Olija

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 689 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Olija Game Cover
Olija is a unique, intriguing adventure that brings players to a strange land. It isn't long but its length is enough. The visuals and atmosphere are first-rate, as are the combat and level design. All of that makes it an easy game to recommend.
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"Olija is a single-player Fantasy Hack and Slash game with an intriguing story, fantastic game mechanics, excellent graphics, and stunning music. Embark on a journey as Faraday, a shipwrecked man trapped in the mysterious Terraphage, where he uses a legendary harpoon to explore, rescue castaways, and uncover the enigmatic Olija's secrets, all set in a beautifully crafted world inspired by sailor's legends and Asian fantasy."

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 689 reviews
story98 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique harpoon mechanic that enhances both combat and platforming, making gameplay fluid and engaging.
  • The art style and sound design are exceptional, creating a captivating atmosphere that draws players into the world.
  • The narrative, while simple, is effectively told through gameplay and cutscenes, providing an emotional experience.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4-6 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Loading times and unskippable cutscenes can disrupt the flow of gameplay, leading to moments of frustration.
  • Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with some players finding it too easy and not challenging enough.
  • story292 mentions

    The story of "Olija" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its emotional depth and atmospheric storytelling, while others find it vague and lacking in substance. The narrative, centered around themes of love and sacrifice, is often conveyed through minimal dialogue and environmental cues, which some players find engaging, though others feel it leaves too much unexplored. Overall, while the game features a compelling premise and beautiful visuals, opinions vary on its execution and impact, with many wishing for a more fleshed-out plot.

    • “The storyline is one of heartbreak, sacrifice, and heroism.”
    • “The game has a good mix of audial, visual, and cinematic storytelling.”
    • “With an incredible soundtrack, mysterious and haunting world, a simple and effectively told story (with some surprises!) and core gameplay and combat mechanics that make it an absolute ball to play, Olija is short, sweet, and well worth your time.”
    • “In spite of the evocative 'dark-setting' premise, the 'story', or rather the little bit of a story that there is, turns out to be bland and adheres to the most trite standards.”
    • “The story is not great and there are a lot of long pauses.”
    • “There's not enough gameplay (my run lasted 6 hours, and there are a decent amount of cutscenes), and the story is serviceable, not fantastic.”
  • gameplay245 mentions

    The gameplay of "Olija" is characterized by its engaging harpoon mechanics, which allow for fluid movement and combat, making it a satisfying experience overall. While the game is relatively short, lasting around 5-6 hours, it effectively combines platforming, exploration, and combat with a strong narrative, though some players feel it could benefit from deeper mechanics and greater challenge. The visuals and soundtrack enhance the gameplay, creating a unique atmosphere that complements the simple yet enjoyable mechanics.

    • “The gameplay is fluid with a great central mechanic that makes the platforming in this game satisfactory to execute as much as combat to master, which again doesn't require much time to master, which means that the skill ceiling is pretty low for this game but in my opinion that is actually a pro in the game's favor.”
    • “Olija is a wonderful action platformer with an incredibly unique aesthetic and fluid, skill-testing gameplay.”
    • “With an incredible soundtrack, mysterious and haunting world, a simple and effectively told story (with some surprises!) and core gameplay and combat mechanics that make it an absolute ball to play, Olija is short, sweet, and well worth your time.”
    • “The gameplay has a very heavy set focus on the combat, having tons of combat encounters when the fighting is quite bland and uninteresting.”
    • “There's not enough gameplay (my run lasted 6 hours, and there are a decent amount of cutscenes), and the story is serviceable, not fantastic.”
    • “The gameplay is so boring and I could not bring myself to finish the game.”
  • graphics133 mentions

    The game's graphics, primarily in a pixel art style, evoke a unique and expressive atmosphere that many players find appealing, despite some criticisms regarding clarity and detail. While some reviewers appreciate the fluid animations and cohesive art direction, others note that the pixelation can obscure important gameplay elements, leading to a cluttered visual experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as charming and effective in conveying emotions and enhancing the gameplay, though they may not meet everyone's expectations for detail and polish.

    • “The game offers some nice graphics and environments, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same and has a really great aesthetic.”
    • “I totally recommend the game for its gameplay, visuals which really stand out with its art style and great pixel art, and the music is also carrying the whole atmosphere to new levels.”
    • “The art style of the game is an obvious draw - although simple it is very evocative and expressive.”
    • “The other thing is that the graphics were unbearable.”
    • “The game has two major downsides in my opinion: the graphics style, with large chunky pixels of inconsistent quality that makes things hard to see in the middle of the combat, and the technical issues, such as the many freezes that required me to restart the game, or a bug that prevented me from using sub-weapons in the final boss fight.”
    • “It's not a bad game, but its price is too high for what it offers compared to other games; the core mechanic of the harpoon is fun, but the combat isn't smooth enough to really enjoy it. The whole game has a weird flow to it, things feel really slow in some of the story sequences, and the art style isn't clear enough sometimes, so things can look really cluttered.”
  • music128 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers praising its professional production and fitting integration into the gameplay. The soundtrack is noted for its diverse styles, including Mexican and Iberian influences, contributing to a unique and immersive experience. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and storytelling, making it a memorable aspect of the gameplay.

