Lost Ruins

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,036 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Lost Ruins Game Cover
An enjoyable, slower-paced metroidvania with an impressive aesthetic.
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In "Lost Ruins," a young girl with amnesia embarks on a perilous journey with a magician named Beatrice to uncover the secrets of the dungeon she woke up in. Gameplay features strategic combat, where players can use a variety of weapons and spells to defeat gruesome monsters. Choosing the right accessories is also crucial for survival in this treacherous world.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,036 reviews
story148 positive mentions
grinding34 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and animations that enhance the overall experience.
  • Engaging combat that requires strategic thinking and resource management.
  • Multiple game modes and endings provide good replayability.
  • Combat can feel clunky and slow, making it frustrating at times.
  • No health or mana restoration at checkpoints, leading to reliance on consumables.
  • The story is predictable and lacks depth, with underdeveloped characters.
  • story544 mentions

    The story of the game is generally considered simplistic and predictable, often described as charming yet lacking depth, with many reviewers noting its reliance on typical anime tropes. While some players found enjoyment in the quirky characters and environmental storytelling, others criticized the narrative for being underdeveloped and not particularly engaging. Overall, the game offers multiple endings and replayability, but those seeking a rich and intricate storyline may be disappointed.

    • “The story, characters, and art style I love it so much.”
    • “Okay then the likes, the story is really good at first I thought it was your simple stop the bad guy story but had plenty of twists and turns and well-written characters that just made the story phenomenal, especially when you play the game a second time and everything in the story just seems to click together.”
    • “The writing and humor is charming, and the story itself is simple but fun to experience.”
    • “The story is bare bones and predictable, so if you're interested in amazing story and lore in games, you should look pretty much anywhere else.”
    • “Idk, but here: [spoiler]the boss mode story is very disappointing, it does a poor job of building suspense with basically no new information or payoff at the very end.”
    • “The story is nothing special, but I did find it charming.”
  • gameplay450 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its strategic depth and variety, particularly in combat mechanics and item usage, while others criticize it for being clunky, slow, and frustrating. Many highlight the game's beautiful art style and the challenge it presents, especially in hardcore modes, but note that the learning curve can be steep and the mechanics sometimes feel unrefined. Overall, while the game offers replayability and unique mechanics, it may not appeal to everyone due to its polarizing gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay is very refined.”
    • “The gameplay is really good; it has a bit of a Dark Souls-like feel to it, but with Metroidvania-styled gameplay. It's tough but fair, and when you die, it is mostly your fault.”
    • “The characters are fun and cute, the animation is fluid and pleasing, the challenge is fair, and the replay value is high (with different gameplay modes available after completing the game once).”
    • “The gameplay is awfully clunky, controls are horrible to get by.”
    • “The slow and methodical survival style of gameplay generally just devolves into tedium and doesn't feel rewarding.”
    • “However, the gameplay itself is absolutely frustrating - even on the easiest difficulty, some mobs can barely touch you, while others have instant death attacks, even at full health with stacked resists.”
  • graphics354 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art and charming anime-inspired aesthetics, with many reviewers praising the smooth animations and detailed character designs. However, some players noted issues with optimization and a mix of styles that detracted from the overall visual experience. While the art style appeals to fans of anime and retro graphics, it may not resonate with everyone, particularly due to its occasional reliance on fan service elements.

    • “The pixel graphics are really beautiful, very well done with plenty of detail and nice little touches to it; I also love the character portraits; it has a nice anime feel to it.”
    • “The visuals and pixel art are gorgeous!”
    • “The art style is gorgeous and the portal system eliminates the need for tedious backtracking.”
    • “Don't mix 16-bit graphics with Times New Roman inventory pieces.”
    • “Aside from some charming and well-animated sprites, the visuals are murky and hard to discern, so you often aren't even sure what hurt you.”
    • “It's such a shame, since they really seemed to have put a lot of work into the pixel art for Lost Ruins, but everything besides the visuals is terrible.”
  • music136 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its fitting atmosphere and quality, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's mood, particularly in specific levels, but a notable number of reviewers express a desire for more memorable and varied tracks. Overall, while the music is generally considered good, it lacks standout pieces that leave a lasting impression.

    • “Whenever I boot it up, the title screen music just makes me feel like I'm in a dream.”
    • “The music is really good with plenty of great tracks to listen to, that fits the game really well especially at the last level.”
    • “A really charming game with beautiful, breezy pixel art, lush animation and lighting effects, endearing characters and character portraits, and an enjoyable, fairly mellow soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is just the same melody over and over, and if I listen to it for one more day I may go clinically insane. This, paired with the extremely annoying high-pitch voice of the main character and the frequent deaths, can honestly ruin your gaming mood easily.”
    • “Most metroidvania advertised games have at least one song that will stick with you, but not this one, no no.”
    • “I found myself listening to another game's soundtrack while playing it, actually...”
  • replayability76 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through various weapon builds, multiple game modes, and different endings, despite its relatively short main story. Players appreciate the challenge modes and new game+ features that enhance replay value, allowing for diverse playstyles and experiences. Overall, while the initial playthrough may be brief, the additional content and options provide ample incentive for players to return.

