Outland

About

"Outland is a critically acclaimed platformer offering beautiful graphics, immersive music, and a unique approach to light vs. darkness gameplay. Players can choose between single-player or co-op mode in this engaging and challenging adventure. Adapt to an ever-changing world and experience a thrilling adventure that bridges the divide between balance and chaos."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,655 reviews

gameplay232 positive mentions

grinding28 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and art style that create an immersive atmosphere.
Unique gameplay mechanics involving color switching that add depth to platforming and combat.
Challenging boss fights that require skill and strategy, providing a sense of accomplishment.

Controls can feel unresponsive and awkward, especially with keyboard and mouse.
The game is quite linear, lacking the exploration and backtracking elements typical of metroidvania games.
Repetitive level design and enemy encounters can lead to boredom over time.

gameplay
519 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The gameplay of Outland is characterized by its unique color-switching mechanic, reminiscent of Ikaruga, which adds a layer of complexity to platforming and combat. While the game features smooth controls and visually appealing graphics, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with some mechanics feeling clunky or poorly executed. Overall, it offers a blend of engaging challenges and frustrating moments, making it a mixed experience for players who appreciate platformers and metroidvania-style games.
- “This game stands out with its unique visual style and original gameplay mechanics, blending elements of classic platforming with innovative twists.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and never felt clunky on my end.”
- “The light/dark switching mechanic is well implemented and the puzzles are just right.”
- “This game is an exercise in frustration hidden behind picturesque gameplay.”
- “The gameplay feels quite bland and I got bored within the first hour of playing it.”
- “The gameplay is pretty boring.”
graphics
415 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and beautiful art style, which combines vibrant colors with minimalist designs, creating a visually striking experience. However, some players noted that the aesthetic can become repetitive and visually tiring over extended play sessions, with certain elements blending together and making gameplay challenging. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, they may not compensate for gameplay shortcomings, leading to mixed feelings about their long-term appeal.
- “This game with its graphic style is simply magnificent.”
- “Loved the art style, colors, and the parallax scrolling background.”
- “The graphics are superb, especially the multi-layered backgrounds.”
- “The graphics are really unclear; it's hard to distinguish between the scrolling backgrounds, the active platforming area, and the player characters.”
- “The graphics become droning, the sound effects are generic, and the gameplay is about as interesting as watching molasses run down the side of a piece of drywall.”
- “It's a shame that a game with such a great idea and visuals has so many drawbacks that ruin the experience.”
story
349 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The story in this game is widely criticized for being thin, generic, and often incomprehensible, with many reviewers suggesting it feels like an afterthought or a mere vehicle to progress gameplay. While some players found the narrative sufficient to provide context for the action, most agree that it lacks depth and engagement, making it forgettable and unimportant to the overall experience. Overall, the consensus is that the gameplay and visuals overshadow the weak storytelling, which fails to captivate or immerse players.
- “The story is interesting.”
- “The gameplay is clever that it makes you think about every movement you take whether to defeat enemies or beat puzzles, switching between light and dark is a clever idea and it really works well with Outland's world and story.”
- “Outland is an absolutely beautiful game with unique gameplay mechanics and an engaging story.”
- “The story is incomprehensible and doesn't matter.”
- “There's a story but it feels shallow and just for the sake of being there.”
- “The story is basically nonexistent.”
music
206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
37%
3%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the visuals and gameplay. While some find the music to be memorable and immersive, others describe it as decent but occasionally forgettable or repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset to the game's experience, with particular acclaim for the boss music and ambient tracks that effectively set the mood.
- “The soundtrack is perfect and does a lot of work drawing you into the mystic world of Outland.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and smoothness of motion is really addictive.”
- “Outland offers an immersive experience into a world of deities and monsters as you slash and dash your way through levels and traps while listening to its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is completely forgettable and doesn't do a thing to inspire any emotions of any kind.”
- “Story is generic and boring, music is repetitive and dull.”
- “Music gets a little bit repetitive and so, boring after listening to it for an hour.”
atmosphere
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
24%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant visuals, engaging music, and immersive design, creating a unique and captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork and soundtracks that enhance the game's mystical and atmospheric settings, although some note that the music can become repetitive. Overall, the combination of art, sound, and fluid gameplay contributes to a standout atmospheric quality that draws players in.
- “The artwork, music, and atmosphere really make this game stand out!”
- “The atmosphere is great, and the art is nice to look at; even the music fits the game perfectly.”
- “Let me start first off by the positive aspects of the game: Outland successfully delivers a detailed environment and atmosphere by having a good soundtrack and gorgeous art that makes it very beautiful.”
- “The soundtrack, while not bad, doesn't manage to establish a different atmosphere for every stage, either.”
- “Every ounce of the setting is all atmosphere and no substance.”
- “A stylish game with vibrant mechanics and atmosphere, but with flaws in balance and content.”
grinding
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and poorly designed, with many players finding it excessively time-consuming and unenjoyable, particularly when aiming for 100% completion. While some achievements are relatively easy, others require significant grinding, which detracts from the overall experience and can make gameplay feel bland and repetitive. Despite the game's beautiful visuals and engaging mechanics, the grinding elements have led to frustration among players, impacting their overall enjoyment.
