Penrose

About

Penrose is a single player action game. It was developed by doublespeak games and was released on September 19, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"A strange thrumming then, not in the air or ears. Sensed dully in a way that I'd never felt before..." Penrose is a non-linear narrative by doublespeak games. Scroll forwards and backwards through an ever-changing story. Manipulate the environment, explore every possibility, and unravel the mystery at the heart of everything...

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

story9 positive mentions

graphics1 negative mentions

The game features an amazing, in-depth story that captivates players and evokes strong emotions, particularly in its portrayal of cosmic horror.
The unique mechanics and inventive storytelling format provide a fresh experience that engages players and encourages creativity.
The writing is beautiful and poetic, with a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.

The story suffers from coherence issues, with some players finding it vague and lacking a clear ending or connection between scenes.
There are quality of life concerns, such as repetitive music and awkward sentence structures that detract from the overall experience.
Some players feel the writing is inconsistent, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by overly complex or bloated prose.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The game's story is a polarizing aspect, with some players praising its in-depth, engaging cosmic horror narrative that evolves uniquely through gameplay mechanics, while others criticize it for being incoherent and lacking a clear resolution. Despite its intriguing premise and creative elements, many feel the story requires significant refinement and can become esoteric, leaving some players confused. Overall, it offers a fascinating experience for those willing to unpack its complexities, but may alienate those seeking a more straightforward narrative.
- “Amazing, in-depth story that you never want to put down.”
- “I was hooked from the start, thinking it to be an adventure story with a supernatural hook, but it goes harder than that, becoming a genuine work of cosmic horror.”
- “The story, though it takes a little work to unpack, is fascinating and the format is so unique!”
- “Story is clearly a rough draft that really needs an editor.”
- “Incoherent story with no ending or connection between scenes after the first act.”
- “Felt like reading a very half-baked SCP story.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to inspire creativity, with many finding it fitting and immersive. However, some users noted that the repetitive nature of the cycled tracks can become annoying over time. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the emotional experience of the game.
- “Makes me want to write and compose music again.”
- “Beautiful writing, beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The writing was stunning and the music was beautiful and very fitting.”
- “I agree with the other review that the cycled music gets annoying.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics that align well with the story, offering a fun and unique experience. However, some players feel that the plot loses coherence in the latter part of the game, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Fun to figure out - the mechanics suited the story perfectly.”
- “Penrose is truly unique in its mechanics.”
- “It's got some neat mechanics and an interesting hook.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics in the game have been criticized for their lack of visual elements, leading some users to question whether it can be classified as a game or if it resembles more of a visual novel without adequate visuals. This absence of graphics has detracted from the overall experience for some players.
- “I don't mean to be a pedantic nitpicker, but these were the problems I had with the game. Is it even a game? It's more of a literal novel than your average visual novel, seeing as there are well, no visuals to experience.”