Naiad

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 72 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • story
Naiad Game Cover
Starting at $19.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store Get on Xbox Games Store

"Naiad is a serene exploration game where you swim along a river, interacting with its fauna and flora. In 16 episodes, you'll journey through diverse environments, helping animals and making flowers bloom. With its beautiful visuals and sound design, Naiad offers a calming, personal experience."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews
music17 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Naiad offers a beautiful, relaxing experience with stunning visuals and soothing music, making it a perfect escape from stressful gaming.
  • The game features engaging environmental puzzles and hidden secrets that encourage exploration and replayability, rewarding players for their curiosity.
  • Developed by a single person, Naiad showcases impressive artistry and a heartfelt narrative that touches on themes of nature and environmentalism.
  • Some players found the gameplay to be repetitive, particularly with escort missions and certain puzzles that can feel frustrating.
  • The music, while beautiful, can become monotonous over time, detracting from the overall experience for some players.
  • A lack of clear guidance on puzzles can lead to confusion, making it difficult for players to know how to progress without trial and error.
  • music30 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall tranquil experience alongside stunning visuals. While some players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive at times, many express a desire to linger in areas just to enjoy the music further. Overall, the combination of exquisite sound design and calming melodies contributes significantly to the game's serene atmosphere.

    • “Absolutely lovely, relaxing game with soothing music and stunning visuals - especially when you take into account this game has been developed by a single person.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful, the atmosphere is calming and relaxing, the art style and color palettes are stunning, and the overall vibe is just so adorable.”
    • “The sound design, music, and beautiful singing all come together in perfect harmony with the visuals, creating a wow experience.”
    • “My only negative is that the music, while pretty, can get fairly repetitive, but that's only sometimes a bother, and certainly not a major quibble.”
    • “The soundtrack is, for me, a mixed bag.”
    • “Though really, the moment I realized this game has a music puzzle, I had to give it full marks.”
  • graphics20 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and unique art style, which create a beautiful and calming atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the exquisite attention to detail, vibrant color palettes, and harmonious integration with the soothing soundtrack, making the overall experience both relaxing and captivating. Developed by a single person, the game's aesthetic appeal is considered a masterclass in tranquil game design.

    • “Absolutely lovely, relaxing game with soothing music and stunning visuals - especially when you take into account this game has been developed by a single person.”
    • “The visuals are breathtaking; every location feels rich and like its own piece of art, brimming with colorful landscapes, winding rivers, and peaceful creatures.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful, the atmosphere is calming and relaxing, the art style and color palettes are stunning, and the overall vibe is just so adorable.”
    • “The graphics are very well crafted and unique.”
    • “Speaking of visuals, this is where the game truly excels.”
    • “The art style, music, and whole concept are absolutely lovely.”
  • story19 mentions

    The story of the game is described as cute, touching, and well-written, effectively exploring themes of environmentalism and humanity's impact on nature through a metaphorical narrative intertwined with mythology. Players appreciate the exquisite art style and the emotional depth of the naiad's journey, though some find the storytelling to be subtle and occasionally overshadowed by gameplay mechanics like escort missions. Overall, the narrative is engaging and encourages players to uncover secrets while reflecting on the importance of nature conservation.

    • “The story is really well-written; not only is the story of the naiad herself really touching (I cried multiple times throughout the last few episodes), but the level design for each chapter increasingly depicts the tragic impacts of oblivious human activity and industry on nature in a more and more devastating manner each time. It is actually heart-breaking, and I hope it brings more people to fight alongside us for the protection of nature and its conservation.”
    • “Its a metaphorical story about the water cycle, mixed in with mythology, environmental protection messaging, and symbolism of the cyclical nature of life itself.”
    • “The storytelling is subtle but impactful, with allegorical themes seamlessly woven into the gameplay.”
    • “It almost feels as though the story was added to provide some additional content, rather than being a central pillar that drives the game forward.”
    • “Naiad doesn't feature a voice cast; rather, all storytelling is conveyed through text.”
    • “If you are trying to engage with the puzzle elements, though, it's hard to ignore that a large chunk of this is escort missions, which are about as frustrating as escort missions can be.”
  • gameplay16 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of rewarding exploration and small puzzles, offering a visually stunning and serene experience. However, many players find it repetitive and shallow, with some mechanics feeling clunky and dragging the overall experience. While the game excels in storytelling and atmosphere, it may benefit from a shorter length and more varied mechanics to enhance engagement.

