Momodora: Moonlit Farewell

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,822 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell Game Cover
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
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"Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" is the latest installment in the Momodora series, where you play as Momo, a priestess on a mission to save her village from a demon invasion. With gorgeous pixel art, action-packed gameplay, and an engaging story, players will enjoy challenging combat and an atmospheric world. However, be prepared for grinding and intense battles. Overall, this single-player platformer features a compelling story, wonderful graphics, and a perfect soundtrack, with a wholesome and heartwarming message.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,822 reviews
story125 positive mentions
grinding30 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art and animations that enhance the overall experience.
  • Engaging combat system with a variety of sigils for customization.
  • Charming story and characters that tie up the series nicely.
  • Game is relatively short, taking around 7-10 hours for completion.
  • Boss fights are often too easy and lack complexity.
  • Linear level design with minimal backtracking and exploration opportunities.
  • story459 mentions

    The story of "Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charming characters and world-building, while others find it straightforward and lacking depth. Many noted that the narrative is more explicit compared to previous entries, which some felt detracted from the series' original mystery. Overall, while the story serves as a decent backdrop for the gameplay, it is often described as simple and somewhat generic, with a few memorable moments but not enough to elevate it significantly.

    • “The story builds on the established lore of the Momodora series and there are even some callbacks to older game events, and that's pretty cool.”
    • “Moonlit Farewell continues to push the best of what Momodora is known for - an enjoyable story with interesting characters, challenging fights, responsive controls, a well-crafted world, superb music which felt like a part of the world rather than a 'game soundtrack', and gorgeous artwork throughout.”
    • “The gameplay was fun, the story felt like a good conclusion to the previous Momodora games, the soundtrack was great and the art was the best in the series thus far.”
    • “Also in this title, they try to explain so much about the story that I feel is just the way to ruin the mysteriousness it once had.”
    • “What's here instead is nothing more but an extremely surface level story with no meaningful, occurring consequences for any of the barely nuanced characters that had nuance previously.”
    • “The story overall is much more tell than show, as well.”
  • music393 mentions

    The music in "Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" has received widespread praise for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the game's emotional depth, with many noting standout tracks, particularly during boss encounters. While some players found the soundtrack less memorable compared to previous entries, others highlighted its immersive nature and how well it complements the stunning pixel art and gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to a captivating experience.

    • “The soundtrack is banging especially in the latter half of the game, and oh my god the final area's theme is so, so good (possibly better than Pardoner's Dance from RUTM?).”
    • “The artwork is gorgeous, the music is immersive, the secrets are plentiful, and the boss fights are consistently exciting.”
    • “The music complements the atmosphere perfectly, transitioning seamlessly between dynamic, somber, oppressive, and moody tones as needed, enriching the overall gaming experience.”
    • “The music is even more generic than the one in rutm; there are reused enemy sprites from momo3, the beginning locations are very boring... it certainly feels like a hollow sequel to what was a fantastic game.”
    • “I didn't really take note of the music; it's mostly atmospheric. I probably couldn't give you an opinion on it even if my life depended on it; it's just kinda there.”
    • “The sound design and music were very boring; there was no build-up, no stakes, no tension & release.”
  • gameplay365 mentions

    The gameplay of "Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" is generally praised for its fluidity, engaging mechanics, and beautiful pixel art, though some players find it less innovative compared to previous entries in the series. The introduction of a stamina system has received mixed reactions, with some appreciating the added challenge while others feel it slows down the pace of combat. Overall, the game offers a solid metroidvania experience with customizable gameplay options, though it may not fully satisfy fans seeking the depth and complexity of earlier titles.

