Re:Turn - One Way Trip | Game Brain

About

"Re:Turn - One Way Trip" is a 2D side-scrolling puzzle-adventure horror game, where college friends on a camping trip disappear, and the player controls Saki who searches for them in an abandoned train. As the game progresses, the past and present converge, revealing ghostly inhabitants and a shocking truth, all while showcasing a tale of unrequited love and unrelenting terror.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 145 reviews

story64 positive mentions

gameplay10 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with interesting characters and emotional depth, particularly focusing on themes of love and loss.
The pixel art style and sound design create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
The puzzles are engaging and vary in 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.
The ending feels abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered, making it feel incomplete and setting up for a sequel that may not resolve key plot points.
Some puzzles are poorly designed or lack clarity, leading to confusion and frustration for players.

story
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
The story of "Re:turn - One Way Trip" is a mixed bag, with many players finding it initially engaging but ultimately feeling let down by its pacing and abrupt ending. While the game features a captivating atmosphere, interesting characters, and a blend of horror and romance, it suffers from repetitive gameplay and a lack of player agency, leading to a sense of disappointment as the narrative unfolds. Overall, it offers a compelling premise but falls short in execution, leaving some players wishing for deeper character development and a more satisfying conclusion.
- “Captivating, it hooks you to the story and makes you feel on edge the entire time!”
- “Fun storyline, interesting plot twists, and beautiful artwork, what more could you ask for?!”
- “The story is compelling and keeps you engaged through its around 4-5 hour runtime.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
31%
7%
The atmosphere in "Re:turn - One Way Trip" is widely praised for its spooky and immersive qualities, enhanced by detailed pixel art and effective sound design that creates a creepy ambiance. Players appreciate the game's focus on atmospheric horror rather than gore, making it appealing for those who enjoy a more narrative-driven experience. While the visuals and sound contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere, some reviewers noted 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 give 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.”
- “Creepy/eerie atmosphere.”
- “Its puzzles and world structure were reminiscent of the Zelda and Metroidvania games I've come to love over the years with a creepy 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.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
64%
23%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and excessive backtracking, particularly in later stages. While some clever puzzles and an interesting story are highlighted, the overall design is criticized for being dull and lacking challenge, with a reliance on fetch quests and a limited run mechanic that detracts from the experience. Despite its appealing art style, the gameplay ultimately feels underdeveloped and fails to fully engage players.
- “The story is interesting and the gameplay is fine.”
- “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.”
- “Firstly, sometimes the gameplay can involve a fair bit of backtracking (especially in later parts of the game).”
- “Hear me out, the gameplay is awful!”
- “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.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
82%
11%
7%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style and atmospheric visuals, which effectively contribute to the horror aesthetic. Many reviewers appreciate the detailed artwork and the integration of cinematic illustrations, although some note that the overall gameplay can feel repetitive. While the visuals enhance the experience, opinions on the story and character development vary, with some finding them lacking despite the strong graphical presentation.
- “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 artwork is really good and the atmosphere is like whoa.”
- “It has a very nice pixel art style, mixed with illustrations in the form of ‘cinematics’, which do their job, with a personal and interesting artwork.”
- “Simple looking old style adventure game with cliched horror plot and just ok pixel art graphics.”
- “The pixellated, RPG Maker style visuals lend the game some character, but they feel outdated.”
- “The graphics are underwhelming and do not do justice to the horror elements of the game.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
32%
14%
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 reviewers noted that the music doesn't stand out significantly, it is described as well-composed, suitably creepy, and effective in creating tension, particularly during horror elements. The hauntingly beautiful credits song and solid sound effects further contribute to a positive overall impression of the game's audio experience.
- “The music and sound effects were very good and it helped with the game's atmosphere.”
- “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.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the backtracking and repetitive exploration tedious, especially in the latter chapters. While some appreciate the unique puzzles and art, the constant need to revisit locations without clear direction can lead to frustration and a feeling of it becoming a walking simulator. Overall, the experience may not appeal to everyone, particularly those sensitive to repetitive gameplay.
- “It'd be a lot if you knew where you were supposed to go the whole game, but because some of the puzzles make you explore a bit, it just ends up being a ton of tedious walking.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is criticized for lacking depth, as players feel they do not spend enough time with the characters to form meaningful connections, rendering emotional moments ineffective and sometimes cringe-worthy. However, there are positive notes regarding the developer's personal touch and the nostalgic journey, which some players found touching despite the abrupt ending. The game offers a blend of romance and mystery, but the emotional impact is diminished by the brief character interactions.
- “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.”
- “Re:turn – one way trip isn’t a terribly long or frightening excursion, but those seeking a good puzzle adventure with an emotionally rich story and a take-charge female protagonist will be happy they bought the ticket.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game offers limited replayability, primarily driven by the desire to unlock achievements and experience different scenes, though choices largely affect only the appearance of the story rather than its outcome. Players note that there is essentially no significant replay value aside from one alternative ending.
- “The game features 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 unlock all the achievements can significantly encourage replayability.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes in the game makes each playthrough feel unique, enhancing the overall replayability.”
- “With multiple endings and branching paths, the game invites players to explore different scenarios, making it highly replayable.”
- “No replayability (except for one alternative ending)”
- “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.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the game for its strong character development, highlighting the effective storytelling and well-designed characters that enhance the overall experience. The combination of visuals and a good soundtrack further complements the depth of the characters.
- “It has great visuals, storytelling, and character design and development, along with a good soundtrack.”