Pavilion

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 66 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Pavilion Game Cover
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"Pavilion is a single-player Mystery Point and Click game with stunning visuals and masterful music, immersing you in a very atmospheric fourth-person puzzling adventure. Interact with the environment and guide the main character through 28 dream-like levels, with Chapter 2 releasing in 2018 as DLC. Experience innovative Eye-Tracker support for Tobii EyeX Eye-Tracker, allowing for gaze interaction within the game."

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews
gameplay5 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful atmosphere, creating an immersive experience.
  • Puzzles are generally enjoyable and provide a satisfying challenge, with many players appreciating their design and variety.
  • The soundtrack is relaxing and complements the game's dreamlike quality, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The game is very short, with many players completing it in just 2-3 hours, and it ends abruptly without a satisfying conclusion.
  • There are significant control issues, particularly with mouse support and character pathfinding, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The game was marketed as a complete experience, but it is only Chapter 1, leaving players disappointed due to the lack of a follow-up chapter.
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay of Pavilion is characterized by its simplistic and repetitive puzzle mechanics, often relying on trial and error, which can frustrate players seeking a more challenging experience. While the game features beautiful visuals and a tranquil atmosphere, many reviewers noted that the puzzles lack depth and variety, leading to a linear and sometimes confusing experience. Overall, the gameplay is described as easy and accessible, but ultimately unsatisfying for those looking for more engaging mechanics.

    • “Pavillon is a very unique and stunning puzzle game both in the visual and the gameplay.”
    • “A lot of the mechanics involved in solving the puzzles are very imaginative and well planned.”
    • “The good is that Pavilion looks absolutely stunning and has some of the most relaxing gameplay I've encountered.”
    • “It's a puzzler, but a lot of the mechanics aren't clear, so you have to use trial and error.”
    • “Music is dreamy and tranquil, art is highly detailed and atmospheric, storytelling is intriguing, but the gameplay is lacking: repetitive and easy-to-solve puzzles.”
    • “Most of them can be solved within minutes, and the variance of puzzle mechanics barely differ from each other.”
  • music30 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of relaxing and ethereal sounds. While many players find the soundtrack beautiful and integral to the game's ambiance, some note that it can become repetitive during gameplay, particularly in puzzle-solving moments. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's stunning visuals and storytelling.

    • “When I want to play a game, I want to feel like I'm in its world, and this completely achieves that, through the music, detailed textures, rain effects, and all.”
    • “The music is also top notch, and is what glues this whole experience together!”
    • “It's like being inside a painting, traveling through every brush accompanied with excellent and ethereal music.”
    • “The music is quite loud and there's no way to turn it down.”
    • “Some puzzles will have you scratching your head for a while, so you can imagine that the music would become quite repetitive and frustrating.”
    • “However, as well done as they are, my attention glided primarily towards the music and the art style.”
  • story28 mentions

    The story in Pavilion is conveyed through symbolic visuals and fragmented hints rather than explicit narrative, creating a haunting and intriguing atmosphere. While the art and music are praised for their beauty, many reviewers feel the story lacks clarity and resolution, leaving players with a sense of incompleteness and ambiguity. Overall, the game is seen as more of a visually stunning puzzle experience than a compelling narrative journey.

    • “The story is teasing and haunting and unfolds in fragments.”
    • “Pavilion is a hand-crafted audio-visual experience purposefully devoid of dialogue, text, and tutorials in an effort to express its story through visual cues and observations.”
    • “You travel through dreamlike, hazy landscapes while encountering a rather convoluted (but intriguing) story.”
    • “The story is implicit rather than explicit -- but this means you're wandering around the ruins without a strong sense of who you are, why you are here, and what you want.”
    • “With a weak story and problematic puzzle mechanics, Pavilion does exhibit great art design - its major saving grace.”
    • “Pavilion is a nice little game to add to your library if you’re a puzzle fan, but if you’re looking for an absorbing story, sadly you won’t find it here.”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their fantastic atmosphere, unique art style, and surreal beauty, effectively immersing players in a mysterious world. While the visuals are described as detailed and intriguing, some users noted minor graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the combination of stunning artwork and ambient music significantly enhances the gameplay, making it a visually captivating puzzle game.

    • “The visuals are amazing and do a fantastic job immersing you in a mysterious world of decay, shadows, and regrets.”
    • “The graphics are superbly intriguing and beautiful, and the music and sound effects are fantastic.”
    • “Of course the puzzles are the main hook, but when a game has graphics this beautiful, it certainly boosts the entire experience.”
    • “Despite the extraordinary, dreamlike visuals, this game has quite a few flaws potential players should be aware of.”
    • “There are a number of graphics glitches that cause certain things to not be rendered, or to not be de-rendered.”
    • “Minor graphics glitch, which I'm sure will be patched out.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of Pavilion is widely praised for its stunning visuals and immersive sound design, creating a surreal and intriguing experience reminiscent of works like Twin Peaks. While the gameplay may be simplistic and occasionally buggy, the game's rich artistic presentation and tranquil music effectively draw players into its captivating world, making it a recommended choice for those who appreciate atmospheric exploration. Overall, Pavilion excels in delivering a beautiful and atmospheric experience, despite its unfinished state and gameplay shortcomings.

    • “The atmosphere is good though, and the presentation is very unique.”
    • “I would recommend Pavilion to people who like to get lost in an atmospheric world, for whom soaking in the experience is enough.”
    • “If you enjoy beautiful scenery, great sound, and amazing atmosphere - then Pavilion has that in droves.”
    • “It's unfinished (only chapter 1 right now) and puzzles are mostly simple, but I'm still recommending it for the surreal art and atmosphere.”
    • “What it is lacking in gameplay it easily makes up for with atmosphere, but some of the bugs take away from that a little.”
    • “I recommend Pavilion to all puzzle fans, especially those who appreciate the atmosphere presented.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, players report significant stability issues, including game-breaking glitches and numerous graphics problems that disrupt gameplay. While some aspects of the game run smoothly, the prevalence of bugs has left many feeling frustrated and dissatisfied with the product's quality.

    • “Game-breaking glitches.”
    • “There are a number of graphics glitches that cause certain things to not be rendered, or to not be de-rendered.”
    • “I paid for the finished product, not for the buggy beta!”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with some puzzles contributing to a sense of monotony.

    • “It hit the point of tedious.”
    • “Some puzzles are a bit tedious.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game has received criticism for its poor optimization, particularly affecting players with older computers, leading some users to seek refunds despite finding the game itself fairly enjoyable.

    • “Verdict: fairly good game, but not optimized well enough for people with older computers to play it.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game lacks character development, which hinders players' ability to form emotional connections. While there is an emphasis on artistic expression, the emotional impact is diminished due to the superficial treatment of characters.

    • “The game beautifully captures the emotional power of storytelling, allowing players to connect deeply with the characters and their journeys.”
    • “The emotional depth of the narrative left a lasting impact, making me reflect on my own experiences long after playing.”
    • “The game's ability to evoke genuine feelings through its art and storytelling is truly remarkable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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