Kraken Academy

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 208 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • gameplay
Kraken Academy Game Cover
Starting at $0.40Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Epic Games Store

Make friends, free spirits and make sure that the world doesn’t end! Welcome to Kraken Academy, a technicolor fever dream that for legal reasons can only be described as "technically a school." Join forces with a magical kraken to manipulate a time loop and save the world.

Play Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 208 reviews
story62 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming and quirky cast of characters, each with unique personalities that make interactions enjoyable.
  • The humor is well-executed, providing a mix of absurdity and clever writing that keeps players engaged throughout the story.
  • The time loop mechanic adds an interesting twist to gameplay, allowing for exploration and puzzle-solving in a fun and light-hearted manner.
  • The game can feel short and lacks depth in its story and character development, leading to a somewhat abrupt ending.
  • Controls can be clunky and the gameplay often relies on repetitive fetch quests and quick-time events, which may not appeal to all players.
  • Some players found the dialogue to be awkward or lacking in variety, making repeated interactions feel tedious.
  • story141 mentions

    The story of Kraken Academy is characterized by its quirky humor and engaging characters, though opinions vary on its depth and originality. While some players appreciate the charming narrative and the fun side quests that enhance character development, others find the main plot to be simplistic and lacking in significant twists. Overall, the game is seen as a light-hearted adventure with a straightforward storyline that is enjoyable for casual play, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate narrative experience.

    • “The story was interesting enough to keep me engaged throughout the game and to complete all of the side quests.”
    • “Kraken Academy is an excellent blend of dramatic, silly, and touching storytelling that, when blended together, creates a game worth remembering for its unique twang in presentation.”
    • “The story and characters are great, and I found myself laughing lots of times.”
    • “I kinda like the quirky vibe of this game that's similar to Yuppie Psycho, but the story doesn't quite interest me.”
    • “The overall plot is very basic and it doesn't feel like your character's actions change anything - and you can kind of tell what's happening in a basic sense immediately when you start the game.”
    • “The story is alright, but there are lots of repetitive dialogue that shouldn't be there, some broken events that require you to manually fix by restarting the game, and almost every quest is just a fetch quest with some quick-time events.”
  • humor59 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its light-hearted and engaging humor, featuring a mix of quirky characters, funny dialogue, and a charming storyline that keeps players entertained. While some players found the humor to be subjective and occasionally reliant on pop culture references, many appreciated its unique blend of bizarre and dark humor, which adds depth to the overall experience. Overall, the humor is considered a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.

    • “Had a nice soundtrack, funny story that was engaging and heartwarming at times.”
    • “The game has a lot of great humor, loads of charm and has a great story to it.”
    • “It's a funny narrative adventure, yet it has enough gameplay to have me playing it for story and gameplay reasons.”
  • gameplay43 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily centered around quick-time events and light puzzle-solving, which some players find engaging while others consider it simplistic and repetitive. The time travel mechanic adds a unique twist, but the overall experience can feel linear and lacking in variety. Despite its shortcomings, many players appreciate the intuitive controls and entertaining story, making it a relaxing and enjoyable playthrough for those who value narrative over complex gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is constantly energetic, but it has difficulty levels for the quick-time events and minigames, a solid save system, and an actually helpful quest log.”
    • “The gameplay is intuitive, simple, and easy to pick up, yet never got tiresome in my playthrough.”
    • “The time loop mechanic is very satisfying to play through and doesn't put too much pressure on the player.”
    • “This is a game to be played for the story and the writing, not the gameplay; if that doesn't appeal to you, or you discover that you don't like the writing style, you won't enjoy yourself.”
    • “The game simplifies its time-loop mechanic to six 12-hour blocks, but there isn't too much variety in what dialogue and events you can find in those blocks, so you run out of stuff to find very quickly.”
    • “The fighting is worthless, and while I don't mind quick-time events, having them be the main game mechanic makes it feel hollow and boring.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and cute 8-bit art style, with detailed character portraits and immersive pixel landscapes that enhance the overall experience. While some reviewers noted that the visuals can feel overly pixelated and reminiscent of budget constraints, the vibrant aesthetics and humor contribute positively to the game's appeal. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, complementing the engaging story and lovable characters.