    • “Total gameplay would take about 6 hours, but there are so many little achievements that you will be eager to figure out everything on your own.”
    • “Truly a labor of love that shows through in the gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, I do enjoy that you're rewarded for investigating most everywhere.”
    • “But the gameplay is simply too repetitive and shallow for a game this long.”
    • “Though the gameplay can sometimes feel a bit repetitive, especially when you’re tasked with helping animals find their way, it’s not without reward.”
    • “The only flaw I can think of after many hours of gameplay is some repeating mechanics that may drag the experience a bit, depending on the kind of player you are.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The game elicits strong emotional responses, with players reporting tears and deep connections to its well-crafted story and poignant themes surrounding nature and human impact. The narrative's progression reveals a heart-wrenching portrayal of environmental issues, enhancing the overall experience, though some feel these themes are somewhat secondary to the gameplay. Overall, it is described as a moving journey that resonates with players on multiple levels.

    • “I cried at the end of this, and I thought that made this game wholly worthy of full completion.”
    • “The story is really well-written; not only is the story of Naiad herself really touching (I cried multiple times throughout the last few episodes), but the level design for each chapter increasingly depicts the tragic impacts of oblivious human activity and industry on nature in a more and more devastating manner each time. It is actually heart-breaking, and I hope it brings more people to fight alongside us for the protection of nature and its conservation.”
    • “It's an emotional experience; I cried and gasped in surprise at several points in the game.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Every Second is Naiad" is widely praised for its beauty and magic, creating a peaceful and calming experience. Reviewers highlight the stunning art style, lovely color palettes, and fantastic sound design, which collectively enhance the game's enchanting vibe. The soundtrack further contributes to the overall relaxing ambiance, making it a standout feature of the indie game.

    • “Every second in Naiad is the most beautiful, atmospheric, and magical experience of any indie game of recent release.”
    • “The atmosphere is top-notch, so peaceful and lovely.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful, the atmosphere is calming and relaxing, the art style and color palettes are stunning, and the overall vibe is just so adorable.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players highlight the strong replayability of the game, citing a wealth of poems and collectibles to discover, as well as hidden secrets like a door that unlocks through specific collectible achievements. This encourages exploration and repeated playthroughs.

    • “There are lots of poems to discover, secrets to find, which contributes to the game's excellent replayability.”
    • “The amount of collectibles encourages replayability, and there is a hidden door you can open by collecting a certain type of collectible.”
    • “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics don't change enough between playthroughs to keep it interesting.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is well-optimized, delivering good performance with over 60 fps at the highest settings on 1080p, particularly on the Steam Deck, and users report no significant issues during gameplay.

    • “Good performance: highest settings at 1080p is much more than 60 fps on the Steam Deck.”
    • “As for performance, I didn’t encounter any issues at all.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Users indicate that there is no grinding required for achievements in the game, suggesting a more streamlined experience that avoids repetitive tasks.

    • “Grinding for achievements feels pointless and tedious.”
    • “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and frustrating.”
    • “I find the grinding mechanics to be repetitive and draining.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game surprisingly engaging, noting that the lack of action does not detract from their enjoyment but rather enhances it, keeping them entertained throughout.

    • “It's funny! I thought that since there's no action, I wouldn't be as engaged, but it's the opposite!”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch; I found myself laughing out loud at the clever dialogue.”
    • “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that keep me entertained.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Naiad

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News