Lone Fungus

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 713 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Lone Fungus Game Cover
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"Lone Fungus is a Metroidvania-style game where you explore a vast mushroom-built world as the last surviving mushroom. Discover ten distinct areas filled with unique enemies and obstacles, and earn powerful upgrades like Relics, Emblems, and Health/Mindpoint boosts through exploration. The combat is fast-paced and acrobatic, and the spell system allows for creative approaches. Experience a large interconnected world with true Metroidvania progression."

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 713 reviews
gameplay41 positive mentions
grinding26 negative mentions
  • Lone Fungus is a charming and enjoyable metroidvania with a focus on exploration and platforming.
  • The game features a wide variety of movement mechanics and spells that allow for creative traversal and combat.
  • The platforming challenges are well-designed and provide a satisfying level of difficulty, appealing to fans of precision platformers.
  • The combat feels basic and lacks depth, with many bosses being easy or repetitive.
  • Backtracking can be tedious due to the large map and limited fast travel options.
  • Some platforming mechanics can feel convoluted and require precise inputs that may frustrate players.
  • gameplay162 mentions

    The gameplay of "Lone Fungus" is characterized by a vast array of movement mechanics and spells that create unique interactions, making for engaging platforming and combat experiences. While many players appreciate the depth and fluidity of the mechanics, some find the sheer number of abilities overwhelming and occasionally unpolished, leading to frustrations with controls and combat design. Overall, the game successfully combines elements of exploration and skill-based challenges, though it may not reach the heights of its inspirations like "Hollow Knight."

    • “The bosses evolve sufficiently in difficulty as the game goes on, and there are an immense number of movement mechanics, spells, equippable abilities (relics), and all of these things interact in unique combinations for combat and movement.”
    • “The gameplay is solid and precise, the abilities are fun, the metroidvania itch is scratched in a satisfying way.”
    • “It's clear a lot of work was put into this game, especially mechanically, and if you want a platformer with nuanced, high-skill-ceiling mechanics, you'll probably enjoy this.”
    • “About movement: there are so many mechanics that the buttons of a controller aren't enough to control the character.”
    • “The game feels bloated with mechanics and abilities that are either useless or only used once or twice throughout the adventure.”
    • “The core mechanic of parrying is so poorly implemented that if my joystick isn't perfectly straight down, it won't register, making it frustrating during boss fights.”
  • music82 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its pleasant and atmospheric qualities, while others find it repetitive or forgettable. Some standout tracks are noted for enhancing the gameplay experience, but overall, the soundtrack is described as decent yet not particularly memorable. Despite its shortcomings, the music complements the game's visuals and gameplay, contributing to a generally enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “The music is perfect and sets the mood just right.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and gameplay is truly amazing.”
    • “Beautiful game in both art and music and clearly made with a bunch of heart and soul.”
    • “The music gets repetitive.”
    • “The music kind of sucks and the map isn’t grid-based and really no way of knowing if a section is explored or not.”
    • “I think the only serious complaint with the game is that the music is kinda eh?”
  • story75 mentions

    The story in this metroidvania is generally considered weak and basic, often serving as a minimal backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the charming lore and aesthetics, many feel that the storytelling lacks depth and engagement, with most plot elements conveyed through text rather than immersive environmental storytelling. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on gameplay mechanics and exploration than on delivering a rich narrative experience.

    • “It's exciting during boss fights, imposing in late-game environments, mysterious in enemy-sparse areas, and poignant during plot exposition.”
    • “The lore is super cute; you're a little mushroom trying to figure out what happened. The world tells its story, mostly through text boxes, but it's a fun one.”
    • “The story and setting are better than what I expected, and the writing is decent for how silly of a premise the game is (being about mushrooms and all).”
    • “The story was weak in my opinion.”
    • “The presentation of the story is dull, which made me skip all the text, while the gameplay itself gradually makes less and less sense.”
    • “The story is puddle-deep with no real stakes or consequences; the overall map has a very blocky, segmented design to it.”
  • graphics58 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising its charming art style and colorful pixel art, while others find the visuals somewhat basic and repetitive across different areas. Some players appreciate the aesthetic and soundtrack, noting that they contribute positively to the overall experience, despite not being as visually impressive as titles like Hollow Knight or Ori and the Blind Forest. Overall, the graphics are considered decent and fitting for the metroidvania genre, though they may not stand out in a crowded market.

