Qora

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 315 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Qora Game Cover
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Qora is a peaceful adventure RPG in which a man who has recently moved to a small mountain village finds himself wandering through an ancient and whimsical land. Endowed with the power to glance into an alternate world, you must trek into the unknown landscape to discover the story of your new home and the mysteries of a forgotten realm.  Designed by Holden Boyles Programmed by Ciprian Stanciu …

  • Mac OS
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 315 reviews
story62 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and relaxing soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere.
  • The game offers a unique and intriguing story that encourages exploration.
  • Humorous dialogue and quirky characters add charm to the experience.
  • Gameplay is extremely slow and repetitive, often requiring players to hold the right arrow key for long periods.
  • Limited interactivity with minimal gameplay mechanics makes it feel more like a visual novel than a game.
  • The ending is disappointing and feels disconnected from the rest of the narrative.
  • story197 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing themes and beautiful presentation, while others criticize it for being simplistic, fragmented, or lacking depth. Many reviews highlight that the narrative often feels secondary to the visuals and atmosphere, leading to a more passive experience rather than an engaging gameplay-driven story. Overall, it seems to cater to those who enjoy a relaxed, story-focused journey rather than a traditional gaming experience.

    • “The world of Qora is full of intrigue and mystery, and the story is an absorbing, story-driven experience that will leave a lasting impression.”
    • “Beautiful game and very touching story.”
    • “The story captivates you once you start the actual plot, with a lore ever so mysterious that keeps you playing in order to find out everything about it.”
    • “This game has no story, no message, and no greater meaning.”
    • “While there is a story told, it's very bare-bones and other events that are randomly jammed in along the way leave me more confused than satisfied.”
    • “The story was so sparsely spread that I wouldn't be surprised if someone forgot it between pieces of the story.”
  • music153 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric and relaxing qualities, particularly in enhancing the overall experience. However, some players criticized it for being repetitive, basic, or poorly looped, detracting from the immersion. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and fitting, it may not be memorable for all players, and its simplicity can lead to a sense of monotony over time.

    • “The game features gorgeous pixel-art graphics and a wonderful low-fi soundtrack that perfectly punctuates the setting.”
    • “The music is simply breathtaking, the environments are varied and beautiful, and the entire journey just felt so rewarding.”
    • “Qora takes you on a visually beautiful adventure with atmospheric music and charming character encounters.”
    • “The music is incredibly basic and sounds like it was created and edited by a non-musician (the last track in the village doesn't even loop properly).”
    • “The music gets old real fast.”
    • “Same with the music, there were some pretty themes, but the repetition quickly irritated me.”
  • gameplay104 mentions

    The gameplay in "Qora" is largely criticized for being minimal and repetitive, primarily consisting of walking along a linear path with few interactive elements. Many reviewers describe it as a walking simulator with little challenge or engagement, often leading to boredom due to its slow pace and lack of meaningful mechanics. While the visuals and storytelling are appreciated, they do not compensate for the absence of substantial gameplay, making it more of an artistic experience than a traditional game.

    • “The gameplay consists of walking, talking to other characters, experiencing both an intriguing story and a beautiful world.”
    • “The smoothness of the gameplay is simply satisfying, and the sceneries never fail to impress, dropping my jaw each time I enter a new map.”
    • “Overall, if you like calm, story-driven games, with little to no real gameplay - this one's probably worth picking up.”
    • “Most of your time is wasted walking to the right, reusing repetitive jumping and climbing animations to navigate a literal straight line of an environment that purposefully pads out the non-existent gameplay.”
    • “Beautiful art and music, but absolutely no gameplay whatsoever.”
    • “There is little to no gameplay, which doesn't matter since the game is meant to be a storytelling and atmospheric game.”
  • graphics84 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style, which creates a serene and immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the minimalist yet detailed visuals, complemented by a fitting soundtrack, although some note that the simplistic character animations can detract from the overall aesthetic. While the visuals are often described as stunning and nostalgic, opinions vary on their impact on gameplay, with some feeling that the focus on graphics overshadows interactive elements.

    • “The game features gorgeous pixel-art graphics and a wonderful low-fi soundtrack that perfectly punctuates the setting.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, unique environments, and a compelling story.”
    • “Gorgeous pixel graphics and beautifully composed music combine to create a magical, otherworldly atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are oversimplistic which is distracting; of course, this is the visual style the developers wanted, but it falls flat.”
    • “I don’t know, the advertised screenshots were pretty, but I quickly found the visuals monotonous.”
    • “A crippling lack of interaction causes this game to rely on its (admittedly very pretty) visuals and sound.”
  • humor53 mentions

    The humor in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its quirky and dry wit, while others find it forced or ill-timed, detracting from the overall experience. Many highlight moments of funny dialogue and amusing character interactions, but there are criticisms regarding the reliance on pop culture references and cringeworthy jokes that feel out of place. Overall, while the humor can be charming and entertaining at times, it often struggles to align with the game's more serious themes, leading to a disjointed experience for some players.

