier computer.”
- “I only died to them once during my playthrough and overall they're a welcome addition along with the combat, which, despite being janky, is functional and surprisingly bug-free, at least in my experience.”
- “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.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
64%
20%
Overall, the replayability of the game is generally considered low, with many players noting that it primarily caters to completionists seeking achievements or to uncover missed secrets. While some found value in revisiting the game for exploration or to fully understand the story, the consensus is that the short length and lack of significant narrative changes diminish its replay value.
- “While not the longest game, it does have replay value if you miss some clues or items scattered around the map.”
- “Some replayability if you want to continue to explore locations after finding necessary items.”
- “There's definitely replayability; I know I missed lots of little bits of info just from seeing what I missed on the map by the end.”
- “Kona doesn't offer a ton of replay value outside of trying to 100% the game since it will likely take you two playthroughs to accomplish that (it can be done in one).”
- “Achievements are tedious but easy and would require multiple playthroughs where there is no replay value.”
- “The game is very short; I finished it in roughly 5 hours and there is no replayability.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by clever and witty narration that balances dark themes with lighthearted moments, often drawing comparisons to the style of the Stanley Parable. Players appreciate the dry, sarcastic quips from the narrator and the humorous side quests, which provide comic relief amidst the game's cold and lonely atmosphere. While some writing may be considered hilariously bad, the overall comedic tone enhances the storytelling and keeps players engaged.
- “It's got a great sense of humor to it too.”
- “Also, the narrator cracking wise about not needing to mow the lawn after a foot of snow had been dumped on it was hilarious.”
- “I love the dry, sarcastic humor of the narrator; it is fantastic.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
27%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players finding it resonant and relatable, particularly in its atmosphere and sound design, while others criticize the story as generic and lacking depth. Although the game attempts to evoke feelings through its narrative and character interactions, many reviewers felt disconnected from the characters and found the emotional moments unearned or underwhelming. Overall, it offers a blend of cute, absurd, and dark themes, but fails to deliver a consistently impactful emotional experience.
- “As someone currently going through a brutal winter right now, this game made me feel quite at home.”
- “If you are up for solving a mystery that borders on cute, then absurd, then dark and just plain heartbreaking, then this is a title you might want to check out.”
- “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 tedious experience of driving to houses to collect items and uncovering a lackluster 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 and uninterested.”
- “The emotional impact the game aimed for is overshadowed by its linear gameplay and uninspired storytelling, making it difficult to connect with the characters or their journeys.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is a standout feature, enhancing the exploration experience with a compelling narrative that delves into the protagonist's mysterious past, providing depth and intrigue to the story.
- “Basic puzzles...more about story and character development, which is awesome in an exploration game.”
- “The character development behind the main protagonist provides a real sense of mystery as we get a few lines telling us about his past.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect primarily revolves around the use of ads, which are influenced by the sanity meter but do not significantly impact gameplay or the player's experience. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be integrated in a way that maintains player engagement without detracting from the core mechanics.