Nihilumbra

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"Nihilumbra" is a single-player platformer game with an interesting plot and stellar game mechanics. As the character Born, players will use colors to gain abilities and transform the world while trying to escape from the relentless Void. With sensational graphics, stunning music, and a highly emotional story, players will face grinding and a challenge in the second half of the game: the Void Mode. The game is designed for all to enjoy, whether they have puzzle game experience or not.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,923 reviews

story404 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and graphics that create an immersive atmosphere.
Unique gameplay mechanics involving color manipulation to solve puzzles.
Engaging story that explores themes of existence and self-discovery.

The narrator's voice can be annoying and overly explanatory, detracting from the experience.
The main story mode is too easy and feels like a tutorial, while the Void mode can be frustratingly difficult.
Some puzzles rely on trial and error rather than clever problem-solving, leading to potential frustration.

story
1,291 mentions
31 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Nihilumbra" is a blend of philosophical themes and emotional depth, focusing on a character born from the void who seeks to understand their existence. While the narrative is delivered primarily through a heavy-handed voiceover, many players appreciate its artistic presentation and the way it intertwines with gameplay mechanics. However, critiques highlight that the story mode often feels simplistic and overly guided, resembling a tutorial rather than a fully fleshed-out narrative, leaving some players wanting more depth and engagement.
- “The story, the art, everything about it is so beautiful and pleasing to the eye, and I honestly was challenged by it still.”
- “The story is deep, full of emotions and wisdom.”
- “Nihilumbra is a beautiful game with a unique art style, world, and interesting story that is definitely worth playing if you're the kind of person who would enjoy it.”
- “The narration is excessive, not only describing simple game mechanics and solving puzzles for you, but also narrating away any possible nuance to the story and how you as the player should feel.”
- “The story honestly feels inconsequential as when you reach the end your reward is just more levels with no added story elements whatsoever.”
- “The regular story mode is still just an overly stretched tutorial intended to teach you all the colors and monsters, and the problem with trying to review this game is that if you buy this game, you have to play the long story mode which is very boring and simplistic.”
gameplay
674 mentions
42 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Nihilumbra* is characterized by its unique color-based mechanics that allow players to manipulate the environment to solve puzzles, creating an engaging platforming experience. While many players appreciate the intuitive controls and innovative concepts, some criticize the excessive narration and repetitive puzzle design, which can detract from the overall challenge and enjoyment. Overall, the game offers a mix of simple yet creative gameplay that appeals to fans of puzzle-platformers, though it may not satisfy those seeking more depth or complexity.
- “You can paint the environments with the different colors in order to block, avoid or mislead your enemies and the way this mechanic is implemented is done excellently.”
- “The unique game mechanics, the different colors and how each one functions, make for really interesting gameplay.”
- “Nihilumbra is beautiful and creative, with a wonderful story and intuitive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay... goddamn awful.”
- “Most of the difficulty comes from the awful gameplay, and the jarring side-scroll/page swap where enemies can still attack you while you can't see or time your jumps properly.”
- “Puzzles and application of mechanics are just dreadful, boring, and repetitive.”
music
406 mentions
65 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. While some players found the soundtrack to be beautiful, catchy, and fitting for various game areas, others criticized it for being repetitive or unmemorable. Overall, the music is often described as a strong point of the game, contributing significantly to its emotional depth and immersive atmosphere.
- “The ambient sound and music of this game is glorious.”
- “The music is wonderful and does an excellent job at setting the mood of each area.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, particularly the void chase theme.”
- “The music is extremely dull and there seems to be only one looping track.”
- “The music gets really boring at some point, so you can't tell me you would not be bored if you had to listen to the same 2 minutes of music for 1 hour.”
- “The music was hardly anything to be called 'memorable', but music does tend to be on the lower priority rung for independent projects, so what's there is sufficient.”
graphics
382 mentions
60 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning artwork and atmospheric visuals that enhance the overall experience. However, some players criticized the character sprites and certain environmental details as lacking polish, leading to a perception of inconsistency in the art style. Overall, while the visuals are often highlighted as a strong point, opinions vary on their execution and impact on gameplay.
- “The visuals are a highlight in this game, making the world seem so alive even as it is bleak, with the nothingness and the self-aware piece of nothingness you play as, to say nothing of your brothers and sisters who you must bypass, being successfully foreboding amid this seemingly living world even as it is cartoony and a 'colorful' sort of darkness.”
- “This game has absolutely stunning visuals.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the gameplay itself adds to the beauty as you paint the scenery.”
- “While the art style of the world is pretty, the character sprites are poor for even an amateur level (it looks like there are 5 sprites max for the movement of the character which is essentially a black semi-morphous entity).”
- “The visuals try to be stylish but fail quite handily, having backgrounds that are so blotchy and missing in detailing that it's hard to understand how these were used in the final game.”
- “The graphics are just lazy.”
atmosphere
136 mentions
71 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Nihilumbra is widely praised for its beautiful design, engaging music, and emotional depth, creating a unique blend of wonder, somberness, and fear. Many players appreciate the way the artwork and narration enhance the feeling of vulnerability and immersion, although some find the narrator's interjections occasionally distracting. Overall, the game successfully establishes a captivating and atmospheric experience that resonates with players, making it a standout in the indie puzzle platformer genre.
- “The atmosphere this game creates with this artwork works really well and enhances your feeling of vulnerability.”
