Maize

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 604 reviews
  • humor
  • story
  • gameplay
Maize Game Cover
A comedic and utterly bizarre adventure game backed with passion and love for the genre and the craft, with some important options missing letting down a near perfect game.
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"Maize" is a single-player mystery action game with fantastic mechanics, great graphics, and a phenomenal soundtrack. The game, which describes itself as an "absurd world" filled with sentient corn, offers an immersive and humorous experience with environmental puzzles and a colorful cast of characters. However, optimization is missing and replayability is limited. Explore an abandoned farm and underground research facility while uncovering the intriguing story of what the corn really want.

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

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 604 reviews
humor269 positive mentions
optimization7 negative mentions
  • The game is hilarious and filled with clever humor, making it a fun experience from start to finish.
  • The quirky characters, especially the Russian teddy bear, add charm and entertainment to the gameplay.
  • The puzzles are engaging and not overly difficult, allowing for a light-hearted adventure.
  • The game is quite short, taking around 3-4 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • Some players found the humor repetitive, particularly the constant insults from the teddy bear character.
  • There are performance issues, with frame rate drops and lack of optimization on certain systems.
  • humor278 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, absurd, and often clever nature, with many players finding it hilarious and engaging throughout the experience. However, some reviewers noted that the humor can become repetitive or fall flat, particularly with certain running gags and dialogue. Overall, while the game offers a unique comedic style reminiscent of titles like "Portal" and "The Stanley Parable," its appeal may vary depending on individual taste in humor.

    • “The puzzles are challenging but never frustrating, and the quirky characters and absurd humor kept me laughing the whole way through.”
    • “It's a hilarious adventure, but always remember don't press 'q' while playing.”
    • “The humor strikes me as rather dry and British; this game sort of has the same energy as The Mighty Boosh.”
    • “It's just plain boring, visually glitchy, and absolutely not funny.”
    • “Mildly intriguing and painfully unfunny.”
    • “Hundreds of sticky notes placed everywhere were supposed to be funny, but in reality, they are not.”
  • story248 mentions

    The game's story is a quirky and humorous adventure centered around sentient corn and a grumpy Russian teddy bear, filled with absurd twists and engaging characters. While many players appreciate the unique narrative and comedic elements, some feel the storytelling can be linear and simplistic, lacking depth and replay value. Overall, the narrative is celebrated for its charm and creativity, making it a key draw for those seeking a light-hearted gaming experience.

    • “A fantastic short little puzzle game with a rich and funny story about sentient corn.”
    • “The story is both intriguing and silly, and the music is wonderful; I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes adventure games with a more ridiculous story side to them.”
    • “The voice acting is fantastic, the puzzles are easy, but the real reward is in exploring the environment and reading all the passive-aggressive post-it notes everywhere and unfolding the ridiculous story.”
    • “There are no subtitles while the game has fast and accent-heavy dialogue delivering huge parts of the story and sometimes directions on what to do next.”
    • “The real let down here though is the story and humor, which is unfortunate because that's basically the meat of the game.”
    • “The story exposition for this game essentially consists of the same 4 jokes being repeated over and over again.”
  • gameplay78 mentions

    The gameplay in this title is characterized as straightforward and simplistic, often described as a blend of walking simulator and point-and-click adventure, with players primarily engaging in item collection and easy puzzles. While some appreciate the lighthearted nature and humor, many criticize the lack of challenge and depth, noting that the mechanics can feel clunky and the experience is linear, leading to a relatively short playtime of about 3-6 hours. Overall, it serves as a casual, stress-free gaming option, but may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay.

    • “Overall, the gameplay is very straightforward and easy; it's a cool game to play when you want a fast adventure to pass the time but you're too stressed for a complex story.”
    • “I really like the balance between gameplay and discovery the devs have achieved here, and this balance should really be the gold standard for walking simulators and light adventure games.”
    • “The gameplay is braindead; you just fetch highlighted items and use them for easy puzzles, so it's a good game if you just want to chill.”
    • “Unfortunately, I found that the gameplay trailers didn't really do justice to the shoddiness of the first-person mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly what you would expect from a first-person adventure game, but with a lot more of a walking simulator feel to it.”
  • graphics61 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive a mixed reception, with many praising the unique art style, environmental detail, and character animations, particularly highlighting the use of Unreal Engine for its visual fidelity. However, some users report graphical glitches, performance issues, and a lack of optimization, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are generally considered appealing, there are calls for more graphical options and improvements to enhance immersion.

    • “The graphics are stunning in their quality and accuracy of the world.”
    • “Brilliant animations and gorgeous graphics with a plot so wacky, you'll never look at corn the same way again.”
    • “The flowers are fantastic; as is the detail on characters' faces; sun rays; lighting and artwork around levels.”
    • “It also has quite a few graphical glitches, especially with lighting, which kill any attempt at immersion.”
    • “Graphics was 10 years behind (even for 2016).”
    • “However, the game runs like a potato (30-45 fps, 1080p max settings, ultrawide) and it doesn’t help the graphic options are very limited.”
  • music35 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed response, with many praising the catchy theme song "Top Secret" and the overall enjoyable soundtrack that complements the gameplay. However, some players noted that the repetitive nature of the background music became annoying over time. Overall, the voice acting and comedic elements of the music were highlighted as strong points, contributing to the game's charm.

