Lacuna

Lacuna is a slick noir adventure debut handled remarkably well by a tiny indie team.

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"Lacuna" is a narrative-driven game where you play as CDI agent Neil Conrad, investigating a murder that will have far-reaching consequences. Your choices and actions determine the branching storylines and outcomes, with no do-overs. The game explores themes of morality, duty, and truth as you navigate a complex web of intrigue in a solar system on the brink of chaos.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 867 reviews

story371 positive mentions

grinding11 negative mentions

Engaging and immersive story with meaningful choices that impact the outcome.
Beautiful pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the noir vibe.
Well-crafted detective mechanics that require players to think critically and piece together clues.

Lack of manual save options can be frustrating, requiring full playthroughs to explore different endings.
Some puzzles may feel too easy or straightforward, reducing the challenge for experienced players.
The narrative can be predictable at times, lacking significant twists or surprises.

story
829 mentions
45 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Lacuna" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, compelling characters, and atmospheric setting, blending elements of noir and sci-fi. Players appreciate the game's ability to incorporate their choices into the storyline, allowing for multiple endings and a sense of consequence, although some find the plot predictable and linear. Overall, the writing, art style, and music contribute to a captivating experience that resonates with fans of story-driven games.
- “A solid story-driven detective game: cool noir vibe, light cyberpunk setting, pretty pixel art, atmospheric jazz/synth music, good voice acting, engaging detective gameplay.”
- “The story is captivating and perfectly paced.”
- “An engrossing, emotional story of political intrigue, personal drama, and a dash of philosophy packaged into a solid detective game.”
- “The story evolves around some very cliché tropes, the kind you’d expect and have seen many times.”
- “The plot is boring, riddled with stereotypes; it's all good little guy vs. bad evil corporations, but without any healthy dose of cynicism or humor that I expect in cyberpunk.”
- “The story was a bit dull and predictable, and none of the characters particularly grabbed me.”
music
251 mentions
61 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its ability to enhance the noir atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its atmospheric jazz and synth elements that perfectly complement the pixel art and storytelling. The soundtrack is described as beautiful, immersive, and fitting for the game's themes, contributing significantly to the emotional depth and overall experience. However, some users noted occasional inconsistencies in the music's presence during dialogues, which could disrupt the immersive experience.
- “The music was beautiful and set the tone perfectly, and the sound design - from footsteps, doors opening, gunshots, trains arriving and departing, the sound of flying cars go by - felt cinematic, immersive, and AAA quality.”
- “A fantastic story of crime and politics, picking up in pace and emotion towards the end, complemented by smooth jazz and a melancholy soundtrack.”
- “The music perfectly hits the jazzy notes of the game’s noir ambience, although I had a harder time feeling more than the occasional sci-fi vibe.”
- “There were sections that just felt weird; for example, you would have music in the background nearly all the time, however sometimes when talking to someone, the music just wouldn't exist.”
- “The music is just background noise, something I didn't hate nor pay much attention to.”
- “The pixel art is beautiful, but the music isn't great, and the voiceover's voice isn't that good either and overshoots its narrative a little towards the end.”
gameplay
175 mentions
32 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this detective game is primarily focused on investigation mechanics, allowing players to gather clues and make impactful choices that affect the story. While some reviews note that the gameplay can feel simplistic and linear, many appreciate the engaging narrative, atmospheric design, and the unique mechanics that facilitate the detective experience. Overall, the game is praised for its story-driven approach, though it may not satisfy those seeking complex gameplay or traditional puzzle-solving elements.
- “A solid story-driven detective game: cool noir vibe, light cyberpunk setting, pretty pixel art, atmospheric jazz/synth music, good voice acting, engaging detective gameplay.”
- “I love the investigation mechanics; for anyone who likes games where you have to find clues and investigate crimes with a really comprehensive and original in-game system, this will be a nice game for you!”
- “Very interesting detective game, with nice gameplay that flows seamlessly, carries you through the story and, most importantly, lets you make choices and even mistakes and incorporates them into the story.”
- “The gameplay itself isn't all that exciting, consisting of walking around, clicking on things, and in a very simple way interacting with parts of your surroundings.”
- “Its simple detective gameplay just feels rushed and lazy to the point where most of the game is just a walking/running sim rather than an actual detective game.”
- “The gameplay was repetitive, running back and forth to the same locations multiple times.”
graphics
173 mentions
48 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many praising the pixel art style for its nostalgic charm and effective integration into the noir and cyberpunk aesthetics, enhancing the overall atmosphere. However, some critics find the visuals lackluster and poorly executed, arguing that they detract from the game's potential and fail to meet contemporary standards. Overall, while the pixel graphics are appreciated by some for their artistic merit, others feel they fall short in quality and detail.
- “The pixelated graphics are not only nostalgic but also ingeniously used to enhance the gritty cyberpunk world, making every scene visually captivating.”
- “The visuals are wonderfully retro, the music is beautifully sci-fi, the story is gripping.”
- “The pixel art style works great, and the sense of depth my moving around in the 2D layers is original and well executed.”
- “It looks ugly (I knew it'd be pixel graphics, but I expected something like Kathy Rain, which has slightly higher resolution and much, much better aesthetics).”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Visually, this is a ham-fisted mess, a dog's breakfast of bad visuals, and this kind of laziness and poor quality should never be foisted on gamers.”
atmosphere
114 mentions
67 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive blend of noir and cyberpunk elements, enhanced by captivating pixel art, atmospheric music, and strong voice acting. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a moody, engaging environment that complements its intriguing narrative and character development. While some found the atmosphere occasionally overwhelming or lacking depth, the overall consensus is that it effectively draws players into its richly crafted world.
