Monochroma

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 142 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Monochroma Game Cover
Strange, beautiful visuals and challenging puzzles make Monochroma a platformer at its best.
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"Monochroma" is a single-player fantasy platformer game with a beautiful story, told through captivating black-and-white graphics with a splash of red. Its wholesome narrative takes place in a realistic industrial-alchemical setting, with puzzle mechanics designed to challenge and engage players. The game stands out with its excellent graphics, stunning soundtrack, and dense atmosphere, crafting a unique and immersive experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 142 reviews
story20 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and atmosphere that captivates players.
  • Clever puzzles that require thought and problem-solving skills.
  • Emotional story centered around the bond between two brothers.
  • Clunky and unresponsive controls that hinder gameplay.
  • Frustrating timing-based puzzles that often lead to trial and error.
  • Underwhelming ending that leaves players feeling unsatisfied.
  • story78 mentions

    The story of Monochroma is conveyed through a unique visual and atmospheric approach, relying on gameplay rather than dialogue or text to immerse players in the emotional journey of two brothers in a dystopian world. While many reviewers appreciate the intriguing and metaphorical narrative, some feel it lacks depth and could benefit from more character development and clarity. Overall, the combination of art, music, and storytelling creates a compelling experience, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and pacing.

    • “The story is well told without words or text through five chapters.”
    • “Tells its story without words; instead using stunning art and music to set the atmosphere.”
    • “Monochroma is a superb atmospheric puzzle platformer that tells its story by making you experience the journey of two brothers through a dystopian country.”
    • “The story finally picked up somewhat where I stopped playing, but it proved not enough motivation to keep trudging along.”
    • “This game could have been so much more; there are aspects of its story totally left unused and unexplained. Generally speaking, they could have focused more on delivering the story rather than making big levels.”
    • “The story would have much more impact if your brother had more depth, if he had a personality and you could develop a connection to him, instead of just feeling like he's a burden.”
  • graphics63 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style and atmospheric presentation, often compared to titles like Limbo. While the visuals are described as immersive and evocative, some reviews note issues with clipping and wonky animations that detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the unique aesthetic and effective use of color contribute significantly to the game's storytelling and emotional impact.

    • “Yes, it's a limbo clone, but it's a very good one, and with beautiful graphics, wonderful atmosphere and an interesting and emotional story.”
    • “The setting, the visuals, and even the score tell the tale very well with the differences between the chapters being evident and pronounced.”
    • “Through masterful artwork and gloomy music, it succeeds in delivering suspense and mystery as you try to overcome puzzles and push forward through the bleak world of Monochroma.”
    • “The visuals constantly clip through one another.”
    • “Plagued by sluggish controls, unclear objectives, and buggy visuals.”
    • “The gameplay doesn't match the aesthetic.”
  • gameplay55 mentions

    The gameplay of Monochroma is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the unique mechanics of carrying an injured brother and solving puzzles, while others criticize the unresponsive controls and frustrating mechanics that detract from the experience. Although the visuals and atmosphere are praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay can feel clunky and repetitive, leading to a less enjoyable experience overall. Despite its engaging puzzles and artistic presentation, the game suffers from design flaws that hinder its potential as a memorable platformer.

    • “Awesome artwork, fun gameplay, interesting story, clever puzzles, nice music.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic.”
    • “Beautiful visuals and music, and clever gameplay.”
    • “The controls and gameplay are frustrating.”
    • “Unfortunately, clunky gameplay and bugs hold it back from being a memorable experience.”
    • “The negative aspect of this game is that control mechanics were not optimized.”
  • music48 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its beautiful, cinematic qualities that complement the visuals and storytelling. However, some players expressed disappointment with the sporadic use of music, feeling that moments of silence during gameplay detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and immersive environment.

    • “The atmosphere is beautiful at times, the developing dark undertones of the story are somewhat surprising, and the music is great.”
    • “A wonderfully crafted world with an equally excellent soundtrack.”
    • “Through masterful artwork and gloomy music, it succeeds in delivering suspense and mystery as you try to overcome puzzles and push forward through the bleak world of Monochroma.”
    • “Sometimes there was almost no music nor environmental sound of any kind.”
    • “Sometimes missing music/sounds, also during cut scenes.”
    • “It's too bad that an outstanding story, art design, atmosphere, puzzles, and musical score become irrelevant due to tedious gameplay and sluggish controls.”
  • atmosphere34 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, compelling art style, and effective use of music, which together create a captivating and emotional experience. Many reviewers note the game's dark undertones and unique storytelling approach, although some mention that gameplay issues can detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal despite some minor flaws.

