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Nocturnal

Great use of an inventive central mechanic and tight combat make Nocturnal a fun, short romp that's worth exploring.
Nocturnal Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
replayability, optimization
89% User Score Based on 212 reviews
Critic Score 74%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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Nocturnal Game Cover

About

Nocturnal is a single player platformer game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Sunnyside Games and was released on June 7, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Nocturnal" is a single-player fantasy platformer game, offering around 4 hours of playtime. As a soldier of the Enduring Flame, return to your home island of Nahran, now obscured by a mysterious and deadly Mist. Wield your sacred flame, battle enemies, and uncover the source of the Mist to save your island and order.

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Nocturnal screenshot
Nocturnal screenshot
Nocturnal screenshot
Nocturnal screenshot
Nocturnal screenshot
Nocturnal screenshot
Nocturnal screenshot
Nocturnal screenshot
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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 212 reviews
gameplay30 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Beautifully crafted with a striking art style and atmospheric visuals that enhance the gameplay experience.
  • Smooth and responsive controls, making combat and platforming enjoyable and engaging.
  • Short but sweet gameplay that maintains a good pace without overstaying its welcome, making it ideal for a quick playthrough.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 2-4 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with many encounters relying on basic attack and dodge mechanics.
  • Excessive screen shake during combat can be disorienting, and there is no option to disable it.
  • gameplay
    87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Nocturnal is characterized by smooth controls and a unique fire mechanic that integrates well into both combat and puzzle-solving, creating a fast-paced and engaging experience. While the game is relatively short (around 2.5 to 4 hours), it effectively avoids repetition by introducing varied mechanics and challenges, though some players noted a desire for deeper skill diversity and a more developed story. Overall, the polished gameplay and atmospheric design make it a worthwhile experience, particularly for fans of action platformers.

    • “The flaming sword mechanic keeps gameplay fast and urgent, and combat feels polished with just enough variety for its short length (about 2.5 hours).”
    • “The main mechanic of the game is fire, which is used cleverly in puzzles, platforming, and in fights.”
    • “Nocturnal knows exactly what it is and wants to be and avoids feature creep or any weird gameplay design decisions, making the entire runtime a short, sweet, and fun experience.”
    • “Gameplay is okay so far.”
    • “Even though the game is pretty short, by the time it's over you're ready for that because the gameplay doesn't change much.”
    • “Just around the point where the stages and mechanics all start feeling samey, the game's over.”
  • story
    69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is generally considered decent but underdeveloped, often serving as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and immersive elements, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and detail, relying heavily on environmental storytelling and notes. Overall, the story is seen as a solid foundation with potential for expansion in future installments, but it currently leaves players wanting more in terms of character development and plot complexity.

    • “A short but sweet action platformer with a beautifully crafted environment, atmosphere, flame and darkness, really gets you immersed in its world and story.”
    • “The story of Ardeshir and the fallen homeland he returns to is conveyed through atmosphere and fragments rather than lengthy dialogue or cutscenes.”
    • “The lack of voice acting places greater emphasis on mood and player interpretation, allowing the story to unfold through environment, symbolism, and brief textual elements rather than explicit exposition.”
    • “The story is nothing new and the ending was already clear from mid-game; I do like the overall story of the world and the lore behind it.”
    • “The plot is trivial and mostly told via notes.”
    • “The story is pretty bare; you learn little about the few characters you meet.”
  • graphics
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, impressive lighting effects, and fluid animations, creating a captivating atmosphere. Many reviewers highlighted the beautiful contrast between light and dark, as well as the engaging visual effects like fire and smoke. However, some players noted that the HDR implementation could occasionally hinder visibility during gameplay, making navigation challenging in certain sections.

