LONE RUIN

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 176 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
LONE RUIN Game Cover
Lone Ruin contains great and mysterious power for anyone capable of surviving its waves of magical madness.
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"Lone Ruin" is a rogue-like, action-packed shooter game that takes you through ancient ruins filled with mystical creatures. As a lone explorer, you must harness your abilities and weapons to battle and evade your way through the ever-changing labyrinth. With each run, you'll uncover new secrets and increase your power, striving to unravel the mysteries of the Lone Ruin.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 176 reviews
gameplay25 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Lone Ruin features stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • The gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, with a variety of spells and upgrades that allow for unique playstyles.
  • The game offers a challenging experience that encourages replayability through its leaderboard and difficulty modes.
  • The game is criticized for its lack of content, with many players feeling it is too short and repetitive.
  • There is a significant difficulty spike that can feel unfair, especially for new players, due to poorly telegraphed enemy attacks.
  • The absence of meta progression and variety in enemies and bosses leads to a feeling of sameness across runs.
  • gameplay52 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its addictive core loop, smooth mechanics, and engaging visuals, while others criticize it for being underdeveloped, repetitive, and too basic compared to other roguelikes. Players appreciate the straightforward action and the fun power-ups, but many feel that the game lacks depth and content, making it less compelling in the long run. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments, it struggles to stand out in a crowded genre.

    • “Lone Ruin mixes frenzied pacing, stylish audio and visuals, and twin-stick shooter gameplay into an addictive roguelite package.”
    • “The overall gameplay is simple in a good way, leaving you to focus on the action without getting bogged down in mechanics, and, like Hades, you'll clear waves of enemies before choosing one of two rooms you'd like to enter next based on which displayed reward you'd prefer.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely smooth and the power-ups are fun (they need to add more, however, and I'm sure they will).”
    • “However, in terms of gameplay, this is just severely undercooked and underdeveloped.”
    • “The game is a mishmash of mechanics from other roguelikes, and you would be much better off spending your time and money on any of those games.”
    • “The gameplay loop is too repetitive and boring.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise, with many reviewers highlighting its energetic and immersive qualities, particularly the electronic and drum & bass elements that enhance the gameplay experience. While some opinions vary, with a few describing the music as bland, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and enjoyment. Many players feel the game is worth purchasing for the music and visuals alone.

    • “The soundtrack is really nice, easily the best part of this game.”
    • “The snappy controls combined with the art and music make this a deeply immersive experience.”
    • “Oh yeah, and salt in the wound: the music is bland.”
    • “Music isn't my genre but it fits the game well and it can be therapeutic for some people, I'm sure.”
    • “A pumping electronic soundtrack sets the pace as you tackle the titular ruin, and, while there's not a ton of lore or story, the style is intriguing enough to give the game a unique ambiance.”
  • graphics35 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received praise for their cool visuals, retro pixel art style, and vibrant colors that enhance the overall aesthetic. While many reviewers appreciate the artistic design and smooth animations, some have noted issues such as the use of chromatic aberration and a lack of visual distinction among enemies, which detracts from the experience. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the gameplay, creating an engaging and visually appealing roguelite experience.

    • “The graphics and colors are big dopamine hits and the gameplay is very smooth.”
    • “This game does a lot good, great visuals, great music and sound effects, great enemy design and spell design.”
    • “I absolutely love the pixel art style, and unlike Hades, you exclusively cast spells in this which I quite enjoy.”
    • “I get you are going for a certain aesthetic, however; hiding an actual stat number behind something abstract like an image just makes it harder to know how much damage you are taking.”
    • “I think the game has a neat art style, but the use of chromatic aberration and not making enemies visually distinct (or visible through indestructible scenery) are two visual elements that felt really lacking, when all other games in the genre do this so well.”
    • “I will say I expected more from the game when I saw the price tag and art style, but I'm afraid that the budget for the game has been misplaced.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is limited, primarily revolving around unlocking harder difficulty levels and a survival mode, with little variety in spells, upgrades, or enemies. While some players appreciate the satisfying gameplay and sense of progression, many find the experience too short and repetitive, leading to a lack of compelling reasons to replay after completing the game.

    • “Post-fool's errand update: the game is better now with a good sense of progression and more replayability, still a few bugs/nits.”
    • “I beat the game in around 30 minutes, but it has satisfying gameplay with some replayability and there's still plenty more for me to try out.”
    • “Overall, I believe it is worth the price, but the game is short and the replayability really comes in through the survival mode, not the standard mode.”
    • “The only 'replayability' comes from unlocking harder difficulty levels, but that's it - no new powers, weapons, enemies, nothing, even the landscapes are repeated ad nauseum.”
    • “The replay value just isn't there as the spell, upgrade, and blessing variety are all lacking.”
    • “Lone Ruin is a game all about replayability that I saw little reason to replay after the credits.”
  • story8 mentions

    The game features minimal story and lore, leaving players without context for their journey through the titular ruin. While the electronic soundtrack enhances the experience, the lack of narrative depth may leave some players wanting more.

    • “A pumping electronic soundtrack sets the pace as you tackle the titular ruin, and, while there's not a ton of lore or story, the style is intriguing enough to give the game a unique ambiance.”
    • “There is little to no story as of yet to explain how you came to be in the ruin and what you are seeking.”
    • “No plot or any context at all.”
    • “Story mode?”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization is characterized by a dynamic loadout performance that changes as players progress, leading to varied experiences in each run. However, some users have noted minor performance issues and a lack of content, which may affect overall gameplay.

    • “The performance and feel of your loadout will evolve as you delve deeper into the ruins, and it will vary wildly from run to run.”
    • “The performance and feel of your loadout will evolve as you delve deeper into the ruins, but it will vary wildly from run to run.”
    • “[Lacking in content, some minor performance problems]”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for being engaging and enjoyable, contributing to a fun overall experience, especially considering its good price.

    • “It's a good price, atmospheric, and a lot of fun.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

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

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