Perennial Order

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 582 reviews

gameplay83 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Incredible art style and atmosphere that creates a hauntingly beautiful world.
Unique and challenging boss fights that require skill and strategy, making victories feel rewarding.
Smooth co-op gameplay that enhances the experience, allowing players to support each other even after dying.

The one-hit death mechanic can be frustrating for some players, potentially leading to repeated attempts on bosses.
Lack of a fast travel system or shortcuts can make navigation tedious between boss fights.
Some bosses may feel unbalanced or overly reliant on RNG, leading to moments of frustration.

gameplay
177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The gameplay is highly praised for its unique mechanics, particularly the one-hit death system that adds a layer of challenge and strategy, making victories feel earned. Players appreciate the engaging combat, diverse and imaginative boss designs, and the fluid controls that enhance the overall experience. The cooperative elements and the depth provided by various abilities and mechanics contribute to a fun and rewarding gameplay loop, despite some minor critiques regarding the variety of skills and boss patterns.
- “The central mechanics on their own are super unique (attacking with the joystick to choose direction and power of an attack, multiplayer vestiges, and a well-designed ability system akin to Hollow Knight that's just as well done).”
- “The gameplay is fun and engaging, with the one-shot mechanic never feeling frustrating.”
- “The gameplay and combat are very tightly designed, and every encounter in the game stands on its own legs with unique mechanics and challenges.”
- “The only critique I have of the boss design is that the (seemingly) random nature of how the bosses throw out patterns/mechanics can make it feel like a toss-up if you get a string of 'hard' or 'easy' patterns.”
- “I'd rather have a shorter, focused game than one with too many waste of time mechanics like farming, grinding, and crafting.”
- “The one-hit death mechanic is unforgiving, but reasonable.”
music
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly during boss fights where it often synchronizes with gameplay elements. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as atmospheric, immersive, and beautifully composed, contributing significantly to the game's dark and enchanting aesthetic. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that complements the stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
- “I love just how the music elevates a lot of the boss fights, and some bosses even fight in tandem with it (the second last boss has attacks that actually hit with the music).”
- “The atmosphere, created by the weirdly fantastic art direction, excellent audio design, and a soothing soundtrack, is absolutely superb.”
- “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, and I'm looking forward to hearing more of it.”
- “The music is sublime, and the varied mechanics cater to different playstyles.”
- “The game play feels extremely smooth and the art and music add so much depth to the world.”
graphics
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, which combines dark, atmospheric visuals with a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the hand-painted aesthetics and the way the visuals contribute to the game's eerie ambiance, although some note that the depth perception can occasionally lead to frustrating gameplay moments. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, creating a memorable and immersive world that resonates with players.
- “The colors and art style of the game are truly appealing to the senses.”
- “Environments, themes, and visuals are painted brilliantly, creating an apprehensive and eerie atmosphere throughout, which is complemented by a fitting soundtrack.”
- “The music and art style blend together perfectly to create a game world that is a joy to explore.”
- “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
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The game's story is praised for its rich world-building and engaging narrative, enhanced by a character's notebook that helps players piece together the lore. Players appreciate the depth provided by numerous NPCs and side quests, which contribute to both the main story and offer enjoyable distractions. Overall, the storytelling is described as intriguing and accessible, with a blend of environmental storytelling and character interactions that encourage exploration.
- “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.”
- “And for a boss rush game, it's absolutely rich in story, with each area having NPCs or environmental storytelling to help you understand more about either the boss or the past that led to this point.”
- “This game is a masterclass in visual storytelling and beautiful art atmosphere, combining elements of souls-like gameplay and a co-op mode rivaling titans of the genre, the animation is well choreographed and sharp, the combat is quick and fun, even more so with a friend and the music only aids the intrigue of this dark yet magical world.”
- “The true sign of a souls-like game is you have no idea what the story is.”
- “The story is serviceable and there's enough intrigue to get you through to the end, not to mention a handful of side quests that let you get to know some of the side characters a bit.”
- “A quest that can be completed just by playing the game normally is hardly a quest.”
atmosphere
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
33%
4%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its breathtaking art direction, immersive sound design, and unique blend of dark, eerie themes that create a captivating experience. Players appreciate the intricate world-building and the way the atmosphere enhances both gameplay and storytelling, making it a standout in the atmospheric boss rush genre. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and a compelling setting draws players into a beautifully crafted yet challenging environment.
- “The game's atmosphere and art direction are breathtaking, with a beautiful dark world that really draws you in.”
- “Environments, themes, and visuals are painted brilliantly, creating an apprehensive and eerie atmosphere throughout, which is complemented by a fitting soundtrack.”
- “The atmosphere, created by the weirdly fantastic art direction, excellent audio design, and a soothing soundtrack, is absolutely superb.”
- “I didn't 100% the game though and will squeeze possibly another couple of hours... and 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.”
- “The art style is so crisp and clean and really gives the horror atmosphere that keeps your heart rate elevated regardless of where you are.”
- “First note it is a boss rush game with a souls-like setting - so the parts in between boss battles are mostly about building up the atmosphere and setting.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
9%
83%
Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics, citing tedious backtracking and a lack of fast travel or checkpoints as significant drawbacks. While some appreciate the convenience of respawning near bosses, many feel that the overall grinding experience detracts from the game's enjoyment and pacing. Overall, the consensus leans towards a desire for a more streamlined and focused gameplay experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I'd rather have a shorter, focused game than one with too many waste of time mechanics like farming, grinding, and crafting.”
- “It's tedious and really ruins the fight especially if you struggle keeping track of everything happening.”
- “It's an interesting concept, but it is far too RNG dependent as is and the fact it's multi-phase with no checkpoint is tedious.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending seamlessly with dynamic combat and an engaging story, resulting in both hilarious and frustrating moments that players find memorable. The game balances its forbidding atmosphere and gorgeous art with comedic elements, enhancing the overall experience during fun boss fights and easy controls. Overall, players appreciate the humor as a refreshing contrast to the game's darker themes.
- “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.”
- “Also, fun boss fights, hilarious moments, easy controls, and so far very few bugs.”
- “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.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game offers decent replayability, primarily through its approximately 10-hour main campaign, which is enhanced by the availability of new game plus (NG+) and boss rush modes after completion. Additionally, the co-op feature adds a layer of enjoyment to solo play, further encouraging replay.
- “The main game runs about 10 hours, with New Game Plus and boss rush modes unlocked upon completion, adding significant replay value.”
- “Decent replay value.”
- “I am confused by why the co-op makes the solo experience more enjoyable.”
- “The main game runs about 10 hours, with NG+ and boss rush modes unlocked upon completion, adding some replay value.”
- “I am confused by why the co-op makes the solo more playable.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is praised for its creativity in design and the effective integration of lore through characters and journal entries, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game. The balanced tone further enriches the experience, making the characters feel more engaging and immersive.
- “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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