MO:Astray

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,127 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
MO:Astray Game Cover
While it has some needless gore and pacing baggage, MO: Astray is a success on the whole. The gameplay’s unique and varied, the world’s intriguing and fully realized, the bosses are memorable, and the challenge is addictive. Impressive stuff.
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MO: Astray is a sci-fi puzzle-platformer with a unique atmosphere, featuring a jelly-like organism named MO. The game boasts intriguing story, fantastic mechanics, good visuals, and a compelling soundtrack, but requires lots of grinding and can be highly emotional. Use MO's abilities to stick, jump, skillfully dodge attacks, and change forms to navigate the sinister facility and unravel the mystery.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,127 reviews
story323 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and sound design create an immersive atmosphere.
  • Interesting puzzles and unique mechanics keep gameplay fresh and engaging.
  • Challenging boss fights that require skill and strategy to overcome.
  • Controls can feel clunky and imprecise, leading to frustrating moments.
  • The story can be confusing and is often delivered in a disjointed manner.
  • Some puzzles and boss fights may feel tedious due to long setups and instant-death mechanics.
  • story777 mentions

    The story of "mo:astray" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many players appreciating the intricate world-building and the way the narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling, collectibles, and comic interludes. While some found the delivery of the story to be confusing or disjointed, particularly due to its reliance on piecing together fragments, others felt this added to the intrigue and engagement. Overall, the combination of a dark, compelling narrative with beautiful visuals and a captivating soundtrack makes the story a standout aspect of the game, despite some criticisms regarding its clarity and pacing.

    • “The story keeps you guessing, and the bosses are fun challenges.”
    • “The story is incredible, and the movement mechanics are very interesting.”
    • “The story is deep and invigorating, and the fights are all very intense and difficult (later on in the story).”
    • “The story is pretty weak and hard to follow unless you go 100%.”
    • “The story is not really good; the twist is kind of basic.”
    • “The story is completely incoherent, but for something so obscure made from an all-Chinese team, I didn't expect much in terms of writing.”
  • gameplay530 mentions

    The gameplay of "Mo: Astray" is characterized by its unique mechanics and engaging platforming, with many players praising the variety and creativity of the puzzles and boss fights. While some found the controls to be occasionally frustrating or imprecise, the overall experience is described as fun and challenging, with a steady introduction of new mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh. However, there are mixed opinions on the pacing and difficulty, with some players noting that certain segments can feel slow or tedious.

    • “Gameplay: 10/10”
    • “The gameplay is unique as you can stick to walls and ceilings, and paired with tight controls and good level design it is a delight to play.”
    • “The gameplay is amazing, and the way it delivers the story is amazing too.”
    • “Sorry, but the gameplay overall is too slow and sluggish and not very innovative.”
    • “It gets boring and tedious due to the unfun movement mechanics and poor level design.”
    • “The atmosphere and environment seem okay, but the core gameplay is more than a bit frustrating at times.”
  • music290 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth, atmospheric quality, and ability to enhance the overall gameplay experience. The soundtrack, often described as stunning and fitting for various game scenarios, complements the beautiful pixel art and engaging story, making it a standout feature. Overall, players consider the music to be a significant highlight, contributing to the game's immersive and captivating atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is incredibly good; before I realized it was made by Rayark, one of the legendary names for great soundtracks.”
    • “The music perfectly complements the game, enhancing the atmosphere and emotional impact of the story.”
    • “The soundtrack is stellar, and it properly adds to the impact of all the scenes, especially the more emotional ones.”
    • “Ambitious world building, charming pixel art, and a somber soundtrack can't overcome tedious gameplay, odd story delivery, and repetitive backtracking through puzzles/cutscenes.”
    • “The music is not that memorable, but that's okay.”
    • “The credits music is just meh in my opinion.”
  • graphics244 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful pixel art style, which effectively creates a captivating atmosphere that blends cuteness with darker themes. Many reviewers praised the stunning visuals and smooth animations, noting that the art direction enhances the storytelling and gameplay experience. However, some criticism was directed at the comic book interludes, which were seen as inconsistent with the overall aesthetic of the game.

    • “Beautiful, with an awesome soundtrack, gorgeous visuals, and an amazing story.”
    • “The artwork for this game is absolutely stunning, and the ambiance of the world is worth the price on its own.”
    • “Gorgeous pixel art graphics and soundtrack, very immersive.”
    • “The only small gripe is that the comic book (which tells you important parts of the story) looks really out of style with the rest of the game; it would look better in pixel graphics.”
    • “The text isn't put into a readable text-box or anything sensible; it's just whitish text over the game's graphics.”
    • “The break between gameplay and post-level 'story' feels too disconnected, and the art styles clash - dark game, yet, cartoony interlude.”
  • atmosphere107 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of grotesque and cute elements, featuring dark themes such as zombies and gore juxtaposed with charming visuals and an engaging soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the stunning pixel art and immersive sound design, which together create a captivating and sometimes eerie environment that enhances the narrative experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as rich, emotional, and integral to its storytelling, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics.

