Obsidian

About

Obsidian is a single player action game. It was developed by Jordan Freeman Group and was released on August 28, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Obsidian" is a surrealistic puzzle-adventure game where players, as a stranger in a strange land, search for their partner Max while contending with a world that defies expectations. Characters behave unpredictably, physics are distorted, and every solved puzzle leads to a new enigma. The game's narrative unfolds as players piece together the larger mystery, challenging them to make the right choice when the time comes.

Genres & Tags

Adventure

Play Modes

Single-Player

+31

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

atmosphere4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Obsidian features imaginative and mind-bending puzzles that are logical and fun to solve, often leaving players feeling clever for their achievements.
The game is praised for its unique and surreal environments, creating a captivating atmosphere that stands out from other adventure games.
Despite its dated graphics, the game has been successfully ported to modern systems, allowing new players to experience its creative design without technical issues.

The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and freezes, which can disrupt gameplay and require frequent manual saves.
Some players find the story and puzzles to be obscure or not intuitive, which may frustrate those unfamiliar with the game's style.
The game is considered too short by some, leaving players wanting more content and depth in their experience.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The story in Obsidian is described as a complex and thought-provoking narrative that unfolds amidst a creatively designed world filled with challenging puzzles. While the beginning may feel slow due to extensive exposition, it ultimately provides essential context that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the engaging cut scenes and the depth of the story, making it a worthwhile adventure for fans of narrative-driven puzzle games.
- “Enter the fever dream that is Obsidian and discover puzzles that challenge you, a marvelous world bursting with creative design, and a mind-bending story that will turn everything upside down.”
- “Top it all off with a story that surprisingly feels like it actually had a lot of thought put into it, and you have a game that almost any fan of myst-likes should enjoy.”
- “Somewhere between all this weirdness is a story, but I did not quite get it.”
- “It starts a bit slow; there's a bunch of exposition at the beginning (in the form of a laptop you find in your tent and a number of text and video files to watch on it) that may feel tempting to skip, but it delivers quite a bit of plot and context that makes everything that happens next make more sense.”
- “Obsidian broke a lot of ground at the time of its release, and the story and gameplay are well worth any time spent learning the interface.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game's graphics are considered dated by modern standards, though they were impressive at the time of release. Despite this, many players find the nostalgic aesthetic appealing and are entertained by the gameplay, appreciating the game's historical context and its impact on their childhood experiences.
- “I first played this game as a small child in 1997, and it left such an indelible mark on my imagination and sense of aesthetics.”
- “Playing it again is like taking a step back into that late 20th century Gen X era of cynical excess and postmodern aesthetics.”
- “I was not bothered by the dated graphics; I was well entertained playing this game.”
- “It was a good looking game at that time with state of the art graphics.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
Gameplay is praised for its innovative design and immersive experiences, such as unique encounters like being consumed by a giant mechanical spider that leads to an alternate world. Players appreciate the depth of the story and the engaging mechanics, which make the learning curve worthwhile. Overall, the gameplay is considered groundbreaking and enriching.
- “Or a third example is when you are confronted with a giant mechanical spider that has a burning furnace where its mouth is.”
- “You get eaten by the mechanical spider and instead of dying in the burning furnace, you enter a whole different world.”
- “Obsidian broke a lot of ground at the time of its release, and the story and gameplay are well worth any time spent learning the interface.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its creativity and dream-like quality, enhancing the overall experience despite some challenging and non-intuitive puzzles. Players appreciate the immersive storytelling that complements the atmospheric elements, making it enjoyable even after repeated playthroughs.
- “I still enjoy it for the story and atmosphere, even if I have memorized all the puzzles.”
- “Some of the puzzles are quite difficult and not intuitive, but that adds to the dream-like atmosphere.”
- “Incredibly creative and atmospheric.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game is well-optimized for modern operating systems, running smoothly without significant technical issues.
- “I read in another review that the game runs smoothly on a modern operating system, so I was expecting no technical problems.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtly integrated, providing lighthearted moments without overwhelming the overall experience.
- “There's also a bit of humor sprinkled here and there without going overboard.”