Recursive Ruin
- May 18, 2022
- Bit Rot
Get on Steam"Recursive Ruin" is a challenging precision platformer where you manipulate time to avoid deadly traps and solve puzzles. Journey through a decaying digital world as you uncover the truth behind the bitrot pandemic. Each level is a complex maze of hazards that will require quick reflexes and strategic thinking to navigate.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful surreal visuals and unique puzzle mechanics that create an engaging experience.
- The puzzles are interesting and require spatial awareness, providing rewarding 'a-ha!' moments.
- The narrative, while heavy and emotional, adds depth to the gameplay and intertwines well with the puzzle elements.
- The game suffers from pacing issues, with long walking simulator sections that detract from the puzzle-solving experience.
- Many players found the story to be pretentious and overly drawn out, leading to disengagement during dialogue-heavy segments.
- Some puzzles are perceived as too simplistic or linear, lacking the challenge that players expect from a puzzle game.
- story149 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a divisive aspect among players, with many finding it overly linear, tedious, and pretentious, often detracting from the puzzle-solving experience. While some appreciate the emotional depth and artistic presentation, others criticize the heavy-handed delivery and slow pacing, leading to a lack of engagement with the narrative. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag, with some players enjoying its themes of personal struggle, while others feel it overshadows the gameplay.
“The story is personal, but the delivery and wrapping are genuinely creative and will definitely have you scratching your head for a good chunk of the game.”
“This game blew me away - the story, the puzzles, the whole world.”
“The story does handle some unexpectedly heavy themes, and the visuals, while beautiful, can weird out those sensitive to motion sickness and vertigo.”
“The game has little replay value due to its very linear story and puzzles, with as far as I can tell, exactly one solution.”
“However, the puzzles make up about 40% of the game, while the other 60% is a story that tries too hard to be emotional but just gets in the way of the fun.”
“The story feels forced and the aesthetics feel odd and out of place.”
- gameplay54 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by innovative and unique mechanics that often blend well with the puzzles, creating a visually stunning experience reminiscent of titles like "Antichamber" and "Superliminal." However, some players find the implementation janky and the puzzles occasionally lack depth, with a desire for a more cohesive use of mechanics throughout the game. While the mechanics are engaging, the overall gameplay experience can feel inconsistent, with some areas feeling shallow or disconnected from the core puzzle elements.
“Loved the puzzles and gameplay mechanics, not to mention the story and message <3”
“The puzzles are great, the mechanics mesh well, and the puzzles are satisfying to beat.”
“The sum of the astonishing visuals, the inventive gameplay that interacts fluidly with the environment while the artistic proposal of Recursive Ruin unfolds more and more with each level does the thing for me.”
“Unfortunately, the puzzles aren't as clever as the trippy mechanics would imply.”
“For the most part, it feels like each area has its own one gimmick, and once that area is done, you are never seeing that mechanic again.”
“When you reach the second half of the game, it abandons all puzzle mechanics and turns into a walking simulator.”
- graphics51 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique visuals, featuring a surreal and vaporwave aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful art style and intricate design, although some note that the visuals can be overwhelming or unsettling at times. While the graphics are a standout feature, opinions vary on how well they complement the gameplay and narrative, with some feeling that the visuals alone do not compensate for shortcomings in other areas.
“Absolutely astounding visuals where even flat images like posters and paintings are beautiful.”
“Incredible visuals, not overly obtuse puzzles, and a good story of someone overcoming personal issues.”
“The sum of the astonishing visuals, the inventive gameplay that interacts fluidly with the environment while the artistic proposal of Recursive Ruin unfolds more and more with each level does the thing for me.”
“The story feels forced and the aesthetics feel odd and out of place.”
“The character movements plus the graphics/texture of the map feel sluggish and unfinished.”
“The puzzles are one-note, the writing is pretentious, the visuals are garish.”
- music18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and how well it complements the visuals and gameplay. While some found the soundtrack to be repetitive or tedious, others praised it as beautiful and fitting, enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the sound design, including music and sound effects, is generally regarded as a strong point of the game.
