Penarium

Penarium benefits from good level design and simple mechanics that are the definition of ‘easy to learn but difficult to master.’ The setting for the game is a devilishly entertaining one, and Penarium is challenging without feeling cheap, which makes it a great deal easier to be forgiving of the game’s difficulty curve.

77%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

grinding, optimization

77% User Score Based on 198 reviews

Platforms

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About Penarium

Penarium is a single player and multiplayer arcade platformer game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Self Made Miracle and was released on September 22, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Poor Willy. Trapped in a sinister circus, his only hope of seeing his family is to run and jump his way past an array of deathtraps while being cheered on by a sadistically bloodthirsty crowd.

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Reviews

77%Audience ScoreBased on 198 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Penarium features tight controls and responsive mechanics, making the gameplay feel fair and rewarding.
The game offers a unique blend of dark humor and chaotic gameplay, with a variety of traps that keep each level engaging.
The pixel art style and circus-themed soundtrack create a charming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

The game can feel repetitive due to its limited number of levels and objectives, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
Some players may find the difficulty curve frustrating, as it relies heavily on trial and error, which can be discouraging for casual gamers.
The absence of online multiplayer limits the accessibility and replay value, as local play is the only option available.

gameplay
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31% positive mentions, 64% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions
The gameplay in Penarium is characterized by its deceptively simple mechanics, primarily focused on movement and double jumps, which create a fast-paced and challenging experience. While the campaign mode is short and can feel repetitive, the arcade mode offers additional replayability through various challenges and power-ups. Overall, the game combines a unique blend of dark humor and old-school arcade sensibility, though some players find the level design and difficulty progression frustrating.
- “The gameplay in Penarium is deceptively simple yet layered with tension and variety.”
- “Your only tools are movement and a double jump, but these limited mechanics are honed to perfection.”
- “Penarium benefits from good level design and simple mechanics that are the definition of 'easy to learn but difficult to master.'”
- “Extremely boring repetitive gameplay.”
- “The campaign of the game can be completed in a couple of hours (or less), and then the rest of the gameplay is just arcade mode, grinding out coin collecting and dodging endless obstacles on the same stages to gain in-game achievements, and maybe buy power-ups to improve doing the same thing again.”
- “The game doesn't really add any new mechanics and will feel familiar to people who play a lot of platformers.”
story
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27% positive mentions, 66% neutral mentions, 7% negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered brief and simplistic, often described as unimportant compared to the gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the quirky premise of a child running away to join a circus, many find the narrative uninspired and lacking depth, with a campaign mode that can be completed in under two hours. Despite its shortcomings, the story does provide a framework for the challenging gameplay, though it leaves players wanting more in terms of engagement and development.
- “The story is brief yet thought-provoking.”
- “The main story tasks you with surviving short challenges that get more difficult and over the top until you're hundreds of feet in the sky, popping balloons while avoiding rockets and dragons.”
- “The campaign mode is a set of 30 prescribed levels with a dark little story about how a child (who looks straight out of the far side) is kidnapped and forced to perform for his freedom by the mysterious masked director.”
- “The story is present but not really important at all.”
- “The story isn't exactly thrilling and quickly becomes boring and tedious, and there is not much to keep you going and try one more time.”
- “Because the story is basically non-existent, I'm not going to take it into account.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54% positive mentions, 35% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by cheerful carnival themes that effectively complement the fast-paced action and enhance the overall atmosphere, despite some players finding it repetitive and tiresome over time. While many appreciate the fitting and energetic soundtrack, which adds to the game's charm, others note that its looping nature can become annoying, especially during longer play sessions. Overall, the music is generally well-received for its thematic appropriateness and ability to elevate the gameplay experience, though it may not hold up for everyone in the long run.
- “The soundtrack, built around circus motifs and energetic rhythms, perfectly complements the fast-paced action, driving home the absurdity of the situation while heightening the pressure in every match.”
- “The music fits nicely with the theme, and the short span and variety make its tricky levels fun, replayable, and well balanced.”
- “A wonderful circus soundtrack also helps to build this atmosphere.”
- “The tone is immediately striking: cheerful carnival music masks a grim premise as you’re forced to perform for a crowd that delights in your suffering.”
- “Same with the soundtrack, they're somewhat circus-themed fanfares, with a bit more beat to them, nothing exceptional, maybe even tiring in the long run.”