    • “The graphics are simply amazing, and the overall atmosphere in this game is brilliant.”
    • “Beautifully hand-drawn art style, especially the strong contrast between light and dark.”
    • “Stunning artwork and the developers should be congratulated on the beautiful flame effect.”
    • “While I appreciate the use of HDR to enhance the visuals and even play into the platforming, it often made some of the sections difficult to get through (I had to retry or go back and forth a few areas repeatedly because I just wasn't seeing where to go or what to trigger).”
    • “Don't know much about the story yet, but I haven't been mesmerized by the graphics for a long time.”
    • “The save points are generous, and the graphics are pretty when you can see them.”
  • music
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beautiful and adaptive soundtrack, which enhances the overall ambiance and complements the stunning visuals. Many players appreciate the nostalgic and subtle nature of the music, noting how it often blends seamlessly into the environment while still standing out during key moments. Overall, the combination of art and music is frequently described as exceptional, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The art direction is striking, and the soundtrack complements the experience well.”
    • “This game has very good ideas, and an incredible art design paired with really good soundtracks.”
    • “The soundtrack is subtle and adaptive, emphasizing ambience over melody, and often fades into the background to let environmental sounds take center stage.”
    • “Smooth action, pretty environments, good level design, fun concept and execution, the music is okay.”
    • “I could say the same about the graphics and music.”
  • atmosphere
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its strong, immersive qualities, characterized by a blend of darkness and fire that enhances the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the beautifully crafted environments, which evoke a moody and melancholic tone, effectively conveying the story through visual elements rather than extensive dialogue. Overall, the polished art style and atmospheric design contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “Art and atmosphere, the developer manages to create the perfect atmospheric effect of darkness and fire, suitable for the game's situation.”
    • “Outdoor areas feel painterly and atmospheric, while interior spaces are deliberately oppressive, reinforcing the threat posed by the mist.”
    • “From the moment the game begins, it establishes a moody, almost melancholic atmosphere, placing the player in the role of Ardeshir, a warrior returning to his homeland only to find it consumed by a suffocating supernatural mist.”
    • “The story of Ardeshir and the fallen homeland he returns to is conveyed through atmosphere and fragments rather than lengthy dialogue or cutscenes.”
    • “This game is really great and has excellent gameplay, but it needs to work more in terms of more skills and more diverse areas; as for the story, it did not really attract me except for the distinctive atmosphere and art style.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game effectively evokes deep emotions through its themes of isolation, duty, and resilience, allowing players to connect personally with the narrative. Its intricate storytelling and exploration of family dynamics enhance the emotional experience, making it both visually appealing and profoundly touching.

    • “This restraint works in the game’s favor, allowing players to project meaning onto the journey and focus on the emotional weight of isolation, duty, and resilience.”
    • “It's intricate, complex, and delves into themes of familyhood and the emotional turmoil of leaving one's own behind.”
    • “It's a very good-looking game with a touching story.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Replayability in the game is primarily driven by optional challenges, mastery of combat and movement, and the pursuit of uncovering hidden lore. While the speedrun mode adds an appreciated layer for replay, the overall replayability may be limited unless players aim for 100% completion. Nonetheless, the engaging gameplay keeps players invested and eager for more.

    • “Probably not a ton of replayability to this game, unless you want to 100% it, but the time spent with it had me hooked and wanting more.”
    • “Replayability comes through optional challenges, mastery of combat and movement, and the desire to experience the game more efficiently or uncover all hidden lore elements.”
    • “On the flip side, once you finish the game, you unlock the speedrun mode, which is definitely appreciated for replayability!”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has been criticized, as players note that being a 2D title does not lead to any noticeable performance improvements.

    • “It's a 2D game; there's no performance gain in this approach.”
    • “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
    • “Even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers praise the game's art and character design, highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth, suggesting that while the visuals are impressive, the depth of character progression may not be as strong.

    • “The art and character design are truly amazing; thank you for creating a game like this.”
    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game demonstrates good stability with responsive controls and minimal bugs; however, players have reported occasional issues, such as falling through the map when exploring unconventional areas.

    • “It helped that the controls are really responsive, but the game isn't very stable. Exploring 'odd' areas of the map had me fall through the ground enough times that I stopped trying.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress.”
    • “I experienced multiple bugs that disrupted my gameplay, leading to a lack of immersion.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect to be a quick and easy way to take a break from more intense gameplay, serving as a refreshing palate cleanser.

    • “Grinding feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I find myself losing interest because the grinding takes too long and offers little reward.”
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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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4h Median play time
5h Average play time
4-8h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Nocturnal is a platformer game with fantasy theme.

Nocturnal is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Nocturnal.

Nocturnal was released on June 7, 2023.

Nocturnal was developed by Sunnyside Games.

Nocturnal has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Nocturnal is a single player game.

Similar games include Nuclear Blaze, ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights, Islets, Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight, Olija and others.