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NORTH

North is an interesting, insightful game that’s worth a look. It doesn’t ask a lot of your time (or wallet), and when it’s firing on all cylinders, it has something genuinely important to say.
57%Game Brain Score
story, music
optimization, stability
59% User Score Based on 458 reviews
Critic Score 53%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OnePlayStationPlayStationPlaystation VitaPlaystation VitaXboxXbox
Buy Nowfrom $1.26
Buy NowGet on Steam€1.99

About

"NORTH is a single-player Mystery Action game with an intriguing story, set in a cyberpunk mega-city filled with strange creatures and customs. As a refugee seeking asylum, you'll explore and solve simple puzzles, with the narrative progressing through letters to your sister. The game features pretty visuals, an amazing soundtrack, and a stellar atmosphere, culminating in a short , immersive experience, complete with a full soundtrack ."

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
NORTH screenshot
+3

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 463 reviews
story36 positive mentions
optimization12 negative mentions
  • NORTH presents a powerful and thought-provoking narrative about the experience of refugees, effectively conveying feelings of confusion and alienation.
  • The game's artistic style and atmospheric soundtrack create a haunting and immersive experience that resonates with players.
  • Despite its flaws, the game is relatively short and inexpensive, making it accessible for those interested in unique, narrative-driven experiences.
  • The game suffers from poor optimization, with low framerates and clunky controls that can frustrate players.
  • Lack of clear objectives and guidance can lead to confusion, making it difficult for players to progress without external help.
  • The absence of basic features like a menu, save options, and customizable controls detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
  • story
    109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it profound and engaging, particularly in its exploration of themes like immigration and personal struggle, while others criticize it for being vague, confusing, or lacking depth. Many appreciate the atmospheric presentation and unique storytelling methods, but some feel the narrative is underdeveloped or anticlimactic. Overall, it offers a short, immersive experience that resonates with certain audiences, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more traditional or cohesive storyline.

    • “The story is rich with the oppressive mood and ironic humor that Orwell and Kafka are famous for, and the style draws from expressionism and absurdism as well as cyberpunk dystopias.”
    • “This interactive short story has something genuine to say about immigration while maintaining a fascinating aesthetic in an interestingly absurd and weird universe.”
    • “Amazing game with a powerful story.”
    • “There's no semblance of a story.”
    • “For two dollars, I think this title is fairly priced, but the story is severely lacking.”
    • “It's confusing, inexplicable, with a story inextricable from its shoddy quality.”
  • music
    83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a mix of moody electronic soundscapes and diverse styles that match the gameplay's emotional tone. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as sublime, immersive, and integral to the game's ambiance, despite some noting occasional jarring transitions. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's aesthetic, creating a captivating and sometimes eerie atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The atmosphere is built excellently; the imagery and the soundtrack succeed in creating identifiable and varying emotions.”
    • “The atmosphere and music were fantastic and almost made up for the really confusing controls.”
    • “The soundtrack features some nice synth lines and moody electronic soundscapes.”
    • “You walk around, go through an unacceptable number of loading screens, find some really weird, completely irrelevant things to click on, then enter a maze with 80's techno music and die almost immediately.”
    • “The music and some of the design/color/lighting is cool, but the game itself is a low-budget mess.”
    • “In the shop, it looks kind of good, but after the first 30 seconds and an unskippable intro that has a duration and a soundtrack that you feel dying a lot of times before you played it... you already know that you have made a very big mistake.”
  • gameplay
    81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by poor optimization, resulting in low framerates and sluggish controls, which detracts from the overall experience. While it features minimalist mechanics and a focus on atmosphere and narrative, many players find the gameplay frustrating and lacking in depth, often prioritizing aesthetics over playability. The game is short and may appeal to those open to unconventional gameplay, but it ultimately struggles with clarity and engagement, leaving some players disappointed.

    • “Great example of how gameplay and level design conveys clear feelings and messages.”
    • “North is an atmospheric first-person, allegorical science fiction exploration game with simple puzzles and gameplay.”
    • “While it's short and not very complex, I think North does deliver on atmosphere, and the game mechanic with the letters home that function as a combined narrative and hint system works quite well.”
    • “The game is very badly optimized, with low framerates and janky gameplay even on a high-end rig.”
    • “The way this game falls short is that the gameplay seems to prioritize maintaining aesthetics before playability.”
    • “Good graphics and ambient music, but the forced and unimaginative gameplay combined with a lack of controls leads to nauseating disappointment.”
  • graphics
    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the low-polygon, minimalist aesthetic that resembles early 90s titles, often labeling it as lazy or poorly optimized. While some appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that evoke a sense of cultural unfamiliarity, others find the graphics outdated, flat, and disconnected from gameplay, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a double-edged sword, with some players enjoying the artistic choices while others feel they detract from the overall quality of the game.

