Psychonauts

Psychonauts has a group of unforgettable characters in an imaginative setting that unfortunately takes place inside a middling platformer. It could be a great cartoon, but as a game, it's far from perfect.

83%Game Brain Score

story, humor

grinding, stability

96% User Score Based on 7,543 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Psychonauts" is a popular action/adventure platformer game that follows the story of a young psychic named Raz. Raz breaks into a secret training facility, Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp, to join the Psychonauts and uncover the mystery of kidnapped campers and stolen brains. Using psychic abilities, players explore the minds of various characters, facing mental demons, hidden memories, and emotional challenges. This game provides a unique and intriguing look into the human psyche.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,549 reviews

story1k positive mentions

grinding95 negative mentions

story
1,930 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The story of *Psychonauts* is widely praised for its creativity, humor, and depth, weaving a narrative that explores the complexities of the human mind through the eyes of Razputin, a young psychic. Players navigate various imaginative levels that represent different characters' psyches, each filled with unique challenges and backstories that enhance the overall experience. While some reviewers noted gameplay issues, the engaging plot and memorable characters consistently shine, making it a beloved classic in the platforming genre.
- “Through amazing storytelling skills, an incredibly unique art direction, stunning and fluid animation, and so much more... this game has so much to offer in terms of story and world.”
- “The way story and level design intertwine as you explore the minds of various characters is nothing short of brilliant, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this cult classic game, no nostalgia bias.”
- “The story writing, characters, art style, and jokes are brilliant and memorable.”
- “The story is where the game shines.”
- “The story itself is very cartoonish while having surreal moments and keeping a serious and almost horrific undertone.”
- “The pacing grinds to a near halt when you reach the asylum and I had a hard time understanding how these new characters fit into the story.”
humor
1,269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Psychonauts" is widely praised for its clever writing, quirky characters, and a blend of dark and whimsical elements that resonate with both younger and older audiences. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance absurdity with deeper themes, resulting in genuinely funny moments that often evoke laughter throughout the gameplay. The dialogue is noted for being particularly witty and engaging, contributing to the game's charm and making it a memorable experience.
- “The game's witty dialogue and clever humor add a touch of levity to the adventure, making you chuckle and smile throughout your journey.”
- “Psychonauts is a hilarious take on the platforming genre and has some of the best writing I have ever seen in a game.”
- “The humor serves to constantly lighten the mood and never allow the game to become overly dark.”
- “Unfunny, unremarkable, and ugly to look at.”
gameplay
1,251 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
6%
The gameplay of *Psychonauts* is a mixed bag, with many players noting its charm and creativity but also acknowledging its dated mechanics and occasional jankiness. While the platforming and combat can feel clunky and frustrating at times, particularly in later levels, the game compensates with unique level designs, engaging psychic abilities, and a humorous narrative that keeps players invested. Overall, despite its flaws, the gameplay is often described as enjoyable and fun, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.
- “Psychonauts is an absolute gem, and my best way to summarize it is: it's an action-packed 3D platformer, made by point-and-click devs. The writing is amazing, and the gameplay mechanics are super fun to play around with.”
- “The gameplay combines platforming, puzzle-solving, and psychic abilities, offering a unique and engaging experience.”
- “The gameplay is a joy, with a mix of acrobatic platforming and psychic abilities that allow Razputin to interact with the world in unique and inventive ways.”
- “It is admittedly weak when it comes to the gameplay, and the pacing has some issues on a first playthrough.”
- “The gameplay feels dated and a bit janky; some levels are just poorly executed and a lot of the systems feel unnecessary.”
- “The platforming can be downright jank, the puzzles can be frustrating, and the core gameplay loop outside of the actual platforming in the levels is a collect-a-thon.”
graphics
968 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The graphics of *Psychonauts* have received mixed reviews, reflecting its status as a game from 2005. While many players acknowledge that the visuals are dated and exhibit some technical issues, they often praise the unique and whimsical art style that has allowed the game to age gracefully. The cartoonish aesthetic, reminiscent of Tim Burton's work, contributes to the game's charm and helps to convey its imaginative themes, making it a memorable experience despite its graphical limitations.
- “The graphics have aged very well for how old it is (2005!!), and the story is awesome.”
- “The game features a vibrant and visually stunning art style that brings the bizarre and whimsical mental landscapes to life.”
- “The graphics may seem a little dated, but the cartoonish art style is pretty good and made the characters look even funnier.”
- “Overrated honestly, and a lot of graphics bugs running on Mac.”
