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Moss

For a debut game, Moss is a remarkably mature, intelligent, confident and purposeful game by Polyarc. And risky. It would have been quite easy to simply release this as a standard PlayStation 4 title and include VR for optional use. But, no, the developer had a vision that this game would use VR as core to the narrative, and it has risked far lower sales to execute the game to that vision. I hope it works out, because Moss really is the best VR game we’ve seen to date.
Moss Game Cover
94%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
replayability, stability
95% User Score Based on 3,279 reviews
Critic Score 84%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCPlayStation VROculus QuestOculus RiftPlaystation 5Windows Mixed RealityPlaystation 4Virtual RealityWindowsPlayStationPlayStation VR2
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Moss Game Cover

About

Moss is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by Polyarc and was released on June 7, 2018. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Moss is a single-player VR platformer adventure, where you form a partnership with a brave mouse named Quill. Together, you'll face puzzles, enemies, and explore a beautifully immersive world. The recently added 'Twilight Garden' expansion introduces new challenges, weapons, and enhances the overall experience."

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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,279 reviews
story650 positive mentions
replayability8 negative mentions
  • Beautifully crafted environments that create a magical atmosphere.
  • Engaging and charming story with an adorable main character, Quill.
  • Innovative use of VR that enhances the gameplay experience, allowing for unique interactions.
  • The game is relatively short, typically completed in 3-5 hours.
  • Controls can be frustrating, especially on certain VR systems like the Vive.
  • Combat mechanics are simplistic and may feel repetitive.
  • story
    1,388 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Moss* is a charming and immersive fairy tale that follows a young mouse named Quill on her quest to rescue her uncle, with players taking on the role of a "reader" who interacts with the narrative. While the storytelling is praised for its unique presentation and emotional depth, many reviewers note that the game is relatively short, often leaving players wanting more and hinting at a sequel. Overall, the combination of engaging visuals, heartfelt character interactions, and a well-crafted narrative makes *Moss* a standout experience in VR storytelling.

    • “The exceptional part of this game is how it integrates you into a fantasy story while also playing to the strengths of the VR format.”
    • “The story is a delight to unfold and you really do feel like Quill is your little buddy by the end.”
    • “Moss is a beautiful, strange, enchanting and well told story about the adventure of the adorable mouse Quill.”
    • “I don't recommend purchasing this without purchasing Book II, as the story is quite unfinished if you don't also purchase the follow-up.”
    • “The story is very basic and lacks depth.”
    • “The story also kinda just stops; this is just 'the first book of Moss'.”
  • graphics
    645 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, charming art style, and immersive environments, particularly in VR. Many players noted the attention to detail and the enchanting aesthetic that enhances the overall experience, although some encountered issues with default low settings and performance drops at higher graphics levels. Overall, the graphics are described as breathtaking, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and storytelling.

    • “The graphics are stunning, the characters are charming.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stunning! This game has fantastic graphics & animations, and a charming story and world.”
    • “Moss builds a world and draws you into it with gusto, confidently using some of the best visuals and art direction I’ve ever seen on PlayStation VR.”
    • “Beware of the current graphic bugs; you can't play with higher than 'low' graphic settings, which honestly looked already pretty nice.”
    • “On the technical side, it's sad to see that the devs haven't bothered fixing the performance issues when using any other graphics option than 'low', which therefore has been chosen as the default.”
    • “Just shy of the minimum specs; however, gouged graphic settings expose some rough edges in the scenes and sacrifice so much of the charm of this game, while crippled framerates turn the experience into a nauseating one.”
  • gameplay
    577 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Moss" is characterized by its engaging blend of puzzle-solving and platforming mechanics, enhanced by the immersive VR experience. While the controls are generally intuitive and the combat is simple yet satisfying, some players noted that the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, particularly in combat scenarios. Overall, the game is praised for its charming visuals, compelling narrative, and the unique interaction between the player and the protagonist, Quill, making it a standout title in the VR genre despite its relatively short playtime.

    • “The gameplay is unique, engaging and in my opinion, makes it a defining title for what the VR experience should be.”
    • “The action-platformer gameplay works astonishingly well in VR.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and fairly intuitive.”
    • “The use of VR doesn't add anything mechanically; with the character being controlled with buttons and joystick, the interactions you do have in the world are simple enough that it could've easily been done with a mouse.”
    • “The gameplay was getting dull/repetitive for me around the 3.5 hour mark.”
    • “The platforming mechanics felt a bit stiff and unpolished, while the combat was too simplistic and barebones to be really engaging.”
  • music
    192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and immersive quality, enhancing the overall experience with a whimsical and fitting soundtrack that complements the stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. Many reviewers noted that the music elevates the atmosphere, making players feel as though they are part of a fairy tale, while some even expressed a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately. Overall, the combination of beautiful music, sound design, and art style contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music is fantastic and gives one a Lord of the Rings feel.”
    • “The soundtrack is perfectly matched to each scene and adds to the immersion.”
    • “The music, gameplay, puzzles, and most importantly, the virtual reality scenes are masterful.”
    • “The game might have music, but I was completely oblivious to it.”
    • “However, it is held back by a less than persuasive story, some minor bugs along the way, and a forgettable soundtrack.”
    • “Cons: mediocre story, lacks some polish in platforming, uninspiring soundtrack.”
  • emotional
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, with players forming strong attachments to the protagonist, Quill, and experiencing heartfelt moments throughout the gameplay. The stunning visuals and evocative music enhance the emotional experience, making it a touching journey that resonates with both children and adults. While some critiques mention moments where emotional impact could be stronger, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully evokes genuine feelings, often leading players to tears.