    • “The game starts with a very pleasant presentation - the visuals are simple but very tastefully done, the soundtrack starts out quite good and gets steadily better and better as the game progresses.”
    • “Pretty graphics, very nice soundtrack that varies in each zone, and well done gameplay mechanics.”
    • “Both the visuals and the audio are great, giving the game a very distinctive vibe.”
    • “The graphics of the map markers should be changed because some don't make any sense and they don't help.”
    • “While caves are naturally conducive to the interconnected, winding map layouts used in metroidvania titles, the visuals began to feel a bit stale by the end.”
    • “Its visuals can't compare to modern, cinematic titles like Ori and the Blind Forest or even Hollow Knight, with larger teams and budgets.”
  • grinding27 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to excessive backtracking and repetitive boss fights. While some appreciate the charm and exploration elements, many feel that the lack of engaging mechanics and the need to revisit areas detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay. Despite these criticisms, some players still find value in the game, especially for metroidvania fans willing to endure the grind.

    • “The music is solid, level design feels good, and backtracking isn't tedious.”
    • “I didn't, and I found myself in the midst of some very grindy boss fights before maxing out my damage.”
    • “Given the size of the map, you will have to traverse the same screens many times over as you explore, and they become tedious instead of fun.”
    • “Sadly the execution is lacking; the level design doesn't encourage you to use all your moves and zoom through the map. Instead, you encounter corridors with hundreds of enemies all around, so your movement is very limited, and there's no reason to kill the enemies, making exploration more tedious.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as quirky and enjoyable, with players appreciating the funny character attitudes and amusing boss names, such as "the corrupted falafel." However, some reviews note that the writing lacks humor, and while the gameplay is primarily exploration-focused, it still manages to evoke laughter and a sense of fun. Overall, the game is considered funny, especially for fans of the metroidvania genre.

    • “Also, for giving me a laughing fit due to one of its boss names being 'the corrupted falafel.'”
    • “Funny game if you like metroidvanias.”
    • “Good funny fungus game.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its cohesive and immersive qualities, drawing inspiration from titles like Hollow Knight and Metroidvania classics. Reviewers highlight the exceptional design, atmospheric music, and engaging environment, all of which contribute to a captivating exploration experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature that enhances gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere in the game is amazing, as well as the design.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and gameplay are truly amazing.”
    • “The music is atmospheric and mysterious, and manages to make the exploration quite immersive.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed response to character development, with some praising the character design as exceptional while others criticize the overall character development and world-building as lacking depth. Despite the strong visual appeal, the gameplay experience is hindered by perceived shortcomings in character growth and narrative integration.

    • “Great character design.”
    • “10/10 metroidvania, 11/10 character design.”
    • “Bad world building, bad character development.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of wholesome enjoyment and frustration, as players find it cute and fun but also face challenging optional tasks that can lead to feelings of inadequacy. This duality creates a unique emotional experience, balancing joy with moments of self-doubt.

    • “Super wholesome, cute, and fun.”
    • “The optional challenges in this game (ladybugs and blue shard pieces) almost made me quit halfway through, making me feel like an awful gamer in a way that I almost never feel.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Overall, the game's performance is generally positive, though some users have reported occasional random stuttering issues that detract from the experience.

    • “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimizing performance.”
    • “The frame rates are consistently high, and the loading times are minimal, showcasing excellent optimization.”
    • “Other than some weird stuttering that happens, which seems random, the game is great.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly, particularly on the Steam Deck, though some have encountered occasional glitches. Additionally, certain upgrades may feel overpowered, especially when players rush through boss encounters without dodging.

    • “It runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
    • “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
    • “Some things seem like glitches, and at some point, I rushed the bosses down without much care for dodging, so some upgrades seem a bit overpowered.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
    • “I encountered several bugs that caused the game to freeze, which ruined my experience.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users generally find that the game's replayability is high, with various modes and challenges that encourage multiple playthroughs. The inclusion of different character choices and branching storylines adds to the overall experience, making players eager to return for new outcomes. Overall, the game offers enough variety to keep players engaged long after their initial playthrough.

    • “The game offers a wealth of choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
    • “With multiple endings and diverse character paths, I find myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
    • “The random events and procedural generation keep the gameplay fresh, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect has received mixed feedback, with some users expressing enjoyment while others feel it falls short of the expectations set by promotional ads, particularly in comparison to titles like "Hollow Knight."

    • “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the experience.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

15hMedian play time
13hAverage play time
5-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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