Minoria

Minoria is another strong game from Bombservice. Although it isn't necessarily better than their last, it's an enjoyable experience with great controls, good art, and an interesting story.

78%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, replayability

84% User Score Based on 613 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $1.73

Buy NowGet on Steam€19.50

Buy NowGet on itch.io Store$19.99

About

"Minoria" is a spiritual sequel to the Momodora series, featuring familiar action-packed gameplay with parries, dodges, and spells. The game takes place during the fourth Witch War, where the Sacred Office conducts an Inquisition against heresy. Players control Sisters Semilla and Fran, missionaries of the Church, on a journey to stop a mysterious ceremony and protect the common-folk from heretical threats. The story is a powerful fantasy inspired by historical religious fervor.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 624 reviews

story94 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
Engaging combat system with a focus on parrying and dodging, providing a satisfying challenge.
Interesting story and lore that adds depth to the game world.

Game is relatively short, taking around 5-8 hours to complete.
Difficulty can feel inconsistent, with some enemies being overly punishing while others are too easy.
Limited variety in weapons and abilities, making combat feel repetitive over time.

story
270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The story of "Minoria" has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-presented, while others criticize it for being clichéd and underdeveloped. Many appreciate the dark themes and lore, conveyed through collectibles and environmental storytelling, but feel that character development and narrative depth are lacking. Overall, while the game offers a compelling atmosphere and intriguing premise, it often falls short of delivering a memorable or groundbreaking narrative experience.
- “The story is surprisingly good, although it is a tad cliched.”
- “The world and the whole backstory of witches and nuns, described in the story and through lore written in paragraphs hidden throughout the map, is very interesting.”
- “The story is more grim but inspiring nonetheless, and unlike previous momodoras that kept the story very much in the background, this game keeps its presence around through the desecrated church, the dead bodies, religious imagery and more are very nice touches and really helps sell the world and premise happening.”
- “I completed four (I think?) of the story chapters and simply felt bored, not compelled to play any longer.”
- “The story is as cliché as it can get; if you have played or watched any type of media in the past 15 years, you already know the story of the game.”
- “The story is honestly forgettable and the endings are not even worth talking about.”
gameplay
207 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The gameplay of "Minoria" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its fluid controls and engaging combat mechanics, particularly the parry system, which some found overly forgiving. However, criticisms include a lack of depth in platforming and puzzle elements typical of metroidvania games, as well as a repetitive combat experience and a short playtime of around 5-7 hours. Overall, while the game offers a visually appealing experience and some enjoyable mechanics, it falls short of the expectations set by its predecessor, "Momodora."
- “The gameplay is fluid and pretty much similar to other platformers.”
- “The combat is really fun and fast, the game is challenging, there are secrets to uncover, moves to unlock, spells to find, a rewarding parrying mechanic, and NPCs scattered about.”
- “Minoria maintains many of the strengths of its predecessor: its pacing is impeccable with continuous exploration and meaningful progression throughout the ~7 hours playtime; both combat and traversal mechanics feel great.”
- “As a metroidvania, though, it's lacking in the platforming, puzzles, and traversal mechanics.”
- “The art is very pretty, but the gameplay is very mediocre for my tastes.”
- “It is simply an average game, riddled with numerous gameplay issues and inconsistencies, which outweigh its virtues.”
graphics
201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful and unique art style that marks a departure from the pixel graphics of the previous Momodora series. While some players appreciate the new 2.5D aesthetic and its atmospheric qualities, others feel that the animations can appear clunky and that the overall visual presentation lacks the charm of its predecessor. Overall, the visuals are generally considered appealing, though opinions vary on their execution and impact on gameplay.
- “The art style is beautiful and the game looks great, much better than looking than Bloodstained!”
- “The graphics are really good; they have a nice 2D kind of 3D feel to it, and there's also a pretty good use of color from somber and melancholy to beautiful and peaceful that just want to make you stop and stare.”
- “The art style, music, exploration, world, and characters were all great.”
- “The animations felt and looked clunky, and the overall art style also looked kind of cheap.”
- “The 3D graphics look like something from a fan game trying to be uniquely stylized, which one can overlook when watching the promo but gets more distracting while playing.”
- “The graphics are still a downgrade from its trailer (mainly on character models), but the art direction does an absolutely wonderful job of hiding that for the most part.”
music
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and fitting well with the game's tone. Many reviewers noted that while the soundtrack is generally good, it may lack standout tracks compared to previous titles in the series, with some describing it as beautiful yet somewhat predictable. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's highlights, contributing significantly to its immersive environment.
- “The music is fantastic!”
- “The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful and I fully intend to buy it separately.”
- “The music fits the mood well and greatly adds to the atmosphere (especially in the basement oh my god.)”
- “Visuals, music, and the sound effects are bland.”
- “The music is quite forgettable.”
- “The music is constantly dull, the combat has real issues with dodge/parry being the same button, and there is a lack of sound effects.”
atmosphere
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
4%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its beautiful art style and atmospheric soundtrack, which together create a captivating and immersive experience. Many players appreciate the somber and haunting tones that enhance exploration, although some note that certain areas can feel repetitive or lack depth. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a strong point, effectively blending visuals and music to evoke a unique mood.
- “Minoria features a visually stunning art style that immerses players in a captivating and atmospheric world.”
