Seraph

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"Seraph" is a skill-based, acrobatic combat platformer where players help an angel, Seraph, escape a demon-infested prison while bound to a human vessel. Key features include gun-fu combat, dynamic difficulty scaling, and procedurally generated levels designed for high replayability. Experience pretty visuals, a sensational soundtrack, and some grinding as you craft new weapons, Miracles, and items in your battle against dark magic.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 258 reviews

gameplay56 positive mentions

grinding35 negative mentions

Fun side-scrolling action with fluid controls and engaging gameplay.
Dynamic difficulty scaling that adjusts based on player performance, keeping the challenge fresh.
Visually appealing with a dark atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the experience.

Fundamentally flawed by design of scaling difficulty, leading to frustrating encounters.
Limited content with repetitive level design and lack of enemy variety.
No recovery options or meaningful rewards from defeating bosses, making progression feel grindy.

gameplay
157 mentions
36 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a fast-paced, fluid movement system that emphasizes dodging and shooting, making it engaging and enjoyable for many players. While the core mechanics are solid and addictive, some users find the repetitive nature of the levels and slow progression in upgrades to be drawbacks. Overall, the game offers a satisfying loop of action, though it may become monotonous over extended play sessions.
- “Movement feels good and it lends itself well to a core gameplay loop that's just incredibly fun.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic for what it is.”
- “The campaign is okay, but the daily challenges and survival mode are endless fun, combine this with fast and fluid gameplay and you got yourself an amazing package.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the formula's pretty basic.”
- “There are some good things about the gameplay, but it was kinda boring for me, just moving through the samey corridors while holding down the trigger and trying to dodge the multitude of demons coming for you (in higher difficulties).”
- “Unfortunately, a lack of interesting content and procedural variety, coupled with an MMO level of nearly imperceptible progression tied to a percentage chance enemy drop farming mechanic ultimately make the game a chore instead of an adrenaline rush.”
story
131 mentions
21 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered weak and often feels like an afterthought, with many players opting to skip dialogue due to its lack of engagement and repetitive nature. While there are interesting lore elements presented through text logs, the main narrative is described as clichéd and abrupt, failing to provide a compelling payoff. Overall, the gameplay is prioritized over the story, which is seen as a minor aspect of the experience, though some players appreciate its intriguing themes and potential for depth.
- “The story is something I have enjoyed so far, and I think that is what keeps me going; I want to see how it ends up and where the devs are running with it.”
- “Interestingly, there is a second layer to the story, discovered through logs that can be found across levels, a story which slowly unravels the setting and circumstances our protagonist finds herself in.”
- “The storyline revolves around Seraph, our protagonist, as she escapes her prison, fights off daemons, and attempts to ascend back to her natural form - but she's currently in her human vessel, Thalia.”
- “The story of Seraph is insignificant, and when I completed the game, it felt abrupt.”
- “The story is rather plain, revolving around religious subjects and a few foreseeable plot developments.”
- “While the main story can be forgiven for its brevity, the ending closes rather abruptly.”
music
51 mentions
35 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many players noting its fitting and energetic nature. However, a common critique is the limited variety of tracks, leading to repetitiveness over time. Overall, while the soundtrack is well-executed and enjoyable, players express a desire for a broader selection to maintain engagement throughout the game.
- “The dark atmospheric soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
- “The soundtrack is fitting and energetic.”
- “With that said, the game offers an interesting story plot, enjoyable gameplay mechanism with an exceptional level design and a fine soundtrack in the background to set the perfect atmosphere, making it an overall enjoyable experience that would keep you hooked onto it.”
- “The music fits the game well, but sadly isn't anything memorable outside of playing.”
- “While the music is very well done, there is a very small roster of songs that repeat, level after level.”
- “The music in the game is atmospheric, but since there are such a limited number of tracks, it does get repetitive as you fight through the dozens of levels to reach the end of the game.”
graphics
49 mentions
33 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple yet clean, with a cohesive art style that some players find appealing. However, many reviewers note a lack of diversity in visual elements and color palettes, leading to a sense of monotony and frustration over time. While the visuals are not considered exceptional, they effectively support the gameplay and are complemented by a strong soundtrack, creating an overall enjoyable aesthetic experience.
- “From the lighting to the animations of the titular Seraph, the unique and colorful visuals help to highlight the speed and fluidity of movement on display by the protagonist and the demons seeking to destroy her.”
- “The game plays so fluid and feels right when you move; everything about the game is awesome, from the graphics to the gameplay!”
- “First impression: a simple, excellent platformer with tight mechanics, an attractive aesthetic, and loads of replay value.”
- “I assume this is because the areas are randomly generated (they at least come off feeling that way), but the lack of diversity between tilesets doesn't lend itself well to the game's aesthetic.”
- “There is little visual fidelity in the monster graphics; they are all white/grey/beige assembly of blobs with no real texture.”
