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Perennial Order

Perennial Order Game Cover
96%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding, replayability
96% User Score Based on 430 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCMac OSXboxSteam DeckWindows
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Perennial Order Game Cover

About

Perennial Order is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Gardenfiend Games and was released on September 5, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "Perennial Order," a 2D plant horror boss rush game, explore a Dark Age world filled with nature-infested horrors, and engage in intense, one-hit-death combat with unique eldritch bosses. The painterly 2D style, inspired by Dark Souls and Princess Mononoke, promises a captivating visual experience, as you uncover the story and fight to survive.

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Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
Perennial Order screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 430 reviews
gameplay56 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • The art style is stunning and creates a captivating atmosphere.
  • Boss fights are unique and challenging, providing a rewarding experience.
  • The music and sound design enhance the overall immersion of the game.
  • The one-hit death mechanic can be frustrating for some players.
  • Navigation between boss fights can feel tedious and disjointed.
  • Some bosses rely on RNG, which can lead to unfair experiences.
  • gameplay
    121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its challenging one-hit death mechanic, which adds a layer of intensity and strategy to boss encounters, making victories feel rewarding. Players appreciate the unique mechanics of each boss, the engaging co-op experience, and the tight controls that enhance the overall combat experience. While some find the exploration outside of boss fights a bit tedious, the stunning visuals, atmospheric music, and innovative mechanics contribute to a compelling and enjoyable gameplay loop.

    • “The audio cues are subtly woven into gameplay, signaling attack phases and danger moments that keen players can pick up on to gain an edge.”
    • “Every boss fight introduces a new mechanic and can range from 'not that interesting' to 'the most unique boss fight.' The one-hit mechanic is also quite interesting and, in my opinion, well balanced.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and engaging, with the one-shot mechanic never feeling frustrating.”
    • “You die in merely a single hit, and this mechanic is just way too punishing.”
    • “They try to do a lot of experimental mechanics, but they usually end up more frustrating than interesting.”
    • “Outside of the bosses, the gameplay mostly consists of exploring a fairly linear environment with occasional puzzles and environmental hazards, while nothing special, it serves the purpose of building out this world between the fights and selling this game's atmosphere.”
  • music
    104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty, originality, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, particularly during boss encounters. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as immersive and haunting, effectively complementing the game's art style and gameplay mechanics. Many describe it as a standout feature that elevates the gaming experience, making it a memorable aspect of the game.

    • “The atmosphere was really nice and I loved the soundtrack; it was all beautifully made.”
    • “The music is beautiful, eerie, original, and adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
    • “When the music swells during encounters, it does so with purpose, accentuating the intensity without ever overwhelming the action.”
    • “The soundtrack is spare, melancholic, and often fades into ambient environmental noise, letting you sit with your anxiety as you approach each boss.”
    • “The soundtrack is eerie and haunting and fits each area that I have been into, and it sounds amazing through my headset or played through my TV speakers.”
    • “The game design and soundtrack are extremely captivating.”
  • graphics
    89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning, hand-painted art style that creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight and Dark Souls. Reviewers highlight the unique and immersive visuals, which are complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many consider the art style to be a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and emotional depth.

    • “Perennial Order, developed by Gardenfiend Games and published by Soedesco, is a hauntingly beautiful and brutally demanding 2D boss-rush action game that immediately distinguishes itself through its painterly art style and minimalist storytelling.”
    • “Last but not least, Perennial Order has one of the best graphics I have seen; it is mostly (if not all) hand-drawn, and the art style fits the gloomy atmosphere so well.”
    • “The art style is really cool, and the painted world feels grimy in the best way possible; it fits the scenario and world perfectly.”
    • “Also, the art style is almost like a 2.5D which means that sometimes bosses, when facing directly upwards, can have wonky hitboxes.”
    • “Too many things to keep track of and the weird depth perception with the art style and tilt of the boss arena leads to some frustrating deaths.”
    • “I think the last boss fight isn't great (non-spoiler reasons: unlike the other bosses, I think the art style got in the way of visual clarity and there were certain attack patterns that felt unfair).”
  • story
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Perennial Order" is characterized by its minimalist and environmental storytelling, encouraging players to interpret the narrative through exploration and interaction with the world rather than through traditional dialogue. While some players appreciate the abstract and atmospheric approach, others find it vague or emotionally distant, with a mix of compelling main and side stories that enhance the overall experience. The game successfully combines rich world-building with unique characters and quests, making it a notable aspect of the gameplay despite its focus on boss-rush mechanics.

