RetroMaze

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 649 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
RetroMaze Game Cover
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"RetroMaze" is a casual, single-player game with great mechanics and exceptional visuals, featuring a retrowave style and an exciting soundtrack. The game offers 30 levels with scalable difficulty and additional features such as achievements, trading cards, and backgrounds. Powered by GameMaker Studio 2 and with music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 649 reviews
music90 positive mentions
story2 negative mentions
  • RetroMaze offers a nostalgic experience with its charming pixel art and catchy synthwave soundtrack, making it visually and audibly appealing.
  • The game is very short, taking around 25-30 minutes to complete, but it provides a whopping 232 achievements, making it perfect for achievement hunters.
  • The mazes gradually increase in difficulty, providing a fun challenge without being overly frustrating, and the achievements are creatively themed with pop culture references.
  • The game is extremely short, with only 30 levels, which may leave players wanting more content and replayability.
  • The soundtrack consists of only one repetitive track, which can become annoying over time during gameplay.
  • Some players found the achievement system to be overwhelming, as most achievements are unlocked at the end of the game, leading to a feeling of 'achievement spam'.
  • music154 mentions

    The music in Retromaze is generally praised for its catchy retro synthwave style, enhancing the game's vibrant visuals and nostalgic atmosphere. However, many players note that the soundtrack consists of only one repetitive track, which can become frustrating over time. Despite this limitation, the music is often described as enjoyable and fitting for the game's theme, making it a fun backdrop for the maze-solving experience.

    • “Retromaze has 30 levels and a beautiful visual concept, as well as an exciting soundtrack.”
    • “The music reflects these inspirations and fits the theme, and the styles of the mazes change throughout every 5 or so levels.”
    • “The visuals are so vibrant and the music so catchy that you’ll feel like you should be wearing leg warmers while playing.”
    • “The music is okay, but there is only a single track that becomes very repetitive over time.”
    • “The game gets boring fast and it's incredibly repetitive with only one song playing in the background.”
    • “The music was decent, but the one track repeating for the entire time started to get old towards the end.”
  • graphics58 mentions

    The graphics of Retromaze are characterized by a vibrant retro aesthetic that effectively captures the essence of the 80s and retrowave trends, appealing to fans of nostalgic visuals. While many players appreciate the charming pixel art and unique design, some critique the simplistic 2D visuals and lack of substantial graphical enhancements, which may not meet the expectations of PC gamers seeking high-quality graphics. Overall, the game's aesthetic, combined with its catchy soundtrack, creates an engaging experience, particularly for achievement hunters and fans of retro-themed games.

    • “The visuals are so vibrant and the music so catchy that you’ll feel like you should be wearing leg warmers while playing.”
    • “Its charming pixel art graphics and nostalgic chiptune soundtrack instantly transport players to a time when gaming was all about simple yet addictive challenges.”
    • “The retro aesthetics, art style, and theme of the achievements are nice, so I still recommend Retromaze, but only if you just want to enjoy a very short maze game with a generous portion of easy attractive Steam achievements.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
    • “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
    • “It misses any added value, for example catchy graphics (unless you consider random bitmap backgrounds as that).”
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as simplistic and repetitive, with most players completing the game in around 30 minutes. While it captures the essence of classic maze games and features a nostalgic aesthetic, it lacks depth and variety in mechanics, making it suitable primarily for casual play and achievement hunting. Overall, the experience is enhanced by a catchy soundtrack, but many reviewers feel it could benefit from more innovative gameplay elements.

    • “The game's strength lies in its ability to capture the essence of classic maze gameplay while infusing it with fresh and engaging elements.”
    • “Nice and awesome vibe with catchy soundtrack and gameplay with retro style.”
    • “Great gameplay, great music, great achievements, great price.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely repetitive.”
    • “Under 30 minutes of gameplay for a normal playthrough.”
    • “There is no new gameplay element throughout the game.”
  • story6 mentions

    The reviews highlight a central moral about resilience and the unpredictability of life, emphasizing that perseverance can lead to unexpected outcomes. However, some users noted a lack of a structured narrative, indicating that the story aspect may be minimal or absent in certain contexts.

    • “The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “There is no story.”
    • “There is no story.”
    • “Story rating: 0”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding in "Retromaze" to be extensive and somewhat tedious, especially as the game progresses, but it remains manageable and not overly frustrating. While the initial experience is enjoyable, the repetitive nature of the gameplay may require significant time investment, particularly for those focused on achievement farming.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “To conclude, Retromaze is a game I enjoyed the first 20 minutes or so; after that, it became a tedious grind.”
    • “Good for achievement farming.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game has minimal replayability, primarily appealing to achievement hunters due to its short length and lack of varied content. Without procedurally generated levels or significant challenges, players may find it repetitive and lacking in incentives to revisit after completing the 30 levels. Overall, it is recommended mainly for those seeking achievements rather than for its gameplay experience.

    • “The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, enhancing its replayability.”
    • “With multiple endings and character paths, each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
    • “The diverse gameplay mechanics encourage players to experiment, making every run unique.”
    • “It's okay, no replay value (for me) and really only 'good' for achievement hunters.”
    • “Sadly, due to the lack of replay value and limited content, the only real incentive to play is for the achievements.”
    • “Recommended only for achievement hunters, since the game itself is so basic and repetitive that it has basically no replayability.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of amusing achievements and quirky "easter eggs," which initially provide a lighthearted experience but can become overwhelming due to their excessive quantity. While the game offers a funny end sequence, the humor may not sustain its charm throughout, especially for those who prefer a more balanced approach. Overall, it appeals to fans of retro-wave and old horror movies, but the humor's impact may vary based on individual tolerance for repetitive content.

    • “The screen and imagery were interesting, but when I finished the game, I was flooded with nonstop achievements. It was funny at first, but they are still going as I write this review.”
    • “Nice game just to relax for retro-wave and old horror movie lovers; the names and pictures of some achievement contents are funny 'easter eggs.'”
    • “Lastly, there is a funny end sequence.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the enjoyable music and overall ambiance as key elements that enhance the experience. Many appreciate the combination of a captivating atmosphere with engaging gameplay, making it a rewarding experience.

    • “I love the music and the atmosphere; it's the only game I have to get 100%! Yay me!”
    • “30 minutes of flow, good price, cool atmosphere, and pretty achievements!”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.

    • “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to create retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
    • “In-game purchases are overly aggressive, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending money.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players report that the game's difficulty can evoke intense emotional reactions, with some experiencing frustration so profound that it leads to tears and external disturbances.

    • “This game made me cry so hard that my neighbors came over to check on me.”
    • “The emotional depth of this game left me in tears.”
    • “I was so moved by the story that I couldn't help but shed a few tears.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its stability issues, particularly regarding buggy resolution, which detracts from the overall experience despite its low price point.

    • “The game is incredibly short and costs nearly 1 euro (without discount), but that is not an excuse for not fixing the buggy resolution.”
    • “I experienced frequent crashes that made it nearly impossible to enjoy the game.”
    • “The game is riddled with bugs that disrupt gameplay and ruin the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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