Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness

Made in Abyss: Binary Star offers a unique challenge that's worth trying, but it needs some quality-of-life improvements to be worth paying full price.

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Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness is an action RPG set in the grim world of the Made in Abyss anime and manga. Players will create their own character and descend into the deadly abyss, facing off against monstrous creatures and making difficult decisions that will impact the story. With beautiful hand-drawn art and a haunting original soundtrack, this game is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Play Modes

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

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 667 reviews

story56 positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

Captures the essence of the Made in Abyss universe, providing a unique exploration experience.
The game features a variety of environments and creatures, making exploration engaging and rewarding.
The original story in Deep in Abyss mode offers new content and character interactions for fans of the series.

The game suffers from clunky controls and a poorly designed inventory system, making gameplay tedious.
Hello Abyss mode is a lengthy tutorial that doesn't effectively prepare players for the main game.
Infinite enemy respawns and low weapon durability create frustrating gameplay experiences.

story
440 mentions
13 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is divided into two main modes: "Hello Abyss," which serves as a brief and linear retelling of the anime's first season, and "Deep in Abyss," featuring an original narrative where players create their own character and explore the abyss. While the original story has some engaging elements and character interactions, many players find the overall storytelling lacking depth, with repetitive quests and a disjointed narrative that fails to capture the emotional weight of the source material. Overall, fans of the anime may appreciate the familiar settings and characters, but newcomers might find the story confusing and unsatisfying.
- “The exploration, the story, the art, all of it is magnificent as a fan of the original story.”
- “The deep in abyss mode is its own unique story, but equivalently follows season 1 and the movies.”
- “The story is captivating, but definitely room for more exploring and world building.”
- “The story somehow twisted the anime's timeline a bit, you joined the orphanage sometime after Riko and Reg's departure, with three new faces as your classmates... but the story somehow slows down Riko's part and expedites the game's protagonist part, where you actually caught up with Riko and Reg (where they seemed to stop at the 4th layer, and probably before meeting Nanachi).”
- “The gameplay is painful and clunky, and the story mode barely gets to episode 3 of the anime.”
- “The main story itself is just fine as it is, yet a lot of small details have been dropped.”
gameplay
238 mentions
20 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its clunky controls, repetitive mechanics, and frustrating design choices that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the survival and exploration elements, others criticize the lack of depth and variety, particularly in combat and resource management. Overall, the game offers a challenging loop of delving into the abyss, but it is marred by technical issues and a steep learning curve that may deter casual players.
- “The gameplay loop of exploring further and further into the abyss collecting relics to sell back at the surface is addicting, and each time you descend you take on more risks until you inevitably bite off more than you can chew.”
- “The fundamental gameplay loop of delving, exploring, treasure hunting, and trying to survive the ascent to cash in your haul and upgrade your gear for the next sortie is incredibly satisfying, especially when your well-laid plans inevitably go awry on the way up and you're forced to think on your feet.”
- “Gameplay-wise, learning how to strategically navigate a cliff face so that you can recover your stamina partway through a climb or descent or planning out the optimal return route from a few layers down feels like you're personally progressing as a cave raider with your own little tricks and strategies.”
- “I tried with this game, I really did, but it feels poorly designed and honestly in dire need of updates that never came for quality of life. The story, gameplay, etc. all just feels like it almost could have been good but it honestly falls flat in most areas. I love the anime and manga, but this just really, so far in my playthrough, took me to a point of exhaustion and time better spent elsewhere.”
- “Don't be fooled by the cute and cartoonish graphics; this is a very frustrating survival game where you will be losing hours of gameplay very easily, dying in the most stupid way halfway through your journey in the abyss and starting over.”
- “The gameplay is painful and clunky, and the story mode barely gets to episode 3 of the anime.”
graphics
130 mentions