    • “It is a bit on the short side, but with various game modes and endings, it has lots of replayability.”
    • “It has lots of replayability as well, with different challenge modes unlocking by completing the first run of the game, as well as multiple endings depending on how you do things.”
    • “The game is replayable with fresh features on new game+, so even if it's quite short, you can play again with a different story and different mechanics.”
    • “But I don't think it has replay value.”
    • “The story is surprisingly very short, but I think there's a fair bit of replayability.”
    • “It is short but there is some replayability.”
  • humor52 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the dialogue and references consistently funny, while others feel it lacks depth and can be hit-or-miss. Many appreciate the cute and quirky elements, including amusing boss phases and puns, but some criticize the humor as feeling soulless or overly simplistic. Overall, the game offers a blend of adorable and adult humor that resonates with a segment of players, though it may not appeal to everyone.

    • “This game also features solid music, cute, quality pixel art, and even made me laugh a few times.”
    • “The game has consistently funny dialogue.”
    • “This game is full of humor that is both adorable and adult at the same time.”
  • character development42 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive and varied character designs, particularly appealing to anime fans with cute and unique sprites. However, while the visuals are praised, many reviewers note that the characters themselves lack depth, often feeling one-dimensional with minimal narrative engagement. Overall, the art and design are well-executed, but the characters do not offer substantial development or complexity.

    • “A great metroidvania with a fantastic variety of builds/strategies, along with fun bosses, and interesting character designs.”
    • “There are a lot of things to like here: charming visuals, nice character designs (bosses in particular), complexity in how the spells and stuff interact with the world (different elements), and a manageable game length.”
    • “I love the creepy atmosphere and cool character design.”
    • “The character designs are all pretty neat, but the characters themselves are all pretty one-note, and there's not really that much going on other than a bit of banter and then tearing each other's throats out.”
    • “Plenty of variety in character design as well, though they don't really have a solid story to bounce off of, they're 1-dimensional mostly.”
    • “I disliked the conversation artwork, and the lean on cheesecake character design.”
  • grinding36 mentions

    Grinding in this game is often viewed as tedious and inefficient, with players needing to farm for resources like healing items and gold due to their scarcity. While the game discourages excessive grinding, it sometimes feels necessary for progression, leading to frustration, especially when combined with long weapon windup times and the risk of cheap deaths. Despite these issues, the art style and varied enemy mechanics are appreciated, though they do not fully alleviate the grind-related concerns.

    • “This makes the mandatory grinding suck.”
    • “I expected it to be a difficult game - like the Momodora series - but this is just stupid death grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is hard and not very efficient.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its consistency and depth, with many reviewers highlighting its beautiful artwork, clever dialogue, and immersive soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. While some find it overly atmospheric or lacking in variety, the unique blend of creepy and whimsical elements creates a captivating environment that resonates with players. However, clunky movement mechanics detract from the enjoyment for some, suggesting that while the atmosphere is a strong point, it may not fully compensate for gameplay issues.

    • “This game has a fantastic atmosphere.”
    • “I loved the sad and weird atmosphere.”
    • “I love the creepy atmosphere and cool character design.”
    • “The only thing I liked about this game really was the artwork and atmosphere.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game has significant stability issues, including frequent screen freezes and crashes, particularly during critical moments like boss fights. Players report that while they can still move their characters during freezes, the lack of responsiveness and failure to unlock achievements contribute to a frustrating experience. Additionally, some users have noted that these problems may be linked to specific graphics card drivers.

    • “Screen freezes and game crashes, so if you're fighting a boss or gaining progress without any checkpoint, expect to get super annoyed.”
    • “I put it in quotes because the screen freezes, but I can still move the character (I can jump, open options, hear the environment, etc.), but alt-tab doesn't fix it.”
    • “We've experienced freezes with certain graphics card drivers.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience, often crying during gameplay and feeling a strong connection to the world through lore and character interactions. The blend of humor and wholesome moments adds to the emotional depth, making the journey both impactful and memorable. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of feelings, from joy to sorrow, enhancing the player's engagement with the narrative.

    • “I cried many times in this game. 10/10, worth the suffering.”
    • “Reading small pieces of lore lying about and talking to side characters made me feel connected to the world.”
    • “Her lines when confronted with the silly but demented characters she meets are dumb enough or wholesome enough to make you chuckle.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, resulting in sluggish movement and a lack of engaging writing. Overall, players feel that the performance detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The movement is way too sluggish, the game is poorly optimized, and the writing seems to be without character.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

Buy Lost Ruins

Play time

4hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
2-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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