- “It certainly does not help either that it is an old game, and you can certainly feel it in all senses (graphics, music, controls, mechanics...).”
- “The graphics are dated, but have aged well.”
music
303 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
48%
3%
The music in "Psychonauts" is widely praised for its creativity and ability to enhance the game's whimsical atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the diverse and memorable soundtrack that complements each unique level. While some players found certain tracks lacking or repetitive, the overall consensus is that the music is engaging and fits well with the game's quirky narrative and character designs. Composed by Peter McConnell, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack is superb, from the opening background music to each level's design, the themes blend together to truly make an immersive world to enjoy and explore.”
- “The music in Psychonauts is fantastic, to the point where I showed a friend who doesn't usually take game suggestions a few of the songs and he decided to buy the game because of them!”
- “The music is excellent, ranging over a wide variety of genres and styles; every track is fitting for the scenario, mood, and scene.”
- “The music wasn't amazing, and there sometimes was no music during parts of levels.”
- “The music is nothing to write home about, but it's got some creative character & level design that captures well the mental instabilities / insecurities everyday people can face.”
- “The real worst thing I can think of is how music would just abruptly cut off at times, or it would pop in during cutscenes, clashing with the cutscene audio for a little bit.”
grinding
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
7%
90%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding certain elements, such as collecting items and completing achievements, to be tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the challenge and creativity of the gameplay, others feel that the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, particularly in specific levels and during collectible hunts. Overall, the game is seen as fun and engaging, but it suffers from moments of unnecessary grind that can frustrate players.
- “Obviously the plot is not that complicated nor original, but it was well balanced and not tedious at all throughout my 15 hours of gameplay.”
- “Collecting everything wasn't too tedious, but getting to level 101 was a pain.”
- “It’s rarely frustrating, although it can be, and collecting everything isn't as tedious as it sounds.”
- “The gameplay is generally really fun, and boasts lots of different things to do (grinding, floating, climbing), but some parts require unnecessary grinding to progress.”
- “Collecting one-by-one arrowheads by smacking some background objects is tedious, time-consuming, and I recommend the use of a cheat code, like I did.”
- “The only con is that gathering the various collectibles can get tedious, especially if you aim for 100% completion.”
emotional
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and humorous storytelling, which effectively balances lighthearted moments with deeper themes of self-discovery, mental health, and personal growth. Players appreciate the unique mechanics of collecting "emotional baggage" and "figments," which serve as metaphors for addressing psychological issues, creating a rich narrative experience that resonates on multiple levels. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke genuine emotional responses, making it a memorable and impactful journey.
- “The inclusion of emotional baggage features adds a distinctive and intriguing layer to the game, showcasing its creativity and depth.”
- “Psychonauts weaves a captivating and emotional storyline that touches upon themes of self-discovery, friendship, and personal growth.”
- “The method of character development through literally exploring the minds of characters and learning about their memories and motivations through their 'emotional baggage' and interpreting the scenery around you... it's brilliant, both from a storytelling and game design perspective.”
character development
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
Character development in *Psychonauts* is widely praised for its creativity and depth, with players appreciating the unique and quirky character designs that reflect their personalities. The game effectively uses level design to explore characters' backstories and emotional states, enhancing the narrative experience. While some designs may be polarizing, the overall writing, voice acting, and imaginative storytelling contribute to a memorable and engaging character development experience.
- “The character development is really good, with the vaults providing you enough information to understand their actions and choices.”
- “The method of character development through literally exploring the minds of characters and learning about their memories and motivations through their 'emotional baggage' and interpreting the scenery around you... it's brilliant, both from a storytelling and game design perspective.”
- “The impressive amount of thought that went into level and character design, plus the humorous writing, make this an enjoyable experience up to the last minute.”
- “I'm not given any actual character development; I have to make it up for everyone.”
- “The game is a cult classic for a good reason; however, I will say the graphics and character design have not aged well.”
- “The character designs are not based on traditional aesthetic values, but still create a diverse cast who, while a great many of them are barely mentioned in the actual plot, are prominent in the many little side affairs that make up camp life (which I found created a realism in a place where not too many would expect it).”
