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Phoenix Springs

Phoenix Springs is an interesting take on the point-and-click adventure genre, transforming more into a visual, text-based journey relying on more than enough guesswork to piece together its often nebulous solutions.
Phoenix Springs Game Cover
82%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, stability
91% User Score Based on 192 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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Phoenix Springs Game Cover

About

Phoenix Springs is a single player action game. It was developed by Calligram Studio and was released on October 7, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Phoenix Springs follows reporter Iris Dormer as she reunites with her brother and explores a mysterious desert community. Investigate ancient ruins and intriguing characters through intuitive point-and-click gameplay, connecting clues to unravel local myths and personal secrets. Featuring hand-drawn art, voice acting, and challenging puzzles in a neo-noir setting.

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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 192 reviews
story31 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions

  • The game features stunning art and a unique visual style that captivates players, creating a memorable atmosphere.
  • The narrative is intriguing and thought-provoking, encouraging players to engage deeply with the story and its themes.
  • The innovative gameplay mechanic of using thoughts and concepts as inventory items adds a fresh twist to the traditional point-and-click genre.
  • The puzzles can be obtuse and frustrating, often requiring trial and error, which may lead to confusion and a sense of aimlessness.
  • The story can feel cryptic and lacks clear resolutions, leaving many questions unanswered by the end of the game.
  • The pacing can be uneven, with long stretches of backtracking and wandering that may detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Phoenix Springs" is a complex and abstract narrative that captivates some players with its artistic flair and intriguing mysteries, while leaving others frustrated by its ambiguity and lack of clarity. Many reviewers appreciate the game's unique storytelling style and emotional depth, but note that the convoluted plot can be difficult to follow, especially in the latter half. Overall, the narrative is seen as a blend of compelling themes and surreal elements, inviting players to engage deeply, though it may not satisfy those seeking a straightforward adventure.

    • “Difficult recommendation: Phoenix Springs has a fantastic story that invites you to slow down and think of the connections between its pieces.”
    • “The story is intriguing and the artwork is absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “Overall, Phoenix Springs had me hooked - I wanted to see what happened next in the story and untangle the mystery of what happened to Leo Dormer alongside Iris.”
    • “The story is really quite obtuse; you get little in the way of a real understanding of the narrative and the place you find yourself in.”
    • “The story becomes convoluted and ambiguous in the second half, filled to the brim with pseudo-intellectual themes about human life, experiences, memory, and morality.”
    • “I have no idea what the ultimate point of the story was, and while I believe the developers were trying to go somewhere with it, I don't think there's enough 'there' there to justify the journey.”
  • graphics
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, which combines elements of fauvism and pop art to create a visually stunning experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric visuals that enhance the narrative, with many noting that the artwork is both beautiful and thought-provoking, contributing significantly to the overall immersion of the game. However, some users mention that the distinctive style can occasionally hinder gameplay, making certain interactive elements difficult to identify.

    • “The art style is unusual and gives the game a unique atmosphere.”
    • “A gorgeous art style, coupled with a challenging, layered narrative that invites various interpretations and encourages multiple playthroughs.”
    • “The visuals are beautiful and striking, and the music is haunting which really suits the vibe of the game.”
    • “And don't be fooled by the artsy visuals.”
    • “My only gripe was that due to the art style not everything clickable was easy to see or just see at all.”
    • “The adventure game friction is uncompelling and even if you're going to do it to an extent for aesthetic, it goes overboard still.”
  • gameplay
    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a unique twist on traditional point-and-click mechanics, focusing on collecting concepts and ideas rather than physical objects, which some players found innovative yet frustrating. While the art and sound design received high praise, many reviewers noted that the gameplay can become tedious and repetitive, particularly in the latter parts of the game, leading to a mixed overall experience. Despite its intriguing premise, the execution of the gameplay mechanics often fell short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the narrative.

    • “Gameplay-wise, it's a short and punchy point-and-click where, instead of objects, you collect thoughts and memories.”
    • “I love the mechanic of collecting concepts/ideas rather than objects, and figuring out the world through combining concepts with the environment.”
    • “The detective side of the game is incredibly well done, with point-and-click mechanics that focus on collecting words rather than things and using them to find your brother.”
    • “The adventure gameplay seems almost designed to be frustrating.”
    • “Unfortunately, the storytelling and gameplay fall short.”
    • “The story becomes overly philosophical and opaque, but more importantly the gameplay becomes really dull.”
  • atmosphere
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals, unique art style, and immersive sound design, creating a surreal and engaging experience. Players appreciate the combination of hand-drawn artwork, effective voice acting, and evocative music that enhances the mysterious and inventive nature of the game. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautiful, dense, and integral to the gameplay, encouraging players to take their time and fully explore the environment.

