Neon Abyss

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,139 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Neon Abyss Game Cover
Neon Abyss' pixel art graphics and superb soundtrack round off a perfect addition to the Switch's formidable catalogue of indie treasures.
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Neon Abyss is a deluxe edition game that includes the base game, the Lovable Rogues Pack with two additional characters, Alter Ego with 10 new character skins and skills, a new game mode and Titan boss with Chrono Trap, and a soundtrack. An experimental branch is also available for players to access new content and changes. The game is not about crystals, but about exploring the Abyss and facing challenges as a result of Titan's failed experiments.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,139 reviews
gameplay154 positive mentions
grinding60 negative mentions
  • gameplay483 mentions

    The gameplay of "Neon Abyss" is characterized by its fast-paced, roguelite shooting mechanics, which some players find addictive and engaging, particularly due to the variety of weapons and items available. However, many reviews highlight issues such as repetitive mechanics, a lack of depth, and poorly explained systems that can lead to frustration, particularly with the reliance on RNG elements. While the game offers a visually appealing experience and a casual approach to roguelikes, it struggles with balance and innovation compared to its inspirations like "Enter the Gungeon" and "The Binding of Isaac."

    • “Neon Abyss is a roguelite that combines fast-paced action with addictive, randomly generated gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and fast-paced, enhanced by a variety of weapons, items, and abilities that can be collected and upgraded.”
    • “This game has endless replayability, especially with the Chrono Trap DLC, great visuals and sound design, fun weapons and gameplay, all with an amazing soundtrack to top it off.”
    • “Gameplay is pretty one-dimensional, which makes it easy to get started with but sacrifices replay value due to lack of depth.”
    • “Good if you like gambling, futuristic art styles, and lasting progression; bad if you like more skilled and strategic gameplay due to untelegraphed or unreadable attacks, and the massive amount of luck-based elements means it can feel extremely frustrating at times.”
    • “The gameplay itself is not stellar; the main platforming game loop lacks variety.”
  • music244 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its energetic and catchy soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. However, several users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, with a desire for more variety in tracks. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as enjoyable and fitting for the game's aesthetic, some players feel it lacks depth and diversity.

    • “This game has endless replayability, especially with the Chrono Trap DLC, great visuals and sound design, fun weapons and gameplay, all with an amazing soundtrack to top it off.”
    • “The colorful art style and original soundtrack combine to create an exciting atmosphere that immerses players in the game’s procedurally generated world.”
    • “The soundtrack is dope, but it gets repetitive because there's only 4 stage compositions and 6 boss themes.”
    • “My only complaint would be the soundtrack; even though at the beginning you find it so groovy as it motivates you to rush and jump into the game, it's sort of repetitive and there's not much other than just a song or two at most.”
    • “The music is uninspired and forgettable, and the art itself is probably the only saving grace.”
    • “For a game that tries to sell itself with great sound and music, it really lacks in that part; the music is very repetitive and quite bland, sound is passable.”
  • graphics230 mentions

    The graphics of "Neon Abyss" have received widespread praise for their vibrant pixel art style and engaging retro-futuristic aesthetic, which effectively combines elements of cyberpunk and Greek mythology. Many players appreciate the attention to detail, colorful environments, and unique character designs, although some note that the visuals can become overwhelming during intense gameplay. Overall, the game's art style and visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and replayability.

    • “The graphics are awesome, and I can see the developers put a lot of care into it.”
    • “The game's pixel art graphics are vibrant and engaging, with a unique visual style that adds to the game's overall charm.”
    • “The game also has some excellent visuals - the vibrant and colorful retro-futuristic vaporwave environments contrasted with the twisted and gross enemy design is a nice juxtaposition.”
    • “Not to mention the item graphics aren't really descriptive; you mostly just guess what an item does based on its graphics, and you are often guessing wrong.”
    • “The visuals also are quite bland after the initial stage.”
    • “The game feels like it tries too hard to be like Enter the Gungeon and The Binding of Isaac, but falls flat in all regards but visuals.”
  • story85 mentions

    The game's story is widely criticized for being minimal, lacking depth, and often feeling non-existent, with many players expressing disappointment over its simplistic and unengaging narrative. While some find the humor in the story appealing, the overall consensus is that it fails to provide a compelling or coherent plot, leaving players wanting more substance and character development. Despite the engaging gameplay mechanics, the absence of a meaningful story detracts from the overall experience for those who value narrative in their gaming.

    • “The detailed pixel art is amazing and the story is cute too.”
    • “The story is kind of funny as well, which helps overall.”
    • “Story is not very deep but enough to keep you interested.”
    • “The story is essentially non-existent, at least as far as I got.”
    • “There is almost no story in the game.”
    • “The only negative aspect is that the 'story' with only 5 bosses is way too short.”
  • replayability74 mentions

    The game offers a high level of replayability, primarily due to its roguelike mechanics, randomly generated levels, and diverse character abilities and item synergies. While many players find the gameplay engaging and fresh with each run, some critiques highlight a lack of depth and limited content that may diminish long-term replay value. Overall, it is considered a fun and addictive experience with significant replay potential, though it may not reach the heights of other roguelikes like "The Binding of Isaac."