- “The music — though thematically appropriate, it really gets on the nerves after a short while since it's constantly looping and it also makes some levels quite harder.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46% positive mentions, 43% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style that some players find charming and well-executed, particularly in the animations and cutscenes. However, many reviewers note a lack of variety in environments and a somewhat drained color palette, leading to perceptions of blandness and repetitiveness. Overall, while the aesthetic aligns with the game's darkly comic theme, opinions on its appeal vary, with some appreciating the nostalgic visuals and others finding them unappealing.
- “It knows exactly what it wants to be—a skill-based, arcade-style endurance test wrapped in a darkly comic aesthetic—and it executes that vision with precision.”
- “The graphics style is designed in a striking pixel art fashion which I absolutely adore.”
- “That said, the game has a very lovely pixel art style and the cutscenes particularly are pretty well realized.”
- “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “The only conclusion is that the game was made to look obsolete, with bad visuals, on purpose.”
- “The graphics are unappealing, the levels are bland, boring, and repetitive, the game is incredibly short and yet still too long for the amount of content it has…”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
Penarium delivers a unique blend of dark humor and playful absurdity, transforming the circus setting into a chaotic arena filled with exaggerated deaths that are more amusing than gruesome. The game's fluid animation and clever jokes enhance its replay value, especially in multiplayer modes, though some players find the humor can become repetitive over time. Overall, it strikes a balance between being tough and entertaining, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate its brand of frantic comedy.
- “The animation work is fluid, and each death is depicted with just enough exaggeration to be more humorous than gruesome.”
- “The presentation achieves a unique balance—disturbing yet playful, grotesque yet funny—that gives the game a distinctive personality.”
- “It’s short, tough, and unashamedly cruel, but its humor and polish prevent it from feeling oppressive.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, often leading to a sense of monotony as they repeatedly navigate the same stages for achievements and power-ups. While some appreciate the pacing and soundtrack, many feel that the grind lacks fulfillment and can detract from the overall enjoyment, with some even comparing it unfavorably to doing overtime. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, contributing to a less engaging gameplay loop.
- “It can get frustrating sometimes, especially while grinding the last achievement (I once died at 149 out of 150).”
- “The campaign of the game can be completed in a couple of hours (or less), and then the rest of the gameplay is just arcade mode, grinding out coin collecting and dodging endless obstacles on the same stages to gain in-game achievements, and maybe buy power-ups to improve doing the same thing again.”
- “Beat the full game in under an hour, grinding out these remaining achievements doesn't feel at all fulfilling or rewarding.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44% positive mentions, 23% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions
The game's replayability is enhanced by its challenge arenas and arcade mode, which offer unlockable upgrades and quick gameplay experiences, making it suitable for short play sessions. However, the main story mode is relatively brief, leading to mixed opinions on long-term engagement, with some players finding it repetitive unless pursuing achievements. Overall, while the game provides fun and frantic moments, its limited scope may restrict replay value for some players.
- “Still, it’s a fun addition that enhances replay value, particularly when shared with a friend who enjoys the same brand of frantic humor.”
- “Despite the somewhat short length of the campaign, depending on how good you are, the arcade mode is also pretty fun and allows for some replayability.”
- “Campaign mode won't keep you for long, but in general the game never makes you wait to get back in the action, has a very replayable arcade concept (perfect for quick coffee-break blasts) and best of all, contains no clowns.”
- “While these modes add replay value, they also highlight one of the game’s few weaknesses: its limited scope.”
- “Worth a playthrough on the cheap, but it can get redundant... I don't see much in terms of replay value unless you go for the achievements.”
- “Unfortunately, the main story mode is quite short and you can complete it in under two hours, but there are also challenge arenas with unlockable upgrades that add a little replayability.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, -100% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally viewed as adequate, providing a straightforward experience that aligns with the simple narrative of a child running away to the circus. However, some players note that the unexpected life-and-death elements may not have been well-integrated into the overall gameplay, potentially affecting the overall experience.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end devices.”
- “I love how the game optimizes resource management, making every decision feel impactful and strategic.”
- “The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the user interface, making it intuitive and easy to navigate.”
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frustrating performance issues that detract from the overall experience.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs and glitches that made it clear the game wasn't properly optimized for smooth gameplay.”
- “The frame rate drops and long loading times indicate that the developers didn't prioritize optimization, which is disappointing.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by a delightful circus soundtrack that effectively contributes to the overall experience.
- “The wonderful circus soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere beautifully.”
- “The game's atmosphere is immersive, drawing you into its unique world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally taxing due to its high difficulty level, often leading to frustration and disappointment from repeated failures, such as missing jumps or colliding with obstacles.