Mya of the Desert

About

Mya of the Desert is a 3D Action/Adventure game where you use earth manipulating powers, or Geomancy, to overcome obstacles, solve puzzles, and defeat foes. Elevate pillars of earth and bend rocks to your will as Mya, a desert wanderer, as she returns life to the world around her!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 64 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

stability13 negative mentions

The game features a unique earth manipulation mechanic that allows for creative puzzle-solving and exploration.
The graphics and art style are charming and visually appealing, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
As a free game, it offers a fun experience with interesting puzzles and a decent amount of content for players to enjoy.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, including clipping issues and unresponsive controls, which can severely hinder gameplay.
There is a lack of options and settings, making it difficult for players to customize their experience or adjust performance issues.
The save system is problematic, with only one save slot and issues that can lead to losing progress if the player gets stuck.

gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The gameplay centers around an innovative geomancy mechanic that allows players to manipulate the environment by raising pillars of rock from color-coded surfaces. While the core mechanics are intriguing and offer a sense of exploration, many players report significant bugs and broken features that hinder the overall experience, making it frustrating at times. Despite its potential, the game currently suffers from rough execution and balance issues, leading to mixed reviews on playability.
- “The main gameplay hook is using your mana pool to raise pillars of rock from colour-coded patches of floor, walls, and ceiling.”
- “Gameplay: 8/10 the balance between control-based difficulty and puzzle-solving difficulty is well maintained, and every challenge you face feels new, and a little harder than the last.”
- “Love the earth manipulation mechanic and the sense of exploration you get out of it with all the temples scattered around!”
- “The mechanic for riding on boulders just straight up doesn't work, so I had to fudge my way through levels by leap-frogging rather than levitating.”
- “Or you'll use the mechanic and the mechanic will fail you. I personally laughed for 2 minutes as I stood on a platform that was supposed to carry me to the other side of the area, and I stayed there, floating above the void and contemplating my life choices.”
- “I cannot recommend the game in its current state as the second temple is currently unbeatable due to broken mechanics.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that frequently disrupt gameplay, such as getting stuck in walls and falling through floors. While players appreciate the game's concept and aesthetics, the overwhelming presence of these technical problems makes it difficult to enjoy the experience fully. Many users express hope for future updates to address these issues, as they see potential in the game.
- “This game is full of bugs and glitches, continually getting stuck in walls, falling through floors, etc.”
- “Sadly, too many glitches pulled me through walls and I ended up falling off the map so many times that it became unplayable for me. However, what I did manage to play I found fun and would definitely play if these glitches were corrected.”
- “Unfortunately, it's just too buggy to really enjoy at this stage, with immersion constantly being broken by getting stuck in walls or not having platforms appear where you're placing them.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the charming and professional quality of the visuals, particularly the high-res low-poly style reminiscent of Nintendo GameCube games. However, some users noted that there are bugs and performance issues that detract from the overall experience, and they expressed a desire for improved graphics options. Overall, while the art is appreciated, there are calls for enhancements to address technical shortcomings.
- “The graphics, animation, sound effects, and music are charming and professional quality.”
- “The graphics and art are pretty good for an indie game by a small studio.”
- “Graphics: 8/10. The artwork is beautiful; I love the high-res low-poly style, very reminiscent of Nintendo GameCube.”
- “It's good but there are a lot of bugs that need to be fixed... graphics need to be improved, and some mechanics are broken.”
- “Although it's an indie game, the graphic engine draws a lot from your graphic card.”
- “Also, for the love of god, please implement graphic options.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The reviews indicate that the game's story is minimal or nearly non-existent, leaving players wanting more narrative depth and clarity regarding objectives. While the concept is appreciated, technical glitches further hinder the experience, leading to a desire for future updates that could enhance the storyline through dialogue or environmental clues.
- “It is a great concept with a nice-looking story; however, your objective isn't entirely clear from the start, and the glitches make it terribly hard sometimes to play.”
- “More story would be appreciated.”
- “Storyline: pretty well non-existent.”
- “I'm excited to see future updates and hopefully some storyline, whether it's delivered in dialogue or clues hidden around the map.”
- “No story so far.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The music in the game is described as charming and of professional quality, but players have expressed frustration with the lack of audio options, particularly during lengthy loading times, which can lead to repetitive listening.
- “The graphics, animation, sound effects, and music are charming and of professional quality.”
- “However, when trying to play the game, I never get past the loading screen. The music plays, but after nearly 30 minutes of trying to get into the game, I shut it down.”
- “The options do not include any audio limits; for 15 minutes of loading, I had to listen to the same music.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, often finding amusement in the quirky interactions and unexpected moments, such as discovering funny bugs or engaging in playful destruction of in-game objects. This lighthearted approach adds a layer of enjoyment to the gameplay experience.
- “Besides, I'm the type of person who will try to destroy everything (you know, the Zelda generation that considers a pot is there to be destroyed as it probably contains something, yeah, that type of people) and who will try to go through everything after noticing that there are funny bugs.”
- “That's silly, but it was a funny moment.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating visuals and immersive quality, effectively drawing players into its world. However, some reviewers feel that the intriguing lore surrounding the geomancers is not sufficiently explored within the initial levels.
- “Great look, atmospheric game.”
- “The game's atmosphere really pulls me in and makes me wonder who the geomancers are/were, but as far as the three levels I played go, the topic is never really expanded upon.”
- “The environment feels lifeless and lacks the depth needed to immerse players fully in the world.”
- “While the visuals are striking, the overall atmosphere feels flat and fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised, with users noting it runs smoothly on their PCs and utilizes less CPU than anticipated, especially compared to many other indie titles.
- “The game struggles with optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite the interesting concept, the poor optimization makes it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
- “I was disappointed by the optimization; it feels like the game was rushed and not properly tested for performance.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the character design is appealing and well-crafted, contributing positively to the overall charm of the game's scenery. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of growth or narrative depth.