One Way: The Elevator
- August 14, 2020
- Cotton Game
Get on SteamOne Way: The Elevator is a puzzle-adventure game where players operate a sentient elevator. You'll meet quirky characters, explore procedurally generated levels, and solve increasingly complex puzzles to reach the top floor. With charming pixel art and witty dialogue, One Way offers a unique and engaging experience.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features adorable artwork and a heartwarming story that resonates emotionally with players.
- Puzzles are generally enjoyable and well-integrated into the gameplay, providing a relaxing experience without being overly challenging.
- The unique point-and-click format, combined with a charming atmosphere and engaging narrative, makes it a delightful experience for casual gamers.
- Some puzzles can be frustratingly illogical or overly simplistic, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content or depth.
- There is a lack of clear instructions or guidance, which can lead to confusion and trial-and-error gameplay.
- story37 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth and heartwarming themes, often described as touching and nostalgic, with a unique blend of simple yet poignant narrative elements. Players appreciate the art style and music that complement the storytelling, although some note that the plot can feel familiar or manipulative at times. Overall, the narrative is seen as a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience with clever puzzles and a beautiful message.
“Art style is wonderful, music is nice, and the story is well told and touching.”
“The story is quite sad but in the end very uplifting as you make your way up the elevator and beyond.”
“Such a beautiful experience when it comes to visuals, narrative, and music, with a story so touching and lighthearted I could feel the water building around my eyes.”
“No challenge nor story, the characters are cute but I won't remember this game for long.”
“Also, the story is manipulative and hamfisted.”
“Even though the game is lighthearted, I think there is a sad underbelly of the game that can hit you pretty deep; I was genuinely close to crying as I tried to put the plot together.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and adorable art style, reminiscent of European anime films, which enhances the heartwarming narrative. Players appreciate the rich visuals and animations, describing them as delightful and calming, contributing to an overall enjoyable gaming experience. While the graphics are generally well-received, some users noted that the user experience could be confusing at times.
“The artwork is beautiful and there is a sweetness and joy to the animation.”
“Thoughtful stories, rich graphics and catchy music combine to pull on your heartstrings.”
“Such a beautiful experience when it comes to visuals, narrative and music, with a story so touching and lighthearted I could feel the water building around my eyes.”
“The art style resembles that of a European anime film.”
“To be honest, I was interested in the game because of the graphics.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and touching narrative, often evoking strong feelings of nostalgia and joy, while also incorporating elements of sadness. Players appreciate the beautiful artwork and calming music, which enhance the overall experience, making it one of the most emotionally impactful games they've encountered. Despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics, the story's depth and emotional resonance stand out as a highlight.
“As someone who had a similar childhood, this made me cry, and then smile.”
“The overarching story is touching, which is unusual for the genre.”
“Such a beautiful experience when it comes to visuals, narrative, and music, with a story so touching and lighthearted I could feel the water building around my eyes.”
- music11 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its calming and emotive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a beautiful and relaxing soundtrack. Reviewers highlight how the music complements the touching narrative and stunning visuals, creating a heartwarming atmosphere that resonates with players. Overall, the combination of thoughtful storytelling and catchy tunes contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“Thoughtful stories, rich graphics, and catchy music combine to pull on your heartstrings.”
“The soundtrack was very relaxing and easy to enjoy.”
“Such a beautiful experience when it comes to visuals, narrative, and music, with a story so touching and lighthearted I could feel the water building around my eyes.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, with players appreciating the engaging story and clear progression, which prevents confusion about objectives. However, the presence of challenging mechanical puzzles without a skip option is noted as a significant flaw, potentially hindering enjoyment for some players. Overall, the combination of enjoyable puzzles, a beautiful narrative, and charming visuals contributes positively to the gameplay experience.
“Loved the story and the gameplay!”
“Decent puzzle gameplay aside, I think you're really going to enjoy the story because it has a beautiful message, enjoyable soundtrack, gorgeous animation, and funny characters with dorky faces.”
“Other puzzles are mechanical and there is no skip feature - which is perhaps the only flaw in this game.”
“I must warn that the game also has some mechanical puzzles, such as moving 8 cubes in a 3 by 3 space or connecting tubes. I know many people struggle with those, and there is no way to skip them.”
“So there is no getting lost, wondering who to speak to further the story/gameplay.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "One Way: The Elevator" is praised for its unique concept and harmonious integration with the story, creating a peaceful and immersive experience. Reviewers also highlight the game's engaging puzzles, which complement the overall ambiance.
“One way: the elevator is a peaceful game; it has a truly unique concept and a good atmosphere that harmonizes with the story.”
“Nice puzzle game with a good atmosphere and challenging puzzles.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability as every level can be revisited to discover missed items and hidden areas, allowing players to extend their gameplay experience even after completing the main objectives.
“The game will still complete without achieving everything, which for me makes it highly replayable. You can go back to find everything and explore the hidden areas, adding quite a bit of extra time to the game.”
“The game will still complete without achieving everything, which for me makes it highly replayable in order to finally find everything and discover the hidden areas that add quite a bit of extra time to the game.”
“Every level is replayable in case you missed something.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding mechanics for being engaging and rewarding, allowing progression without feeling overly repetitive or tedious.
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny characters, described as having dorky faces, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the story. Players appreciate the blend of humor with a beautiful message, enhancing the overall experience alongside the decent puzzle gameplay.
“Decent puzzle gameplay aside, I think you're really going to enjoy the story because it has a beautiful message, enjoyable soundtrack, gorgeous animation, and funny characters with dorky faces.”
