Semispheres

About

Semispheres is a single-player stealth puzzle game with a unique twist: it uses a split-screen mechanic to put you in control of two characters simultaneously. The goal is to solve increasingly complex puzzles by reuniting the parallel worlds of Semispheres, using abilities like portals, side-swapping, and teleporting to evade sentries. With over 50 levels, an immersive ambient soundtrack, and a focus on brain-teasing challenges, Semispheres offers a meditative and engaging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Semispheres features a unique split-screen mechanic that offers clever and engaging puzzles, making it a refreshing addition to the puzzle genre.
The game has a soothing soundtrack and a calming atmosphere, providing a relaxing experience while solving puzzles.
The level design gradually introduces new mechanics, ensuring a satisfying challenge without overwhelming players.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under three hours, leading to concerns about its value at full price.
Some puzzles can be too easy, lacking depth and complexity, which may disappoint players seeking a more challenging experience.
The requirement to control two characters simultaneously can be frustrating for some players, and the lack of a replay option for completed levels limits the ability to revisit challenging puzzles.

gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The gameplay of this puzzle game is characterized by its unique split-screen mechanic and a thoughtful progression of challenges across approximately 54 levels. While the game introduces interesting mechanics and offers a relaxing experience, many players found the overall difficulty to be lower than expected, with a gradual learning curve that may not fully engage more experienced players. Despite some critiques regarding the depth of gameplay, the clever design and pacing of mechanics provide a satisfying experience, especially for novices.
- “A short, but beautiful puzzle game with a unique split-screen mechanic and a touching, heartwarming story.”
- “The puzzles are supremely clever and the mechanics are taught to you as you progress through the levels in a well thought out manner.”
- “The main gameplay of controlling two characters at once is something I haven't seen before and it works great.”
- “But, outside of the actual idea for the main mechanic, nothing stood out as particularly stellar.”
- “Usually I overlook them when they present themselves like so many others as something that uses the same tired mechanics of other games and puzzles and adds the 'twist' of being extra difficult or painted purple.”
- “There are five basic game mechanics that you can use to manipulate the surroundings.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The game's story is minimal and often feels disconnected from the gameplay, with some players noting it consists mainly of a wordless comic that unfolds as you progress. While some appreciate the heartwarming themes and the unique presentation, others find the narrative lacking in engagement and depth. Overall, the story serves as a light backdrop to the puzzle mechanics rather than a central focus.
- “A short, but beautiful puzzle game with a unique split-screen mechanic and a touching, heartwarming story.”
- “As you complete a section, you're rewarded with a wordless comic strip panel depicting the story of a boy and his robot.”
- “[soothing soundtrack, fun and thought-provoking puzzles, a very sweet short story].”
- “There's supposed to be a story.”
- “The story amounts to probably one page of wordless comic panels.”
- “There's no real story, but there is a cute little comic book that's revealed page by page as you progress.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and relaxing qualities, serving as a calming backdrop that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the minimalist soundtrack, which complements the game's clever puzzles and meditative ambiance, making it a perfect fit for those seeking a soothing auditory experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “I came primarily for Siddhartha Barnhoorn's awesome ambient music, but the rest of the game is good as well.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic as well, very calming and surreal.”
- “This is an excellent puzzler with a very enjoyable meditative soundtrack (the music and atmosphere reminds me particularly of Osmos).”
- “Music is more of a background ambiance with no melody and the sound effects are the usual thing; it's all pretty standard stuff for this type of game.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The music is atmospheric and relaxing, but it lacks a memorable melody.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The graphics of Semispheres are praised for their tasteful and stylish design, featuring a beautiful art style with chilling colors and a relaxing aesthetic. While the game has comparatively few graphical elements, the visuals complement the clever level designs and enhance the overall experience, making it a visually pleasing puzzle game.
- “Saw a beautiful art style, with gorgeously chilling colors and a somewhat classy ambiance.”
- “Although there are comparatively few graphical elements, they are tasteful and stylish.”
- “Overall, Semispheres is a wonderful puzzle game with a beautifully designed world featuring pleasing visuals and sound.”
- “Although there are comparatively few graphical elements, it's tasteful and stylish.”
- “Semispheres is a short but sweet title with a simple aesthetic that belies a surprisingly complex set of puzzles.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a minimalist design and a meditative soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a relaxing environment for players. Reviewers appreciate the clever puzzles that complement the atmospheric elements, making it an engaging and soothing puzzle/stealth experience.
- “This is an excellent puzzler with a very enjoyable meditative soundtrack; the music and atmosphere remind me particularly of Osmos.”
- “It's a relatively minimalist puzzle/stealth/atmospheric game.”
- “[Atmospheric and relaxing music, clever concept and puzzles].”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a touching and heartwarming story that enhances the experience of its unique split-screen puzzle mechanics.
- “A short, but beautiful puzzle game with a unique split-screen mechanic and a touching, heartwarming story.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's replayability is primarily centered around the challenge of speedrunning, with the final achievement requiring players to complete it in just 35 minutes, suggesting limited replay value beyond this specific goal.
- “The final achievement is called 35:00, which means you can speedrun the entire game in 35 minutes, and this is the only replay value you'll get out of it.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back; the story doesn't change and the gameplay feels repetitive.”
- “After finishing the main storyline, I found no reason to replay the game since the side quests are just variations of the same tasks.”