“The eerie music matches the atmosphere perfectly.”
“The music, while simple, is quite good and fits the game well.”
“Great music, astonishing visuals, and really well-thought-out architecture.”
“The music is very tedious - I found myself putting the music volume to 0 and just listening to some other relaxing music.”
“If they could lose the meta-drama on top of the game, there would be a beautiful puzzle game, with a fantastic (albeit repetitive) soundtrack.”
“Retried the game music now and then with new levels but it really doesn't add to the atmosphere of the game.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players find it deeply moving and beautifully crafted, others feel it overemphasizes its narrative at the expense of gameplay, leading to a convoluted experience. Many appreciate the emotional weight and dramatic moments, but critique the story for being overly dramatic or predictable, likening it to a soap opera. Overall, the game elicits strong feelings, but opinions vary on its execution and balance with gameplay.
“This game is incredibly heavy emotionally, incredibly gorgeous and makes you think pretty hard and adjust what you know about spaces, and is full of confusion.”
“A heart-wrenching game that takes playing the whole thing through to understand the story.”
“And I was not expecting at all for the game to tell such a dramatic and emotional story.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious dialogue, lengthy soundscapes, and frustratingly intricate puzzles. Players find the repetitive nature of these elements detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of monotony and disengagement.
“But the art is bizarre and the plot is not just bizarre but extremely tedious.”
“Tedious writing, mid-tier linear puzzles.”
“Some of the 'puzzles' are also incredibly tedious or finicky to execute.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by an eerie and immersive sound design that complements its visuals, creating a unique blend of tension and abstract melodrama. While some players appreciate the impressive effects and music, others feel that the soundtrack does not enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully evokes a depressive and haunting ambiance.
“The eerie music matches the atmosphere perfectly.”
“The sound design is perfect for the atmosphere, and the visuals and effects of some levels were hands-down the best I've seen in any game.”
“I retried the game music now and then with new levels, but it really doesn't add to the atmosphere of the game.”
“What it does deliver is a depressive atmosphere and abstract melodrama.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally satisfactory, with some users noting performance issues in larger story-based areas, which may be intentional to enhance clarity. While the visuals and sound design are praised, the overall experience is somewhat marred by these performance hiccups.
“The music and sound design are great, contributing to the overall optimization of the experience.”
“I'm guessing the reason for the limitation is both for performance reasons and to make it less confusing separating the level from the background.”
“Visually a delight, albeit some performance issues in more spacious story-based areas.”
“The voice acting is mixed; a bit stiff, and the plot-within-a-plot never really makes sense.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for its janky and buggy implementation, which detracts from the otherwise interesting gameplay mechanics.
“The gameplay mechanics are interesting, but the implementation feels janky and buggy at times.”
“I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gaming experience.”
“The game often freezes during critical moments, making it frustrating to play.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that "Recursive Ruin" offers high replayability due to its unique fractal design, which allows for varied exploration and problem-solving experiences with each playthrough. The innovative mechanics encourage players to revisit levels to uncover new strategies and solutions, enhancing the game's longevity.
“Recursive Ruin is a first-person narrative-driven puzzle game where the entire playable level is a giant fractal of itself, shifted 0 or 180 degrees. This unique design allows for endless exploration and new experiences with each playthrough.”
“The game's intricate level design encourages players to experiment with different strategies, making every run feel fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and hidden secrets, Recursive Ruin offers a wealth of content that invites players to return and uncover everything it has to offer.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
“Once you've solved the puzzles, there's little incentive to go back and experience them again.”
“The linear storyline and repetitive mechanics diminish any potential for replayability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the character designs are visually appealing, the development is lacking, as characters primarily remain static in looped animations and engage in limited dialogue, resulting in minimal growth or depth.
“The character designs were fascinating, but they don't do much other than float in place with looped animations and talk.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved; their arcs were predictable and uninspired.”
