LAY

Immerse yourself in this adventure of poetic and contemplative exploration as Elise, a young explorer full of energy. This mysterious world awaits you to overflow with colour and life !

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 262 reviews

graphics34 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack that create a calming atmosphere.
It's a charming and relaxing exploration puzzle game that is enjoyable for players of all ages.
As a free game, it offers a delightful experience with engaging puzzles and a cute manta ray companion.

The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
There are several bugs and glitches that can disrupt the experience, such as getting stuck in the environment.
The game lacks a compelling storyline, which may leave some players feeling unmotivated to explore further.

graphics
72 mentions
47 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and charm, featuring a colorful and aesthetically pleasing art style that enhances the overall atmosphere. Many players appreciate the soothing visuals and ambient music, although some report occasional graphical glitches and performance issues on lower-end systems. Overall, the game is considered visually stunning, especially for a free title, with a dreamlike quality that captivates players.
- “It's gorgeous, the visuals are clean and beautiful, the gameplay is simple, and the worldbuilding is insane!”
- “Simply breathtaking, the visuals and the music all came together to make an amazing world.”
- “The graphics are stunning with an amazing color palette.”
- “Gets boring really fast, graphics aren't the best even on high, game has a few bugs (including the controls not working properly!!).”
- “And, well, there are some graphics glitches on Windrose Island, when approaching the storm from the inside.”
- “It didn't help either that the game kind of makes my computer lag (which has never happened before when I stream other games that are graphics-heavy).”
music
38 mentions
63 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and soothing qualities, perfectly complementing the stunning visuals and creating an immersive atmosphere. While many players appreciate the gentle and whimsical soundtracks, some note that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the audio enhances the relaxing experience of the game, making it a delightful journey through its beautifully crafted world.
- “The game’s art direction is stunning, the music perfectly complements the journey, and every element feels crafted with care and intention.”
- “The music, colors, and sound all combine to make this a beautiful, relaxing journey!”
- “The beautiful graphics are accompanied by a gentle, soft soundtrack.”
- “Music seems repetitive but ok.”
- “I would say the biggest downside of the game is the soundtrack, it is very repetitive and dreary.”
- “I was left without music for a stretch until a specific gameplay condition was met.”
gameplay
33 mentions
21 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with many praising the beautiful visuals and unique island mechanics, but expressing frustration with the flying controls, which are seen as underutilized and difficult to master. While the basic movement and puzzle elements are generally well-received, players have noted issues with sound feedback and the need for clearer guidance on objectives. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable but could benefit from refinements, particularly in the flying mechanics.
- “It's gorgeous, the visuals are clean and beautiful, the gameplay is simple, and the worldbuilding is insane!”
- “Each island is its own unique level with specific puzzle gameplay loops.”
- “The world looks gorgeous and the mechanics of flying are super smooth and fun.”
- “Definitely needs loads more attention, and maybe a couple of tweaks to make the gameplay a bit easier.”
- “The flying mechanics have a bit of a learning curve, and collecting crystals while flying is the most difficult!”
- “Even if you turn things down, it's still way too loud; certain sounds cannot be heard due to everything else drowning them out, which makes gameplay feedback non-existent.”
stability
18 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is frequently described as buggy, with players experiencing issues such as falling through the map, getting stuck in various locations, and encountering graphical glitches. While some glitches can be resolved by restarting the game, they can disrupt gameplay and lead to soft locks during puzzles. Despite these stability concerns, many players still find enjoyment in the game, appreciating its overall quality and the fact that it is free.
- “The one thing I didn't like was that it was a bit buggy; maybe it was just my computer, but there were many times it would bug out and I would fall through the map or get stuck in a weird spot while walking.”
- “I did get physically stuck quite a few times, and moving boulders around was often buggy.”
- “It was very buggy my first few times playing, and I had to restart Steam and even my PC to get the WASD function working properly.”
story
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its minimalism, with many players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative or plot. While the ambient mystery and beautiful design are appreciated, the lack of dialogue and clear objectives leaves players feeling confused and wanting more context. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for its relaxing gameplay, but it would benefit from a stronger storyline to enhance the experience.
- “While it's true that I prefer more story-driven games, and I love good dialogue, there can be something nice about the ambient mystery of games with minimal storyline as well.”
- “You can theorize on the story of the game as much as you like, but you don't need to do that to enjoy it.”
- “It might benefit from a story or a goal, but the opening scene sets it up enough: 'plane crashed, explore!' Expect a bug or two, and if you have a controller, I'd recommend using it, but it's free, cute, and worth a play.”
- “The game could have a story; I'm not sure, I don't even understand what the islands are or why I need to solve the puzzles, but it is fun and relaxing. The end of the game is quite frankly confusing, but at least it has some sort of closing that doesn't feel out of place.”
- “I can't help but feel like there should be much more of a narrative, but with the total absence of any dialogue or background story, it really is just a game about solving a puzzle and moving on to the next one.”
- “Would love to try this game again in a future update; perhaps some storyline could be added to give some direction to the game.”
atmosphere
11 mentions
45 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, art style, and relaxing vibe, creating an enjoyable and immersive experience. Players appreciate the combination of soothing music, pleasant sounds, and visually appealing environments, which contribute to a tranquil gaming experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “I love the art style and the chill atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music, the sounds, and atmosphere are very enjoyable.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is amazing.”
optimization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including performance problems, frame stuttering, and control responsiveness. While some players recommend it despite these flaws, improvements in optimization and bug fixes are necessary for a smoother experience.
- “It definitely could use some work on the keyboard controls, optimizations, and a few bugs here and there, but other than that, I highly recommend!”
- “Could use some work on the controls, optimizations, and a few bugs.”
- “I had massive performance issues that I did not expect at all since I didn't have any problems whatsoever with other games.”
- “It definitely could use some work on the keyboard controls, optimizations, and a few bugs here and there.”
- “Also experienced a bit of frame stuttering.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its cute and wholesome nature, with a detailed art style that resonates deeply with players, particularly those with a strong affinity for animals. One user expressed profound emotional connection, describing the experience as joy-inducing and recommending it highly for fans of similar themes.
- “I've never been more obsessed with a game in my life. I'm autistic, and my special interest is animals, and rays are my absolute favorite animal, so this game made me want to cry tears of joy. Absolutely enthralled.”
- “It's a very cute and wholesome game; the art style is very good and detailed.”
- “This game is so highly recommended if you love cute and wholesome games!”
grinding
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in the game to be somewhat excessive at times, drawing comparisons to Genshin Impact's experience but noting that it lacks the challenging monster encounters that can make grinding feel more rewarding.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worthwhile.”
- “Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by the satisfaction of leveling up.”
- “The landscape reminds me a bit of Genshin Impact's Sangonomiya Shrine, except without all the extra-op monsters and grinding.”
- “It's a bit grindy sometimes.”
monetization
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the game's approach to monetization, noting that it prioritizes creating an enjoyable experience over relying heavily on monetization schemes and loot boxes. This positive reception highlights a preference for fair and balanced monetization practices.
- “It's always great to see developers who focus on creating a fun game that isn't broken at launch and doesn't rely heavily on monetization schemes and loot boxes.”
- “It's always great to see those that actually like making a fun game that is not horribly broken on release and has to rely on monetization schemes and loot boxes.”