    • “The presentation and gameplay of this game is absolutely amazing!”
    • “An amazing game that deserves more recognition, not only for its beautiful and captivating art and music but also for its well-balanced, challenging, and engaging gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and responsive, relatively light on backtracking and you get new abilities at a fairly modest rate.”
    • “This game had the same features, but the combat introduced different mechanics that I disliked, such as a stamina system that is tied to both your dodge and your bow attacks.”
    • “The bosses so far have been fairly trivial, and they also highlight how thin the mechanics are – there's only so much you can do with a Dark Souls dodge-roll, a melee attack, and arrows.”
    • “The gameplay is quite short, and the gameplay is both unsurprising and unremarkable, from start to finish.”
  • graphics253 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the gorgeous pixel art, charming character designs, and improved animations compared to previous entries in the series. The art style is noted for its memorable flat aesthetic and attention to detail, contributing significantly to the overall immersive experience. While some critiques mention a lack of innovation, the visuals are consistently highlighted as a standout feature that enhances gameplay and exploration.

    • “The graphics are definitely the strongest point of this game; in fact, it kind of carries it. It's really good, the sprites look great and the animations, especially on Momo, are very nice looking too.”
    • “Gorgeous visuals, well-tuned movement with a lot of fun upgrades to unlock, build variety with sigils and companions, and a more in-depth combat system that rewards well-timed dodges and stamina management.”
    • “Beautiful pixel art graphics and fantastic metroidvania gameplay.”
    • “Artwork feels rushed; a lot of background and characters, like the big snake, clearly lack detail.”
    • “The art style is decent, but compared to the two previous games I played, it doesn't hold up.”
    • “Graphics alone are not compelling.”
  • atmosphere71 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as a blend of somber, melancholic, and serene elements, enhanced by beautiful pixel art and a fitting soundtrack that transitions between various emotional tones. While some areas are noted for their distinctiveness and immersive qualities, others feel less engaging, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. Despite these inconsistencies, many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of place and emotion throughout its environments.

    • “The dense atmosphere, the heavy music, the gorgeous pixel art all had me enraptured.”
    • “The music complements the atmosphere perfectly, transitioning seamlessly between dynamic, somber, oppressive, and moody tones as needed, enriching the overall gaming experience.”
    • “Additionally, the soundscape goes perfectly well with it, weaving a mystical and immersive atmosphere in every single region of the game.”
    • “The atmospheres of the areas in the game feel uninteresting and bland.”
    • “It's a bit disappointing coming from the melancholy, desolate atmosphere of the prior entries, but the game's fun so it's not really a problem.”
    • “Nothing in this game really stands out as excellent and in my opinion, Moonlit Farewell doesn't quite nail the atmosphere of reverie under the moonlight, but this is still a very good game.”
  • grinding30 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to the map design and limited stamina, which makes traversal and backtracking feel laborious. While some enjoy the exploration and variety in gameplay, the lack of early fast travel and the requirement for multiple playthroughs for completion can make the experience feel more grind-heavy than skill-based. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable elements but can become tiresome for those seeking to fully complete it.

    • “Traversing certain sections of the game can be very tedious, as you'll just be running along mostly flat ground with your very limited stamina meter depleting every few seconds of sprinting.”
    • “I choose not to go for it as it would require a great amount of time to achieve and would be more about grinding than a real skill challenge.”
    • “To get all achievements it requires at least 3 playthroughs, one of them being a no-deaths one in hardcore mode, so it might be tedious for completionists.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, often evoking tears of joy and sadness through its touching story and charming characters. The whimsical exploration, combined with beautiful music and graphics, creates a high-quality, wholesome experience that leaves a lasting impact. Many players describe it as a masterpiece that captures the essence of nostalgia and emotional connection, making it perfect for introspective moments.