22 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated, often likening them to early PS3 or even PS2 quality. While some appreciate the art style's alignment with the anime's aesthetic, others criticize the overall visual execution, citing issues like low-quality models, stiff animations, and graphical glitches. Despite these shortcomings, some players find the unique environments and atmosphere engaging, suggesting that the gameplay experience can still be enjoyable for fans of the franchise.
- “I really don't mind the graphics; I mean, you can still appreciate the scenery of each layer being unique and baffling.”
- “The graphics are spot-on for the art from the anime, and the world is just as terrifying and brutal as you'd expect.”
- “So far I like the game, and while most people criticized the graphics, I think having cute cartoonish graphics is a good contrast for how brutal and unforgiving the abyss is.”
- “The game play sucks, the writing is subpar but serviceable, the graphics are atrocious for the modern day and age, the AI is dated, and it's a bugfest with loads of jank.”
- “Every time you feel like you're close to finally feasting your eyes on something exciting, you're instead met with drab visuals, comically bad camera work, rushed animations, and a frankly stunning lack of graphical detail for a game released in 2022.”
- “The graphics look like a PS2 game; even on the highest options, the game really doesn't look like a full-price 2022 game by any measurement.”
music
65 mentions
26 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to set the mood and create an immersive atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking the emotional depth of the original anime's soundtrack by Kevin Penkin. Many players express disappointment that the game does not feature Penkin's music, with some opting to mute the in-game score in favor of the anime's OST. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, it often fails to resonate as strongly as fans had hoped.
- “The soundtrack is very good; it sets the mood well.”
- “The music, omg the music! If you like the Made in Abyss soundtrack, you will love this one. I cannot stress this enough, the music in this game is so beautiful.”
- “The locations are beautiful and varied, whilst the soundtrack gives off an ethereal vibe - the abyss has the perfect combo of awe and horror.”
- “It doesn't carry the emotion of the anime's OST, but that music is very specific to the show and its content.”
- “The soundtrack is all over the place; it's composed of short tracks which don't really fit the environment, and since they quickly loop, they become annoying.”
- “While trying to copy the sound of Kevin Penkin (composer of the music for the anime), it completely misses the mark and often struggles to set a mood. It also feels very repetitive after some hours of game time.”
stability
38 mentions
3 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and unpolished mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some players find enjoyment in the game's challenges despite its jankiness, others describe it as a frustrating and unfinished product, often likening it to a beta build. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, its stability issues significantly impact gameplay.
- “The whole game feels buggy and unfinished, in an old-school Obsidian kinda way.”
- “This game is a buggy mess of garbage.”
- “The art style is weird, animations are clunky, many glitches like getting stuck and then randomly teleporting behind you, menu only running half an animation, spore enemies exploding when I'm far away from them and I still get hurt, and most definitely more that I haven't encountered.”
grinding
32 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it addictive and enjoyable, others describe it as tedious and repetitive, especially towards the end where leveling and resource farming become excessively grindy. Many reviews highlight the lack of meaningful rewards for the time invested, with some side quests and farming mechanics feeling overly complicated and frustrating. Overall, the experience varies significantly depending on the player's tolerance for grind-heavy gameplay, with those familiar with the genre likely finding it more tolerable.
- “It's tedious and boring.”
- “There is no endgame context except grinding, so experiences may vary in length.”
- “This game is not 'hard'; it's just so riddled with bad designs that it becomes very tedious.”
emotional
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and impact, with many reviewers noting that the poorly animated cutscenes fail to convey the story's intended feelings. While some moments evoke genuine sadness, such as a poignant fight at the seeker camp, the overall character development and emotional ties are deemed insufficient, leading to a bland experience that pales in comparison to the source material. The game struggles to balance humor and heartfelt moments, ultimately leaving players wanting more from its narrative and emotional engagement.
- “Reaching the seeker camp made me want to cry from how sad one of the fights was, and the cutscenes did not do the story justice.”
- “The game works the fine line between humor, cute, serious, and heartfelt very well.”
