Quern: Undying Thoughts

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Quern: Undying Thoughts is a first-person puzzle adventure game. Explore the mysterious ancient island of Quern and solve its challenging puzzles to uncover the secrets of the island's past. Immerse yourself in the game's rich atmosphere and intricate story, and discover the island's connection to your own past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,151 reviews

story389 positive mentions

optimization17 negative mentions

Quern offers a beautifully crafted world with stunning visuals and a captivating atmosphere, reminiscent of the Myst series.
The puzzles are well-designed, challenging yet logical, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon completion.
The game features a unique notebook mechanic that allows players to take in-game sketches and notes, enhancing the puzzle-solving experience.

Some puzzles can be overly complicated or tedious, requiring excessive backtracking and trial-and-error, which may frustrate players.
The story is relatively weak and often feels secondary to the puzzles, lacking depth and engagement.
Performance issues, such as lag and frame drops, can detract from the overall experience, especially on lower-end systems.

story
895 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in "Quern" is often described as intriguing yet somewhat thin, serving primarily as a backdrop to the game's puzzles. While some players appreciated the atmospheric world and the gradual unfolding of the narrative through letters and environmental storytelling, others found the plot predictable and lacking depth compared to classics like "Myst." Overall, the game is recommended for its engaging puzzles, with the story being a supplementary element that enhances the experience rather than the main focus.
- “The story is engaging and quizzical enough to keep your interest.”
- “The story builds up to a climax which was kind of obvious, but that still makes this game a must play if you enjoy games like Myst.”
- “Quern perfectly captures the mystery and intrigue of Myst by telling a brand new story that had me hooked from the very start.”
- “The story feels bare-bones and rather shallow.”
- “The story is a bit contrived and basic.”
- “The storyline is shallow and predictable, conveyed through plain uninteresting letters with some voiceover, the puzzles themselves don't even pretend to fit organically into the world.”
graphics
497 mentions
59 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and immersive quality, with many players noting the stunning visuals and detailed environments that enhance the overall atmosphere. However, some users have reported performance issues, such as low frame rates and the need to adjust settings for smoother gameplay, which can detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally praised, optimization remains a concern for some players, particularly on lower-end systems.
- “The graphics, the world they created, the storyline, were absolutely amazing.”
- “The graphics are stunning and the accompanying soundtrack adds to the overall experience.”
- “From the moment you step foot on the mysterious island, you are captivated by the stunning visuals and immersive soundscapes that transport you to a realm unlike any other.”
- “On the negative side, the game runs with low fps; I had to modify graphic settings in order to increase fps.”
- “Be aware upon picking the game up though, the graphics are not exactly well optimized.”
- “The game takes 15 minutes to load (after a fresh computer reboot) and runs below one frame per second whenever you're moving the mouse - on the lowest graphical settings!”
music
358 mentions
63 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its atmospheric quality, beautifully complementing the visuals and enhancing the overall immersive experience. Many players found the soundtrack soothing and fitting for the game's environment, although some noted that it could become repetitive in certain areas. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its myst-like ambiance and engaging puzzle-solving atmosphere.
- “The music is beautiful, the sound effects are spot-on, and some of the reveals are simply breathtaking.”
- “The music enhances the immersion, and the gentle fades in and out when moving from one environment to another is perfectly done.”
- “The soundtrack is very well laid out to fit the scenery you are in currently.”
- “The first major problem is that there is just too much music.”
- “The only flaw I have in mind is about the music which is localized in space, causing some of them to be kind of repetitive and often changing when you endlessly wander in the island to find clues.”
- “I guess the music is a personal preference, but I found it really annoying and turned it off to listen to other games' soundtracks after a while.”
gameplay
274 mentions
30 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Quern" is widely praised for its challenging and innovative puzzles, which often require logical thinking and real-world problem-solving skills. Players appreciate the game's beautiful environments and the seamless integration of various mechanics, although some note that the gameplay can feel linear and occasionally repetitive. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience reminiscent of classic puzzle games like "Myst," with a significant amount of content that keeps players engaged for many hours.
- “Great puzzles, challenging without being overly obscure and varied while still having some overlap in mechanics.”
- “The long and short of it is that, if you want an escape room type experience, purely gameplay-wise this is about the best game in that genre.”
- “I really love the progression of difficulty; all the puzzles were so rewarding to figure out and often satisfying as you interact with large mechanical machines and magic around you.”
- “The gameplay is linear yet layered: you'll think you're done with an area then bam there's more to it.”
- “However, where it could have been improved is that the story and gameplay is very linear, despite being in an open-world environment.”
- “The variety of puzzles also means there isn’t any single core mechanic that gets harder over time - it’s just a bunch of once-and-done challenges.”
atmosphere
193 mentions
76 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and beautiful design, reminiscent of classic titles like Myst and Riven. Reviewers highlight the stunning visuals, engaging music, and a mysterious ambiance that enhances the puzzle-solving experience, creating a captivating world that draws players in. While some mention occasional repetitiveness or a lack of dynamic elements, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “It's a beautiful puzzle game, great atmosphere and scenery; I was really amazed by the graphics to be honest because they're so good that I can't find another word to describe them.”
- “The entire game is steeped in atmosphere and immersive visuals that, along with the great soundtrack, makes it feel like a homage to everything Cyan has done with Myst over the years.”
- “The atmosphere is perfect, the exact mix of mystery and creepiness that makes the world feel alien and keeps you on edge.”
- “The atmosphere seems a bit dry and non-dynamic.”
- “Dull monochromatic atmosphere, little storyline to captivate interest.”
- “Besides the few inevitably frustrating or obtuse puzzle solutions, the only real disappointment for me was the homogeneous atmosphere of the environment and the textural limitations.”
optimization
78 mentions