- “The grinding mechanics are incredibly satisfying, allowing for a rewarding sense of progression as you level up your character.”
- “I love how the grinding feels purposeful, with each battle contributing to my overall growth and strategy.”
- “The grind is balanced perfectly; it never feels tedious, and the rewards keep me engaged and motivated to keep playing.”
- “At its worst, a tedious pile of amateur design mistakes.”
- “This ultimately became tedious, hence why I wouldn't recommend it.”
- “I don't think that's good design, to require grinding aimlessly to receive one of the achievements.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it infinitely replayable due to collectibles and co-op challenges, others feel that revisiting levels can become tedious over time. The exploration aspect adds some value, but opinions vary on whether it justifies multiple playthroughs, with some players enjoying the experience enough to return after years. Overall, it offers decent replay value, particularly for completionists, but may not stand out among other platformers.
- “Some bonus pickups are scattered throughout levels offering some replayability and backtracking after the end-game.”
- “Replayability - the achievements of the game make you want to play it again, collect all the marks, and get all the money jars.”
- “Currently selling on Steam at £6.99/9.99€/ $9.99 and clocking in with an average playtime of 7-8 hours and close to double that for completionists, and with co-op and plenty of replay value, Outland is plain and simple good value for money if it's the genre of game you enjoy.”
- “Replayability is present, but after a while, it becomes boring to revisit past levels.”
- “I don't see this as having much replay value, but for less than a dollar, who can complain?”
- “The replayability is definitely limited, but the experience is one that may stick with you for three years like it has for me.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in the game, with some players feeling a deep connection to its artistic elements and philosophical themes, while others criticize the lack of engaging storytelling and character development. The emotional impact varies significantly, with some praising the art and design for evoking strong feelings, while others find the gameplay mechanics frustrating and detracting from any potential emotional engagement. Overall, the game's emotional resonance is polarizing, with a divide between those who appreciate its artistic vision and those who feel disconnected from the narrative.
- “They are short, but the flavor they bring made me feel sorry after some of the fights.”
- “This game is graphically and emotionally incredible!”
- “This game will blow your freaking mind; the art design made me cry.”
- “Boring story, pretty graphics, but awful controls (keyboard) without the option to rebind.”
- “Boring storyline.”
- “Pretty linear and unrewarding, plus a boring story and setting.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting smooth performance and no major issues, while others experience frequent bugs, glitches, and connection problems that significantly hinder gameplay. Notably, issues like hit detection inconsistencies, freezing, and movement fluidity detract from the overall experience, suggesting that while the game has potential, it currently suffers from stability concerns.
- “Runs great on my old, outdated computer too.”
- “It runs great on Linux as well!”
- “Runs smoothly and provides prompts for both gamepad and keyboard, so you don't get confused when switching between them.”
- “The up attack felt buggy; there were times the sword just passed right through the enemy without damaging it, and other times it would damage an enemy when your sword wasn't even close.”
- “The concept here is one that could be done very well; sadly, the game fails to capitalize on this aspect due to numerous bugs and glitches that cause it to run poorly. The connection times out constantly, fails to connect to lobbies, and desyncs between players, which practically forces a death.”
- “Has potential as a fun co-op game, but constant freezes (every second or more) destroy any aspects of fluidity that make the game enjoyable.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance on a variety of systems, including lower-end hardware, and it runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck. However, some users report significant stuttering issues in co-op mode, which detracts from the experience and raises concerns about its overall optimization. Despite these mixed experiences, many players find the game runs well without crashes or major problems on their setups.
- “In addition to that, the performance on the Steam Deck is phenomenal.”
- “The game is well optimized.”
- “The game has a really cool art style, and with its simplicity comes great performance. While I have a high-end rig, I can only imagine that it will run well on most PCs.”
- “Stuttering is so bad in co-op that it is literally unplayable.”
- “The game is poorly optimized and unplayable, especially in co-op.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with reviewers noting that it does not significantly enhance gameplay or motivate exploration. While the character designs and artwork are praised for their beauty, the overall narrative and character growth are minimal, leading to a perception that the game prioritizes visual appeal and gameplay mechanics over a compelling story or character depth.
- “In my mind, a good metroidvania game should have a strong story, great character development (in terms of gameplay), exploration, and unique level design.”
- “Character development plays out the same way as exploration.”
- “The artwork and character designs are really nice and the main reason for me to keep coming back to this game.”
- “Nevertheless, Outland is great at its clever gameplay, puzzles, soundtrack, and gorgeous art, but it falls short because it lacks story, character development, believability, and its world.”
- “There is little motivation to return back, and the character development is not very important.”
- “The story is very much something of an origin/creation story for a different world, and it's kind of neat, but don't expect a ton of character development, spoken dialogue, etc.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its lighthearted gameplay and unexpected moments, such as the narrator's amusing poems and the comical mishaps players experience, like repeatedly falling from ledges. Players find joy in the simplicity of the humor, especially in co-op play, which enhances the overall fun and laughter.
- “I died a few times because of it, which in my case made me laugh at myself a bit and want to try again.”
- “Listening to the little 'poems' or whatever you'd call them that the narrator reads occasionally is actually pretty funny (which is unintended).”
- “There were a few moments when we kept on falling from ledges and my friends and I couldn't stop laughing.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on gameplay elements like weapon use. Therefore, no clear summary regarding monetization can be drawn from the provided text.