Mosaic

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 340 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Mosaic Game Cover
Mosaic paints all its scenes with great care and, while it might be a slow burner, it’s as cerebral as it is emotional and tells an enthralling story.
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Mosaic is a mysterious narrative game, where you follow the repetitive and lonely life of an average commuter.... Until one day, when strange things start happening.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 340 reviews
story46 positive mentions
gameplay6 negative mentions
  • Mosaic features stunning visuals and a unique art style that effectively conveys its themes of monotony and depression in modern life.
  • The game offers a thought-provoking narrative that resonates with players, encouraging reflection on personal circumstances and societal issues.
  • Despite its simplicity, the game successfully captures the essence of existential crises and the struggle for individuality in a corporate-driven world.
  • The gameplay is overly simplistic and linear, often reducing player interaction to merely holding down a mouse button, which can lead to a tedious experience.
  • Many players found the story predictable and lacking depth, with repetitive scenes that fail to engage or surprise.
  • The game is short, typically lasting only 2-3 hours, which some reviewers felt did not justify its price point, especially given the limited gameplay mechanics.
  • story147 mentions

    The game's story revolves around a depressed man facing an existential crisis, exploring themes of monotony and the hollowness of modern life. While some players appreciate its artistic visuals and emotional depth, many criticize the narrative as clichéd and underdeveloped, feeling it lacks meaningful interaction and engagement. Overall, it is seen more as an interactive story than a traditional game, with mixed opinions on its execution and depth.

    • “Overall, I fell in love with the game and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys story-rich games.”
    • “The story is about the pointless repetitions of modern life and how art can be such a powerful way to break free from that.”
    • “For a game in which one of the most prominent themes is loneliness in a modern society, subtly reminding the player the fact that 'as long as we have our class positions we will never be truly alone' is such an amazing achievement of video game storytelling.”
    • “The story is very simple and not much of a game but a bleak experience of monotonous routine work life.”
    • “I became increasingly annoyed with the story, because of the actual lack of interaction and the fact that your character has almost no choice about the storyline.”
    • “More of an interactive story than a game, and even then the story isn't interesting; mechanics and controls are clunky, and you lose interest quickly.”
  • graphics65 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and captivating art style, which effectively conveys the game's themes and atmosphere, often drawing comparisons to sci-fi aesthetics reminiscent of "Blade Runner." While the visuals are described as stunning and creatively executed, some players note that the repetitive nature of the graphics and gameplay can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the art direction remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's narrative and emotional impact.

    • “Mosaic is a visually captivating game that showcases stunning creativity and breathtaking artwork.”
    • “Art style, music, and overall mood is absolutely incredible and without a doubt the strong point of this game.”
    • “The visuals are beautiful (and disturbing), the playing felt pretty seamless, the audio was right on par, and the story was very interesting.”
    • “Strong concept and visuals, but meh execution.”
    • “Bad graphics for the requirements it's asking.”
    • “So graphically, the game features cell-shaded polygon objects that convey the same bleakness that the rest of the game is trying for, creating an awful feeling that comes from depression and being oppressed.”
  • gameplay64 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has been widely criticized for its simplicity and lack of depth, often described as a linear experience that primarily involves clicking to move from one point to another with minimal interaction. Many reviewers noted that it feels more like an interactive story or walking simulator rather than a traditional game, with repetitive mechanics and little to no user choice, leading to a tedious experience. While the artistic presentation is praised, the overall gameplay is deemed below average, making it hard to justify its price.

    • “They manage to engage players with both gameplay elements and captivating aesthetics.”
    • “Through the gameplay, you will run across things that brighten your spirit, represented by intense colors which seem jarring and out of place at first but are designed on purpose.”
    • “The tedium, the soullessness, the loneliness — it's all here, presented with sleek, stylish art and simple, effective mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay isn't real gameplay; it's just go here, click this, and something happens. No real user choice, no multiple endings, no replayability.”
    • “However, while the game excels in its artistic presentation, I found myself craving a more substantial gameplay experience.”
    • “The concept and artistic style of the game are really good; however, the gameplay is lacking. It is lost between trying to be an atmospheric walking simulator and a point-and-click game with no real objective.”
  • music43 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with a minimalist soundtrack that effectively conveys feelings of helplessness and depression. Many reviewers highlight the strong emotional connection to the music, noting its relevance to the protagonist's journey and the game's themes. However, some criticism is directed at the ending, where the music loops endlessly after a key scene, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Art style, music, and overall mood is absolutely incredible and without a doubt the strong point of this game.”
    • “The atmosphere is absolutely soul-crushing, the bleak art style does an excellent job of conveying the feeling of helplessness and depression and the minimalist soundtrack feels like the walls are closing in all around you.”
    • “Great visual style, amazing music and sound design, very relevant and relatable subject matter.”
    • “The atmosphere is absolutely soul-crushing; the bleak art style does an excellent job of conveying the feeling of helplessness and depression, and the minimalist soundtrack feels like the walls are closing in all around you.”
    • “The ending could be improved; the discordant music detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “After the ending scene where you see the musicians play, the screen just faded to black and the music looped endlessly.”
  • atmosphere24 mentions

