Lacuna

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

Starting at $1.13Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

"Lacuna is a single-player Mystery Action game with sensational graphics, exceptional music, and a unique atmosphere. The game features intriguing storylines, wonderful mechanics, and highly emotional moments. Wishlist now and support Go Give One, a WHO initiative providing COVID-19 vaccines to those in need."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 546 reviews

story231 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Great storytelling with a captivating plot that keeps players engaged.
Beautiful pixel art and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
Meaningful choices that impact the story, making players feel like their decisions matter.

The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Limited replayability due to the linear nature of the story and the lack of significant changes in multiple playthroughs.
Some players may find the puzzles too easy or straightforward, lacking the challenge typically expected in detective games.

story
492 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of Lacuna is a compelling blend of sci-fi and noir, featuring a well-crafted narrative that engages players through meaningful choices and moral dilemmas. While some reviewers noted predictability and a lack of depth in world-building, many praised the writing, character development, and the emotional weight of decisions that impact the storyline. Overall, the game is recognized for its immersive atmosphere, strong storytelling, and the ability to evoke genuine player investment in the unfolding mystery.
- “Lacuna is a beautiful looking futuristic noir detective story with a great soundtrack that really makes you realize how much your decisions matter.”
- “The detailed scenario, intelligent story delivery, relatable characters, and political intrigue make Lacuna a memorable experience.”
- “This story got much deeper and more interesting than I would have imagined a small team would be capable of.”
- “The world seems to be clobbered together to showcase the writers' favorite hot takes, rather than to explore ideas with the player, resulting in a tepid, two-tone noir that entertains so long as you don't peek between the shades and collapse the premise of the story.”
- “Nothing in the world-building makes sense, which completely pulls the rug out from under the detective story and fails to suspend disbelief.”
- “The story is pretty lacking, in my opinion, with character writing especially being very weak.”
music
165 mentions
59 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and storytelling, with many reviewers praising its jazzy, lo-fi, and melancholic tones that fit the noir and sci-fi themes perfectly. The soundtrack is described as immersive and well-composed, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and overall experience. While some noted occasional repetitiveness, the majority found the music to be a standout feature that elevates the gameplay and narrative.
- “The music knows when to leverage classic jazz age sounds and when to lean into futuristic, synthetic rhythms to appropriately blend the aesthetic and fit the narrative tone of any given moment.”
- “A haunting, emotive soundtrack masterfully fills the space in the gritty but human world you're given to explore.”
- “The pixel-art graphics and spot-on soundtrack complement the experience and make Lacuna an experience that all adventure game fans should experience.”
- “The music isn't great, and the voiceover's voice isn't that good either and overshoots its narrative a little towards the end.”
- “After you get let down by the game's mediocre conclusion, you're then serenaded by the worst ending credits song I've heard in a long time.”
- “The bad: if I had to pick something, some of the music could have been a little more hard-boiled (less lite jazz).”
gameplay
104 mentions
35 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is primarily focused on detective mechanics, allowing players to gather clues and make impactful choices that affect the story. While some players appreciate the smooth and engaging investigative experience, others criticize the linearity and simplicity of the mechanics, noting that they can feel repetitive or underutilized. Overall, the game successfully intertwines narrative and gameplay, creating a satisfying experience for those who enjoy story-driven detective adventures, despite some shortcomings in complexity and variety.
- “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 story is nicely self-contained, the voice acting is good, the soundtrack is fantastic, the pixel art is great and the gameplay loop of gathering clues and filling out sheets to solve a bigger conspiracy is fun.”
- “Gameplay is satisfying: the number of tools used in investigating might be a bit overwhelming at the start, but it's easy to get comfortable with them, and they actually make you think about the clues that you receive.”
- “The game design concept was put together well enough, but the creative team failed horribly, rendering the game mechanics utterly useless and unused.”
- “The gameplay was repetitive, running back and forth to the same locations multiple times.”
- “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.”
graphics
90 mentions
54 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful pixel art style, which effectively captures a nostalgic yet modern cyberpunk aesthetic reminiscent of classics like Blade Runner. Many reviewers highlighted the atmospheric visuals and the seamless integration of the art with the game's narrative and soundtrack, creating an immersive experience. While some noted minor issues with detail clarity, the overall consensus is that the graphics significantly enhance the storytelling and gameplay, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The fictional solar system Lacuna is set in has a classic cyberpunk setting, reminding strongly of Blade Runner and the original Total Recall, all displayed in a very beautiful and detailed pixel art style.”
- “The pixelated graphics are not only nostalgic but also ingeniously used to enhance the gritty cyberpunk world, making every scene visually captivating.”
- “The graphics are really well done, there is a lot of detail.”
