Memory Traces: Japan

About

"Memory Traces: Japan" is a 3D puzzle game where players repair destroyed artifacts as a means to restore lost memories of an archaeologist named San. Drawing inspiration from Kintsugi, a Japanese art of repairing broken pottery, players must use a color system to determine the correct placement of each fragment. The ultimate goal is to repair all artifacts and recover all of San's lost memories. Also available: Memory Traces: Egypt.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

replayability3 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game offers a relaxing and immersive experience, perfect for unwinding.
Beautifully designed puzzles featuring Japanese artifacts enhance the overall aesthetic.
Great value for the price, providing several hours of enjoyable gameplay.

Lacks quality of life features such as the ability to rotate pieces, making some puzzles frustrating.
Snapping mechanics can be inconsistent, leading to tedious gameplay in later levels.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.

gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay features approximately four hours of playtime with basic mechanics that some players find challenging. While it utilizes 3D models, the experience is primarily 2D, contributing to its unique style.
- “The game mechanics are very basic, but to me, that's part of the challenge.”
- “They use 3D models, but the gameplay is 2D.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that grinding becomes increasingly frustrating and tedious in the later levels of the game, primarily due to the inconsistent precision required for piece placement. The need for careful viewing angles and the high piece counts contribute to a laborious experience, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than enjoyable.
- “Problems start arising when you get later in the game, where levels become increasingly frustrating and tedious.”
- “This could be mitigated by building in layers, but it becomes really tedious in later levels due to the piece counts.”
- “First, the precision required for your viewing angle to snap pieces can be frustrating; sometimes they snap in place too easily, while other times it requires excessive precision, which is really tedious.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The graphics are generally considered decent, but there is some confusion regarding their relevance to the game's memory and the specific artwork or statues depicted.
- “The graphics are visually stunning and truly immersive.”
- “The art style is unique and adds a lot of character to the game.”
- “The attention to detail in the environments is impressive.”
- “The graphics look outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
- “The character models are poorly designed and appear lifeless.”
- “The environments feel bland and uninspired, making the game visually unappealing.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players consistently highlight the strong replayability of the games, noting that they remain engaging and enjoyable even after multiple playthroughs.
- “I've restarted both games now, and they do not lose their replay value!”
- “Every time I play, I discover something new, making each run feel fresh and exciting.”
- “The different choices and paths available ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”