    • “The music is exceptional and adds to this eerie tone.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic!”
    • “The game drips with atmosphere and the combat is incredibly satisfying, the music and sound design are fantastic, and the art and animation is very charming.”
    • “The music is also somewhat simple but helps set the mood and feels appropriate to the setting.”
    • “Music ■■■■■■ 6/10”
    • “From its bombastic music, which echoes similarly pirate-themed Return of the Obra Dinn, to its arthouse-cinema-style sudden cuts to black, Olija is possibly the most cinematically dramatic indie game we've seen in quite some time.”
  • atmosphere76 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dense, immersive quality, enhanced by exceptional audio design and striking pixel art visuals. Reviewers highlight the combination of somber storytelling, captivating music, and unique environmental effects that create a compelling and engaging experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay and narrative to new heights.

    • “The game drips with atmosphere and the combat is incredibly satisfying, the music and sound design are fantastic, and the art and animation is very charming.”
    • “Incredible atmosphere in this game, the top-notch sound design in this title caught me by surprise as I didn't have such high expectations on that front.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is very dense and the worldbuilding is tragic and mysterious.”
    • “This is disappointing because the atmosphere and design is very interesting and compelling.”
    • “Decent atmosphere but is pretty short and you don't really fight a big variety of enemies, recommended to wait for a sale.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding in the game to be a mixed experience; while crafting and combat skills are generally engaging and not overly tedious, some aspects of the gameplay can slow down significantly, leading to frustration. However, the game's limited run-time helps mitigate excessive grinding, keeping the experience mostly on track.

    • “The combat skills are balanced, making the grinding feel rewarding rather than tedious as I progress through the storyline.”
    • “I appreciate that the combat skills are at a medium level, which keeps the grinding engaging and enjoyable while following the storyline.”
    • “Another nitpick I have with the game is how it's bogged down by things constantly slowing the game down to a grinding halt, making me roll my eyes every single time I encountered it.”
    • “It may get tedious in parts, but the limited run-time of the title helps it stay mostly on track.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting significant freezing issues that can require restarts and long wait times to access certain screens. Additionally, technical glitches and bugs, particularly during critical gameplay moments, detract from the overall experience. While the graphics and environments are appreciated, the inconsistent performance undermines the game's appeal.

    • “Either I should wait for more than 5 minutes to switch to the 'map' screen, or the game really freezes sometimes.”
    • “The game has two major downsides in my opinion: the graphics style, with large chunky pixels of inconsistent quality that makes things hard to see in the middle of combat, and the technical issues, such as the many freezes that required me to restart the game, or a bug that prevented me from using sub-weapons in the final boss fight.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and environments, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its charming romance and unique pixel art design, which evokes a creepy yet captivating atmosphere. The character designs draw comparisons to titles like Nidhogg Plus and feature a style reminiscent of classic games such as Out of This World, enhancing the overall mood and experience.

    • “Also lovely depictions of romance and character design for a pixel art game.”
    • “With character design like Nidhogg Plus and a style and setup reminiscent of Out of This World/Another World.”
    • “The soundtrack and mood were really well done, and the character designs were super creepy.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
    • “I was hoping for more depth in the characters, but they all seem one-dimensional.”
    • “The lack of character growth throughout the game is disappointing.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its beautiful visuals and environments, complemented by an eerie sound design that enhances the atmosphere. Players are particularly moved by the touching story, which, along with fluid combat mechanics, creates a deeply engaging experience.

    • “Beautiful visuals and environments, eerie sound design, touching story, and fluid combat.”
    • “Beautiful visuals and environments, eerie sound design, touching story, and fluid combat.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, especially when compared to other short games like Katana Zero, which offer more engaging experiences upon replay.

    • “In addition to that, this game has no replayability, unlike other similar short games like Katana Zero.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has received negative feedback, with players reporting multiple instances of freezing and crashing during gameplay, indicating significant issues that hinder the overall experience.

    • “I would love to give it a thumbs up, but seeing as how it has frozen and crashed twice during my initial playthrough, I can't say that the optimization is there.”
    • “I would love to give it a thumbs up, but seeing as how it has frozen and crashed twice during my initial playthrough, I can't say that the optimization is there.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as somewhat misleading, as it appears to encourage exploration but may not deliver on that promise. Additionally, while the advertisements feature appealing hand-drawn animation, some users feel let down by the actual game's presentation.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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