Obsurity

About

Obsurity is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Game Dynasty and was released on February 24, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Discover all the secrets of two completely different worlds.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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69%

Audience ScoreBased on 131 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The combat system is tight and rewarding, with a variety of enemy types that require strategic thinking and skill.
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by stunning pixel art and a haunting soundtrack, creating an immersive experience.
The dual-protagonist approach adds depth to the gameplay, allowing for varied playstyles and encouraging exploration.

The game lacks proper controller support and has a frustrating save system that can lead to significant setbacks.
Translation issues and poorly written dialogue detract from the overall narrative experience, making it hard to follow the story.
The game is very short, with a linear structure that limits exploration and replayability, leaving players wanting more.

gameplay
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a dual-protagonist system that offers varied experiences, blending exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, though it suffers from issues like a lack of pause functionality and inconsistent mechanics. While some players appreciate the challenging combat and atmospheric world, others find the gameplay repetitive and frustrating due to hitbox problems and far-apart checkpoints. Overall, the mechanics are seen as a solid foundation that lacks polish and depth, making the game feel more experimental than fully realized.
- “This dual-protagonist approach offers varied gameplay experiences and deepens the lore, encouraging players to piece together the world’s mysteries from different perspectives.”
- “Gameplay in Obscurity is a thoughtful blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat.”
- “The mid-combat character switch mechanic makes it stand out, but I feel like the game didn't capitalize on it as much as it could have, just like with many other things, which makes it seem like an experimental project instead of something fully fleshed out.”
- “The game has no pause whatsoever - you could either be in gameplay or in the main menu, this was very annoying and kind of weird, to be honest.”
- “If the player doesn't want to engage in combat, this game's one and only gameplay mechanic, then the game itself has failed.”
- “Overall the game is mechanically easy and boring in difficulty with a neat color palette.”
story
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
76%
6%
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it weak, confusing, and poorly translated. While some appreciate the intriguing setting and potential for deeper lore, the narrative often feels rushed and lacks clarity, leaving players disoriented and unsatisfied. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, with calls for more development and coherence.
- “The story unfolds in the shadowy land of Ahn'koval, a realm consumed by darkness and despair.”
- “Great indie game, I love the graphics, story, and especially the character - would recommend.”
- “Nice controls, interesting and mysterious story.”
- “The story and world building is just... bad.”
- “Nothing gets explained well and it just feels like you teleport from plot point to plot point.”
- “Second, is the story, which starts well and even the game wants to build in its universe, but in the end, it gets rushed, you won't get real answers and you will be left confused.”
graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
27%
8%
The graphics of the game are primarily praised for their meticulous pixel art style, which effectively creates an atmospheric and immersive environment. While many reviewers appreciate the overall aesthetic and detail, some express mixed feelings about character designs and the simplicity of the visuals. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's tone, though there are occasional concerns about performance and the need for more detail in certain areas.
- “From the very start, the game sets a grim tone through its pixel-art visuals and atmospheric design, crafting a setting that feels both oppressive and intriguing.”
- “Visually, Obsurity excels in its meticulous pixel art style, which brings the bleak environment to life with a striking balance of detail and simplicity.”
- “Nice graphics, incredible combat mechanics and, of course, an amazing atmosphere.”
- “Graphics are hit or miss.”
- “If this was a 3D title with extravagant graphics, I could see that as an excuse, but for a small 2D game like this, it should run, even on my computer.”
- “The portrait of each character in conversation was kind of in the way of the aesthetic built on the pixel art, and I can't say the characters themselves were generic, but they could've been way more remarkable.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with haunting melodies and ambient sounds that complement the game's dark tone. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can be forgettable at times, and the absence of music in certain sequences detracts from immersion. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its role in setting the mood, it may not be memorable for all players.
- “The soundtrack elevates the experience — haunting, immersive, and perfectly synced with the atmosphere.”
