Osk

About

Osk is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Sluggioh and was released on September 20, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Escape a chaotic apocalypse as a squirrel in OSK - The End of Time, a 2.5D platformer. Quickly climb an enormous tree, solving puzzles and outsmarting enemies to survive in this challenging, stylishly brutal game set in a depiction of the beginning and the end. Follow Diax Arts on YouTube and Twitter for updates.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

graphics24 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful art style that many players appreciate.
The soundtrack is well-composed and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
Despite its challenges, some players find the gameplay enjoyable and rewarding once they get the hang of it.

The lack of a save feature forces players to complete the game in one sitting, which can be frustrating.
Many players report clunky controls and inconsistent hit detection, making platforming difficult.
The combat mechanics are poorly implemented, leading to confusion and frustration during encounters with enemies.

graphics
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant art style and stunning visuals, while others criticize the simplistic and lackluster 2D assets that fail to meet modern standards. Despite the appealing aesthetics, many players feel that the graphics do not significantly enhance the gameplay experience, and the lack of substantial graphical options limits improvement. Overall, while the art direction has its charm, it struggles to impress in the context of contemporary gaming expectations.
- “The overall art style of the game is quite beautiful and visually appealing, which I genuinely appreciate.”
- “I believe that the game's striking graphics would shine even brighter in a more refined gaming experience.”
- “The visuals are stunning and the care for details is fantastic.”
- “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
- “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game in 2024, such poor quality 2D graphics in the 3D era just aren't good enough. Whether it's a deliberate design fault on behalf of the developer or they just couldn't manage to do any better, this is a compromise gamers shouldn't have to put up with.”
- “The game features somewhat lazy, simplistic 'retro' looking 2D graphics, and it's hard to say if this is due to the age of the assets used, if it's a deliberate attempt for the game to look bad/retro on purpose, or if the assets are just, well, terrible looking.”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
34%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning compositions by Christopher Baklid. The inclusion of a free soundtrack DLC adds value, and players appreciate how the music complements the game's visuals and emotional tone. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the experience despite some criticisms of the gameplay.
- “The music Christopher Baklid composed for this game is as stunningly beautiful as the visuals and very much fit the desperately somber but slightly hopeful tone of the game.”
- “The game is absolutely gorgeous, with a wonderful soundtrack, and I had a great time with it!”
- “Perhaps it's the stunning music, the amazing scenery/artwork, or the easy-to-learn controls, but the whole journey (and it is a journey) is simply a delight.”
- “If this game had only the art and the music without the gameplay, it would be perfect.”
- “The music Christopher Baklid composed for this game is as stunningly beautiful as the visuals and very much fits the desperately somber but slightly hopeful tone of the game.”
- “The visuals and the soundtrack alone raise this game to above average.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its challenging mechanics reminiscent of Doodle Jump, while others criticize it for being stale, buggy, and lacking depth. Although the visuals and music are praised, many feel that the gameplay could benefit from additional mechanics and improved level design to enhance overall enjoyment. Overall, while some find the gameplay fun and engaging, others consider it one of the weakest aspects of the game.
- “I haven’t really seen any marketing for this but the visuals are phenomenal and gameplay (although quite hard) really fun once you get used to the controls.”
- “With simplistic yet challenging gameplay, diax games have made a game with nuance and depth.”
- “The music is fantastic, gameplay pretty hard (which I love) and the ending, spectacular!”
- “This is one of the worst games in terms of game mechanics I've ever seen.”
- “Otherwise, it has stale and buggy gameplay.”
- “Praised for its visuals but criticized for its lack of gameplay.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The story in the game is often described as confusing and lacking clarity, with players struggling to understand the plot and objectives due to the absence of tutorials or explanations. While some appreciate the artistic elements and symbolic implications of a squirrel fleeing an apocalypse, many feel that the narrative fails to deliver a coherent or engaging experience. Overall, the game's premise is seen as compelling, but it does not translate effectively into a satisfying story.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Osk is filled with symbolic implications that suggest a harmonious yet tragic story about a squirrel fleeing the apocalypse.”
- “Artistically, the game is phenomenal and has more roots in filmmaking and conceptual storytelling than indie games.”
- “I didn't get the story (if there is any to begin with).”
- “Btw, I spent several minutes to understand where I should go in the beginning and how exactly I should move, because there is no tutorial, plot, or even explanation for what is happening here.”
- “I unfortunately don't have much else to add; it just fails to deliver both its story and its game.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for being plagued by bugs and significant lag, particularly during certain attacks, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. Despite these issues, players acknowledge the impressive graphics, even in the context of the buggy elements.
- “Otherwise, it has stale and buggy gameplay.”
- “Very buggy attack, big lags here, please fix that.”
- “Very buggy attack, big lags here, please fix that.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of Osk to be somewhat tedious, particularly during combat, which can become repetitive if not approached strategically. The game is designed to challenge players, but this can lead to a frustrating experience if the gameplay is not engaging.
- “Although the combat felt a bit tedious.”
- “Osk is designed to challenge the player, and if not played right, it can be tedious to sit through.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating art and music, creating a wonderful immersive experience. However, some players find the overall experience frustrating, which can detract from the enjoyment of its atmospheric qualities.
- “I was really surprised by the atmosphere, art, and music.”
- “A wonderful and atmospheric little game.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game "osk" offers a deeply emotional experience as players connect with a small squirrel fighting for survival, enhanced by stunning visuals from a solo developer. While it provides a short yet impactful journey, its unique appeal may not resonate with a broader audience.
- “If you can spare an hour or two, and want to invest emotionally into a little squirrel fighting for its life, while enjoying the most beautiful art a game can present, then you should absolutely play Osk!”
- “With extraordinary visuals from a one-man studio and simplistic yet efficient game controls, it takes you on a short but emotional journey and will be admired by the few but probably alienated a large chunk of its possible buyers.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game raises concerns among users, as its quality is often compared to that of asset flips and cash grab scams, leading to skepticism about its value. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, players feel the game may not justify its cost.
- “There's no evidence, so we need to give the benefit of the doubt... regardless, asset flip or not, the quality here is indistinguishable from many asset flip/cash grab scams, and that's a problem in itself.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with players experiencing drastic and unexplained drops in frame rates, fluctuating from 100 fps to as low as 18-20 during various activities, including cut scenes and gameplay actions.
- “The game is poorly optimized; while I was playing, I had 100 FPS and suddenly my FPS dropped to 18-20 for no apparent reason. Sadly, this can happen during various activities, from watching a cutscene to jumping from one branch to another.”
- “The game suffers from significant optimization issues, causing frequent and unpredictable drops in frame rate that disrupt gameplay.”
- “Despite having a powerful system, the game's optimization is lacking, leading to frustrating performance dips that detract from the overall experience.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users highlight that the game offers strong replayability, particularly for speedrunners, who find value in revisiting levels to improve their times and refine strategies. This focus on speedrunning adds a layer of challenge and encourages players to engage with the game multiple times.
- “The game offers incredible speedrun replayability, allowing players to refine their skills and achieve faster times.”
- “With its diverse challenges and multiple paths, the game has fantastic replayability for speedrunners.”
- “The speedrun aspect adds a whole new layer of replayability, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”