Lair of the Clockwork God

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 611 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • story
Lair of the Clockwork God Game Cover
I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed this game. It does require you to be a fan of both point-and-click and platform games, but if you are, then this is an absolute diamond-studded must buy.
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In "Lair of the Clockwork God," Ben and Dan from the indie dev series "Ben There, Dan That" return, this time as an unlikely duo of a benevolent adventurer and a money-hungry platformer. Navigate fiendish puzzles, converse with quirky characters, and juggle contrasting gameplay styles to unravel the mystery of a rogue A.I. and save the world. This comedic adventure offers a unique blend of classic point-and-click and speedy platforming action.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 611 reviews
humor380 positive mentions
stability15 negative mentions
  • The game features clever and humorous writing that keeps players engaged and entertained throughout.
  • The combination of platforming and point-and-click mechanics is innovative and well-executed, providing a unique gameplay experience.
  • Puzzles are creative and satisfying to solve, often requiring lateral thinking and offering rewarding 'aha' moments.
  • The platforming controls can feel clunky and frustrating at times, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
  • Some puzzles may rely on obscure logic that can lead to moments of confusion or frustration.
  • There are occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, although many have been addressed in patches.
  • humor381 mentions

    The humor in "Lair of the Clockwork God" is a standout feature, characterized by clever, meta-commentary and a mix of British wit that resonates with fans of the genre. While some players find the humor hit-or-miss, many appreciate its ability to blend absurdity with insightful satire, often leading to genuine laughter throughout the gameplay. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with engaging puzzles, making it a delightful experience for those who enjoy witty dialogue and playful jabs at gaming tropes.

    • “Lair of the Clockwork God is a charming, hilarious blend of chilled-out old school adventuring and fast-paced platforming action.”
    • “It's funny, it's clever, and it can also be played in short bursts.”
    • “The writing is brilliant and absolutely hilarious, and the game is packed with jokes from the second you launch it - in fact, even before you hit the title screen!”
    • “The humor feels forced and often falls flat, leaving me cringing instead of laughing.”
    • “The jokes are so predictable that I could see the punchlines coming from a mile away.”
    • “I found the attempts at humor to be more annoying than entertaining, making the experience less enjoyable.”
  • gameplay143 mentions

    The gameplay of "Lair of the Clockwork God" is a unique blend of platforming and point-and-click mechanics, offering a fresh take on both genres. Players switch between two characters, each embodying different gameplay styles, which leads to clever puzzles and humorous interactions that often comment on gaming tropes. While the integration of these mechanics is generally well-executed, some players find the platforming elements basic and occasionally frustrating, though the overall experience is enhanced by witty writing and engaging humor.

    • “It's how these two gameplay styles work in tandem that makes it great.”
    • “The gameplay is a mix between a platformer (while playing as Dan) and old-school LucasArts point-and-click adventure (Ben) game, and fits a niche I've personally missed in video games.”
    • “Lair of the Clockwork God is a wonderfully inventive and genuinely laugh-out-loud mash-up that skillfully brings together brain-teasing point-and-click mechanics, inventory-based puzzle solving, classic platforming, and even progressive player upgrades.”
    • “Clever idea but the mechanics are very basic, the humor is overwhelmingly dated references to other indie games, and there's occasional weird bugs like my character getting stuck in the floor.”
    • “Gameplay is just not fun although story, music, and pixel art are all great.”
    • “The platforming is only so-so, but it's mixed well with the solid puzzles and point-and-click gameplay so it's never an issue.”
  • story67 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its clever writing, humor, and engaging narrative that explores themes of friendship and the human condition, often blending absurdity with insightful commentary. While some players found the tone inconsistent, oscillating between serious and goofy, the overall experience is described as entertaining and unique, with memorable characters and inventive puzzles that enhance the storytelling. Many reviewers recommend the game for its witty dialogue and the way it cleverly integrates humor into the gameplay, making it a standout in the genre.

