Nix Umbra
- November 19, 2021
- ilzard
- 67h median play time
Get on SteamNix Umbra is an action-packed, pixel art metroidvania game. As the enigmatic Nix, players explore a vast interconnected world, battling shadow beasts, acquiring new abilities, and uncovering the mysteries of a once peaceful land plunged into darkness. With challenging gameplay, beautiful pixel art, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, Nix Umbra offers a rich and immersive experience.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and trippy atmosphere, filled with bizarre visuals and sound design that create an immersive experience.
- Players appreciate the mystery and challenge of figuring out the mechanics without explicit guidance, making each run feel fresh and engaging.
- The aesthetic and artistic style are highly praised, with many finding the game addictive despite its confusing nature.
- The lack of clear mechanics and guidance can lead to frustration, as players often feel lost and unsure of their objectives.
- Gameplay can become tedious and slow, with some players feeling that the experience lacks adrenaline and excitement compared to similar titles.
- Many reviews mention that the game feels incomplete or buggy, with issues like enemies spawning unexpectedly and a lack of meaningful progression.
- gameplay56 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Nix Umbra is characterized by a slow-paced, arena shooter experience that emphasizes exploration and survival, often leaving players feeling disoriented due to its lack of clear mechanics and tutorials. While the atmosphere is rich with tension and striking visuals, the gameplay can feel tedious and inconsistent, with RNG playing a significant role in the experience. Players seeking a more straightforward, fast-paced action may find it lacking, but those who appreciate its unique aesthetic and hidden mechanics may find it engaging over time.
“You'll run around with no clue of who you are or what is going on, and you'll see trees light on fire, mushrooms, flying skulls, and birds, but as long as you know the basic mechanics of the game and continue to play, you'll learn new secrets about the game with each run.”
“The subtle way enemies and the environment appear and disappear from your sight, the sounds that surround you at all times, and the gameplay that is never explained create an atmosphere of dread and despair, but in an exciting way.”
“If you are looking for a spooky game full of arcane mystery, addictive gameplay, and the satisfaction of a global leaderboard, then this is the game for you.”
“Because ultimately there is no grand mystery to discover for those seeking discovery and the mechanics can be buggy and inconsistent, including obstacles and enemies literally spawning in front of you, which is a deal breaker for those looking to chase personal bests and leaderboard positions.”
“Nix Umbra is much slower than any other arena shooter I’ve ever played, and without some sort of guide or tutorial, many of the mechanics would be completely lost on me.”
“The gameplay here can speed up the further you get into a run, but actually getting to that point can be a tedious slog, and one which depends almost entirely on RNG.”
- atmosphere22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a polarizing aspect among reviewers, with some praising its eerie sound design and visual elements that create a sense of dread and excitement, while others argue it lacks depth and fails to deliver true horror. Many highlight the unique and immersive qualities of the atmosphere, recommending it for fans of atmospheric experiences, though opinions vary on its overall effectiveness. Overall, it is characterized as an atmospheric roguelite horror game that may not appeal to everyone but is appreciated for its presentation and sound direction.
“The subtle way enemies and the environment appear and disappear from your sight, the sounds that surround you at all times, and the gameplay that is never explained create an atmosphere of dread and despair but in an exciting way.”
“It's definitely not a game for everyone, but I like its atmosphere.”
“Great atmosphere, sound and art direction.”
“There's a lot of very floral writing in many other reviews here that oversell the atmosphere of the game.”
“You could argue that the horror is in the eerie, suspenseful atmosphere… but this game has no atmosphere.”
“Some atmosphere.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a striking yet bleak aesthetic that immerses players in a unique, sensory-deprived world. While the low-resolution visuals contribute to a distinctive atmosphere, they can also hinder gameplay by making it difficult to locate key items. Overall, the art style is polarizing; it appeals to those who appreciate its originality but may frustrate others due to its challenging visibility.
“The aesthetics are everything and like nothing I've seen before.”
“You're thrust into a strange, sensory deprived world of darkness and low resolution graphics, just barely able to see eldritch things beyond the treeline, without a single tutorial box to guide you.”
“Due to the game’s intense art style, it can be fairly difficult to tell where these crystals are located, and player progress is hindered as a result.”
“You're thrust into a strange, sensory-deprived world of darkness and low-resolution graphics, just barely able to see eldritch things beyond the treeline, without a single tutorial box to guide you.”
“The sound design is integral to the gameplay, and the visuals, as noted by all other reviewers, are absolutely striking and simultaneously bleak.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a tedious and time-consuming process, often requiring extensive hours spent searching for resources with little reward, heavily reliant on RNG. Many report that a significant portion of their playtime is dedicated to farming, leading to a monotonous experience that can detract from overall enjoyment.
“The gameplay here can speed up the further you get into a run, but actually getting to that point can be a tedious slog, and one which depends almost entirely on RNG.”
“83 hours of tediously walking around in the dark looking for the slightest indication that there’s a shiny gem hovering about somewhere nearby.”
“About 80% of my playtime was spent just farming crystals whilst watching YouTube on my second monitor.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for its buggy and inconsistent mechanics, with issues such as obstacles and enemies spawning unexpectedly, which can significantly hinder players aiming for personal bests and leaderboard rankings.
“The mechanics can be buggy and inconsistent, including obstacles and enemies literally spawning in front of you, which is a deal breaker for those looking to chase personal bests and leaderboard positions.”
“There is no grand mystery to discover for those seeking exploration, as the game's stability issues detract from the overall experience.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, making it a worthwhile investment for players seeking a moody and immersive experience. Its engaging content encourages multiple playthroughs, enhancing its overall value.
“It's clear from the get-go that this game has a lot of replayability, and for the price, it's pretty much a no-brainer if you're looking for something moody and immersive.”