    • “The atmosphere is beautiful at times, the developing dark undertones of the story are somewhat surprising, and the music is great.”
    • “Great atmosphere, great artwork, and the audio complements the game; it's a simple game yet thoughtful and very enjoyable indeed.”
    • “Monochroma is a superb atmospheric puzzle platformer that tells its story by making you experience the journey of two brothers through a dystopian world.”
    • “I really like the atmosphere Monochroma wants to create, but the too few used/missing sound effects on one hand and the light sources which are sometimes usable and sometimes not disturb the whole atmosphere in a really bad way.”
    • “The atmosphere is well done, though the story could use a bit more depth.”
    • “Secondly, it has a very dark atmosphere.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply moving narrative, which resonates with players through themes of sacrifice and familial love. While some found the ending unsatisfying, many praised the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with a touching story that can lead to tears, particularly during pivotal moments involving the protagonist's sacrifice. Overall, it is regarded as a sophisticated emotional platformer that successfully engages players with its atmospheric storytelling and beautiful visuals.

    • “Yes, it's a limbo clone, but it's a very good one, and with beautiful graphics, wonderful atmosphere and an interesting and emotional story.”
    • “[spoiler] The ending can make those who are emotional cry, seeing the player character commit suicide on a blimp to save his younger brother from the clutches of some sort of evil empire experimenting on innocent kids.”
    • “Touching game after all delivered expected feelings... sad story all the way through with few exciting and nicely done scenes.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report a smooth experience free of bugs, many others experience significant performance issues, including frequent FPS drops and poorly optimized controls that detract from gameplay. The lack of refinement in control mechanics has been particularly criticized, suggesting that the developers may not have had sufficient time to address these issues before release.

    • “In fact, as far as I could tell, it was perfectly optimized and free of bugs.”
    • “However, while having a great story, a unique art style, great puzzles, and a wonderful soundtrack, it doesn't do a good job when it comes to controls and optimization.”
    • “X branch given the release date, controls in particular are not well optimized.”
    • “The performance of the game is very poor, as I've experienced constant FPS drops despite having a powerful PC.”
    • “The negative aspect of this game is that the control mechanics were not optimized.”
    • “It seems like the developers didn't have time to make some jumps more forgiving to compensate for the unoptimized controls.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and unresponsive controls, particularly during critical gameplay moments. Users have experienced crashes, freezing, and problematic animations, although some noted that these issues are not consistently severe enough to hinder overall enjoyment.

    • “It's buggy and glitchy, stuttery to play, the controls are not responsive, especially at the most critical moments.”
    • “Plagued by sluggish controls, unclear objectives, and buggy visuals.”
    • “The game won't start, freezes when I start it.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Many players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and boring, leading to frustration that overshadows its otherwise strong elements like story and art design. The gameplay is described as sluggish, contributing to a sense of tedium that can deter players from continuing.

    • “Granted, I didn't make it through the whole game, which may eventually present compelling design, but I played well past my threshold for boredom until the game became tedious enough that I had to stop.”
    • “It's too bad that an outstanding story, art design, atmosphere, puzzles, and musical score become irrelevant due to tedious gameplay and sluggish controls.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is enhanced by its atmospheric setting, combining elements of dystopia, 50s aesthetics, and jazzy noir vibes, which effectively evoke a sense of fun and whimsy. Players appreciate how these stylistic choices contribute to the overall comedic experience.

    • “It's highly atmospheric, has great graphics, and combines all the elements I'm looking for in a game to make my funny bone tingle: dystopia, mood, lighting, the '50s, and just the right amount of jazzy noir feel.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers a relatively short gameplay experience of about 6 hours, which limits its replayability due to a lack of significant content or variations to encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “The gameplay is relatively short at just 6 hours, and there isn't much replay value.”
    • “After completing the game, I found little incentive to play through it again.”
    • “Once you've experienced the story, there's not much left to draw you back for a second playthrough.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
4-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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