Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

79%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

replayability, optimization

86% User Score Based on 527 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 17 reviews

Platforms

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About

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is a single player puzzle game with comedy and science fiction themes. It was developed by React Games and was released on April 19, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is a virtual reality adventure that continues the story of Raz and the Psychonauts. Immerse yourself in a paranormal world as you rescue the Grand Head of the Psychonauts from the dangerous Rhombus of Ruin. Using only your psychic powers, you must reunite your friends and free Truman before it's too late. This game is a must-play for fans of the original Psychonauts, offering a unique and mind-bending experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin screenshot

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 527 reviews

story65 positive mentions

replayability4 negative mentions

The game captures the charm and humor of the original Psychonauts, making it a delightful experience for fans.
Visually stunning environments and character designs that enhance the immersive VR experience.
Engaging puzzles that utilize psychic powers creatively, providing a unique gameplay experience.

The game is very short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price for some players.
Controls can be awkward, relying heavily on head movement rather than hand tracking, which may detract from the VR experience.
Some players may find the puzzles too easy or straightforward, lacking the challenge expected from a traditional adventure game.

story
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The story of "Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin" serves as a quirky and engaging bridge between the original "Psychonauts" and its sequel, expanding on character backstories and introducing new plot elements. While it is primarily a short VR experience with simple puzzles, fans of the series will appreciate its humor, charm, and the continuation of beloved characters' adventures. However, the game is not essential for newcomers, as it can be enjoyed through playthroughs on platforms like YouTube.
- “Absolutely fantastic continuation of the Psychonauts story!”
- “The adventure picks up right after the first game, with Raz and the Psychonauts team diving into a rescue mission that quickly spirals into a surreal underwater mystery.”
- “The story complements the Psychonauts world perfectly, and was very well thought out and written.”
- “Why they decided to make such an important part of the story a VR game despite the others being platformers is beyond me.”
- “Not much of a stand-alone story - it's all a short teaser towards Psychonauts 2; however, the character moments make up for it.”
- “The story itself is quite short and can even be finished in one go; however, if you want to relish the taste of returning to Psychonauts' universe, consider splitting your playthrough into a few sessions.”
gameplay
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click adventure style, featuring light exploration and puzzle-solving through the use of psychic powers, which some players find enjoyable, especially fans of the Psychonauts series. However, many reviews criticize the mechanics as basic and outdated, with limited interactivity and a short playtime of around 2 hours, leading to concerns about its value for the price. While the writing and art design receive praise, the overall gameplay experience is often described as lacking depth and innovation, making it feel more like an interactive story than a fully engaging game.
- “Gameplay is relaxed, with light exploration and puzzle-solving in a point-and-click adventure style where you feel like a real psychonaut using your psychic powers.”
- “The core gameplay involves entering people's minds, seeing their perspective, and using that to solve puzzles.”
- “While the gameplay is simpler than most VR titles, it makes up for it with that unique style and humor that only Double Fine can bring.”
- “Gameplay mechanics are really meh.”
- “For an hour of gameplay, $20 is too much.”
- “The gameplay is a bit stiff though, because you spend most of the time 'bound' to the spot of the person whose mind you invade.”
graphics
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The graphics in this game have received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers noting a significant improvement over its predecessor, showcasing vibrant colors, detailed environments, and a charming art style that enhances the overall experience, especially in VR. While some users pointed out minor issues like blurriness and lack of graphic options, the overall consensus is that the visuals are immersive and beautifully crafted, making it a standout title for fans of the series and VR enthusiasts alike.
- “Rhombus of Ruin is a sweet mini intermission for the true sequel game and it showcases a lot of the innovations and improvements in graphics for the first new Psychonauts game in over 12 years, with smoother models, great animation oozing with personality, and beautiful environmental set pieces retaining the whimsical and odd style.”
- “The graphics are top-notch and the voice acting is as excellent as ever.”
- “The visual design and graphics are really beautiful; it feels like you’re playing inside a Pixar movie.”
- “The game's graphics are also not very impressive, especially compared to other VR titles.”
- “The tutorial is confusing, almost no graphic options (like turning off anti-aliasing), which is killing the immersion and making everything blurry.”
- “From the music to the dialogue; even the upscaled models hold very true to a grotesque art style that’s only fit alongside mid-2000s PS2/Xbox games.”
humor
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is consistently praised, maintaining the charming and quirky style characteristic of the Psychonauts series, with witty dialogue and funny interactions that enhance the experience. While some reviewers noted a shift away from the darker humor of the original, the writing remains clever and engaging, delivering many laugh-out-loud moments throughout the gameplay. Overall, the game's humor, combined with its unique art style and character development, makes it a delightful continuation of the beloved franchise.
- “The game's humor, charm, and personality are intact, with witty dialogue and quirky characters.”
- “The writing and design are hilarious, as with most Double Fine games.”
- “It's short, it's funny, it's clever, and it also surprisingly looks really good!”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with players praising the enjoyable soundtrack, high-quality sound effects, and impressive voice acting. Highlights include a captivating James Bond-style intro song and a well-crafted original soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The music complements the game's art and humor, contributing to a memorable and engaging atmosphere.
- “This game also features an insanely awesome James Bond-type intro song/movie.”
- “I loved the art, the music, the writing, the setting, the acting...basically all of it.”
- “The presentation, writing, pacing, and music doesn't miss a beat, despite the 13 years between the games.”
- “The music box is broken, but this isn't mentioned. The handle is missing, leading you to think you need to find it. Instead, you need to put the music box on the desk and place a flea inside to fix it.”
- “For example, I was stuck on a bus and didn't know I had to turn the radio on, but one of the passengers was listening to music and jamming, which clued me in to turn the radio on.”
- “From the music to the dialogue; even the upscaled models hold very true to a grotesque art style that’s only fit alongside mid-2000s PS2/Xbox games.”
replayability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