    • “The atmosphere is grotesque, although not horrifying... there are zombies, there is gore, hanging bodies, etc. The gruesome atmosphere is contrasted by the cute audio/visuals of the main character, Mo, and its narrator/voice in its head.”
    • “The art direction and soundtrack are incredible, leading to an atmosphere that is gorgeous, mysterious, adorable, and morbid all at once.”
    • “The soundtrack really enhances the atmosphere when playing through the game.”
    • “The atmosphere is grotesque, although not horrifying. There are zombies, gore, and hanging bodies, etc. The gruesome atmosphere is contrasted by the cute audio/visuals of the main character, Mo, and its narrator/voice in its head.”
    • “The story is overcomplicated, unnecessary, and actually detracts from the atmosphere of the creepy world gone wrong.”
    • “There are comics in between the chapters that have art that, while not bad, clashes with the aesthetic of the game and again, ruins the atmosphere.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Mo:astray" is highlighted by its unexpected depth, with players expressing strong connections to the protagonist and a narrative that evolves into a heart-wrenching conclusion. The game combines engaging gameplay with a touching story, supported by a stellar soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience, making it a memorable journey that resonates deeply with players. Overall, it is described as an emotional roller coaster that successfully evokes genuine feelings, often leading to tears.

    • “It's an emotional roller coaster and a mystery quest, with a strong finisher to its narrative.”
    • “The story keeps you engaged and wanting to discover more about it as you play, and finally comes to a very touching conclusion.”
    • “At its core, there is a touching, depressing, disturbing, memorable, intriguing story, shrouded in mystery.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often citing repetitive puzzles, inconsistent checkpoints, and unengaging movement mechanics as major contributors to the boredom. While some elements like the story and art are appreciated, they are frequently overshadowed by the monotonous gameplay and the need to repeatedly navigate through challenging sections. Many reviewers express that the tedious nature of certain mechanics detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “It's just a tedious waste of time.”
    • “Ambitious world building, charming pixel art, and a somber soundtrack can't overcome tedious gameplay, odd story delivery, and repetitive backtracking through puzzles/cutscenes.”
    • “The most difficult part of the game is dying can erase minutes of progress just with a simple misplaced hop, which is more tedious.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the pacing and challenge of harder difficulties, many feel that the lack of diverse content and limited collectibles diminish its long-term appeal. Titles like "Dicey Dungeons" and "Sayonara Wild Hearts" are noted for their repetitive elements, further impacting their replay value.

    • “Very nicely paced, the chapters all feel good in length and the game itself is not too long for it to become stale and not too short either, as the harder difficulties add a little bit of replayability.”
    • “With some replayability, hidden areas and collectibles are the key to unlocking the completed ending.”
    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “The game will probably be over for you in under 10 hours, and there isn't much replay value, besides going to specific sections to look for collectibles.”
    • “My only real fault with the game is a lack of replay value.”
    • “Changes from the Souls series hurt replayability, and I wish there’d been more mythological content.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting its depth and emotional impact alongside the engaging story and beautiful aesthetics. The combination of strong storytelling elements and unique character designs contributes to a memorable gaming experience, making it a recommended choice for those seeking an atmospheric journey.

    • “Amazing story and character development.”
    • “From the mix of storytelling elements to the amazing art and character designs, this has been a ride worth taking, and in honesty, I'm shocked at the price point.”
    • “Highly recommended, in between the atmosphere, beautiful aesthetics, wonderful character development, and one of the most hype climaxes I've ever experienced since our character said a word in D2.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally praised for fast loading times and smooth animations, with minimal bugs reported. However, some users experienced issues such as buggy mouse controls and glitches occurring even before reaching the main menu, which detracted from the overall experience.

    • “Lastly, performance was great: fast loading times, no FPS drops, and pretty much bug-free.”
    • “Animations of both the main character and the mobs are smooth and not buggy.”
    • “Only one bad thing is the buggy mouse control.”
    • “Maybe it just didn't, but physics and input glitches, a lack of developed plot, and several 'boss' encounters that undermine all the previous mechanics tipped this into a negative for me.”
    • “You'll find glitches before even reaching the main menu (can't skip intro, despite buttons saying you can).”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while many players found joy and laughter even in challenging moments, some criticized the writing for being unintentionally funny or cringe-worthy. Overall, the game's comedic elements, including quirky characters like the "funny slugcat," contribute to an enjoyable experience despite occasional tonal inconsistencies.

    • “I enjoyed every hour I played this game; even the tragically hard parts made me laugh with joy.”
    • “Haha, funny slugcat go brrrrr.”
    • “It's also basically devoid of bugs; I only encountered one, and it was pretty funny.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its great performance, featuring fast loading times and minimal bugs or frame rate drops. However, some users feel that the recommendation for a controller indicates a lack of thorough optimization for other input methods. Additionally, the inclusion of various difficulty options and a speed mode caters to players seeking to enhance their performance.

    • “Lastly, performance was great: fast loading times, no FPS drops, and pretty much bug-free.”
    • “For the purists, it has several difficulty options as well as a speed mode that cuts out story elements if you want to perfect your performance.”
    • “Yes, I realize it does say that a controller is recommended; however, that's no excuse for poor optimization and design.”
    • “The game runs poorly even on high-end hardware, which is frustrating given the potential it has.”
    • “I expected better performance, but the frequent frame drops and stuttering make it nearly unplayable.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for misleading advertisements that portray a charming experience, which contrasts sharply with the actual gameplay, leading to disappointment among players.

    • “Their advertisements of this game on pages of their other games make it seem normal with a cute protagonist, but when you actually play it, yeah... nope.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy MO:Astray

Play time

9hMedian play time
45hAverage play time
4-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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