    • “I rarely get emotional when playing a game, but this one really hit me in the feels.”
    • “I developed an emotional bond with Quill and felt bad every time she died.”
    • “It was an emotional ride, and has given me hope that there is still a place for surprise, wonder, and creativity out there; these people have managed to captivate every element of this in a video game, scratch that, an experience.”
  • atmosphere
    86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Moss" is widely praised for its enchanting and immersive qualities, combining beautiful visuals, engaging sound design, and detailed environments that evoke a fairy tale-like experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend atmosphere with storytelling, creating a captivating experience that enhances gameplay and encourages exploration. Overall, the atmosphere is described as spellbinding, charming, and integral to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature.

    • “Moss is a wonderful experience mixing atmosphere and story in perfect harmony.”
    • “I've only played an hour so far, but the atmosphere, graphics, cuteness, story, and attention to detail are breathtaking.”
    • “The scenery is beautiful and the music and sound effects really set an atmosphere that supports the story.”
    • “I did not realize that, when choosing to buy Moss, how much I need such a captivating atmosphere as if I were in a fairy tale.”
    • “You could probably blow through it in a couple of hours just trying to finish, but the atmosphere is half the experience for me so I'm taking it slow and enjoying the ride.”
  • replayability
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, primarily due to its short runtime of 3-4 hours and limited content beyond the initial playthrough. While there are some collectibles and challenges that can encourage players to revisit levels, many reviewers feel that once the story is completed, there isn't much incentive to replay. Some hope for future expansions or sequels to enhance replay value, but currently, it may be best enjoyed on sale or as part of a bundle.

    • “I feel there is replay value here with incentive to go back to any level previously completed to try and complete the level at 100%.”
    • “Most screens have a scroll as a bonus that you have to find and collect, which adds replayability and keeps you engaged.”
    • “There's also some replayability if you're interested in finding hidden collectibles.”
    • “The tough pill to swallow in all this is the short 3-4 hour runtime and lack of replayability.”
    • “There are some collectibles you can go back to, but other than that there isn't really any replayability.”
    • “While replayability may be lacking as besides a few collectibles you can find by replaying chapters, once you play the story, that's about it until they release the next chapter - that first run through... damn, is it magical.”
  • optimization
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report a polished experience with beautiful visuals and reasonable performance on lower settings, significant issues arise when graphics are set above low, leading to memory leaks and stuttering. Some users have found that performance improves with SSD usage and lower graphics settings, but the lack of patches for these optimization problems has left many frustrated. Overall, while the game can run well on capable hardware, it requires careful management of settings to avoid performance drops.

    • “It's a very polished, smooth experience, and I didn't experience any performance issues or bugs.”
    • “The game is beautiful and well optimized.”
    • “Textures are well detailed and there’s no clear compromise to visual quality despite the performance requirements of VR.”
    • “-but sadly if you put graphics above low it causes a memory leak and performance drops.”
    • “-puzzles are subpar, game is mostly linear, combat is dull, this game is boring, I tried to continue for the story but honestly I can't tolerate the optimization issues; the internet was right that they didn't patch the memory leak to this day...”
    • “On the technical side, it's sad to see that the devs haven't bothered fixing the performance issues when using any other graphics option than 'low', which therefore has been chosen as the default.”
  • stability
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth performance and no significant glitches, some have encountered bugs related to moving platforms and collisions, leading to occasional frustrations. The forgiving checkpoint system helps mitigate these issues, but the platforming mechanics could benefit from refinement.

    • “This is an adorable game and looks/runs great.”
    • “It runs great, looks great, sounds great.”
    • “This is an adorable game and looks/runs great.”
    • “The game is a little buggy in regards to moving platforms/collisions; I got stuck a few times in walls, but the checkpoint system is very forgiving.”
    • “Not perfect though, the platforming is a bit gimmicky and edge grab is a bit buggy; if it was at least twice longer, it would be a must play for me.”
    • “While this was obviously not as intended, Quill’s realism and glitches that could cause inferred emotional responses could be upsetting for younger players if Quill ends up dying.”
  • humor
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its charming and cute protagonist, who engages players with humorous interactions like high-fives. Reviewers find the humor to be entertaining and well-integrated into the gameplay, contributing to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience, despite some initial reservations about the game's pacing. Overall, the humor is described as a key element that enhances the game's appeal.

    • “She's cute and funny and she'll insist that you interact with her (high-fives, etc.) throughout the playtime.”
    • “A simple, cute, smart, funny game.”
    • “Charming, funny, entertaining.”
  • grinding
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive time investment to progress. This frustration is compounded by a lackluster story and uninspired writing, although some reviewers note that the visuals and animation can somewhat offset the grind. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, with many suggesting it detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “This tedious format is made worse by an incoherent, plodding story, lackluster writing, and humdrum voice acting.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Combat gets repetitive and tedious very quickly.”
  • character development
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting the intricate design and animation that contribute to a lovable and engaging character. The attention to detail in both the character's background and gameplay enhances the overall experience, drawing favorable comparisons to other beloved characters in gaming.

    • “The character development is excellent.”
    • “Super intricate detail, background, gameplay, story, character design.”
    • “The animations and the character design remind me of the same lovability that I found in the girl in a hat in time.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features no microtransactions, providing a straightforward experience without additional costs.

    • “The game has no microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in today's gaming landscape.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no hidden costs or paywalls; everything is accessible without spending extra money.”
    • “It's great to see a game that prioritizes player experience over monetization strategies.”
    • “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
    • “I feel like I'm being pressured to spend money just to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “The monetization model is frustrating and takes away from the overall experience.”
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84%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
5h Average play time
4-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 42 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Moss is a casual action adventure game.

Moss is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Virtual Reality and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Moss.

Moss was released on June 7, 2018.

Moss was developed by Polyarc.

Moss has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Moss is a single player game.

Similar games include RiME, Owlboy, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, stray, The Room VR: A Dark Matter and others.