Re:Turn - One Way Trip

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 69 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Re:Turn - One Way Trip Game Cover
It’s the perfect time to play a game that will send chills down your spine.
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In "Re:Turn - One Way Trip," five college friends take a train trip that turns into a nightmare when they're attacked by supernatural forces. Each character has unique abilities to help solve puzzles and fight enemies. The group must unravel the mystery behind their haunting while trying to survive and escape the never-ending train.

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Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews
story30 positive mentions
gameplay5 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling story with interesting characters and a good mix of horror and romance elements.
  • The pixel art style and atmospheric sound design create an engaging and immersive experience.
  • The puzzles offer a range of difficulty, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating.
  • The gameplay involves excessive backtracking, which can become tedious and disrupt the flow of the game.
  • Some puzzles are poorly designed or unclear, leading to confusion and reliance on walkthroughs.
  • The ending feels abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered, setting up for a sequel that may not fully resolve the story.
  • story75 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its captivating and atmospheric elements, as well as its interesting plot twists and character development. However, many critics noted that the narrative suffers from pacing issues, a rushed ending, and a lack of player agency, leading to a sense of disappointment despite the initial intrigue. Overall, while the visuals and atmosphere are commendable, the story's execution leaves room for improvement.

    • “The story was wonderfully hopeless and romantic!!”
    • “Captivating, it hooks you to the story and makes you feel on edge the entire time!”
    • “The adventure has a lateral development in 2D, and its story mixes horror and thriller in a remarkable way.”
    • “The story itself is a straight train track that allows for no player's agency and will have you chasing a grocery list of items 95% of the time.”
    • “The ending of the story unfortunately feels pretty rushed and lacks real conclusion.”
    • “It started out with great potential, and is a good, spooky way to kill a few hours, but it gets kind of rushed towards the end and doesn't make the most of its story and characters, despite having some intricate storytelling at the start.”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its lack of challenge and reliance on repetitive mechanics, such as backtracking and fetch quests. While some appreciate the puzzle design and art style, others find the gameplay dull and poorly executed, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as having potential but ultimately falls short due to its design choices and pacing issues.

    • “Just finished playing this on my YouTube channel, so if anyone is interested in seeing a sample of gameplay before buying, see the link at the end of the review.”
    • “The story is interesting and the gameplay is fine.”
    • “The game's art style and puzzle design is great, though some might find the general gameplay dull.”
    • “Firstly, sometimes the gameplay can involve a fair bit of backtracking (especially in later parts of the game).”
    • “The gameplay had too much backtracking along with the odd choice of not being able to run until halfway through the game, which made the backtracking feel a lot more tedious and made the game feel repetitive near the end.”
    • “There are some clever puzzles now and then, but the gameplay is overall poorly designed.”
  • graphics22 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style and stunning visuals, which effectively contribute to the spooky atmosphere. Many reviewers appreciate the detailed artwork and the integration of cinematics, although some note that the overall gameplay can feel repetitive. While the visuals are generally considered a strong point, opinions on the story and character development vary, with some finding them lacking in depth.

    • “While the whole 'locked in a haunted area/structure' story may not seem that unique or interesting, re:turn manages to keep the concept fresh with its engaging cast of characters and gorgeous, stunning visuals.”
    • “The art style and music are really solid.”
    • “The pixel art style/graphics is very good; it's pretty detailed and nice to look at from the old broken train.”
    • “Simple looking old-style adventure game with cliched horror plot and just okay pixel art graphics.”
    • “The pixellated, RPG Maker style visuals lend the game some character, but the graphics feel outdated.”
    • “The graphics are underwhelming and do not do justice to the horror elements of the game.”
  • atmosphere21 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Re:turn" is widely praised for its spooky and immersive qualities, enhanced by detailed pixel art and effective sound design that creates a creepy ambiance. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to evoke a classic horror feel without relying on gore, making it appealing for fans of atmospheric horror. While the visuals and sound contribute significantly to the overall experience, some critiques mention that the story and character development could use improvement.

    • “Re:turn - one way trip is a really great game, the detailed pixel art and pixel animation gives you that spooky atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere in the game was good and spooky as you explore the train and see the detail they put into it.”
    • “The game's sound design is also great; it builds the ambience and atmosphere well. I recommend following the instructions of playing with headphones.”
    • “Love the atmosphere combined with cute pixel art, making it more interesting to play. The story was good enough, but there's a lot of room for improvement. The audio sometimes gives me a little goosebumps, especially while wearing a headset or headphones, which is good for horror games!”
    • “- Creepy/eerie atmosphere.”
    • “Furthermore, I was captivated by the overall pixel art and dynamic CG stills, giving a lasting impression that much like the train, also brought the atmosphere to life.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the visuals and storytelling. While some feel the soundtrack doesn't stand out significantly, it is described as suitably creepy and well-composed, contributing effectively to the game's overall experience. The hauntingly beautiful credits song is particularly noted as a highlight.

    • “The music and sound effects were very good and it helped with the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack is suitably creepy and well composed.”
    • “The song that plays through the credits at the end of the game is hauntingly beautiful.”
    • “The music doesn't really stand out, although it accompanies the game well.”
    • “The soundtrack is suitably creepy and well composed.”
    • “The song that plays through the credits at the end of the game is hauntingly beautiful.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the extensive backtracking and repetitive exploration tedious, especially in the latter chapters. While some appreciate the unique puzzles and art, the constant need to revisit locations can detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a walking simulator at times. Overall, the grinding may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer a more streamlined progression.

    • “It is worth pointing out that this is not going to be everyone's taste - particularly in the latter chapters of the game, by which time it can start to become a little tedious.”
    • “I really love the art, the scares were fun, there were some cool moments, but oh my god was the running back and forth and back and forth so tedious.”
    • “Ultimately you get what you pay for, pixel horror with unique puzzles, at times the game becomes more of a tedious walking simulator and you're left with more questions than answers once you reach the ending.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Overall, players feel that the emotional impact of the game is diminished due to insufficient character development and a lack of time spent with them, leading to heartfelt moments that feel unearned or cringe-worthy. While the story begins strongly and has wholesome elements, the abrupt ending leaves many feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the characters. Despite some nostalgic and romantic undertones, the emotional resonance ultimately falls flat.

    • “The dev is very humble, and the fact that you dedicated this to your daughter, it is so wholesome.”
    • “Beyond some initial unsettling, cliched scares in the beginning, the gears do shift into a full-on romantic mystery for the remainder of the touchingly nostalgic 4 to 5 hour journey.”
    • “May I also say while the story started off excellently, I'm hurt by the abrupt ending; it's like 'suspicions confirmed, okay bye!' but that's probably because we've been conditioned to want and expect wholesome ones.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game's replayability is limited, primarily offering only one alternative ending, though players may be motivated to replay for achievements and to experience different story moments, despite the choices having minimal impact on the overall outcome.

    • “The game features moments where our choices will 'mark' the story in one way or another, primarily in appearance rather than outcome. This encourages replayability as players are motivated to experience all the scenes and unlock all the achievements.”
    • “With multiple endings and branching storylines, each playthrough feels unique, making it hard to resist diving back in for another round.”
    • “The variety of character builds and strategies available means that no two playthroughs are the same, enhancing the game's replayability significantly.”
    • “We also have some moments where our choices will 'mark' the story in one way or another, but only in appearance, not in result. Watching those scenes and wanting to get all the achievements can encourage replayability.”
    • “No replayability (except for one alternative ending)”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game excels in character development, featuring strong storytelling and well-designed characters that enhance the overall experience.

    • “It has great visuals, storytelling, character design, and character development, along with a good soundtrack.”
    • “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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