- “Sure, the game world is pretty huge and pixel art is a lot of work, and not every game can look like Owlboy or Punch Club or Gabriel Knight or whatever, but still, I find the graphics quite lackluster.”
- “And with lackluster graphics, there's much less wonder to wander around different parts of the city, so level/gameplay design suffers from this also.”
- “While at first look the pixelated graphics may be initially a turn off, it shows the strength of the story as you soon forget that you are looking at what essentially looks like the VGA graphics of yesteryear.”
atmosphere
76 mentions
72 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Lacuna is widely praised for its captivating blend of cyberpunk and noir elements, enhanced by stunning pixel art, immersive sound design, and a haunting soundtrack that adapts to the narrative. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a rich, dynamic world that encourages exploration and deep engagement with its story and characters. While some find the atmosphere overwhelming at times, the overall consensus is that it effectively establishes a compelling and memorable experience.
- “Excellent pixel art, animation, music, sound, and voices together with everything mentioned above make the 'cyber-noir' atmosphere of Lacuna truly complete.”
- “From the outset, the game's haunting soundtrack and atmospheric visuals create a sense of foreboding that sets the tone for the rest of the game.”
- “Lacuna oozes atmosphere, has an interesting plot in more ways than one, but most importantly, the investigations feel incredibly meaningful and tense.”
- “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.”
- “I felt reminded of these background pictures of synthwave mixes on YouTube; the atmosphere is a bit like Blade Runner, but way lighter and without the rain.”
replayability
24 mentions
29 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it features multiple endings and choices that can alter the experience, many players find the core story repetitive after a few playthroughs. Some appreciate the potential for completionists and those who enjoy narrative depth, but others feel that the short length and lack of options to skip familiar content diminish the incentive to replay. Overall, it offers decent replay value for those invested in exploring different outcomes, but may not appeal to everyone.
- “Definitely a fun play, with surprising replayability considering it's a story game.”
- “You can complete the game in about 4-5 hours, but this game is replayable due to the fact it has several endings.”
- “Lacuna is not very long, but it has really high replay value and it checks the correct boxes of an adventure game.”
- “Not great replayability factor, there are different endings, but the main story remains the same.”
- “Zero replay value, at least for me - so no way I'm getting that 'all endings' achievement.”
- “Writing a while after I played it but I remember really loving it and spending a lot of time looking for similar games, about the only criticism I have for it is that it's not too replayable; it gets boring playing the same thing through for the 3rd time despite there being like 8 different endings.”
emotional
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from deep connection with characters to the weight of difficult decisions that impact outcomes. While some players found the emotional moments to be profound and engaging, others criticized certain elements as manipulative or lacking depth. Overall, the game offers a mix of heartfelt storytelling and moments that resonate, though reactions to its emotional impact vary widely among players.
- “lacuna is a captivating and emotionally charged game that takes you on a journey of self-discovery and reflection.”
- “I bought into the characters, and felt emotional about their outcomes.”
- “An incredible emotional experience with damn good music.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the shift away from tedious point-and-click mechanics, favoring a more streamlined approach with conversations and an efficient clue-finding system. However, the lack of save points can lead to frustrating grindiness, as players must replay sections to explore different choices or recover from mistakes.
- “Gone are the tedious clicking around a screen looking for small objects and backtracking around areas to solve convoluted puzzles that are point and click games at their worst; instead we have conversations and a frustration-free clue-finding mechanic (no wandering around an area repeatedly in case you missed something).”
- “My only real complaint is that there isn't a save point, either in general or for each chapter or act, as it is really tedious to go back and do something if you misclick or something.”
- “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
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily delivered through hilarious voice acting, though the unengaging story and lack of character attachment detract from its overall impact. While some characters, like Gary, are amusingly designed, the writing fails to elevate the humor beyond the script's limitations, and the protagonist avoids the cliché of being overly cool or dismissive.
- “Unengaging story, hilarious voice acting - but he did what he could with the script he was handed, I'm sure.”
- “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.”
- “I thought Gary's design was funny, which added a layer of humor to the experience.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % 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 Steam Deck, as a pixel art game should.”
- “Overall impressions & performance”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting the exceptional writing and story progression. Players appreciate the freedom to shape the protagonist, Neil, through various moral choices, allowing for a personalized experience that reflects different playstyles.
- “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.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game's monetization strategy includes intrusive advertisements, such as 2D lighting effects from ads displayed on city screens, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The constant barrage of ads in the city is overwhelming, even affecting the 2D lighting on screens.”
- “The monetization strategy feels intrusive, with ads everywhere you look.”
- “It's frustrating to see how much the game relies on ads for revenue, detracting from the overall experience.”