Seek Etyliv

About

"Seek Etyliv is a puzzle-based dungeon crawler set on a 3x3 grid, challenging your ability to quickly understand new mechanics. Gameplay is minimalistic yet complex, with each level designed to maximize the potential of the small grid. Clear levels of enemies or reach the stairs to progress, uncovering the lore of Etyliv through indirect storytelling."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features clever puzzles that offer a surprising depth despite the minimalist design and small 3x3 grid.
The aesthetic and user interface are polished and engaging, creating a pleasant atmosphere for gameplay.
The combination of puzzle-solving and dungeon-crawling elements adds a unique twist, making it enjoyable for fans of both genres.

The gameplay can become repetitive due to the limited number of puzzles and the small grid size, leading to a lack of variety.
The story and poetry elements feel disconnected from the gameplay, making it hard to engage with the narrative.
The game is relatively short, with many players feeling that it doesn't offer enough content to justify the price.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
67%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet deep mechanics, offering a blend of puzzle-solving and roguelike dungeon-crawling elements that encourage players to understand the rules rather than rely on brute force. While the game introduces new mechanics and maintains a pleasant art style, some players find the experience can become repetitive, particularly within the constraints of a 3x3 grid. Overall, it provides a solid and engaging puzzle experience, albeit with a limited duration of around an hour for a first playthrough.
- “Simple but deep in mechanics, short so it doesn't overstay its welcome - this is a great, small puzzle game.”
- “The dungeon-crawling aspect initially appealed to me since it forces you to have a better understanding of the mechanics, rather than just brute-forcing every puzzle.”
- “I'd say a first playthrough (unlocking and completing the dungeon), while still learning the mechanics, takes about an hour (much more or less depending on how smart or sloppy you are).”
- “Most of the gameplay comes from a roguelike dungeon using the same puzzles you played in the main mode, which you had to do to unlock the roguelike mode anyway.”
- “I usually like minimalist puzzlers, but I found the gameplay here a bit repetitive--there is only so much you can do in a 3x3 grid.”
- “The icons just act like badges, and, as far as I could tell, don't affect the gameplay at all.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The game's story is presented through vague, poetic snippets that some players found intriguing, while others felt it lacked coherence and depth, often getting lost amid frequent puzzle interruptions. Although the narrative is minimal and the poetry received mixed reviews, it effectively introduces gameplay mechanics and adds a unique layer to the experience. Overall, the story is seen as a brief and somewhat disjointed element that complements the puzzle-solving aspects but may not satisfy those seeking a more substantial narrative.
- “The mysterious story is told vaguely in rhymes and leaves space for your own fantasy.”
- “The story acts alternate narrative with puzzles, gradually introducing you to all mechanics.”
- “+the story does a great job of walking you through the mechanics while gradually adding layers of complexity.”
- “The story is told through somewhat obtuse poems and the game is fairly short.”
- “I also wasn't impressed by the poetry, though that may just be me... the main issue, I think, is that the story is easy to lose track of when interrupted by a puzzle every line or two, especially since the connection between the story and puzzles was minimal.”
- “I read it all, but it's just some weird story that makes no sense to me.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The graphics are characterized by a cute and minimalist aesthetic that enhances the overall experience, with a clean and functional user interface. While the visuals may appear simple, they are praised for their effectiveness and satisfaction, contributing positively to the game's charm. However, some reviewers note that the art style, while pleasant, does not compensate for a lack of originality in gameplay mechanics.
- “However, the gameplay mechanics are solid and the art style is pleasant.”
- “Don't let its simple visuals fool you, the aesthetic and user interface are one of the most satisfying I've ever experienced.”
- “I guess it's a puzzle/rogue-lite with a story, simple yet effective graphics and in general just a really unique blend of game mechanics.”
- “A neat minimalist game, the main draw being the aesthetic.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding in Seek etyliv to be a mixed experience; while the introduction of new rules adds some variety, it ultimately becomes tedious and frustrating after repeated playthroughs.
- “Seek etyliv introduces new rules to its base gameplay consistently enough to keep things interesting, but it cannot help but become tedious after a playthrough.”
- “The game is tedious and annoying.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is described as intriguing and imbued with a sense of mystery, effectively drawing players into its immersive world.
- “The atmosphere is intriguing, filled with a mysterious feeling that draws you in.”
- “The game creates a captivating atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “There's a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that immerses you in the game's world.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers limited replayability, making it less appealing for players seeking to revisit it frequently; however, it is still considered a good value for a dungeon-crawling experience.
- “If you're looking for replayability, this game doesn't offer much, but otherwise it's a good dungeon to crawl through for the price.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
The absence of music in the game has been noted as a significant downside by users, alongside the lack of cloud save functionality.
- “A downside is that there is no music in the game.”
- “Currently, there is no music and no cloud saves available.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by a selection of presets, including a notably exaggerated "indie" option, but players find that the true comedic potential emerges when customizing settings to create a unique experience.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely delightful, with witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions that keep you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with plenty of absurd situations and clever puns that add to the overall fun.”
- “The quirky humor and playful references make every moment enjoyable, turning even the simplest tasks into a laugh-out-loud experience.”