17 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and long loading times, even on high-end systems. While the visuals are praised for their beauty, they come at a cost to performance, leading to a frustrating experience for many users. Despite some patches aimed at improving performance, the consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, making it challenging to enjoy fully.
- “Visuals are really beautiful and detailed, although some optimization wouldn't hurt as my potato machine had some trouble running it smoothly (but I refused to lower the settings too much, so this one's probably on me).”
- “The graphics look nice, but I feel the performance could be improved a bit.”
- “Only real issue is performance.”
- “The game is so poorly optimized it's almost unplayable.”
- “Visuals are nice but performance is lacking for what you get; reflections and shadows cost far too much in FPS for what you get.”
- “Quern's unreasonably taxing on any hardware is due to how the devs built the game like two-ton weights dropped on your GPU and RAM, and if your PC can handle the strain, the devs consider it 'optimized', which is far from it.”
grinding
71 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of tedious and challenging puzzles, with many players finding certain tasks repetitive and frustrating. While some puzzles offer satisfying "a-ha" moments, others are criticized for being overly convoluted or requiring excessive backtracking, leading to a sense of tedium that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as having a significant number of tedious elements, particularly in its puzzle design, which may require players to rely on walkthroughs to navigate effectively.
- “I had to get out the pen and paper often; for small additions, it was challenging but not tedious.”
- “This might sound like needless backtracking, but it's woven neatly into the story, so it feels immersive, not tedious.”
- “It was tedious and annoying, and I just plainly didn't feel like it.”
- “Many unintuitive tedious puzzles that cannot be completed without consulting external online walkthrough hints.”
- “The game is obnoxiously tedious.”
stability
23 mentions
13 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report minor glitches and graphical issues, most do not find them game-breaking and can be resolved with quick fixes like reloading or restarting. Some users experienced significant bugs, particularly on certain platforms, but others noted a smooth experience without major problems. Despite the presence of occasional bugs, the game is generally considered playable and enjoyable.
- “The game runs 'straight out of the box' and appears to be bug-free.”
- “A must-have for fans of Myst and Rhem... big up to the developers, no glitches or bugs throughout the whole game, despite not even matching the minimum requirements on my graphics card.”
- “I've played this on Linux, and it runs great, with no issues whatsoever.”
- “The game is still buggy long after release.”
- “Every time I click 'new game,' it goes to the loading page, then freezes my computer!!!”
- “While I appreciate the game having launch-day Mac support, it was buggy to the point that it would not load (the discussion board has at least two other reports of the same issue with no given solution).”
emotional
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke nostalgia and deep feelings, with players experiencing a range of emotions from joy to sadness. While some felt a lack of investment in the story and choices, many praised the touching narrative and immersive world that resonated with them, often drawing comparisons to the Myst series. Overall, the game successfully combines challenging puzzles with a heartfelt story, leaving players with a lasting emotional impact.
- “Absolutely fantastic, beautiful and touching game which can totally hold up with the Myst series!”
- “The world is beautiful, the gameplay elegant, the hint system seamless and the story - oh the story <3 I cried my eyes out when I finished this game.”
- “Usually puzzle games don't have great stories but Quern really has an emotional story without using annoying cutscenes and without telling much about it: it's just the game as it is, it has an immersive soundtrack and when you beat the game it leaves you with a great moral question.”
replayability
15 mentions
13 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has very low replayability, primarily due to its puzzle-solving nature, where once players have completed the challenges and experienced the endings, there is little incentive to revisit. Many reviewers suggest waiting for a discount before purchasing, as the limited replay value does not justify the full price.
- “I guess that it has good replay value after a period of time.”
- “There's not a lot of replayability, but that's to be expected from a puzzle game.”
- “I feel the game is a little bit overpriced which, combined with the fact there is virtually no replay value in a game like this, makes it one to put in the 'wait for a discount in a sale' category rather than the 'buy it now at full price' category.”
- “Despite multiple endings, there's not much replayability for the game.”
- “As with the nature of puzzle games though, they lack replay value because once you know how to do the puzzles, there’s not much reason to play it again.”
humor
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding amusement in the absurdity of specific puzzle requirements, while others feel frustrated by the lack of clarity and the presence of misleading indicators. Overall, the humor seems to stem from a mix of irony and unexpected game mechanics, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “The forge ladder puzzle made me laugh, as I 'technically' could have used any of the iron bars tying around to do the same thing, but had to use the 'specific brand' of ladder.”
- “The funny thing is, I started and then stopped for a few days, thinking I wasn't going to enjoy it.”
- “Funny thing is, I've been in game development for years, and I've never worked on a game that had a wrong indicator like that.”
- “Not funny at all!”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the humor was stale.”
monetization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features a monetization model that is free from micro-transactions or in-game purchases, providing a straightforward experience without additional costs.
- “It's great to see a game that doesn't rely on microtransactions or in-game purchases.”
- “I appreciate that there are no additional costs after the initial purchase; it feels fair.”
- “The absence of microtransactions really enhances the overall experience.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, with few characters and limited backstory, which detracts from the overall experience. However, players appreciate the game's immersive environment and the opportunity for introspection, suggesting that the lack of character depth does not significantly impact their enjoyment.
- “The character development in this game is truly remarkable, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I was genuinely impressed by how the characters evolved throughout the game, making each interaction feel meaningful and impactful.”
- “The depth of character backstories adds a rich layer to the gameplay, making every decision feel significant and enhancing the overall experience.”
- “There are very few characters with very little character development or backstory, so I can't give a very high rating here.”
- “The lack of character development makes it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level.”
- “I found the character arcs to be underwhelming and lacking in depth, which detracted from my overall experience.”