    • “The humor is great, and it looks and sounds great.”
    • “The occasional humor, including fourth-wall breaks, provides a counterpoint to an otherwise serious and in some cases even dark story, especially during the 'good' ending, unlocked by lighting all shrines.”
    • “The creators have a uniquely charming sense of humor that is especially evident when you unlock the true ending.”
  • atmosphere43 mentions

    The atmosphere of Qora is widely praised for its beautiful pixel art, immersive music, and serene ambiance, creating a captivating and relaxing experience for players. While some reviews note that the game's minimal gameplay can detract from the overall experience, many appreciate its focus on exploration and storytelling within a visually stunning world. However, a few critics argue that the humor and writing can clash with the otherwise enchanting atmosphere, impacting immersion.

    • “Overall, I highly recommend Qora to fans of adventure and exploration games, as well as anyone who loves beautiful, atmospheric game worlds.”
    • “Qora takes you on a visually beautiful adventure with atmospheric music and charming character encounters.”
    • “Gorgeous pixel graphics and beautifully composed music combine to create a magical, otherworldly atmosphere.”
    • “I wouldn't necessarily hate Qora's writing in another game, but here it clashes with the aesthetic atmosphere so badly.”
    • “Such a game needs to strongly immerse the player in the atmosphere and/or in the story in order to make any sense, and if the immersion is lost (or even stumbles), the game experience plunges in moments.”
    • “However, silly 'random' humor and recycled jokes kill the atmosphere at every turn.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    The reviews consistently highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively tedious, with slow movement and mundane tasks detracting from the overall experience. While the visuals and atmosphere are praised, many players find the gameplay mechanics frustratingly repetitive and lacking in excitement, making it difficult to recommend for those seeking a more engaging experience.

    • “+ no tedious backtracking!”
    • “That would be okay if navigating the environment were fun, but it's tedious.”
    • “It's charming and visually beautiful, but the gameplay gets very tedious very quickly.”
    • “While most components of the game were great, the game overall was utterly tedious.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    Overall, the reviews indicate that "qora" offers some replayability through multiple endings, but many players find the overall replay value limited, with average playthroughs lasting only 2-3 hours. While the soundtrack is praised, the lack of substantial features and the steep price make it difficult for some to justify keeping the game in their library. Ultimately, it seems best suited for a single playthrough rather than repeated sessions.

    • “With multiple endings, Qora offers replayability and a reason to explore the game all over again.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing and it offers replayability value to some degree.”
    • “If you want it, wait for a sale because it's not very long and the replay value is almost nonexistent unless you feel like unlocking the special features.”
    • “Conclusion: worth playing once, but the lack of features and replay value makes it hard to justify holding on to in a permanent library.”
    • “However, this is the kind of thing you 'play' through just once because there is no replay value whatsoever.”
    • “The price also seems a bit too steep since replayability is limited and the average playthrough is apparently about 3 hours.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to foster a connection with the developers and evoke feelings through its touching story and heart-warming moments. However, some players felt let down by the gameplay and narrative, suggesting that while there are emotional highs, they may not be consistently engaging. Overall, the game resonates emotionally for some, but not for all.

    • “My favorite thing about the game is that simply engaging with it made me feel like I was getting to know the developers.”
    • “Definitely worth a play, especially if you are feeling emotional.”
    • “Beautiful game and very touching story.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story was lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I felt no emotional investment in the plot; it was predictable and uninspiring.”
    • “The game failed to evoke any real feelings, leaving me indifferent to the outcomes.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been heavily criticized, with users noting significantly longer load times compared to other titles like Skyrim and Dead Space. Many feel that the game's performance issues detract from the overall experience, likening it more to a poorly optimized art demonstration than a fully realized game.

    • “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
    • “I love how the developers have fine-tuned every aspect of the game, making it run seamlessly without any noticeable lag.”
    • “The attention to detail in optimization really enhances the overall experience, ensuring that players can enjoy the game without technical interruptions.”
    • “By comparison, I can launch Skyrim or Dead Space faster than Qora - that's right... that's how badly it's optimized.”
    • “I'm not just unimpressed by the game itself, but also by how badly it's optimized.”
    • “I don't know if you could actually call it a game; it's more like a demonstration of how to combine beautiful pixels and good music to create something akin to interactive retro digital performance art.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game's monetization strategy has drawn criticism for being overly intrusive, with players noting that it often feels like a vehicle for advertisements rather than a cohesive gaming experience. This detracts from the overall enjoyment, as the humor intended to engage players falls flat amidst the promotional content.

    • “The game feels more like a cash grab than a genuine experience, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game purchases.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game without shelling out extra cash.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, detracting from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the gameplay.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the landscape art received praise, the character designs were generally considered lacking, with the exception of the well-designed "ancient creatures." Overall, the character development left players feeling underwhelmed.

    • “The landscape art was well done, but I was left feeling pretty flat in terms of the character designs, except for the 'ancient creatures' you will meet, which did have good art design.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, noting that the game often slows down considerably and can freeze, particularly when alt-tabbing.

    • “But this game just slows down to a crawl - at times it even freezes when I alt-tab.”
    • “The frequent crashes make it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experience constant lag spikes that ruin the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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