Pale Echoes

About

Pale Echoes is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Wyrmling Productions and was released on December 10, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

An RPG of exploration, collection, and critical thinking. The end of the world has come and gone, leaving only phantoms where once there was life. Now Schorl, the last surviving human, and Spinel, the last of the magical saerii, search through the memories of a bygone era, hoping to find a future.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 51 reviews

story21 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Unique and engaging puzzle-like turn-based combat system that requires strategic planning and foresight.
Emotionally resonant, intimate narrative exploring themes of memory, loss, and hope with well-crafted worldbuilding.
Polished presentation within RPG Maker constraints with effective use of art, music, and dual-world exploration adding depth and atmosphere.

Relatively short gameplay length that may leave some players wanting more content and depth.
Conventional RPG Maker visuals and limited environmental variety, leading to a less distinct graphical identity.
Story, while touching, may feel underdeveloped or rushed for players seeking a more detailed or complex narrative.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The story in Pale Echoes is praised for its thoughtful post-apocalyptic setting, emotional depth, and innovative fragmented storytelling that ties closely to its gameplay and themes of memory and mortality. While its narrative is concise, evocative, and supported by memorable characters, some reviewers find it short, lacking in detail, and occasionally rushed, which may limit its engagement for players expecting a more expansive or complex plot. Overall, it offers a unique, intimate story experience that appeals to those appreciating reflective pacing and subtle, lore-rich narratives.
- “Built with RPG Maker but designed with an attention to detail and structure that far exceeds many of its peers, the game tells a story set in the aftermath of humanity’s extinction.”
- “The writing is concise but impactful, eschewing lengthy exposition in favor of fragmented storytelling that mirrors the game’s motif of recovering lost fragments of the past.”
- “It is not a sprawling adventure filled with side quests or elaborate dungeons; it is a meditation on memory and mortality told through a smartly designed gameplay loop and a deeply human narrative.”
- “The story is kinda rushed and not very detailed, unfortunately.”
- “The story is where the game really falls down for me.”
- “Not enough detail in the story, not enough background, and I finished it with almost 100% in 3 hours.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The gameplay combines exploration, memory collection, and strategic turn-based combat with puzzle elements, delivering a unique and emotionally engaging RPG experience. While praised for its innovative mechanics, thoughtful pacing, and narrative depth, some players find certain combat challenges frustrating and the overall gameplay loop less satisfying. Its shorter length and focused design make it a novel, if occasionally uneven, interpretation of classic RPG Maker conventions.
- “The core gameplay revolves around exploration, collecting “memories,” and engaging in turn-based battles that rely on strategic planning rather than grinding.”
- “A unique core gameplay loop with an incredibly engaging setting and a thought-provoking story.”
- “Plus the more puzzle-like gameplay elements make the game something incredibly interesting and unique; thoroughly recommend this one.”
- “Gameplay is split between environmental puzzles that are pretty rudimentary, as the game is mostly linear, and combat puzzles that are not.”
- “It's a novel and unconventional gameplay mechanic, but I don't know that it's necessarily an enjoyable one: there are times at which you will lose a battle because you're unprepared for how an enemy's attack pattern works, which can be rather frustrating.”
- “Overall, I can't say I recommend that anyone buy this game by itself, since the gameplay isn't that interesting and completing all of the achievements won't give you any sense of satisfaction—you'll probably be saying to yourself, as I did, 'I'm glad that's over with, finally.' I purchased this game as part of a Humble Bundle.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's minimalist, default RPG Maker pixel art is skillfully utilized with effective use of color and lighting to convey mood, despite not feeling distinctly post-apocalyptic. While the graphics are largely standard and not unique, they are employed thoughtfully to create an engaging visual experience that surpasses many higher-budget games.
- “The minimalist pixel art, while typical of the RPG Maker aesthetic, carries a surprising amount of nuance, using color and lighting to express mood rather than simply decorate the environment.”
- “The graphics are the default RPG Maker graphics (a.k.a RTP), however they are put into very good use.”
- “Overall, I think it made a great effort to utilize the default RPG Maker graphics to the best of its abilities, and my only regret was that the game was not longer.”
- “I do find the graphics don't really feel post apocalyptic to me.”
- “While there was some unique artwork, most of it, along with sounds and music, were your standard RTP fare.”
- “That said, graphically the game isn't unique, supposedly (as noted by other reviewers) using lots of default assets.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game is generally seen as modest and somewhat standard, with a melancholic tone that complements the narrative without being overpowering. While some players appreciate the soundtrack's charm and unique assets, others find it less memorable or somewhat repetitive, though an alternate music set offers some variety. Overall, the soundtrack fits the game's atmosphere but does not stand out as a highlight.
- “The soundtrack, though modest in scope, adds a layer of melancholic grace that underscores the narrative’s poignancy without overwhelming it.”
- “After beating the game it presents you with all manners of goodies to check, including the music box to listen to all in-game music and also oldies, playing as different-looking characters or turning on the dev diary mode.”
- “The story, characters, soundtrack, combat system (memories) are all quite charming and immersive.”
- “While there was some unique artwork, most of it, along with sounds and music, were your standard RTP fare.”
- “Music isn't anything special.”
- “In researching for the game I discovered that many people really appreciated the soundtrack, but my partner was annoyed by it and as such I turned it down.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Pale Echoes delivers a compact yet emotionally impactful experience, with its thoughtful worldbuilding and the heartfelt relationship between Schorl and Spinel anchoring its themes of remembrance and letting go. Despite a small world, the game offers a vast emotional depth that resonates strongly, showcasing the potential of indie games to evoke sincere emotional engagement.
- “Pale Echoes, developed by Wyrmling Productions and published by Komodo, is a compact yet emotionally resonant indie RPG that stands out for its thoughtful worldbuilding and unconventional approach to turn-based combat.”
- “Schorl and Spinel’s relationship forms the emotional heart of the narrative, grounding the abstract themes of extinction and remembrance in something deeply personal.”
- “Its world may be small, but it feels vast in its emotional scope.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game offers solid replayability through its New Game Plus mode, collectible dev diaries, and a perfection mode, extending playtime to around 11 hours. Its relatively short length encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “There is essentially a New Game Plus mode that can extend the length and replayability of the game.”
- “The replayability provided by finding all of the dev diaries, the Plus Mode, and the Perfection Mode extended the playtime to 11 hours for me.”
- “There is essentially a new game plus mode that can extend the length and replayability of the game.”
- “That said, the replayability provided by finding all of the dev diaries, the plus mode, and the perfection mode extended that to 11 hours for myself.”
- “Short length promotes replayability.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game emphasizes strategic turn-based battles and exploration without requiring grinding, as there are no random battles and no need for repetitive leveling.