- “The sacrifice must have a strong emotional tie with the owner of the whistle and must be willing to sacrifice everything in order to continue their journey into the abyss.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to evoke the mysterious and dangerous essence of the abyss, effectively capturing the feelings of dread and wonder reminiscent of the anime and manga. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics, players appreciate the immersive art direction, compelling music, and the interconnected gameplay systems that enhance the overall experience. However, a few users noted that the claustrophobic design can detract from the atmosphere, suggesting a mixed reception in that regard.
- “Getting to experience parts of the abyss that we never see in the show was incredible, and when the atmosphere hits, it hits hard.”
- “Another notable mention is that despite the game’s PS3-era graphics, each map and area has an overabundance of the mysterious, alluring, and dangerous atmosphere as mentioned in the anime and manga.”
- “Another notable mention is despite the game’s PS3-ish graphics, each map and area has an overabundance of the mysterious, alluring, and dangerous atmosphere as is mentioned in the anime and manga.”
- “The music goes harder than it should in some places, and the atmosphere hits that sweet spot of being just daunting enough to make you want to turn back and take a break, while being tantalizing enough to keep pushing forward for that sweet, sweet dopamine.”
- “I was absolutely stunned at times when entering a new area and seeing what lay ahead, which really goes to show how well the game fosters the atmosphere, dread, and wonder of exploring deep into the abyss, even with its simple visuals.”
humor
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of amusing moments and frustrating glitches, with players finding the absurdity of the mechanics and character interactions both entertaining and challenging. While some aspects, like repetitive voice lines and buggy AI, can detract from the experience, many players appreciate the humor that emerges from these quirks, making the overall experience enjoyable despite its flaws.
- “Pretty funny and challenging if you are willing to give it a go; it is buggy and can be unfathomably unnecessarily hard sometimes, but it really enhances the experience.”
- “I think it's pretty funny; despite the kids being cute, they're not afraid to show a few seconds of you being dead.”
- “Allied NPCs also tend to do funny things at times due to how their AI works.”
optimization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for being glitchy and unpolished, with performance varying from acceptable to poor, including noticeable frame drops in certain areas. The graphics are described as outdated, resembling PS2 to early PS3 quality, and overall, players feel there are better-optimized games available for a similar time investment.
- “First off is graphics and performance.”
- “The game is not pretty; it has good PS2 to bad PS3 graphics at best, and the performance is mediocre.”
- “It's glitchy, unpolished, the performance ranges from acceptable to kinda awful in some areas. There were notable frame drops in several areas that weren't shockingly bad, but still jarring when you consider this game is not exactly pushing technological boundaries.”
- “Other than that, there are lots of better optimized games out there to waste 50+ hours in.”
- “The game is not pretty; it has graphics that range from good PS2 to bad PS3 at best, and the performance is mediocre.”
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the endless expeditions and secrets within the abyss, others criticize the lack of additional gameplay elements, such as new game plus options or meaningful late-game rewards. The absence of collectible mechanics is seen as both a positive and a missed opportunity for deeper lore integration.
- “It was perfect, the entire experience was just marvelous from the start. The replayability is on point, with countless expeditions that can be made and the wonderful, nostalgic many layers of the abyss.”
- “Replayability: the abyss itself is a great replayable device, with lots of secrets hidden everywhere. There are no tedious collection mechanics, which is a boon, but it could have been enhanced by adding lore through hidden items.”
- “There are no additional gameplay elements for replayability, no new game plus, and no interesting late-game relics other than making big numbers go up.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
While the character design and visuals are praised for their appeal, reviewers note that the character development is significantly lacking, leaving the story's potential underutilized.
- “The story has good potential, but character development is very much lacking.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over the short main story campaign that feels more like a tutorial than a substantial experience. Despite enjoying the setting and anime, the overall impression is that the game prioritizes profit over quality content.
- “Awful blatant cash grab.”
- “As much as I liked the setting and the anime itself, the game just seems like a horribly messy console port cash grab on first glance.”
- “The 'main story' campaign (you know, the one that was the subject of maybe 95% of the advertising material) is literally a short tutorial, ending with the party leaving Ozen.”