Lucid Cycle

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 36 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Lucid Cycle Game Cover
Starting at $0.99Buy now
Get on Steam

"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews
graphics8 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and varied visual styles that enhance the dreamlike experience.
  • Engaging and nuanced story that explores themes of dreams, creativity, and balance in life.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that incorporate a mix of puzzles, platforming, and light shooting elements.
  • Short playtime that may leave players wanting more content and depth.
  • Some gameplay mechanics can feel tedious or lack polish, leading to frustration.
  • Inconsistent performance and occasional bugs that detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay19 mentions

    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. Players appreciate the surreal and varied interactions in certain games, but many feel that the overall experience is hindered by inconsistent controls and a lack of engaging story or gameplay depth. While some mechanics show potential, there is a general consensus that improvements are needed for a more cohesive and enjoyable experience.

    • “Though the controls and gameplay change occasionally, it doesn't have to announce anything - for example, you'll know when jumping is enabled because you have to jump.”
    • “The dreams consist of short, surrealistic gameplay segments, most of which are puzzles of some sort or another.”
    • “For example, the things you can interact with in LSD act differently each time you see them, which creates an urgency in your gameplay because you want to see what happens when you reach certain spots.”
    • “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).”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their stunning visuals and artistic variety, effectively enhancing the narrative experience. While the Unreal Engine showcases impressive graphical fidelity, some players report performance issues, struggling to maintain a consistent frame rate even on lower settings. Overall, the artwork is considered beautiful, contributing significantly to the game's immersive dreamlike atmosphere.

    • “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 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.”
  • story15 mentions

    The game's story is described as layered and nuanced, offering a unique narrative experience through its dreamlike visuals, though some players feel it lacks depth and coherence. While it presents opportunities for personal interpretation, many reviewers note that it primarily serves as a collection of dreams rather than a robust storyline. Overall, the storytelling is seen as enjoyable and artistic, but may not satisfy those seeking a more substantial narrative.

    • “Most notably, the story is both layered and very nuanced.”
    • “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 in many regards.”
    • “The artwork is stunning, and the story is fun, not deep, but just fun.”
    • “Get this if you enjoy artsy things, but if you want something with actual story or gameplay, look elsewhere.”
    • “Story-wise, it's almost nothing.”
    • “It's mostly just a collection of dreams though, it has little to no story.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the experience, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety, leading them to prefer their own music during gameplay. Overall, the absence of sound effects in dream sequences shifts the focus to the music, which some players appreciate but others feel becomes bland over time.

    • “His walking sims always seemed interesting in terms of graphics, narrative, and special mention goes to the soundtrack.”
    • “There were a lot of returning elements (shining deer and the music at the beginning).”
    • “- the music is actually really good.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with some puzzles described as overly simplistic or frustratingly challenging. While the lack of constant dialogue is appreciated, the need for additional lives to manage grinding further contributes to the overall sense of monotony.

    • “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.”
    • “Some of these puzzles are extremely basic or insanely tedious, but it was just nice to not get talked to the whole time like I had been expecting.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by clever jokes, including a notable one about shooters, and is further enhanced by whimsical "dream" sequences where players engage in witty conversations with inanimate objects, like a lamp, adding a layer of comedic commentary to the experience.

    • “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.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting its multi-layered background that enhances the overall immersive experience.

    • “The background now has multiple layers, so it feels more atmospheric.”
    • “Very nice atmosphere.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    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.”
  • stability1 mentions

    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, the lucid cycle is not only boring, but it's also buggy and poorly designed.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game features no in-game purchases, indicating a monetization model that does not rely on additional spending beyond the initial purchase.

    • “In-game purchases: none”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no paywalls, allowing everyone to enjoy the game equally.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game's replayability is considered low, indicating that players may not find sufficient motivation to revisit the experience after completing it.

    • “Replayability is low.”
    • “There isn't much incentive to replay the game after finishing it.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little reason to go back.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Lucid Cycle

Videos

Similar Games