    • “Absolutely adored this game - clever puzzle platformer with an engaging story and funny dialogue.”
    • “The overall plot is fascinating - you feel as though you're unraveling a complex mystery, and the momentum is constantly building up to something big.”
    • “The story is fantastically written, the gameplay never gets stale, and the puzzles are incredibly well designed.”
    • “The game seems a bit undecided and confused about whether it wants to be taken seriously with its story or just be goofy and sarcastic, resulting in an uneven balance.”
    • “The story is really just an accessory.”
    • “It tries to address real, valid grievances with adventure games and society, but falls flat in telling a meaningful story.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming pixel art and nostalgic retro feel, while others criticize the low detail and occasional graphical glitches that detract from the experience. Many noted that the visuals are acceptable for an indie title, with a good blend of styles that evoke classic graphic adventures, but some experienced performance issues that affected their enjoyment. Overall, while the art style and soundtrack are praised, the technical execution leaves room for improvement.

    • “Despite the low-fi nature of the graphics, this game keeps coming up with fresh artwork throughout a well thought out storyline, and the musical score just rocks.”
    • “Graphically it's a total delight and wonderfully charming.”
    • “Great point-and-click/puzzle-platformer mix, with stylish pixel graphics and hilarious dialogues.”
    • “With this bad graphic, you should be able to run on a Pentium II with 2GB and a Voodoo Banshee (if you're old enough to understand).”
    • “I liked the platformer and point-and-click adventure combo, but graphical glitches ruin a lot; I had to restart a couple of times because the platformer character got stuck underground and the game crashed.”
    • “My only issue is that the game's framerate was inconsistent (or sometimes consistently 30fps) despite exceeding the system requirements and telling the NVIDIA control panel to use dedicated rather than integrated graphics.”
  • music42 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the gameplay. The soundtrack is described as superb, featuring clever and humorous tracks that resonate well with players, particularly the end credits song. Overall, the combination of engaging music and beautiful pixel art contributes significantly to the game's charm and emotional depth.

    • “The music and artwork are definitely up there as far as indie games go, and coupled with how much personality the developers have put into the game, make the overall game feel like a labor of love.”
    • “The music perfectly sets the tone and mood of each area.”
    • “Everything about this game kept me glued to it; beautiful pixelated environments, a wonderful soundtrack, and puzzles so clever and devious that it felt absolutely fantastic when I finally figured them out.”
    • “But that song has a lot of finger snapping and I've got carpal tunnel.”
    • “Despite the low-fi nature of the graphics, this game keeps coming up with fresh artwork throughout a well-thought-out storyline, and the musical score just rocks.”
    • “In essence, this mash-up of disparate genres and themes should not work, but very much like the music for the opening sequence, lumping together a bunch of things that should not go together and giving it a steady beat somehow produces magnificence.”
  • stability17 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its stability, with numerous users reporting minor bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as characters getting stuck or falling through platforms. While some players found these issues disappointing, others noted that the developers are actively working on patches to address these problems. Overall, the game is described as "a little bit buggy," but many believe that the enjoyable aspects outweigh the technical difficulties.

    • “Bug-free experience.”
    • “Runs great on Linux!”
    • “The character frequently glitches into the ground for no reason, which makes the game feel cheap and unfinished.”
    • “I liked the platformer and point-and-click adventure combo, but graphical glitches ruin a lot. I had to restart a couple of times because the platformer character got stuck underground and the game crashed.”
    • “I tried to get a refund based on how it ran on my MacBook Pro (6-core/16 GB RAM/Radeon graphics) and it seemed very glitchy and buggy.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The game masterfully blends humor and emotional depth, offering a heartfelt exploration of themes like aging and personal growth amidst its quirky gameplay. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from laughter to poignant moments, as the narrative cleverly intertwines wit with touching insights, making it a surprisingly engaging and memorable experience. Overall, it balances silliness with significant emotional undertones, leaving a lasting impact on players.

