Omno
- July 27, 2021
- Jonas Manke
- 5h median play time
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Get on Epic Games Store"Omno is a single-player Fantasy Platformer game with marvelous mechanics, stunning graphics, and a stellar soundtrack. Embark on an epic journey through a dense, highly emotional atmosphere, discovering an ancient world filled with puzzles, secrets, and enchanting creatures. Created by animator Jonas Manke as a hobby project over 5 years ago, Omno promises an unforgettable adventure."
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and art style that create a serene atmosphere.
- Relaxing gameplay with simple yet engaging puzzles.
- Charming creatures and a heartwarming story that resonates emotionally.
- Short playtime, typically around 3-5 hours, which may not justify the full price.
- Controls can feel clunky at times, particularly during platforming sections.
- Lack of depth in the story and character development, leaving some players wanting more.
- music382 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, creating a soothing and immersive atmosphere that complements the stunning visuals. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as calming, enchanting, and perfectly suited to the game's themes of exploration and tranquility. Overall, the combination of the game's art style and its exceptional music contributes significantly to its appeal, making it a memorable and relaxing journey for players.
“The music is beautiful, the different areas are so fun to explore, and the incremental skills you learn are fun to practice and master.”
“With stunning visuals, a soothing soundtrack, and intuitive gameplay, it offers a peaceful, magical experience perfect for fans of journey or Abzû.”
“The soundtrack is beautifully done, absolutely perfect in setting the atmosphere.”
“Other than that there is no option to adjust the music and sound volume in the game.”
“The music alone isn't as impressive and has no memorable sections and I kind of just want to play it muted after 2 hours.”
“Lastly, I cannot play this game with the sound on, because of the dreadful music score and the lack of an option to switch it off.”
- story274 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of *Omno* is generally described as simple and minimalist, conveyed through environmental storytelling and snippets found in the form of glyphs and journal entries. While some players appreciated its emotional depth and the charming relationship between the protagonist and their companion, others found the narrative vague and repetitive, lacking engagement and depth. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals and soothing atmosphere, which complement the understated story, making it a relaxing experience despite its narrative shortcomings.
“The story is intriguing, the music is great and atmospheric, the movement mechanics are really fun and fluid.”
“What I enjoyed the most about this game was the floating companion and how your relationship grows as you progress through the story; there were sad moments which brought the whole story to life!”
“Omno is an atmospheric exploration-based puzzle and platforming game with a sweet story about companionship.”
“The story is simplistic, easy to follow, and told through text.”
“The story bits you find give context but don't move the plot forward.”
“The biggest issue with this game for me was that the story felt very lacking.”
- graphics267 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of Omno are widely praised for their stunning beauty and unique low-poly art style, creating a visually captivating and immersive experience. Players appreciate the vibrant environments, charming creatures, and the soothing atmosphere enhanced by the game's soundtrack. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's relaxing and enchanting vibe, making it a standout in the indie adventure genre.
“With stunning visuals, a soothing soundtrack, and intuitive gameplay, it offers a peaceful, magical experience perfect for fans of journey or Abzû.”
“The graphics are a joy to look at, and exploring every corner of the different areas interacting with the unique creatures and collecting the wisdom orbs was a lot of fun.”
“Omno is beautiful through and through - from the gorgeous graphics, lighting, and music score, to the challenging yet rewarding puzzles.”
“Omno looks cute, but the visuals get boring quickly and the map design is kinda dull.”
“Another miss is the cut scenes that show off grand landscapes with effusive music, but the feeling was undercut by the simplistic art style.”
“However, neither the story, environment, nor the art style really backs up what I perceive to be their aesthetic goals.”
- gameplay224 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of exploration, light puzzle-solving, and platforming mechanics that create a relaxing and immersive experience. While many players appreciate the intuitive controls and the introduction of new abilities throughout the game, some find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in challenge. Overall, the game is praised for its stunning visuals and soothing soundtrack, making it a delightful choice for fans of casual, atmospheric adventures.
“With enchanting graphics, an immersive soundtrack, and intuitive gameplay mechanics, this game invites you to get lost in mystical landscapes and solve creative puzzles.”
“The gameplay is incredibly smooth and fluid, making the gaming experience extremely enjoyable.”
“The puzzles were a bit frustrating at times, but never so bad that I had to look them up, and there were a lot of joyful, in-the-experience moments that I had a lot of fun with (I do love the 'surfing' mechanic).”
“The gameplay is really easy, collecting orbs as the main objective, while collecting glyphs or interacting with wonderful lifeforms is optional.”
“For a game that wants to provide awe-inspiring scenarios, the gameplay and puzzles are very in the way, and movement and camera are not polished enough.”
“Gameplay is repetitive and boring, and isn't that what it comes down to in the end?”
