Lucid Cycle

About

"Lucid Cycle" is a first-person exploration game that immerses players in a series of dream-like scenarios, where they must solve puzzles and navigate shifting landscapes to uncover deeper meanings. With its beautiful 3D environments and thought-provoking concepts, players will experience a surreal journey through the world of dreams. Each scenario presents a unique challenge, requiring observation, problem-solving, and adaptation to progress through the game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 47 reviews

story4 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and varied dreamscapes create a visually stunning experience.
The game features a unique storytelling approach, allowing players to interpret the meaning of their dreams.
The puzzles and gameplay mechanics are diverse, providing a refreshing change from typical walking simulators.

The game can feel tedious and lacks a cohesive narrative, leading to a disjointed experience.
Some gameplay elements are frustrating, with unclear objectives and controls that can hinder progress.
Frequent bugs and performance issues detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay is primarily centered around walking simulator mechanics, with some titles incorporating additional elements like puzzles and shooting segments, though these often lack polish and can be frustrating. While some players appreciate the surreal and varied experiences within dream-like stages, others criticize the inconsistent controls and the overall lack of engaging gameplay. Overall, the gameplay experience is mixed, appealing mainly to those who enjoy artistic exploration rather than traditional storytelling or polished mechanics.
- “It's literally a game of dreaming, where each stage of the dream we live in a different universe, with distinct gameplays.”
- “The dreams consist of short, surrealistic gameplay segments, most of which are puzzles of some sort or another.”
- “But it has a bit more gameplay than usual, also some puzzle elements.”
- “Get this if you enjoy artsy things, but if you want something with actual story or gameplay, look elsewhere.”
- “None of the gameplay elements are polished and visually it's not that great.”
- “Gameplay is either non-existent (walking simulator parts) or boring (shooting segments and collect-x-items) or infuriating (NPC can't touch you or you can't look at some objects or you trying to avoid lighthouse's lights etc -- which all lead to level restart if failed).”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
63%
16%
The game's story is described as layered and nuanced, with a focus on dream sequences that allow for personal interpretation, though some reviewers feel it lacks depth and a cohesive narrative. While the visuals and music enhance the experience, opinions vary on the effectiveness of the storytelling, with some finding it minimal and others appreciating its emotional resonance. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy artistic expression but may disappoint players seeking a more traditional narrative.
- “Most notably, the story is both layered and very nuanced.”
- “The music is haunting and the emotional story will pull at your heartstrings.”
- “I think this is a very interesting and unique way to tell a story within the confines of a mostly walking simulator, providing an opportunity for the player to decide what it means to them individually.”
- “There is no story or narrative to this game at all; you make your way through a number of dream sequences, wake up, splosh a bit of paint on a canvas, and repeat.”
- “Story-wise, it's almost nothing.”
- “It's mostly just a collection of dreams; it has little to no story.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals and artistic variety, effectively conveying the unique themes of each dream while maintaining a cohesive narrative. However, some users noted inconsistencies in quality, with certain elements appearing mismatched or low-poly, and performance issues such as difficulty achieving a stable 60 fps even on lower settings. Overall, while the visuals are beautiful and immersive, technical limitations may detract from the experience for some players.
- “The visuals are also quite varied, with each dream conveying something unique, but also staying on track with the overarching story.”
- “First of all, the graphics look excellent and all limits of the Unreal Engine are tested without a doubt.”
- “Great indie game with wonderful dream levels; the visuals are sometimes breathtaking.”
- “The game's graphics are pretty, although I could not get it to run at 60 fps consistently even with all the graphics settings on their minimum levels (with a GTX 970), so get ready for a little choppiness.”
- “Perhaps when computer graphics first started looking decent, it was enough to shove random stuff together on a screen or move the camera around at random and call it surreal, but I think in the 2020s something more is required.”
- “LSD obviously did not have the graphical finesse or the ease in programming different mechanics that the Unreal Engine offers, but I think it did more with what it did have in a lot of ways.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music in the game is a polarizing aspect, with some players praising its haunting quality and emotional resonance that enhances the narrative, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety, leading them to prefer their own soundtracks. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for setting a strong tone, though it may become bland during extended play sessions.
- “The music is haunting and the emotional story will pull at your heartstrings.”
- “His walking sims always seemed interesting in terms of graphics, narrative, and special mention goes to the soundtrack.”
- “The music sets the tone very well.”
- “The music is pretty much garbage, to the point that during some of the longer puzzles, I put on my own music instead of listening to it.”
- “The music becomes a bit bland after continuously playing for more than 2 hours.”
- “During the dream sequences, there are not many instances of in-universe sound effects, so you won't miss much by making your own soundtrack.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and at times frustrating, with some puzzles feeling overly simplistic or monotonous. However, there is a sense of satisfaction in the overall experience, as the grinding is balanced by moments of respite from constant dialogue.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If that sounds extremely tedious, it is.”
- “I think if it was continuous, not only would it not really make as much sense, it would be a bit tedious to do.”
- “Don't get me wrong, some of these puzzles are extremely basic or insanely tedious (for example, the maze where it looks like you have cataracts the whole time, and the blurriness forms the basis of the 'challenge').”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in Lucid Cycle is widely praised for its stunning and immersive quality, evoking emotions ranging from joy to fear, reminiscent of David Lynch's films. The multi-layered backgrounds enhance the overall ambiance, contributing to a rich and engaging experience.
- “The atmosphere in Lucid Cycle is absolutely stunning.”
- “I loved all the atmospheres; I felt like I was in one of David Lynch's movies, where I experienced joy, relief, and even fear at times.”
- “The background now has multiple layers, so it feels more atmospheric.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features haunting music and a deeply emotional narrative that resonates with players, making it a standout choice for fans of walking simulators and poignant storytelling. However, some gameplay mechanics, such as resetting levels for touching certain objects, may detract from the overall emotional experience.
- “The music is haunting and the emotional story will pull at your heartstrings.”
- “This is a must-play for fans of walking simulators, emotional stories, and dreams.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by clever jokes, including a notable one about shooters, and is further enhanced by amusing "dream" sequences where players engage in witty conversations with inanimate objects, like a lamp, adding a whimsical touch to the narrative.
- “There is also a joke about shooters in there that I thought was funny.”
- “There are these 'dream' sequences and these 'waking up in flat' moments, where you talk to a lamp with witty and funny commentary about those dreams, painting a part of the picture before going to sleep again.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance in certain scenes, particularly in flat environments, with issues such as excessive mouse sensitivity even at the lowest settings and noticeable stuttering during gameplay.
- “Performance is really bad in some scenes, especially in flat areas.”
- “The mouse is moving too fast even on the lowest in-game sensitivity, and there's some weird stuttering present in this game.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of Lucid Cycle has been criticized for being poor, with users reporting numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience, alongside complaints about its unappealing visuals.
- “Worst of all is that the lucid cycle is not only boring, but it's buggy and ugly.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game features no in-game purchases, indicating a completely free-to-play experience without additional monetization strategies.
- “The game offers a fair approach to monetization, with no in-game purchases required to enjoy the full experience.”
- “I appreciate that there are no paywalls; everything can be unlocked through gameplay.”
- “The monetization model is transparent and player-friendly, allowing for a balanced experience without pressure to spend.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The overall consensus indicates that the game's replayability is low, suggesting that players may not find sufficient motivation to revisit the experience after completing it.
- “Replayability is low.”
- “The game lacks incentives to play through again.”
- “Once you've completed it, there's little reason to return.”