53%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to its short playtime of around 2-3 hours and a lack of alternative gameplay paths. While some players mention minor replay value through achievements or goofing around in scenes, the consensus is that the game does not offer significant incentives for multiple playthroughs. Many reviewers suggest that the game is best enjoyed at a discounted price, given its limited content.
- “Always wanted this game since I played Psychonauts 2, and this game is a perfect replayable side story.”
- “I feel like it has good replay value as well because there are so many things to goof around with in each scene.”
- “This is a relatively light and short VR experience (although there's some easter egg achievements to add some replay value).”
- “It is also very short and not replayable.”
- “Near zero replay value, since you know exactly what has to be done - there are no 'alternative' ways through the game.”
- “The game can be completed in about three hours, with little replay value or extra content.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its faithful recreation of the original Psychonauts' unique style, humor, and charm, making it a strong re-entry point for fans. While some reviewers noted a slight loss of the darker elements and the immersive environments from the original, the overall experience remains cohesive, entertaining, and visually appealing, enhanced by nostalgic voice performances. The VR adaptation successfully captures the essence of the series, offering an inventive and immersive atmosphere.
- “It captures the unique atmosphere and style of the original rather nicely.”
- “Great atmosphere and very inventive and immersive use of VR.”
- “But it is a perfect follow-up for Psychonauts; it perfectly captures the atmosphere of the original game and puts it to good use.”
- “It was a great re-entry point to the Psychonauts franchise after so long, and probably maintains the atmosphere of the original game quite a bit better than the full sequel does, though even by this point some of the darker edges of Psychonauts were beginning to be sanded off.”
- “I enjoyed Psychonauts, and this VR rendition is true to the series; not a platformer, but the atmosphere and characters are true to the title.”
- “In any case, a good first VR game for Psychonauts and it captured the atmosphere and personality of the world well in my opinion.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply engaging, particularly through its charming characters and a poignant finale that resonates with fans of the original Psychonauts. The game effectively evokes nostalgia and sympathy, especially for those familiar with the series, while newcomers may miss the emotional weight of certain moments. Overall, the blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling leaves a lasting impact on players.
- “It's a chance to learn a bit more about the charming main characters of Psychonauts, with genuinely funny bits and an arresting and emotional finale.”
- “And then... they made me feel sympathy for a character we always thought was a one-sided Disney-like villain!”
- “I almost can't recommend this game if you haven't played the original game pretty much almost to the end... lots of callbacks and jokes from the original Psychonauts game, and a surprise character return near the end and the emotional baggage you reveal will be impactfully meaningful to someone who hasn't played Psychonauts 1.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's optimization is generally praised for providing a comfortable experience, particularly with its teleportation motion mechanics that minimize motion sickness. However, some users report graphic issues such as blurriness, latency, and stuttering, indicating that VR optimization could be improved. Overall, while many find it runs smoothly without significant bugs, there are notable performance concerns for certain users.
- “Very well optimized for comfort; I couldn't imagine someone getting motion sick from this because all the motion is teleports.”
- “Runs very well and is fully optimized with no bugs or hiccups.”
- “Not optimized very well for VR.”
- “Graphic issues such as blurry images, latency, stuttering, and framerate spikes are prevalent.”
- “Performance issues detract from the overall experience.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's stability is mixed; while it runs smoothly without stuttering and features impressive graphics, users report bugs, particularly with newer VR sets, and express frustration over the need for troubleshooting and additional software. Overall, it may be worth purchasing on sale if you're willing to deal with these issues.
- “It runs great with no stuttering, and the textures/models blew me away.”
- “Runs great, minimal repro.”
- “If you're asking for money, troubleshooting and extra software shouldn't be necessary to play your game.”
- “Pretty buggy with newer VR sets.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, particularly during the "travel from point A to B" segments, which can slow down the overall experience. Additionally, some users noted that the game feels unpolished, leading to frustrating moments that require restarts.
- “The grinding in this game feels excessively tedious, making the experience drag on longer than it should.”
- “I found the travel segments from point A to B to be slow and monotonous, which detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The grinding mechanics are unpolished and can lead to frustrating moments, requiring unnecessary restarts and adjustments.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game offers valuable insights into the backstory and character development between the first and second installments of the series, despite its short length. Players appreciate the depth of character development, particularly for unexpected characters, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
- “Although it's a short experience, it does give some insight into what happened between Psychonauts 1 and 2, along with important backstory and character developments.”
- “Great game with great character development regarding some unsuspecting characters.”
- “The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the game; their arcs felt predictable and uninspired.”
- “While the game has potential, the character development is shallow, leaving many storylines unresolved and characters feeling one-dimensional.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for this game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it offers insufficient content for its price, particularly in the context of a beloved franchise transitioning to virtual reality. Many believe that the developers have not delivered a product that justifies the cost, leading to disappointment among fans.
- “This seems almost like a Psychonauts-branded cash grab.”
- “Oftentimes, when a console-born franchise steps into the world of virtual reality, fans are treated to a $40, 10-minute-long cash grab made by developers who are too lazy or inexperienced to give people what they paid for.”

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 17 critic reviews

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is a puzzle game with comedy and science fiction themes.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Virtual Reality, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin was released on April 19, 2018.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin was developed by React Games.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin 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 replayability.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is a single player game.

Similar games include The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed, Batman: Arkham VR, Moss, I Expect You to Die, The Room VR: A Dark Matter and others.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin

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