    • “The game is beautiful and innovative, using amazing art, sweeping scene transitions, and incredible music to create a captivating atmosphere.”
    • “Incredible atmosphere (art, music, writing) that suited the esoteric story.”
    • “The atmosphere is stunning thanks to the sparse sound design, the stylized visuals, and the strangely detached but incredibly effective voiceover.”
    • “The terse prose and voice-over contribute to the weird atmosphere.”
    • “The audio features some cool tracks that really lean into that surrealist atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is picturesque, as you don't know what's coming next.”
  • music
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, effectively complementing the visuals and narrative. While some players appreciate the minimalistic and eerie soundtrack that suits the game's tone, others note that it can be sparse, with moments of silence that may detract from the experience. Overall, the combination of music, art, and voice acting creates a compelling and immersive environment, though opinions vary on the soundtrack's consistency throughout the game.

    • “The game is beautiful and innovative using amazing art, sweeping scene transitions, and incredible music and atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack is minimal and sparse, but suits the detached, ethereal feel of the narrative and visuals.”
    • “The visuals are beautiful and striking, and the music is haunting which really suits the vibe of the game.”
    • “Speaking of rave – you’d think the game will pull all the stops into roping music to serve its artistic force, but it opts out for leaving you in silence (besides wholesome sound effects) quite often.”
    • “There are ambient sounds but relatively little music.”
    • “I've been waiting for Phoenix Springs since I found out about it, more than a year ago when I was fascinated by its music.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it offers poignant moments, the staccato pacing and lack of musical accompaniment can diminish their impact, leaving players feeling disconnected from the narrative. The protagonist's robotic voice acting adds to the immersion but may also evoke a sense of emotional distance. Ultimately, the game's emotional resonance largely depends on the player's personal engagement and interpretation of its complex story.

    • “It made me feel like my emotions and worries are seen by others.”
    • “Overall, an emotionally compelling game with a unique perspective with distinct art style and game mechanics to match.”
    • “It's plot is obscured and nebulous, so what you get from it will depend largely on the effort you put in to contending with its convoluted puzzles, but also on the emotional state you bring to it, the baggage you carry and the expectations you hold.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by excellent voice acting and clever dialogue, with moments of deadpan and absurdity that enhance its charm. However, some players feel the game takes itself too seriously at times, suggesting that a bit more humor could improve the overall experience. Overall, it balances unsettling themes with moments of genuine wit.

    • “I thought the voice acting was hilarious and perfectly executed.”
    • “It was so funny to put together two obvious clues irrelevant to the current task only to hear Iris bluntly say 'yes.'”
    • “But what I will add is that I thought this was a particularly clever game that is kind of unsettling while also somehow being charming and at times funny.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of trying every lead with interactable objects. While the story becomes surreal and exploration can feel monotonous after reaching a certain point, many appreciate the game's art style, writing, and sound design, which help maintain engagement despite the grinding elements.

    • “Could have done a tiny bit to help players 'see' what they've done with objects as the game often boils down to 'try every lead with every interactable', which can get a bit tedious.”
    • “Without spoiling anything, the moment you reach Phoenix Springs, the story starts to become overly surreal (aka. makes no sense), and the exploration and gameplay also become tedious and repetitive.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game is notably enhanced by the singular voice actor's performance, which effectively engages players and complements the world-building, significantly advancing the narrative.

    • “The singular voice actor's performance is a fantastic choice that does much to keep the game engaging.”
    • “Her performance combined with the world-building does the most to move the narrative forward.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game's stability is generally good, with only minor issues noted, such as a specific bug involving double-clicking that can cause a scene transition to fail and revert back to the previous scene.

    • “The only buggy interaction I ran into personally was double-clicking on an area that would take you to a new 'scene,' only for it to flash and take you back to the previous one.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Phoenix Springs is a action game.

Phoenix Springs is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, Windows and others.

Phoenix Springs was released on October 7, 2024.

Phoenix Springs was developed by Calligram Studio.

Phoenix Springs has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Phoenix Springs is a single player game.

Similar games include Strangeland, The Night is Grey, NORCO, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, The Dream Machine and others.