Paws and Soul

About

Paws and Soul is a single player simulation game. It was developed by ELECTROSTALIN ENTERTAINMENT and was released on July 16, 2020. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Paws and Soul" is an adventure game where you play as a stray dog trying to uncover the secrets of a mysterious city. Gain new abilities, solve puzzles, and interact with various characters to uncover the truth. The game features a unique blend of 2D and 3D graphics, with a focus on exploration and discovery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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44%

Audience ScoreBased on 68 reviews

graphics13 positive mentions

story15 negative mentions

Paws and Soul features beautiful graphics and a calming atmosphere, making it a visually appealing experience.
The game offers a unique narrative that explores themes of reincarnation and emotional connections, resonating with players on a personal level.
The sound design and ambient music enhance the meditative quality of the game, contributing to a relaxing gameplay experience.

The gameplay is overly simplistic and repetitive, with minimal interactivity and a lack of clear objectives, which may leave some players feeling unengaged.
Technical issues such as clunky controls, awkward jumping mechanics, and bugs detract from the overall experience, making traversal frustrating at times.
The narrative can feel disjointed and lacks clarity, with side stories that seem loosely connected to the main plot, leading to confusion and a lack of emotional impact.

story
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
18%
The story in "Paws and Soul" is thematically ambitious, exploring the wolf's journey intertwined with fragments of human lives, particularly that of a man named David, but it often feels disjointed and relies heavily on mood rather than clear narrative structure. While some players appreciate the emotional resonance and beautiful visuals, many criticize the inconsistent voice acting, lack of engaging characters, and a confusing plot that fails to connect its various storylines effectively. Overall, the narrative is seen as lacking depth and coherence, making it a less compelling aspect of the game despite its potential.
- “Narratively, Paws and Soul ties the wolf’s journey to fragments of human lives, most notably that of a man named David, whose story is revealed through visions, memories, and symbolic encounters.”
- “The story isn't a masterpiece, but it's well-told and explores themes of growing up and trying to figure out your life.”
- “Beautiful graphics and two very interesting storylines to follow; the storytelling is well done and gameplay is very calming.”
- “While these story elements are thematically ambitious, they often feel loosely connected, relying more on implication and mood than clear narrative throughlines.”
- “The storytelling was atrocious.”
- “Overall, it felt like a chore going through the plot and I feel like I don't have any more insight than before.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
82%
10%
The gameplay of "Paws and Soul" is characterized by its minimalistic and introspective design, focusing on exploration and atmosphere rather than traditional mechanics or objectives. Players navigate a serene environment as a wolf spirit, collecting orbs to unlock narrative elements, but many find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with frustrating mechanics such as awkward jumping and unclear objectives. While the game appeals to those who appreciate a meditative experience, it may disappoint players seeking engaging gameplay or a compelling story.
- “Rather than presenting clear objectives or mechanical challenges, the game invites players into a meditative journey through nature, memory, and spiritual continuity, asking them to inhabit the role of a wolf spirit wandering a vast forest shaped as much by emotion as by geography.”
- “These orbs function as a soft progression system, unlocking narrative elements and optional story branches rather than new abilities or mechanical power.”
- “While its execution is uneven and its mechanics sparse, it offers a distinct experience for players who value atmosphere, symbolism, and quiet reflection over challenge and complexity.”
- “Gameplay mechanics remain intentionally minimal.”
- “In fact, I was glad when the game was finally finished as I got bored and was very frustrated with the gameplay.”
- “Paws and Soul looks weird, the story is kind of childish and it doesn't grab my attention, the gameplay is boring and repetitive even with different puzzles.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The game's graphics are a mixed bag, featuring beautiful and colorful visuals that create a captivating atmosphere, but they often lack detail and consistency. While some players appreciate the aesthetic appeal, others report performance issues and technical flaws, such as poor water effects and clipping problems. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's ambiance, but they may not meet the expectations of all players.
- “The game has a fantastic atmosphere and stylish visuals.”
- “Beautiful graphics and two very interesting storylines to follow; the storytelling is well done and gameplay is very calming.”
- “Graphic-wise, Paws and Soul is beautiful, which was the main reason that got me interested in the game.”
- “The graphics are pretty from a distance, but the water is some of the worst I've ever seen - not even a splashing particle effect seen in Nintendo 64 games.”
- “I had to have the game on the lowest graphic settings, and it still ran horribly (and my computer can handle most games just fine).”