- atmosphere102 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, soothing music, and immersive environments, creating a serene and relaxing experience reminiscent of titles like *Journey*. Players appreciate the calming vibe and the enchanting aesthetic, which invites exploration and emotional engagement, although some note that gameplay mechanics can occasionally disrupt the tranquil atmosphere. Overall, the game is celebrated for its captivating atmosphere that enhances the puzzle-solving and exploration elements.
“The art style exudes a sense of warmth and charm, creating a serene atmosphere that invites players to lose themselves in the beauty of the world.”
“The soothing music complements the gameplay perfectly, creating an atmosphere of serenity and tranquility that envelops the player.”
“Beautiful and engaging game with an incredible atmosphere.”
“All characters including the main protagonist are very unattractive and the overall atmosphere feels somewhat smothering.”
“This is just frustrating and ruins the whole peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.”
“The gameplay is just not on the same level as the atmosphere, and when it comes down to it, gameplay always matters more.”
- emotional62 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game "Omno" is widely praised for its heartfelt and meditative storytelling, conveyed through visual and musical elements rather than dialogue. Players describe the experience as touching and wholesome, often highlighting the emotional connection developed with the protagonist's companion and the game's serene atmosphere. Many reviews note that the journey is both uplifting and poignant, with a conclusion that resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impact on players.
“I loved the emotional connection you develop with your little companion along the way; the story is profoundly touching.”
“The emotional story without any voice-overs and only mimics and sounds to explain the plot and illustrate emotions are simple yet perfectly fitting.”
“This game hit me on so many emotional levels; I honestly can't put it into words how incredible Omno truly is. This game will forever and always hold a very dear place in my heart.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the replayability of "Omno" is generally viewed as limited, with many players noting that while the journey is enjoyable, there isn't much incentive to replay once the game is completed. The game is described as short and simple, appealing primarily to younger audiences, which contributes to its lack of depth and replay value. While some players appreciate the experience, they suggest it may be better suited for a one-time playthrough rather than repeated sessions.
“Replayable all the way, anytime.”
“While some aspects, such as narrative depth and replay value, could be further developed, the enchanting journey and nostalgic charm of Omno make it a worthy addition to any gaming library.”
“Omno is on the shorter side like the previously mentioned games, and there's not really a lot of replay value if you did everything you could on your first playthrough... but if you take your time and just enjoy the journey (and if you know what to expect in regards to the length) it'll work out just fine.”
“Not much in the way of replayability if you're collecting heavy like me, but highly recommend if you're looking for something simple.”
“Simple game where the 'fun' is in the journey, but it definitely lacks replay value.”
“With a very background and unimportant story, and only about 3 hours of not very replayable gameplay, I'd personally wait for a sale as the $19 is a hard sell.”
- stability12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting minimal to no bugs or glitches during their playtime. However, some users noted occasional issues with specific puzzles and controls, suggesting that while the game runs smoothly for the most part, there are minor stability concerns that could affect gameplay. Despite these issues, the game's performance is commendable, especially considering it was developed by a single individual.
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
“Some of the later jump puzzles seem not to have been playtested thoroughly - you can 'solve' the puzzle by having the right intention but fail because of buggy execution.”
“Although the controls are often very clunky, puzzles counter-intuitive and it can be a bit buggy at times...the art direction, gameplay mechanics and puzzles are quite enjoyable.”
“Only complaint is sometimes the float can be a bit buggy and levels could feel repetitive if you go for 100% on each level.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 64 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate that while the game features some grinding elements, it is generally balanced and not overly tedious. Players appreciate the low-stress nature of the puzzles, though some find certain aspects a bit grindy or simple. The experience is mostly enjoyable, with a few instances of frustration noted.
“A lot of grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“At that point, it just became tedious and felt poorly designed.”
“Classic grinding.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and no significant bugs. However, some users noted minor issues like pop-in effects, suggesting that while the game runs well, there may be room for improvement in environmental consolidation.
“No bugs or performance issues were encountered with the game during my playthrough.”
“Runs smoothly.”
“I would have greatly preferred if the areas were more consolidated, but perhaps it was necessary for performance, since I noticed a bit of pop-in.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring amusing character falls and a variety of funny creatures that contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Players find themselves smiling and laughing frequently throughout the gameplay.
“A funny little game.”
“The flop when the character falls is funny.”
“It is an indie puzzle game that will just take your breath away, as well as make you smile and laugh quite often as you experience all the funny creatures you encounter (41 total).”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
While the character designs are praised for being fun and cute, there is a notable criticism regarding the lack of depth and development in the characters throughout the game.
“The character development is incredibly engaging, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the overall narrative.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly impact their growth and relationships.”
“The interactions between characters are well-written, allowing for meaningful connections that enhance the player's investment in their journeys.”
“My main gripe is the lack of character development.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no real growth or change.”