    • “And as silly as this game is, it also manages to be very touching.”
    • “Just finished the game and quite simply this was one of the most engaging, fun, clever, and at times emotional experiences I've ever had with a game.”
    • “To my surprise, the game also actually got somewhat emotional, but the frequent humor kept it from becoming flat-out depressing, one part in particular.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is overwhelmingly tedious, particularly due to a complex tutorial and challenging controls that detract from the experience. While some appreciate the humor in the game's self-awareness about its tediousness, many feel it ultimately falls short of delivering a fun platforming experience, often replicating the very issues it seeks to parody.

    • “The incredibly tedious tutorial makes it clear that platforming and point and clicks don't mix well, especially with two controllable characters.”
    • “This extra complexity is also intentionally joked about by the characters during the game, as if the game is mocking you for going through all these tedious extra steps.”
    • “I like the idea, but the controls are really painful, making it really tedious to play.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is inconsistent, with noticeable performance dips and occasional jank that may require players to lower their resolution in certain sections. While the platforming mechanics are not flawless and could benefit from further optimization, the overall experience remains enjoyable and worth trying.

    • “The platforming sections feel far from perfect, and the game could use some performance optimizations, but overall it's a no-brainer: go get it.”
    • “While this means that the jokes are rarely surprising -- you have to work out the punchline yourself, after all -- they bring the player into the humor performance, a rare feat for any comedy game.”
    • “Some jank here and there, and some performance dips in some sections (had to lower my resolution to get through one specific section that became too unresponsive because of the low frame rate).”
    • “The platforming sections feel far from perfect, and the game could use some performance optimizations, but overall it's a no brainer: go get it.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, with users noting that its humor and numerous jokes ensure a fresh experience with each playthrough. At an affordable price, it offers significant value, making it a worthwhile investment for repeated enjoyment.

    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “This is a hilarious game with tremendous replay value—there are too many great jokes to remember them all the first, second, or third time through.”
    • “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a blend of profound themes and lighthearted humor, featuring an AI's exploration of human emotions amidst an impending apocalypse. The music enhances the experience, creating a beautiful backdrop that complements the clever commentary and self-reflective moments. Overall, the game strikes a balance between humor and insight, fostering a warm and engaging environment.

    • “The music is great, too, and not only adds to the atmosphere, but I found myself pausing just to listen to it at times.”
    • “Consistently funny, sometimes even insightful, full of heart and that's just the atmosphere, jokes, dialogue and storyline.”
    • “There are moments of genuine self-reflection in there... nothing is mean-spirited, and even the jabs at the modern video game experience are done with love.”
    • “The jokes are good, and while there's always a piss joke to lift the atmosphere (and lower the tone) when things get too serious, there are moments of genuine self-reflection in there. Nothing is mean-spirited, and even the jabs at the modern video game experience are done with love.”
    • “Consistently funny, sometimes even insightful, full of heart, and that's just the atmosphere, jokes, dialogue, and storyline.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players expressing sensitivity towards the presence of microtransactions and in-app purchases that can enhance gameplay. While the story remains engaging, the integration of a store for additional purchases has raised concerns about its impact on the overall experience.

    • “In addition to the two characters, the game offers several meta ways for you to play it, including a store where you can make in-app purchases to enhance your adventuring experience.”
    • “The story in that area is not worse than in others, but I'm rather sensitive regarding the themes of that area, specifically microtransactions in modern games.”
    • “In addition to the two characters, the game offers several meta ways for you to play it, including a store where you make in-app purchases to ease your adventuring, and the methods you use to access that store.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by quirky and cute designs for both the main characters and NPCs, contributing to a charming and engaging visual experience.

    • “The character designs are quirky and cute, both for the main characters and the NPCs they meet along the way.”
    • “The depth of character development really makes you feel connected to each character's journey.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories unfolding in a way that feels natural and engaging.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Lair of the Clockwork God

Play time

7hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
2-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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