Penarium

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 100 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Penarium Game Cover
Penarium on XBox One is a devilishly fun arcade game that pays homage to the titles of yesteryear with a true modern and at times difficult twist
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Penarium is a comedy platformer game set in a sinister circus arena, where players control the quirky antihero Willy who must avoid deadly traps in single-player or local 2-player COOP and Competitive modes. With 3 arenas, 4 game modes, and online leaderboards, guide Willy through 30 challenges and over a dozen unlockable power-ups in this darkly humorous game featuring dark comical dialogue and cutscenes.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews
gameplay9 positive mentions
grinding1 negative mentions
  • Addictive gameplay with tight controls and a fun, chaotic atmosphere.
  • Challenging yet fair difficulty that encourages skill improvement and quick reflexes.
  • Visually appealing retro art style complemented by a fitting soundtrack.
  • Limited variety in levels and visual design, leading to some repetitiveness.
  • Unresponsive controls at times, which can lead to frustrating deaths.
  • Short campaign length and lack of online multiplayer options.
  • gameplay17 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its satisfying and challenging nature, featuring a variety of traps that create intense experiences, despite being deceptively simple with basic jumping mechanics. Players appreciate the addictive and unique arcade-style platforming, enhanced by great controls, a superb soundtrack, and well-designed levels that balance accessibility with difficulty. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging experience, making it highly recommended for fans of the genre.

    • “The combinations of its approximately 15 traps make for some beautifully intense and varied gameplay.”
    • “So now, given the satisfying, challenging gameplay, beautifully realized pixel-art, and surprisingly engrossing setting and characters, I'm left with only one complaint:”
    • “The gameplay is deceptively simple: all you do is jump between platforms.”
    • “If fast-paced gameplay and high-score chasing are your thing, we suggest planning a trip to this sadistic carnival.”
    • “An arcade-style 2D platformer that is as fun as it is frustrating – boasts a quirky premise, a pleasingly chaotic style of gameplay, and an array of imaginative death-traps.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its fun, spooky, and mischievous "carnival of death" theme, which complements the gameplay and enhances the overall experience. While some players note that the music can become repetitive, it is generally considered well-suited to the game's atmosphere and contributes to the replayability and enjoyment of the tricky levels. Overall, the soundtrack is described as awesome and effectively drives the pacing of the gameplay.

    • “The music fits nicely with the theme, and the short span and variety make its tricky levels fun, replayable, and well balanced.”
    • “I love everything about the game so far, from the gameplay to the art, to the music, to the setting, and definitely recommend it.”
    • “The pacing works well to move players through the game’s grinding levels to the beat of a perfect soundtrack.”
  • story11 mentions

    The game's story is praised for its simplicity and effectiveness, complemented by a campaign mode featuring 30 levels of increasing difficulty and humorous nostalgia references. While the campaign cannot be played in co-op, the overall experience is enhanced by enjoyable gameplay, appealing art, and great music, making it a worthwhile purchase.

    • “There are 30 levels of increasing difficulty to play through on a campaign 'story' mode, with some funny jokes along the way including the nostalgia reference that reminds me of BBC Micro gaming... and then you can play 'arcade' mode on any of the three level designs you encountered previously.”
    • “Combine that with a simple, yet surprisingly effective story, and you've got something really worth its small price.”
    • “The graphics and story are a perfect platform to deliver this unique platformer to the masses.”
    • “One disappointment is you can't play the campaign missions in co-op, but the other co-op modes (survival and versus) are satisfying.”
  • graphics8 mentions

    The graphics are praised for their polished art style and nice visuals, though some reviewers note a lack of variety in backgrounds and a drained color palette that can feel somewhat depressing. Overall, the game is considered visually appealing and well-suited for its skill-based gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “It's got a great graphic style and a good difficulty curve. I often found myself finishing a level after thinking just one more try, which is exactly how it should be for a skill-based game like this.”
    • “The graphics and story are a perfect platform to deliver this unique platformer to the masses.”
    • “Really great little game, highly polished art style and tight controls.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game features a campaign mode with 30 levels that includes humorous jokes and nostalgic references, particularly to BBC micro gaming, enhancing the overall experience. Players can also enjoy an arcade mode using the previously encountered level designs.

    • “There are 30 levels of increasing difficulty to play through in a campaign 'story' mode, with some funny jokes along the way, including nostalgic references that remind me of BBC micro gaming. Then you can play 'arcade' mode on any of the three level designs you encountered previously.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally taxing due to its high difficulty level, often leading to frustration from repeated failures and the challenge of overcoming obstacles. This struggle can evoke a range of feelings, from anger to determination, as players navigate the game's demanding mechanics.

  • replayability2 mentions

    Players find the game highly replayable due to its well-balanced, tricky levels and engaging music that complements the theme. The variety and short duration of the levels contribute to a fun experience that encourages repeated play.

    • “The music fits nicely with the theme, and the short span and variety make its tricky levels fun, replayable, and well balanced.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that the pacing effectively keeps them engaged while progressing through levels, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

48% average critic score

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