- “It is easy to tell that a lot of time and love went into making this game, this is a one of a kind game that has a rich story and an engrossing atmosphere.”
- “Nihilumbra is a game that at first glance seems a little too inspired by Limbo for some, but upon further inspection is a game that creates its own unique world and atmosphere.”
- “But this one does not have the atmosphere that 'Limbo' had.”
- “This game is boring, painfully easy, and any positive aspect of the atmosphere is ruined by the voice constantly talking at you and saying the most painfully obvious things.”
- “I understand that the captions and narrations are trying to teach you the controls and create an atmosphere at the same time, but I really can't appreciate its aggressive way of telling you 'you are nothing' 'you don't fit into this world' all the time.”
emotional
62 mentions
90 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly polarizing, with many players finding it deeply touching and relatable, often leading to tears and a strong connection with the protagonist. However, some critiques highlight issues with the writing and narrative delivery, suggesting that it can feel heavy-handed or lacking in nuance. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals and emotional music, creating a heartfelt experience for those who resonate with its themes.
- “A beautiful and emotional short story.”
- “This game almost made me cry.”
- “Gorgeous game, utterly heart-wrenching at times!”
- “It's kind of like they wanted to make a platformer that incorporated the whole painting technique and then they just kind of came up with some boring storyline just so you would feel like you had a reason to run through these levels.”
humor
30 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is described as a mix of clever physics-based antics and droll narration, with moments that elicit genuine laughter, particularly when characters interact with the environment in amusing ways. While some players find the humor slightly dated or overshadowed by the game's more serious themes, the inclusion of a "secret language" and developer commentary adds a layer of comedic replayability. Overall, the humor appeals to a teen audience and enhances the game's charm, despite some critiques regarding its depth and originality.
- “You can play through story mode again and this time there are funny comments from the developer and interesting insights into the game concepts.”
- “Very beautiful platform game; very original concept and the droll, pontificating voice over adds a very funny touch.”
- “Great atmosphere, music, and the developers have humor which is shown with the extra secret language.”
replayability
22 mentions
36 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various modes, including a hard mode and unique bonus levels that encourage players to explore different strategies and challenges. While some players may find limited replay value, many appreciate the opportunity to engage with the game in new ways, particularly through its puzzles and additional content. Overall, it caters to both casual players and those seeking a more challenging experience, enhancing its replay potential.
- “There's a lot of replayability in this, finding new ways to navigate through the story and even bonus levels at the end when you have completed the main story, so I would say it's definitely worth the price.”
- “After beating this mode, you will unlock a special 'secret language' bonus which gives the game brand new replayability and a chance to enjoy something untraditional and funny.”
- “However, I cannot see any replay value.”
- “Void mode provides some replay value to Nihilumbra, and the puzzles range from a worthy challenge to a bit vague.”
- “While the game itself is not that long, it does have a fair amount of replayability as well as a sort of hard mode to challenge yourself further.”
grinding
22 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as excessively tedious, with many puzzles and challenges feeling more frustrating than rewarding. The reliance on speed and coordination over creative problem-solving contributes to a sense of monotony, leading some to lose interest in progressing through the game. Overall, the increased difficulty is perceived as less engaging and more laborious, detracting from the overall experience.
- “It didn't just get more challenging - it got tedious.”
- “I had already found myself not wanting to continue the game because of how tedious it had gotten, but I pushed through that (for that sweet 100%, and to give the game the most accurate review I can based on what I experienced).”
- “The levels are extremely poorly designed; they are either incredibly easy or downright unfair (spikes under a leap of faith, for instance), but either way they are tedious.”
stability
20 mentions
5 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report no significant bugs or performance issues, others encounter occasional glitches and clunky behavior that detracts from the experience. Many agree that it is less buggy than many AAA titles, but still falls short of being a polished product. The controls and mechanics could benefit from clearer explanations to enhance stability and gameplay flow.
- “No bugs, no glitches, no frustrating impossible moments-- the only thing slowing you down is how fast you can think!”
- “To be fair to the devs, they have at the very least created something that passes the absolute bare minimum of calling it a game, and it is at least less buggy than most AAA games these days, but a good game it is not.”
- “What could have been a thrilling challenge is ruined by glitches and buggy content that is far more difficult to overcome than any mental obstacle that can be put in front of you.”
- “8 bucks for that buggy shit?”
optimization
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization received mixed feedback; while some players reported no performance issues or glitches, others found the lack of optimized controls frustrating, impacting their gameplay experience. The dialogue and script quality were also criticized, suggesting that optimization extends beyond technical performance to include user interface and control responsiveness.
- “No performance issues or glitches at all.”
- “Without optimized controls for my muscle memory to improve my in-game timing of jumps, etc., the maps became more frustrating than fun.”
- “I do not know whether that is caused by the script or the performance itself.”
- “[*] Droll and/or pathetic dialogue from the narrator (whose performance cannot be faulted; there's only so much one can do with the material with which one is provided).”
character development
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game for its delightful character design and atmospheric music, highlighting the beautiful artwork and engaging story. Overall, the character development is seen as a strong point, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.
- “The artwork, character designs, music, and the story are all very wonderful and gorgeous.”
- “My final opinion upon this game is that it is a must buy; I have such a fun time and enjoy the enemy/character design.”
- “Delightful character design and atmospheric music.”