Nadia Was Here

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 34 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Nadia Was Here Game Cover
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"Nadia Was Here" is a pixel art adventure game with strategic combat. You play as Nadia, a young thief who discovers her powers in a world on the brink of destruction. Accompany Nadia on her journey to uncover the truth behind her abilities and save her world from chaos. Engage in turn-based battles, solve puzzles, and form bonds with unique characters along the way.

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

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews
story10 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • The game features an innovative and engaging battle system that combines real-time elements with strategic lane management, making each encounter feel like a puzzle to solve.
  • The puzzles throughout the game are well-designed and challenging, providing a satisfying experience without feeling tedious, and they often require backtracking with new abilities to access previously unreachable areas.
  • The characters are well-developed with unique abilities, and the story, while simple, is engaging and complemented by humorous dialogue and interesting interactions with NPCs.
  • The game can feel repetitive at times, with some players finding the dialogue and story lacking depth, which may detract from the overall experience.
  • While the combat system is unique, it can become tedious due to the micromanagement required, and some players feel that many abilities and items are underwhelming or situationally useless.
  • The game's visuals and audio may not appeal to everyone, with some finding the pixel art style and sound effects jarring or unpolished, which could detract from immersion.
  • story25 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, featuring engaging characters and a satisfying conclusion that deviates from typical tropes. While some players found the dialogue and narrative to be simple or not particularly captivating, many appreciated the depth and variety in character development, as well as the intriguing world-building. Overall, the story complements the gameplay, making it a solid experience, though it may not be the primary draw for all players.

    • “An interesting story with a satisfying conclusion that departs from the usual 'the chosen kids save the world' tropes combined with great puzzle design makes this a solid recommendation.”
    • “The world, its citizens, and the story are all so intriguing that it kept me invested and wanting to learn more as I progressed.”
    • “The story is interesting without being complicated, the characters have just enough backstory and quirks to stop them from being mere functions, and the rest of the world is made of those walking street signs known as NPCs.”
    • “If you're playing this game, it's a lot more for the gameplay and less the story.”
    • “Ultimately I think folks who are interested in this game should try the demo with the combat - if it speaks to you, then grab it, if it doesn't, then it doesn't look like there's a lot else that really goes too far outside the box here, as far as I can tell from my (relatively short) playtime, other reviews, etc. The dialog and story didn't exactly draw me in, but maybe it needed some more playtime for that.. but even still, the voice of the writing based on the initial characters and such didn't lead me to believe that'd be the case.”
    • “I do have gripes with the story though, which I'll get to soon, but for the most part I felt the story did its job and the writing proved to be entertaining.”
  • gameplay15 mentions

    The gameplay is a refreshing take on classic turn-based mechanics, featuring well-designed puzzles and an innovative combat system that blends elements of strategy and challenge. Players appreciate the engaging worldbuilding and the balance between difficulty and accessibility, with generous respawn options that mitigate frustration. Overall, the game emphasizes puzzle-solving in both dungeons and battles, making it a standout experience for those seeking a unique RPG adventure.

    • “Well designed puzzles, interesting fight mechanics, and lovely worldbuilding.”
    • “Great gameplay, innovative battle system, captivating story, and a heck of a lot more to explore!”
    • “Combat is quick and light while still challenging -- you’ll probably die a lot (although luckily not too punishing, as respawns are generous due to autosaving), and there are some interesting and not often seen mechanics at play that turn the battles into something more similar to a combat-puzzle than a typical RPG gear/level check.”
    • “Then when it comes to the gameplay, there are a few small details plus a bigger one.”
    • “Nadia was here has two major gameplay features: the dungeons and the combat, which are both puzzle based, in my opinion.”
    • “If you're playing this game, it's a lot more for the gameplay and less the story.”
  • music13 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its authentic chiptune style and fitting soundtrack that complements the retro aesthetic. While some players found the music enjoyable and nostalgic, others felt it didn't quite match the excitement of the trailers and was not particularly memorable. Overall, the soundtrack is considered solid but not groundbreaking, with a few standout tracks that players appreciated.

    • “The soundtrack is spot on for the authentic sound and has a unique sound to the NES-styled OST.”
    • “I love the chiptune music, and something about that weird color palette just draws me in.”
    • “You even get the game's soundtrack free, which is pretty good in its own right!”
    • “Instead, I do not think much of the music that I was hearing was like that in the trailers (which play 3 different songs).”
    • “I only heard most of the songs for a brief time during gameplay (as I do not have access to the soundtrack), but there are a handful of songs I certainly enjoyed, such as the previously mentioned hot springs inn theme.”
    • “I only heard most of the songs for a brief time during gameplay (as I do not have access to the soundtrack), but there are a handful of songs I certainly enjoyed, such as the previously mentioned hot springs inn theme.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Overall, players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, noting that it eliminates the tedium often associated with traditional RPGs. Instead of leveling up, the focus is on equipment and spell acquisition, which some find refreshing, though others feel the novelty can wear off due to the required micromanagement. The combat system is described as engaging, but the lack of grinding means players may still experience a sense of tedium by the end of each area.

    • “It never feels like a grind - because there is no grinding.”
    • “Then you better change your strategy because there is no grinding and no levels.”
    • “No random encounters and no grinding (there are no levels to even be gained, just equipment to sometimes steal and spells to learn).”
    • “Combat was an interesting novelty; fortunately for the game, there's no random encounters and grinding to do because the novelty wore thin fast due to the amount of micromanaging needed.”
    • “At the end of each area, they felt tedious to me, and I was glad when I was finally done.”
    • “The fact that Nadia the 'thief' can steal an unlimited amount of items and it never depletes during combat is pretty crazy; it's a new definition of farming, I guess.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics feature vibrant and easily readable visuals, characterized by a distinct 8-bit pixel art style that may require some adjustment for new players. While the aesthetic is appealing to fans of puzzle-adventure RPGs, some users suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing.

    • “Great and easily readable visuals that really pop.”
    • “The graphics are quite special, and it took me the first two hours to get used to them.”
    • “The graphics, however, are quite special, and I needed to get used to them during the first two hours.”
    • “The graphics and art style are very much 8-bit pixel.”
    • “If you don't mind the graphics and enjoy puzzles in your adventure RPGs, then consider buying this, but it's best to wait for a sale.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, likening it to nostalgic experiences from their SNES days, which enhances their overall enjoyment. However, some concerns about the battle system suggest that it may not fully meet their expectations based on initial impressions.

    • “I haven't come across a JRPG that made me feel like I was playing on my SNES again like this one did in a long, long time.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the distinct personalities of the characters and their unique interactions with NPCs, which contribute to an enjoyable comedic experience.

    • “I'm enjoying the characters so far; there's some good humor, and the game makes use of each one having their own niche along with different interactions with NPCs.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users note that while the implementation of the action turn-based (ATB) system can feel chaotic, it does offer a freeze feature during actions and an option to reduce the overall speed, enhancing stability during gameplay.

    • “The implementation of ATB can be a bit hectic, as it both freezes when taking an action and there's also the option to reduce the overall speed by half if needed.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game effectively captures the nostalgic essence of 90s JRPGs, despite its lack of visual complexity, primarily relying on a palette of red and blue tones.

    • “While it's not visually impressive (it's mostly tones of red and blue, as you can see in the screenshots), its atmosphere is very similar to those 90s JRPGs it tries to emulate.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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