- “The soundtrack complements the atmosphere of the game really well.”
- “The somber, almost haunting tracks fit the game perfectly, and really draw you into the atmosphere.”
- “The sad truth is that not enough is done to establish the bond between these two in order to properly distract from the overwhelming atmosphere, and what does exist feels threadbare and sporadic.”
- “The atmosphere is nonexistent as you can't really get invested in anything that's happening because there really isn't a lot and the bland and samey level design doesn't help it.”
- “It feels out of place and takes me out of the game atmosphere.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the poignant relationship between the main characters, Semilla and Fran, which serves as a central theme amidst the darkness they face. While the story features heartfelt moments and a well-crafted narrative, some players feel that character development is lacking, making it difficult to forge deeper emotional connections. The game's soundtrack and atmospheric design further enhance its emotional tone, creating a beautiful and immersive experience, though some moments may not achieve the intended impact.
- “The emotional core of Minoria is the developing relationship between Semilla and Fran - a stoic, stone-hearted swordmaiden and a pure-as-crystal priestess who must endure the darkness to come with only each other for comfort and security.”
- “I adore how much respect the storytelling gives its players, and how it all lends itself to the game's emotional tone.”
- “The most emotional moment for me was when your partner hugs you and she's facing away, so you can't actually see her expression, so your mind fills in the blanks.”
character development
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
Character development in the game has been described as limited and shallow, with players finding it difficult to form deep emotional connections with the characters. While the character designs and art style are praised for their beauty, the narrative lacks significant progression and depth, leaving many players feeling that the story does not adequately explore the characters' growth or motivations. Overall, the game offers appealing visuals but falls short in delivering a compelling character-driven experience.
- “The first thing you notice is a change in art style, away from the Momodora pixel graphics to an 'animated/drawn' world and character design.”
- “Splendid character design.”
- “Evokes the fondest side-scrolling memories... great art, great controls, great story, fun enemies, cool items, adorable character design, writing and development, well-managed progression, some secrets, a joy for the metroidvania fan!”
- “The character development feels shallow.”
- “Limited character development: the main characters may lack significant development, making it challenging for players to connect on a deeper emotional level.”
- “There's not much room for character development; the story is short and paints a bleak picture of the world as a whole and your characters are barely able to stay calm, though this barely comes up at all.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; while some players appreciate the lack of mandatory grinding, allowing for varied playstyles, others find the leveling system encourages it to progress effectively. The scaling of enemies and limited variety can make grinding feel tedious, yet some players suggest it is necessary for a smoother experience, especially against tougher bosses. Overall, grinding is seen as a double-edged sword, offering both freedom and a potential need for investment in levels.
- “The game does kind of open up shortcuts here and there, but it is still a long and tedious journey.”
- “There's a leveling system and weapons, but you can't allocate stats, and enemies scale with you, so there's no benefit to grinding.”
- “Another point of contention might be the level-up system, as it encourages grinding so you can tank enemies' hits and sometimes feel like you have to just to progress.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited due to a lack of branching paths and multiple endings, although some players find value in collectibles and endgame challenges. While the initial playthrough is engaging, the short length and minimal replay options may not justify the price for some. However, a few players appreciate the presence of secrets and different endings, suggesting that there is some replay value to be found.
- “The game has a few secrets and two endings, so it has replayability. If you want more, there's Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, a game from the same creator.”
- “It has replayability, a cute story with different endings, lovable characters, and amazing progression with combat.”
- “The presence of collectibles, multiple endings, and endgame challenges like the new game+ guarantee replay value.”
- “Limited replayability: while the initial playthrough is engaging, the lack of branching paths or multiple endings may limit replay value.”
- “For a $20 game with little replay value, that just doesn't cut it.”
- “It's also rather short, so I would recommend holding off on a sale for it unless you want to throw down twenty bucks for maybe four hours of gameplay - it's a replayable game, but still.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky mechanics, such as the absurdly effective dodge-rolling that resembles a dog or rabbit, and amusing achievements like "dirty shroom." Players find the combat system both simple and entertaining, with funny animations and lighthearted elements contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “Combat is simple, and it's pretty funny that rolling is the fastest way to traverse.”
- “I liked the bug collector in Momodora: Reverie... oh, the dirty shroom achievement was funny.”
- “On the other hand, dodge-rolling is ridiculously hilarious because it's so fast, travels a good distance, and there's no cooldown/stamina system, so you can spam it throughout your entire playthrough looking like a dog or rabbit.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with users reporting fluctuating frame rates that can shift from smooth 60fps to choppy performance. Additionally, some animations appear to run at a lower frame rate than other elements, particularly during cutscenes, leading to a jarring experience.
- “Performance-wise, the game alternates between being totally smooth at 60fps and running super choppily for several seconds. In cutscenes, there were a few instances where the characters animated at a lower frame rate than the background elements, though I wasn't able to reproduce this reliably.”
- “While I'm not going to dock the game just for being 3D on a 2D plane instead of pixel art, some animations are jarringly low FPS compared to everything else, and there are odd performance issues.”
- “Performance-wise, the game alternates between being totally smooth at 60 FPS and running super choppily for several seconds. In cutscenes, there seemed to be a few instances where the characters were animating at a lower frame rate than the background elements, though I wasn't able to reproduce this reliably.”