May 19, 2018
Rokas

Seek Etyliv

Seek Etyliv’s minimalistic stylings work greatly in the game’s favor. Boiling everything down to a 3x3 grid does not take away from the challenge, and the aesthetics will keep you playing until every foe is vanquished and every puzzle is solved.

70%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, music

76% User Score Based on 41 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

Seek Etyliv is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Rokas and was released on May 19, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

A puzzle game where every move counts, confined in a three by three grid you move about. A dungeon crawling poem reader, exploring just how far I could ever lead her.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 41 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features clever puzzles that effectively utilize the limited 3x3 grid, providing a surprising depth of gameplay.
The minimalist aesthetic and art style are visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience.
The combination of a simple gameplay loop with a mysterious story told through poetry adds an interesting layer to the game.

The gameplay becomes repetitive quickly due to the limited number of puzzles and the small grid size, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in about an hour, which may not justify the price for some.
The dungeon-crawling aspect feels underdeveloped, often recycling puzzles from the main game without introducing new content.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
66%
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 aesthetic, 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, though it may feel limited in duration and variety after a single 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 rhymes and minimalistic snippets, which some players found intriguing while others felt it lacked coherence and depth. The narrative is interspersed with puzzles, making it easy to lose track of the story's progression, and while it serves to introduce gameplay mechanics, the poetry and overall storytelling did not resonate with all players. Overall, the story is seen as a unique but underdeveloped aspect of the game, with potential for improvement in its execution.
- “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
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are characterized by a cute and minimalist aesthetic that enhances the overall experience, with clean and functional artwork and UI. While the visuals are appealing, some reviewers feel that the game relies on gimmicks rather than originality, leading to a less exciting discovery of puzzle mechanics compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, the art style is pleasant and complements the solid gameplay mechanics.
- “The visuals are cute too.”
- “A neat minimalist game, the main draw being the aesthetic.”
- “+The artwork and UI are clean and functional.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is described as intriguing and imbued with a sense of mystery, effectively drawing players into its unique environment.
- “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 unique ambiance that immerses you completely, making every moment feel significant.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music aspect of the game has been criticized for its absence, with users noting that there is no music currently available.
- “A downside is that there is no music in the game, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The absence of a soundtrack makes the gameplay feel empty and uninspired.”
- “It's disappointing that there is no music to enhance the atmosphere of the game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that while Seek etyliv introduces new rules to maintain interest, the grinding aspect can become tedious and annoying 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.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has 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.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a selection of presets, including a notably exaggerated "indie" option, while the custom settings allow players to personalize their experience, adding a unique comedic flair through various visual adjustments.