- “The audio design further elevates the experience, with a soundtrack that complements the game’s dark tone through haunting melodies and ambient sounds that evoke a sense of unease.”
- “As a musician, I was pleased with the very atmospheric and unusual music that accompanies you everywhere.”
- “However, there are moments where the absence of music is noticeable, which can make some sequences feel less immersive.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable for the most part.”
- “The only thing that was really missing was the music to maintain that very atmosphere.”
atmosphere
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
15%
11%
Obsurity excels in creating a captivating atmosphere, characterized by its haunting soundtrack, pixel-art visuals, and immersive world-building that evokes a sense of mystery and suspense. Players appreciate the balance between intense action and atmospheric exploration, enhanced by effective sound design and compelling lore. Despite some criticisms regarding the narrative and translation, the game's overall aesthetic and atmospheric qualities make it a standout experience in the indie action-adventure genre.
- “The soundtrack elevates the experience — haunting, immersive, and perfectly synced with the atmosphere.”
- “From the very start, the game sets a grim tone through its pixel-art visuals and atmospheric design, crafting a setting that feels both oppressive and intriguing.”
- “Obsurity is an atmospheric, bite-sized action-adventure game that shows a lot of promise for Game Dynasty.”
- “The only thing that was really missing was the music to maintain that very atmosphere.”
- “Story seems super generic, translation is terrible, but the gameplay, graphics, and atmosphere are decent.”
- “Obsurity is an adventure action game not for lovers of long passage, but is made in the original style and with its own atmosphere.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marred by occasional bugs and glitches, and the developer's lack of responsiveness to reported issues exacerbates the problem. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these flaws, the overall experience is hindered by a rushed story and the presence of technical issues.
- “The dev has been completely unresponsive to their own thread they started for glitches, bugs, and feedback, so there's no help there either.”
- “- still has occasional bugs/glitches”
- “However, bugs and glitches aside, the main thing that ruins this game is that it tries to be something bigger than it is, and with its rushed story, this only worsens the game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and poorly paced, particularly before acquiring the dash ability, leading to a reliance on AFK card farming after a short playtime. Many suggest that the grind is so extensive that it feels like a second life is necessary to progress effectively.
- “Playtime past 11 minutes is just AFK card farming.”
- “The pacing is terrible, and the game is super tedious before you unlock the dash.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, indicating that players feel the game prioritizes profit over player experience.
- “Clearly, this was a shameless cash grab.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and overly aggressive.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
While the game features lo-fi graphics, players have reported performance issues that can cause lag if graphics card settings are not properly configured. Adjusting settings to prioritize performance over quality can significantly enhance gameplay speed.
- “The optimization options in the game are impressive, allowing players to fine-tune their experience based on their hardware capabilities.”
- “I appreciate how the game runs smoothly even on lower-end systems, thanks to the thoughtful optimization that balances performance and visual fidelity.”
- “Despite the lo-fi graphics, the game can make your PC lag if your graphics card settings aren't right. I found that going into my NVIDIA settings and prioritizing performance over quality boosted the speed substantially.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end systems.”
- “I experienced significant performance issues, with long loading times and unresponsive controls, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Obscurity" is praised for its emotionally resonant experience, immersing players in a dark and challenging journey that offers little reprieve from its oppressive atmosphere, effectively enhancing its thematic depth.
- “Overall, Obscurity stands as a noteworthy entry in the genre, providing a dark, mysterious journey that is both challenging and emotionally resonant.”
- “There's practically nothing by the way of emotional reprieve from the oppressive darkness in the game, which is kind of the point.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is enhanced by its variety of character options, allowing players to switch between the knight's brute strength and the treasure seeker's agility, which offers unique tactical strategies and depth to each playthrough.
- “This variety adds replay value and depth, as switching between the knight’s brute strength and the treasure seeker’s agility provides unique tactical options.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely lacking, with NPC dialogue often deemed uninteresting and unfunny, leaving players feeling that interactions are not engaging or worthwhile.