    • “Its rogue-like system offers infinite replayability, with randomly generated challenges and stimulating item synergies.”
    • “One of the game's standout features is its replayability, with randomly generated levels that offer a new experience with each playthrough.”
    • “Great game, so many weapons and items to collect, lots of room for replayability, and always a different run.”
    • “Gameplay is pretty one-dimensional, which makes it easy to get started with but sacrifices replay value due to lack of depth.”
    • “Very limited replayability for a roguelike game.”
    • “This does not have the replayability of say, Binding of Isaac that could keep you playing for thousands of hours.”
  • grinding67 mentions

    The game's grinding mechanics have received mixed reviews, with many players finding the progression system excessively tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the nostalgic grind reminiscent of classic games, others feel that the unlocks are frustratingly gated behind a significant amount of grinding, leading to a loss of enjoyment over time. Overall, the grind is seen as a barrier to fully experiencing the game's potential, with many players expressing a desire for a more balanced approach to progression.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “I presume there is an equivalent for wisdom rooms (which luckily don't hurt you), but holy crap that is tedious.”
    • “The game is grindy as heck, meta progression is slow and there really isn't that much to be gained from it.”
    • “It's unnecessarily grindy and not that fun.”
    • “My biggest complaint with the game is that the progression is obnoxiously grindy.”
  • humor39 mentions

    The humor in "Neon Abyss" is widely praised, with players enjoying its clever references, funny item descriptions, and absurd weapon behaviors that contribute to a lighthearted gaming experience. Many reviews highlight the game's self-aware jokes and meta-commentary on game development, which enhance its appeal. However, some players find the abundance of "joke" weapons frustrating, as they can detract from gameplay effectiveness. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the game's vibrant aesthetic and engaging mechanics.

    • “Neon Abyss is an amazing roguelike, side-scrolling shooter that comes with all kinds of action-packed and funny moments.”
    • “The humor is great as well, tons of loving fun poked at other game series in the items you can acquire.”
    • “The item descriptions are funny and to the point.”
  • stability34 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users have noted that the game runs well on certain systems, the prevalence of freezing, UI problems, and game-breaking glitches has led to frustration and negative reviews. Overall, the game appears to require further development to address these stability concerns effectively.

    • “Also, it runs great on my laptop with integrated graphics.”
    • “Game runs great; no bugs that I have found.”
    • “I cannot recommend this game because it is buggy and developers don't care about the game.”
    • “The game is buggy, does not save properly, keeps giving a black screen, etc. Thumbs down.”
    • “It's buggy and lacks proper controller support.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its colorful art style and engaging soundtrack, which together create an immersive experience in the procedurally generated world. While some players note a repetitive environment, the overall vibe remains captivating, with a strong cyberpunk influence and a variety of items that enhance gameplay. Many reviewers emphasize that the atmosphere is a key factor in their enjoyment and replayability of the game.

    • “The colorful art style and original soundtrack combine to create an exciting atmosphere that immerses players in the game’s procedurally generated world.”
    • “Neon Abyss has a great atmosphere, awesome soundtrack, and a huge variety of items and synergies that make each run interesting and entertaining.”
    • “It was usually the same rooms randomly generated with the same atmosphere and chests.”
    • “The atmosphere and soundtrack are what keep me coming back though.”
    • “The artwork is slick and well suited to the atmosphere.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotions while engaging with the game, feeling both compelled to continue despite a lack of satisfaction and experiencing a nurturing instinct, likened to that of a "mother hen." The game evokes frustration due to its mechanics, such as punishing touch interactions and accessibility issues, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While it appeals to fans of rogue-like games, the emotional journey is marred by technical shortcomings and a sense of unfulfillment.

    • “It's one of those weird games that never made me feel satisfied playing it, but I kept playing it.”
    • “Plus, it really made me feel like a mother hen with all those eggs.”
    • “I recommend this game a lot to people who love rogue-like games.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The optimization of the game is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others experience significant frame drops during intense moments, leading to frustrating gameplay. Additionally, the lack of performance or quality settings limits players' ability to address these issues. Overall, while the game has potential, many users feel it requires further optimization to enhance the experience.

    • “The game itself runs smoothly, has a lot of funny jokes and references, and creates a strong desire for wanting to play more.”
    • “The performance is flawless.”
    • “Bugs are minimal and performance is okay until you become too powerful.”
    • “It is as fun as I thought it would be, but I was having major performance issues. Your bullet hell game isn't fun if it freezes for a few frames and you end up losing one of your precious hearts. There aren't even any performance or quality settings to try to mitigate the problem.”
    • “However, the items are just so poorly playtested and optimized.”
    • “Won't play it until it's playable, and by playable I don't speak of mechanics that I dislike but just optimization that doesn't make me die because I have a good run.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for relying heavily on advertising and influencer promotions, similar to models seen in games like Raid: Shadow Legends, while failing to deliver meaningful diversity or unique content. Players feel that despite the promise of numerous items, the gameplay experience remains repetitive and lacks depth.

    • “Things feel too similar despite advertising a bunch of items.”
    • “This game does not deliver on any of the advertised features.”
    • “Good advertisement and paying lots of streamers to play the game (pretty much like Raid: Shadow Legends) to hype it up with no real diversity.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game features unique character designs and mechanics, but the character development is minimal, focusing more on gameplay than on deep narrative or growth.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Neon Abyss

Play time

16hMedian play time
43hAverage play time
8-42hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 25 analyzed playthroughs

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