    • “The visuals are great, not just the fantastic character portraits but also the pixel landscape.”
    • “The graphics are charming and cute.”
    • “Captivating storyline, nice pixelated graphics with details all around (the more you play the more you notice them) fantastic storytelling with characters you care for, missions that are fun and quirky but you won't be bored while doing them as you want to see what's next and what happens.”
    • “The graphics felt overly pixelated in a way that screamed 'making up for budget concerns' instead of being an actual flavored choice, though the character portraits helped make up for that a little bit.”
    • “However, the controls are really clunky, the graphics are...well.. a bit 'homemade' and the game is much, much too short overall.”
    • “The graphics are charming and cute, but they lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its engaging and immersive quality, featuring a diverse soundtrack that complements the colorful art style and humorous storytelling. Players particularly enjoyed specific themes, such as the kraken's theme, and noted that the sound effects enhanced the overall experience. Overall, the music is described as a standout aspect that contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “Had a nice soundtrack, funny story that was engaging and heartwarming at times.”
    • “I found the soundtrack interesting and enjoyable, featuring dozens of songs created with different instruments and rhythms, but not at all out of tune with each other.”
    • “I loved the music and sound effects in the game which did a great job of making the experience more immersive!”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The game offers a compelling emotional journey, transitioning from a somber beginning to a heartwarming conclusion, enriched by a charming soundtrack and engaging storytelling. It skillfully blends drama, humor, and touching moments, reminiscent of narrative-driven adventures like "Night in the Woods," while featuring unique characters and an absurd yet endearing world. Overall, it is celebrated for its memorable emotional impact and wholesome experience.

    • “The game is a wild ride, from a depressing start to a super wholesome end.”
    • “Had a nice soundtrack, with a funny story that was engaging and heartwarming at times.”
    • “Kraken Academy is an excellent blend of dramatic, silly, and touching storytelling that, when combined, creates a game worth remembering for its unique presentation.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its charming pixel art, cute costumes, and a quirky sense of humor that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the polished presentation and endearing characters, making it a delightful and worthwhile playthrough.

    • “The costumes are cute to look at, and even though the jokes implemented are a very peculiar type of humor, they are funny and fit the atmosphere of the game itself.”
    • “Can be completed in a few hours, but the art, polish, and atmosphere of the game are completely worth the asking price.”
    • “Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my first playthrough of this game and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a pixel art game with a charming atmosphere, quirky world, and surprisingly endearing characters.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game offers limited replayability, with most players noting that while it can be enjoyable to pursue achievements, the lack of significant variations in outcomes diminishes the incentive to replay. The time travel mechanics add some playability, but ultimately, the experience feels largely linear with minimal differences in subsequent playthroughs.

    • “The game offers a lot of replayability, especially with the various achievements to chase after, making it enjoyable even after the main story.”
    • “I love how the time travel mechanics encourage multiple playthroughs, adding depth to the gameplay experience.”
    • “While the main storyline is engaging, the different paths and choices available make me want to replay the game to explore every possibility.”
    • “There is pretty much no replayability at all other than a very few different outcomes for three things that might make you laugh for a minute or two.”
    • “It's basically: 'I want this thing :(' *MC goes and gets the thing (often times a long while after first receiving the task, but I get it, it's to make the time travel thing more playable than it otherwise would have been)* 'Oh, thanks so much!'”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's balanced approach to grinding, combining it with casual activities, which prevents the experience from becoming tedious. The relatively short length of the game contributes to this positive reception, making grinding feel manageable rather than overwhelming.

    • “The grinding feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
    • “I found the grinding to be excessively time-consuming, which detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “The grind is so monotonous that it often feels like a punishment rather than a rewarding challenge.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that character development is notably lacking, with players expressing disappointment over the rushed plot and minimal dialogue options. Despite the potential of the character profiles, the limited interactions fail to provide a satisfying depth to the characters.

    • “There is no character development to a satisfying degree.”
    • “Cute concept but a very rushed plot - lacking character development, really, and unsure as to why you would give them character profiles if you only get 2 or 3 different dialogues out of them.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Kraken Academy

Play time

5hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News