    • “The voice acting is all top rate, and they did some interesting things with the soundtrack too.”
    • “The story is both intriguing and silly, and the music is wonderful (top secret is my jam!) I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes adventure games with a more ridiculous story side to them.”
    • “It has a great atmospheric and upbeat soundtrack.”
    • “Music is repetitive.”
    • “The repeating soundtrack in the back was fine the first two loops, set the ambient etc. but got a little annoying to a point where I became kind of deaf to it and only started noticing it again when I was in the nuclear room and a new soundtrack kicked in.”
    • “If I had to say what I did not like, the music would be my first choice.”
  • optimization23 mentions

    The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including lag and frame drops, particularly on mid-tier systems. While some users experienced acceptable performance, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and could benefit from additional graphical options and refinement. Despite its visual appeal, the optimization problems detract from the overall experience, making it a frustrating endeavor for many players.

    • “Better puzzles, cleverer dialogs, and better engine optimization, and it would blossom into a really great game.”
    • “I had no performance issues whatsoever with this game and completed it under 3 hours.”
    • “The game ran pretty well, and I'm assuming it would be well optimized to run on almost any system.”
    • “First of all, just as a warning: this game is terribly optimized.”
    • “The game could have definitely used some additional graphical options and maybe some more time for optimization.”
    • “Unfortunately it is poorly optimized and does not have controller support.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that once the short main story is completed—typically within 3-6 hours—there's little incentive to play again. Most players feel that the linear gameplay and limited content do not justify the price, suggesting it is best purchased on sale. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers a one-time experience with minimal replay value.

    • “I hope they release some DLC to beef up the replay value.”
    • “Even though the replayability is almost nil, I very much enjoyed playing this game.”
    • “What lets it down is that all this is balanced against a rather high cost considering the very modest length of the adventure, which doesn't offer any real replayability.”
    • “Unfortunately the game is single player and replayability is somewhat short as once you finish the game and collect the 75 unique items, the game is pretty much done.”
    • “Overall a great game but I'd recommend getting this on sale for under $10 due to the short playtime and lack of replayability.”
    • “Zero replay value.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as unique and engaging, blending elements of humor and creepiness, which creates an intriguing experience for players. While it initially suggests a horror theme, it quickly shifts to a lighthearted tone, supported by a strong soundtrack and appealing visuals. Overall, the ambiance is praised for its creativity and charm, though some players feel it lacks depth in gameplay challenges.

    • “The story and atmosphere have you thinking it's a horror game at first but it quickly turns more into creepy comedy.”
    • “A lot of humor, very good looking, good sound design, atmospheric.”
    • “It has a great atmospheric and upbeat soundtrack.”
    • “The story and atmosphere have you thinking it's a horror game at first, but it quickly turns more into creepy comedy.”
    • “Maize is very linear; there is no real puzzle involved or challenge, but what makes this game good, in my opinion, is the characters and the general silly atmosphere.”
    • “It is not like regular point-and-click games out there; the atmosphere tells me something is going to happen, yet it does not.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various issues such as graphical glitches, occasional crashes, and characters getting stuck. While some players experienced minor bugs that did not significantly impact gameplay, others faced more severe problems like freezing on loading screens. Overall, the stability appears to detract from the immersive experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any glitches.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never crashes.”
    • “The performance is consistent, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “It also has quite a few graphical glitches, especially with lighting, which kill any attempt at immersion.”
    • “But it's short, a bit buggy (crashes and your character getting stuck) and choppy.”
    • “Doesn't work :( just freezes on the loading screen.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with some describing it as tedious and confusing, particularly due to navigation challenges like the corn maze. While the initial stages may feel slow, many appreciate that the gameplay improves significantly after overcoming early obstacles, and the game's brevity helps prevent excessive tedium. However, the quirky elements may not resonate with all players, leading to varied opinions on the overall grinding experience.

    • “A lot of the game involves running around, which to be honest, is how a lot of point-and-click adventures go anyways, but this felt a little more tedious due to the majority of confusion stemming from the corn maze that you have to navigate.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Thankfully the game is short so it doesn't get too tedious; however, short games may turn people away.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be both engaging and nostalgic, with experiences ranging from playful interactions with endearing characters to a profound sense of emotional turmoil. The combination of wholesome character dynamics and the nostalgic feel of classic gaming creates a unique emotional rollercoaster that resonates deeply with players.

    • “The game is great and the characters are really wholesome.”
    • “This game is an emotional rollercoaster.”
    • “Made me feel like I was a kid again playing an N64 game.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is generally well-received, featuring quirky designs and strong writing, though some users note instances of repetitive dialogue. Overall, the characters are engaging and contribute positively to the game's narrative.

    • “Quirky, excellent character design, beautiful animation, and great writing.”
    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and predictable, lacking any real depth or growth.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character development throughout the game.”
    • “While the characters have potential, their development is hindered by clichéd story arcs and uninspired dialogue.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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