    The atmosphere of Mosaic is characterized by a bleak and soul-crushing aesthetic, reminiscent of games like Inside, effectively conveying feelings of helplessness and depression through its art style and minimalist soundtrack. While the game excels in creating an intense and surreal environment, some players feel it falls short in gameplay, struggling to balance between being an atmospheric walking simulator and a point-and-click adventure. Despite minor technical issues, the overall experience is praised for its artistic vision and emotional depth, making it a compelling journey for fans of atmospheric indie games.

    • “A surreal and nightmarish adventure with great art design and intense atmosphere, but not very challenging.”
    • “The atmosphere is absolutely soul-crushing; the bleak art style does an excellent job of conveying the feeling of helplessness and depression, and the minimalist soundtrack feels like the walls are closing in all around you.”
    • “I've seen some visual bugs, and the game becomes laggy in some scenes, which takes me out of the atmosphere. Please fix that.”
    • “Krillbite should be commended for what they achieve with Mosaic, crafting an experience that wholly commits to its themes, atmosphere, and narrative.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from its initial intrigue. Players express disappointment in the lack of engaging achievements and slow progress, feeling that the grind does not effectively contribute to the game's narrative or themes. Overall, the grinding mechanic seems to overshadow the intended message of appreciating art and beauty in the real world.

    • “The game was interesting at first, then it just became tedious and repetitive.”
    • “I was expecting a good and interesting take about being stuck in the gray hamster wheel, but got a really tedious and frustrating experience.”
    • “Day in, day out…the tedious grind of the life as a cog in the machine.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game is generally perceived as enjoyable but suffers from numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the experience. Players have reported issues such as unclear objectives, unfinished animations, and performance hiccups, indicating that stability is a significant concern. Overall, while the game has potential, its current state is marred by these technical problems.

    • “Seems like a great game, but buggy.”
    • “On the flipside, I did encounter glitches and bugs.”
    • “Overpriced, repetitive, ridiculous achievements, and even glitches in some areas (unfinished door animation when leaving the apartment, and noticeable out-of-bounds spaces in the fridge and on the floor of the compressed-cube-worker factory).”
  • emotional9 mentions

    Mosaic is praised for its deep emotional resonance, effectively exploring themes of isolation and the struggles of modern life under capitalism. The game's art style complements its narrative, creating a touching and relatable experience, though some players note performance issues that detract from the overall impact. Despite these flaws, it remains a cerebral and meaningful journey that can provoke life-changing reflections.

    • “Mosaic is an extremely empathetic emotional game for those of us suffering under the capitalist yoke.”
    • “But this is not all the visuals have to offer; it also gives you hints of color that lead to interesting and fantastic emotional and ultimately life-changing events or questions about the isolation that your character feels.”
    • “Mosaic paints all its scenes with great care and, while it might be a slow burner, it's as cerebral as it is emotional and tells an enthralling story.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game features a subtle blend of dark, deadpan humor that complements its bizarre and disturbing elements. Players appreciate the clever observations about everyday struggles, such as financial woes and societal addictions, which provide a relatable and amusing perspective without being overly intrusive.

    • “Aside from all the 'dark, disturbing, bizarre' elements, it's also got a light sense of dark, deadpan humor that fits right into the plot.”
    • “For example, the fact that your bank account is always in the negative, and your salary gets you almost back to zero, or the piling up stacks of bills... little elements that aren't shoved right in your face, but that you'll notice along the way that give you a chuckle and make you think, 'yeah, that's kinda what it is like, huh?' or everyone's - including your - addiction to their cellphone... all kinda funny.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game "blip blop" is highlighted through its engaging advertisements, which effectively promote the game's appeal. However, specific details regarding in-game purchases or pricing models are not mentioned in the reviews.

  • replayability2 mentions

    The game lacks replayability due to its simplistic gameplay mechanics, which involve minimal user choice and no multiple endings, leading to a repetitive experience. Players feel that the absence of meaningful decisions diminishes the incentive to replay the game.

    • “The gameplay isn't real gameplay; it's just go here, click this, and something happens. There's no real user choice, no multiple endings, and no replayability.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with players noting that while it offers a touching experience, it is marred by performance issues and minor glitches that detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Puzzles seemed out of place at times, with minor glitches affecting performance.”
    • “A touching, meaningful experience hindered by too many performance issues.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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