- “The setting is amazing, great art, great music, really builds the perfect detective noir atmosphere.”
- “Lacuna is defined by its atmosphere, well executed concept upon which the game is founded.”
- “The atmosphere created by the music, artwork, and world-building was fantastic.”
- “The game attempts to create the atmosphere of a film noir cyberpunk detective story, but falls flat for the most part.”
- “But overall I felt like it was a shallow take on the noir detective genre, without the real meat or atmosphere which elevates the game to something interesting.”
- “If you like detective noir stories it's great, as a puzzle game it falls short and the atmosphere/art/ambience is nothing to write home about.”
replayability
42 mentions
21 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game offers a mix of opinions on replayability, with many players noting its multiple endings and impactful choices as factors that enhance replay value. However, some reviewers feel that the short playtime and repetitive nature of the story diminish the incentive to replay, leading to a consensus that while there is potential for replayability, it may not be compelling enough for everyone to engage multiple times. Overall, it seems best suited for those who enjoy exploring different narrative paths and achievements.
- “The pixel art style perfectly complements its noir aesthetic, and the choices you make genuinely impact the story, adding depth and replayability.”
- “Well-crafted adventure game - a replayable detective sci-fi story that sticks with you after the conclusion and makes you wonder about alternative endings.”
- “The narrative is excellent; the replayability of different gameplay paths will surely bring me back for another run-through of hours-on-end binging this game again.”
- “Also, I doubt that this has a lot of replay value, so in my opinion, for 4 hours of game time, this isn't worth $16.”
- “Not great replayability factor; there are different endings, but the main story remains the same.”
- “On the more straight-up negative side, I had issues with DS4 compatibility, and thought that the puzzle structure didn't lend itself well to replay value (in a choices-matter game) because you find out the correct answer to the puzzle at the end of each sequence, meaning that if you played it a second time, you'd already know what to do, and would basically just be going through the story choices without much gameplay.”
emotional
21 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from deep personal connections to the characters and their struggles, to the tension of making impactful decisions. Players report experiencing a profound emotional journey, often shedding tears and feeling genuinely invested in the outcomes of the story. However, some critiques mention that certain emotional moments feel forced or lack lasting impact, suggesting a mixed reception regarding the depth of emotional engagement.
- “This little indie mystery title took me for a dizzying emotional ride that I couldn't have expected when I booted it up.”
- “An incredible emotional experience with damn good music.”
- “I bought into the characters, and felt emotional about their outcomes.”
grinding
15 mentions
13 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and poorly paced, often involving excessive backtracking and repetitive tasks that disrupt the flow of gameplay. While some appreciate the removal of convoluted puzzles typical of point-and-click games, the lack of save points and the need for extensive grinding detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and fatigue.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “I mean sure the investigations became different each time but half the time you are running to a scene, running to a train, running back to a scene, running to another train, and in the end I felt like it got a bit tedious with not much story at each section.”
- “The only reason I have as much playtime as I do is because the game is so tedious and poorly paced that I literally fell asleep during one of the very many exposition scenes in the intro.”
- “There's only one save to raise the tension, but this makes it grindy when you're trying to explore different options and paths.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding the voice acting hilarious despite a lackluster and cliché plot. While the character designs, particularly that of Gary, are noted for their comedic appeal, the overall writing fails to deliver the expected cynicism and wit typical of the cyberpunk genre, leaving players feeling detached from the characters.
- “Unengaging story, hilarious voice acting - but he did what he could with the script he was handed, I'm sure.”
- “I didn't form any attachment to any characters (except Gary because I thought his design was funny) and apparently the writers didn't consider some of the major characters that important either, since most of them don't get ending slides except your wife, your character, and the random criminal woman you meet in the 2nd act.”
- “The devs also didn't fall into the trap of making the protagonist a super-cool guy that just brushes everything off with a funny line.”
character development
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game features strong character development, allowing players to shape the protagonist, Neil, through meaningful choices that impact the story and character depth. The writing is praised for its quality, providing a rich narrative experience that balances player agency with intriguing plot elements.
- “I really loved the feel of this game; the writing and story development are first class, and the character development is excellent.”
- “Good character development - the game really lets you play Neil however you'd like to play him: good cop, bad cop; good father, bad father; lawful or chaotic.”
- “The writers also did a good job allowing a lot of quite radically different story-impacting choices without sacrificing story depth (there's plenty of intrigue) or character development.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks the depth needed to make the characters truly engaging.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, making it hard to connect with them.”
- “Despite the potential for interesting characters, their development is rushed and leaves many questions unanswered.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, as it includes intrusive advertisements on the menu screen despite players having already paid for the game. Many feel this approach is exploitative, undermining the value of their purchase while detracting from the overall experience.
- “In an insult to gamers everywhere, the game features advertising on the menu screen!”
- “That might be understandable (but not acceptable) if this was a free game... but people paid (wasted) money on this and now the developer is trying to extort even more revenue by advertising to the audience.”
- “Even 2D lighting from ads on screens in the city too.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game performs well at 60 fps on the Steam Deck, which is expected for a pixel art title; however, some users note that it does not feel fully optimized.
- “The game also runs smoothly at 60 fps on the Steam Deck, as a pixel art game should.”
- “Overall impressions & performance: The game delivers a solid experience with impressive optimization.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are longer than the actual gameplay.”