    • “It’s not a story you’re told—it’s a story you feel.”
    • “The world building is incredible, and your character writes things down in his notebook which you can refer to at any time to piece together the story, so it really isn't as cryptic as one might think.”
    • “The story in Perennial Order is largely environmental and interpretive.”
    • “There are also moments when the abstract storytelling may feel too vague or emotionally distant for players looking for a more grounded or character-driven narrative.”
    • “The true sign of a soulslike is you have no idea what the story is.”
  • atmosphere
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful, hand-drawn art style and haunting soundtrack, which together create a deeply immersive and eerie experience reminiscent of gothic horror and souls-like games. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses through its artistic design and minimalistic storytelling, enhancing the high-stakes encounters with grotesque bosses. Overall, the atmosphere is described as unique, captivating, and integral to the gameplay, making it a standout feature for fans of atmospheric and challenging games.

    • “The atmosphere is beautiful, eerie, original, and the music adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
    • “The game's atmosphere and art direction are breathtaking, with a beautiful dark world that really draws you in.”
    • “I found it a bit too punishing due to the one-shot deaths, and this sucked the joy out of the game for me. Kinda sad because I really like the atmosphere of the game and the concept/story.”
    • “Environments, themes, and visuals are painted brilliantly, creating an apprehensive and eerie atmosphere throughout, which is complemented by a fitting soundtrack.”
    • “I didn't 100% the game though and will squeeze possibly another couple of hours... and two, the foreground scenery to add atmosphere seemed a little heavy-handed at times, where like 70% of my screen was blocked off to random shrubbery while navigating the overworld.”
  • grinding
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the lack of fast travel and checkpoints, which leads to frustrating backtracking. While some enjoy the diverse boss mechanics and quick respawns that mitigate the grind somewhat, the repetitive nature of revisiting old areas and the RNG dependence can detract from the overall experience. Co-op play is highlighted as a positive, making the grinding feel less burdensome when tackled together.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's just tedious.”
    • “My only real complaint is that towards the end of the game, you might find yourself revisiting old areas to look for secrets or missed rooms, but with no fast travel to prior areas, or a way to quickly move from them this can be tedious.”
    • “One big issue for me personally is that the backtracking is tedious to the point that it makes no sense why there is no fast travel or checkpoint (bonfire) system in place.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game effectively blends humor with its dark and atmospheric lore, providing players with memorable and hilarious moments amidst intense combat and engaging storytelling. Users appreciate the balance of fun boss fights and easy controls, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.

    • “The lore is great too; I'm not entirely sure what is going on, but it does a great job implying the depth. The atmosphere is forbidding, the art is gorgeous, and it's not afraid to be funny at times as well.”
    • “The entire time we played, we experienced some hilarious and frustrating moments that I won't forget about anytime soon.”
    • “It's like walking through a painting filled with horrific and fantastic creatures while Sekiro-like dynamic combat and speed are alternated with story and humor.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers decent replayability, primarily through its New Game Plus and boss rush modes unlocked after completing the main 10-hour campaign. Additionally, the co-op feature enhances the solo experience, encouraging players to revisit the game.

    • “The main game runs about 10 hours, with New Game Plus and boss rush modes unlocked upon completion, adding significant replay value.”
    • “The main game runs about 10 hours, with New Game Plus and boss rush modes unlocked upon completion, adding some replay value.”
    • “Decent replay value.”
    • “I'm confused by why the co-op makes the solo experience more playable.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's minimalistic approach effectively creates an atmospheric tone that shapes players' emotional responses, though some may find the abstract storytelling too vague or emotionally distant, particularly those seeking a more character-driven narrative.

    • “The minimalism works in its favor, allowing atmosphere and tone to guide your emotional response without needing concrete answers.”
    • “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, drawing players into its world through subtle storytelling and immersive experiences.”
    • “Moments of vulnerability and connection resonate deeply, making the emotional journey feel authentic and impactful.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is highlighted for its creativity and depth, with engaging character designs and a well-integrated lore that unfolds through interactions and journal entries. The atmospheric music and balanced tone further enhance the overall experience, making the characters feel vibrant and memorable.

    • “I could gush endlessly about the creativity of the character designs, the drip feed of lore through characters and journal entries, the atmospheric music, and especially the balanced tone.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Perennial Order is a role playing game.

Perennial Order is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck and others.

Perennial Order was released on September 5, 2024.

Perennial Order was developed by Gardenfiend Games.

Perennial Order has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Perennial Order is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Nine Sols, Hyper Light Drifter, Ghost Song, Death's Door, ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights and others.