atmosphere
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
35%
4%
The atmosphere in "Psychonauts" is widely praised for its imaginative level design, whimsical yet slightly eerie tone, and vibrant art style, which together create a unique and immersive experience. The game's soundtrack complements its surreal environments, enhancing the overall charm and emotional depth of the narrative. Reviewers highlight the distinct character interactions and the rich, detailed worlds that make exploration enjoyable, solidifying the game's status as a standout in terms of atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere is also top notch; so many areas are still etched into my mind, from the milkman’s mind to that little room in the camp store with the TV in it. Each area feels so humanly crafted, so personal.”
- “The soundtrack of Psychonauts perfectly complements the game's offbeat and whimsical atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere it delivers is truly magnificent, and the cartoonish nature of everything complements the whimsical nature of the human mind.”
- “The graphics obviously cannot be compared to recent games, but I think it adds to the bizarre Salvador Dali-Tim Burton-esque atmosphere.”
- “This game is far more about atmosphere and story than it is gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack in this game is wonderful and fits right in with the general creepy atmosphere of the game.”
stability
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in platforming segments and during boss fights. While some users experienced no significant issues, others found the game to be frustratingly janky, especially on certain platforms like Steam Deck and Windows 10. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and nostalgic, players should be prepared for a potentially buggy experience.
- “It runs great on modern hardware and runs perfectly.”
- “A very fun game that I liked a lot. It plays great with an Xbox One controller and looks and runs great at 4K max with a GTX 1080 and 5800X.”
- “Because of this, it runs great on my computer.”
- “It's buggy and poorly designed.”
- “This is an adventure platformer and the platforming part is easily one of the most frustrating buggy messes I have ever played.”
- “Literally unplayable on Windows 10, freezes after a few seconds of gameplay.”
replayability
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
49%
10%
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly replayable due to hidden items, collectibles, and engaging gameplay, others criticize its linear story and lack of significant replay value after the initial playthrough. Many appreciate the charm and humor that encourage revisiting the game, but some feel that the overall experience does not warrant multiple playthroughs. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some considering it a classic with high replay value, while others see it as limited in that regard.
- “The game has a lot of replayability; I could beat the game 10 times and still want to play it more.”
- “Despite its old age, the replay value and fun factor of this game is off the charts.”
- “A fun game with casual elements that give this game a lot of replay value as well.”
- “It just felt like unfortunate filler to give more replayability to what is admittedly a pretty small game.”
- “10 dollars for a roughly 10-hour experience with very little replay value is a bit of a bad deal to me; I can excuse it for the level design and concepts the game experiments with alone.”
- “The only bad thing is a low replay value after you beat the game.”
optimization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
39%
33%
Overall, the optimization of the game is inconsistent, with many players experiencing performance issues such as stuttering, crashes, and graphical bugs, particularly on modern hardware. While some users report smooth gameplay without major problems, others find the game unplayable due to significant lag and optimization shortcomings. The lack of updates for modern systems and the presence of technical glitches detract from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
- “It runs smoothly on PC without installing mods, has controller support and logical keyboard controls, levels cooked with imagination, classic American summer camp atmosphere, decent characters and fun gameplay.”
- “On the technical side, the game runs smoothly without any problems on modern systems and I haven't encountered any bugs on my playthrough.”
- “I'm not all that far into this game so far but from what I have played, the game's a lot of fun with a pretty good story, and it demands very little in terms of PC performance so even if your PC is an absolute potato, it should run just fine.”
- “Be aware that Psychonauts is not optimized whatsoever for modern PCs!”
- “This was a fun game with an enjoyable story hindered by poor boss battle design, janky camera, no optimization, and a smattering of other annoyances.”
- “Sadly, this title was not optimized for PC, and features such as gamepad support were not available, rendering the game nigh unplayable.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The game's monetization strategy is praised for its absence of microtransactions, season passes, and DLC, allowing players to enjoy the full experience without additional costs. However, its poor advertising and marketing efforts led to a lack of recognition and sales, overshadowing its true potential.
- “It didn't get the attention and recognition it truly deserved, due to horrible commercial advertising it shared around the day it launched.”
- “The advertising campaign made it sound like a horror game.”
- “No microtransactions, no season passes, no DLC, no broken servers.”