Samsara
- February 6, 2018
- JaffaJam
Get on Steam"Samsara is a reflective puzzle game following Zee and a shadow child as they try to escape a realm of mirrored dimensions. Players drop blocks of various shapes and properties to balance and navigate through 77 levels across six realms, while avoiding the pool between dimensions. The game features a simple play mechanic, carefully paced advancement, and hidden 'Easter Eggs' to discover."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fantastic puzzles that increase in difficulty and introduce new mechanics as the game progresses.
- Clever and engaging gameplay that requires creative thinking, with beautiful visuals and a meditative audio backdrop.
- A satisfying experience with a good difficulty curve, providing a mix of simple and challenging puzzles that keep players engaged.
- The game can be too short, with some players completing it in just a couple of hours.
- Many puzzles are considered trivial or easy, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.
- Limited music during gameplay can detract from the overall experience, making it feel less immersive.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Samsara is characterized by a gradual increase in puzzle difficulty and the introduction of new mechanics, keeping the experience engaging without becoming overwhelming. Players appreciate the clever design that builds on simple mechanics to create complex challenges, though some feel the game could further explore its ideas. Overall, the combination of beautiful art and intuitive gameplay makes for a captivating puzzle experience.
“Clever and sometimes fiendish puzzle game, that keeps introducing game mechanics at a pace that doesn't become overwhelming, but builds on what you've learnt.”
“Complex puzzles built with easy to learn mechanics will leave you scratching your head a lot in later levels.”
“Samsara is a complex puzzle game with great art and mechanics.”
“This game could do so much more with the ideas and mechanics, and that's the main problem.”
“The gameplay is very simplistic in the sense that you go around clicking on objects that you can place in the world for the character to use them to traverse the environment to reach the exit portals.”
“Complex puzzles built with easy-to-learn mechanics will leave you scratching your head a lot in later levels.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as relaxing and good, but not exceptional, with some users noting a lack of musical variety during gameplay. While the art style is praised, the limited music presence may detract from the overall engagement, especially during challenging puzzle-solving moments.
“Wonderful art style and very relaxing music.”
“The music is good but not great.”
“Also, lack of music.”
“There's not much music during the levels.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their wonderful art style, featuring cute and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience. The environments are described as interesting, complemented by relaxing music that, while good, is not the standout feature of the game. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a visually engaging puzzle experience.
“Wonderful art style and very relaxing music.”
“Excellent artwork and interesting environments.”
“Cute yet vibrant visuals, ambient not intrusive audio design, and very clever level designs that require creative thinking to figure out the solutions.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story in the game is considered somewhat weak by users, but it is not a primary focus for players, as the overall experience is driven more by the engaging puzzles and strong graphics.
“The story is a bit weak, but that's not why we play puzzle games.”
“The narrative feels underdeveloped and fails to engage the player.”
“I found the plot to be predictable and lacking depth.”