    • “The non-literal but evocative sets, characters, and events are all compelling enough as visuals and excel at evoking the feelings of cultural unfamiliarity as you navigate a city you don't quite understand.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the visuals put goosebumps on the back of my neck more than once, the story is quick and punchy, and the music rolls really well with the gameplay.”
    • “The theme is there, the tone is there, the art style really worked for me.”
    • “The graphics are outdated at best and feel flat.”
    • “Graphics are weak and the game is poorly optimized.”
    • “Then in the actual game, you get about 20 fps even though the graphics look like something from the mid-90's.”
  • atmosphere
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and surreal qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of music and visuals to evoke strong emotions. While some players noted technical issues and a lack of complexity, the overall experience is described as dark, dystopian, and thought-provoking, making it a standout in the indie genre. Despite mixed opinions on certain elements, the game's ability to create a compelling atmosphere is consistently recognized as a significant strength.

    • “The atmosphere is built excellently; the imagery and the soundtrack succeed in creating environments with identifiable and varying emotions.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing; the visuals gave me goosebumps more than once, the story is quick and punchy, and the music flows really well with the gameplay.”
    • “The atmosphere created here is amazing; the landscape is oppressive and characterful, while the music and characters are eerie and alien.”
    • “> no meaningful attempt towards building atmosphere beyond pretentious, linear, grossly cramped entry points.”
    • “The only thing I don't like about this game is the dark city you start in; something about the atmosphere feels somewhat flat and strange in a bad way. However, I got used to it after half an hour or so of play.”
    • “+ they almost hit the nail on the head with providing a weird atmosphere in the game, even though it's let down by the frame drops and awkward movement.”
  • optimization
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with many players reporting sluggish performance, particularly on mid-range hardware like the GTX 1080, where frame rates drop to between 15-30fps. Additionally, the controls feel unresponsive, and the overall graphics quality is considered weak, contributing to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, the lack of optimization detracts heavily from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Played this in between the Division series, which runs at a steady 50fps, versus this which runs between 15-30fps, so not the most well-optimized game.”
    • “I really wanted to enjoy this game as I'm a fan of cyberpunk, but the controls and performance left me feeling very disappointed.”
    • “It's not optimized at all (sluggish at 1920x1080 on a GTX 1080), most of the game is too dark to see where you're going (they say it's part of the effect, but it was just annoying for me), and the puzzles make almost no sense.”
    • “The game is very poorly optimized, and the controls felt very off.”
    • “If you're looking for a gameplay-heavy experience then look elsewhere, and I'd be lying if I said the game's non-existent budget couldn't be felt in its sluggish controls and slight performance issues.”
  • emotional
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, with symbolic imagery and character letters contributing significantly to its impact, despite some initial perceptions of heaviness. While it may not challenge players' skills, it effectively offers a unique perspective on the world, evoking strong emotional responses throughout. Comparatively, its emotional involvement is noted to be less intense than that of "Spec Ops: The Line."

    • “Though some of the symbolic imagery initially seems heavy-handed, there is emotional weight in every scene.”
    • “Without them, I don't think the game would have anywhere near the emotional impact it does.”
    • “This isn't the type of game that exists to challenge your skills, but to offer you a different perspective on the world, and the way it does this through abstract and creative imagery along with the letters your character writes (a stroke of genius, the way these lead you through the game) is effective and deeply emotional.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is frequently criticized for its lack of polish, with users reporting numerous bugs and lag issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite these stability concerns, some players appreciate its underlying message and allegorical content.

    • “Unpolished and buggy.”
    • “As buggy and laggy as North undeniably is, it is a wonderful allegorical game with a laudable message.”
    • “Unpolished and buggy.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with reviewers noting that it feels like a hastily assembled product lacking substantial content or effort.

    • “This game feels like a cash grab, with minimal effort put into its development and a focus on monetization over quality.”
    • “The monetization strategy is aggressive and detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a money-making scheme than a game.”

53%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

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