    • “The story is touching and the gameplay is perfect for a rainy indoors day... or whenever.”
    • “When I started playing this, getting past the intro, I cried happy tears and smiled from beginning to end. After which, I cried again. This game felt like an absolute masterpiece from beginning to end. Every moment of exploring felt whimsical, the music was beautiful, especially Koho's theme. This game delivered on so many levels; I wasn't ready.”
    • “One of the things that made me feel this way was when first visiting the fairy village. You see all those fairies on the ground begging for help, but you are not given an option to help them, even though you have a healing ability.”
  • character development17 mentions

    Character development in "Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" has received mixed reviews, with some praising the series' signature character designs and beautiful pixel art, while others criticize the lack of depth and creativity in character development compared to previous entries. The game features a blend of charming and simplistic designs, but some characters are noted as overly suggestive or bland, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the aesthetic elements are well-received, the character development itself is seen as an area needing improvement.

    • “I’ve always loved the character designs of this series, and that continued charm is on full display with this newly-improved stylistic iteration.”
    • “The beautiful pixel art, the area and character design, the lighting effects, and the wonderful soundtrack all combine to create an experience I was very happy to be lost in.”
    • “The game's art and character designs are worth the price alone in my opinion; I frequently found myself in awe of some of the goofy, weird, and creepy enemy designs.”
    • “Even in the series’ most banal entries, at least the game design elements did not clash with one another, but Momodora: Moonlit Farewell takes away great elements from the predecessor, such as rewards for no-hit killing bosses, fun secrets and a true Metroidvania map that loops in on itself multiple times in clever ways and trades it for a half-baked linear experience with an eye-roll worthy story and a level of writing that almost feels like the entire writing team for their previous games was fired, as well as some of the most bland boss battles in the series, boring character designs and a hardcore mode that only exemplifies the game’s further issues with lack of control response and typical Momodora one-hit kill shenanigans.”
    • “Really like the music and background graphics, but character development could be improved.”
    • “However, there are a few character designs that either feel too simplistic for the art style (the big one being a certain snake) or overly suggestive (another snake, this time the snake lady in the promotional images), though I suppose that sort of thing is up to personal preference.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky character designs and amusing dialogue, with players enjoying the comedic elements of boss encounters and pixel art. While some characters could benefit from more distinctive quirks, the overall experience is filled with funny moments, including unexpected deaths and humorous animations. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone, with many finding joy in the game's playful approach to challenges and character interactions.

    • “When she first did that multi slash attack, I was like a fangirl, just screaming because she was just so cool (plus, the gun dora was just too funny).”
    • “And if a funny anecdote is what'll pique your interest: this game made me respond to a boss' second phase with 'finally, gender equality.'”
    • “The pixel art was amazing followed by the visual effects; it really made everything feel so lively and punchy. There were points where there was a lot of clutter causing a silly death, but it ended up being funny, so I don't mind.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game offers solid replayability with a variant mode unlocked after the first playthrough and various challenges to explore, making the approximately 10-hour main campaign feel worthwhile. Players appreciate the engaging sigil system, enjoyable boss fights, and well-designed levels, which contribute to the game's replay value without overstaying its welcome. Overall, the additional game modes provide further opportunities for challenge and enjoyment.

    • “The sigil system is really fun, the boss fights are cool, the level design is great albeit linear (I don't think there was a single room I hated), and it's short enough to have great replay value while not feeling like a waste of time.”
    • “After your first playthrough, you unlock some game modes which I haven't had much time to play yet, but so far it seems like a good challenge and replayability.”
    • “There is a variant mode available after beating the game once that I haven't tried, and plenty of ways to challenge yourself if you're looking for more replayability, but the main game coming in at around 10 hours is well worth it.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report smooth controls and no glitches, others describe the game as a "bit of a mess." Notably, it runs well on platforms like Proton and Steam Deck, indicating good performance for certain users.

    • “Runs great on Proton as well.”
    • “I'm glad to report that it runs great on Steam Deck!”
    • “This game is solid and bug-free.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring impressive graphics, responsive controls, and stable performance, with players reporting a bug-free experience even on the Steam Deck.

    • “The game is really well done, with incredible graphics, tight controls, and good performance overall. I played the entire thing on the Steam Deck and never experienced bugs of any kind.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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