- “You do encounter problems with the graphics (at max); you get appalling clipping of objects, interactions, etc., not to mention the 2D sprites which turn to a blur and the very detailed textures.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The music in the game is characterized by its ambient and understated quality, enhancing the meditative atmosphere without being intrusive. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack complements key moments and the overall environment, contributing to an immersive experience. While some players noted its subtlety, many found the music beautiful and well-suited to the game's vibe.
- “Ambient audio—wind through trees, distant echoes, soft musical cues—supports the meditative pacing without demanding attention.”
- “The music is amazing and goes with the vibes of the game perfectly.”
- “I honestly didn't notice the music, so it must have been very unintrusive!”
- “Didn't find anything unusual in the gameplay, a little broken in places, but the atmosphere and music immerses you in this world.”
- “The soundtrack remains understated, surfacing gently during key moments rather than dominating the experience.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Paws and Soul" is characterized by its exploration of reincarnation and personal experiences, resonating deeply with players who appreciate symbolic storytelling and low-pressure exploration. While some moments evoke strong emotional connections and reflections on life, the inconsistency in voice acting and narrative delivery can detract from the impact of key scenes. Overall, the game offers a soothing experience that can trigger profound emotional responses, though not all players may connect with the characters.
- “These moments attempt to connect the idea of reincarnation and karmic cycles with personal human experiences, spanning childhood, family relationships, and emotional turning points.”
- “Players who enjoy walking simulators, symbolic storytelling, and low-pressure exploration often describe 'Paws and Soul' as soothing and emotionally resonant.”
- “A game that I felt a very strong and emotional connection with the main character, and that the game mirrored my life and showed that even accidents can introduce you to the love of your life, as well as that everyone has ups and downs in their lives, and that everything is not as it seems.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of "Paws and Soul" is characterized by its quiet, introspective nature, emphasizing symbolism and emotional depth over traditional gameplay mechanics. While some players may find the execution uneven and the gameplay lacking, the game's stylish visuals and immersive music create a distinct experience for those who appreciate a tranquil and reflective ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its ability to engage players willing to embrace ambiguity and restraint.
- “Paws and Soul is a quiet, introspective adventure developed and published by ElectroStalin Entertainment that places atmosphere and symbolism above traditional gameplay structure.”
- “The game has a fantastic atmosphere and stylish visuals.”
- “Didn't find anything unusual in the gameplay, a little broken in places, but the atmosphere and music immerse you in this world.”
- “Much of this divide comes down to expectation: those seeking mechanical depth or narrative clarity may struggle to stay engaged, while those open to ambiguity and atmosphere may find value in its restraint.”
- “While its execution is uneven and its mechanics sparse, it offers a distinct experience for players who value atmosphere, symbolism, and quiet reflection over challenge and complexity.”
- “Didn't find anything unusual in the gameplay, a little broken in places, but the atmosphere and music immerses you in this world.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting awkward movement and controls, stiff turning, and significant delays. Additionally, many have encountered numerous bugs, including broken achievements, which detract from the overall experience.
- “Bad/awkward movement and controls, terrible story, and buggy/broken achievements.”
- “Turning is stiff and there are buggy delays.”
- “Its controls are buggy even on keyboard.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game's optimization is lacking, with poor performance even on the lowest settings, leading to concerns about its overall efficiency.
- “I haven't checked if it even can use it, since even on the lowest settings, it has poor performance.”
- “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even with all settings minimized.”
- “Optimization seems non-existent; the game frequently lags and stutters regardless of my hardware.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
Replayability is considered modest, primarily fueled by curiosity about different narrative outcomes linked to optional choices, rather than significant gameplay variations. The presence of multiple endings offers some incentive for players to revisit the game.
- “Apparently, there are multiple endings, so the replay value may be there.”
- “Replayability is modest, driven mainly by curiosity about alternate narrative outcomes tied to optional choices rather than by changes in gameplay.”
- “Apparently there are multiple endings, so replay value may be there.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with lengthy scenes that can become frustrating due to overlapping dialogue and subtitles. While it's possible to skip some content, the overall experience can feel drawn out, with a typical playthrough taking around four hours without focusing on achievements.
- “Lots of the scenes are quite long and tedious; though you can just run past and listen to the dialogue, if you encounter another scene, the dialogue and subtitles overlap and become rather annoying.”
- “Took me just under 4 hours to complete a playthrough without achievement grinding.”