Osk

About

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

A Squirrel rages through the end of its dying world in this chaotic depiction of the beginning and the end.

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62%

Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews

graphics20 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

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

The platforming mechanics can be inconsistent, leading to frustration with hitboxes and checkpoints.
There are no save points, requiring players to complete the game in one sitting, which can be tedious and frustrating.
Many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with some describing it as boring.

graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
9%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beauty and visual appeal, featuring a charming art style that combines various artistic directions, including shadowy, 3D, and pixel-art elements. Many reviewers highlight the stunning visuals and attention to detail, which enhance the overall experience, although some note that the gameplay may not match the quality of the graphics. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's emotional journey.
- “The visuals are stunning and the care for details is fantastic.”
- “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.”
- “Praised for its visuals but criticized for its lack of gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “Art difference... some creatures are in this neat shadowy style, some are 3D, and some (like you, the squirrel) are in a sort of pixel-art style... not sure why they went with three different art directions on the creatures, but it's not too distracting.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
18%
11%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players finding it relaxing and enjoyable. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the stunning visuals and contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a highlight even amidst challenging gameplay. Overall, the music is described as fantastic, adding substantial value to the gaming experience.
- “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.”
- “The music is fantastic, gameplay pretty hard (which I love) and the ending, spectacular!”
- “If this game had only the art and the music without the gameplay, it would be perfect.”
- “I was really surprised by the atmosphere, art, and music.”
- “At least I got an alright soundtrack.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
41%
17%
The gameplay has been described as both challenging and reminiscent of classic titles like Doodle Jump, with players noting the difficulty in predicting branch stability, which adds complexity. While some appreciate the depth and nuance of the mechanics, others criticize the gameplay for being stale or buggy, suggesting that enhancements in level design and additional mechanics could improve overall engagement. Overall, the game is praised for its visuals and music, but opinions on the gameplay experience are mixed, with some finding it enjoyable and others feeling it lacks substance.
- “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!”
- “Otherwise, it has stale and buggy gameplay.”
- “Praised for its visuals but criticized for its lack of gameplay.”
- “Enhancing the game with additional mechanics, challenges, and improved level design could elevate the overall enjoyment and engagement for players.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The story of "Osk" revolves around themes of separation and survival, as players navigate a world filled with symbolic implications of a squirrel fleeing an apocalypse. While the premise and artistic presentation are praised for their depth and cinematic qualities, many reviewers feel that the execution falls short, failing to deliver a compelling narrative experience. Overall, the game is noted for its moral lessons about resilience, but it struggles to fully engage players with its storytelling.
- “Artistically, the game is phenomenal and has more roots in filmmaking and conceptual storytelling than in indie games.”
- “The art and the story premise are the only compelling things about Osk.”
- “I unfortunately don't have much else to add, it just fails to deliver both its story and its game.”
- “[idk] and then for some reason descend back to the inferno... I think the story is you got separated from your family in the confusion so you climbed a big tree to try and spot them?”
- “Osk is filled with symbolic implications that suggest a harmonious yet tragic story about a squirrel fleeing the apocalypse.”
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.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its captivating atmosphere, enhanced by impressive art and music, creating a delightful 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 guide a small squirrel through a life-or-death struggle, enhanced by stunning visuals from a solo developer. While it provides a poignant journey in a brief playtime, 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.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight that the game offers strong replayability, particularly for speedrun enthusiasts, who find value in mastering the game and improving their completion times. This focus on speedrunning adds a layer of challenge and encourages players to revisit the game multiple times.
- “The game offers incredible speedrun replayability, allowing players to refine their skills and beat their best times.”
- “With its diverse levels and challenges, the speedrun replayability keeps me coming back for more.”
- “I love how the game encourages speedrun replayability; each attempt feels fresh and exciting!”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 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.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that grinding in Osk can be tedious if not approached correctly, as the game is designed to present challenges that require careful strategy and execution.
- “Osk is designed to challenge the player, and if not played right, it can be tedious to sit through.”