- “All of the above graphical complaints boil down to a feeling of visual monotony, and more than that, irritation.”
grinding
35 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for becoming repetitive and tedious as players progress, with many feeling that the upgrade and crafting systems require excessive effort for minimal rewards. While some players appreciate the core gameplay mechanics and the satisfaction of overcoming challenges, the overall sentiment suggests that the grind can detract from the enjoyment, especially when faced with bullet sponge enemies and a lack of engaging content. Daily and weekly challenges offer some relief, but the grind remains a significant hurdle for many.
- “However, as the game goes on, it quickly starts to feel repetitive and grindy.”
- “What started as a good experience just ends up in a grinding and try-hard experience which is beginning to leave a sour taste in your mouth.”
- “I think nearly everyone has come to the same conclusion: fun for the first hour or two, then you realize everything is an obnoxious bullet sponge and upgrade progression is locked behind an insane amount of grinding.”
replayability
32 mentions
31 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a prominent feature, with many players praising its randomized level layouts, diverse upgrade systems, and various game modes, including daily challenges and a rebirth mechanic that enhances the experience. However, some reviews note that while the game offers significant replay value, it can become repetitive over time, and the content may feel lacking compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, it is seen as a solid platformer with high replay potential, appealing to those who enjoy mastering gameplay and competing for leaderboards.
- “Through these challenges, you can earn crystals (the rebirth and crafting currency in Seraph) and they really add to the replayability of the game.”
- “Story mode is short and quite basic, but the game has a nearly endless replay value due to the large amount of skills and perks to unlock and upgrade and thanks to the rebirth system - which sacrifices all the currently held power-ups and unlockable weapons to let you restart from zero but with significant bonuses.”
- “The replay value is high with daily challenges, upgrades that carry over through playthroughs, and a decent selection of game modes including survival, speedrun, and the first-of-its-kind twitch mode.”
- “The game with a huge emphasis on replayability gets exponentially more boring the more you play it.”
- “It's very original, the gameplay is smooth, it's a solid foundation but the content is lacking a bit and the replayability mostly comes from mastering the gameplay itself.”
- “Secondly, the procedural generation is a mixed blessing, as whilst it does bring replayability, it also means the levels lack their own distinctive character.”
optimization
9 mentions
22 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, allowing smooth performance even on lower-end systems, with players reporting no significant graphical issues. However, some users experienced framerate drops during intense boss fights, which could hinder gameplay in a fast-paced environment. The difficulty scaling based on player performance is well-executed, adding depth and encouraging mastery of the game mechanics.
- “Challenge ramps up appropriately via an unusual but well-executed difficulty multiplier based on your current performance; increasingly hard, yet forgiving.”
- “Here, in these short, 2 to 3 minute objective-based rounds, the game allows you to fully let loose, refining the perfect mix of aggression, speed, and control to maximize your performance with rewards that contribute towards your seraph's progression.”
- “However, this will hopefully be fixed; that last fight could use better optimization, since the bullet spam repeatedly slowed down my framerate—devastating in a high-speed game like this—and caused one of my two crashes.”
- “Here also lies one of the most frustrating parts: while the difficulty of enemies rises in accordance to your performance in dealing with them, the levels and their architecture are randomly put together, as are the boss enemies, which are extremely buffed normal types with some powerful extra abilities tacked on.”
- “There is plenty of additional depth to explore for the player looking to optimize their performance.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its dark and immersive soundtrack, exceptional level design, and gorgeous art style, which collectively create an engaging experience. While the music enhances the ambiance, some players note that the limited number of tracks can become repetitive over time. Overall, the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment, keeping players hooked despite minor gameplay frustrations.
- “Also, the dark atmospheric soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
- “With that said, the game offers an interesting story plot, enjoyable gameplay mechanics, exceptional level design, and a fine soundtrack in the background to set the perfect atmosphere, making it an overall enjoyable experience that would keep you hooked.”
- “The atmosphere and art style are gorgeous, and the developers are very responsive and listen to the community and their feedback.”
stability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant issues such as glitches, difficulty spikes, and save recognition problems, while others have experienced minimal bugs and appreciate the lenient death penalties amidst the combat's occasional bugginess. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, affecting the experience for many users.
- “Between the glitches, difficulty spikes, falling through floors, and going back multiple floors because the game didn't recognize the save, I am so glad I no longer have to play this piece of trash.”
- “Enemy AI freezes up sometimes, and I've fallen outside of bounds twice.”
- “Not punishing death harshly was a great idea, especially because some of the combat is buggy.”
character development
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its excellent design and fluid animation, though some users feel that the muted colors of the default character can make her less visually distinct against the background.
- “The character design is excellent, and the characters are animated fluidly.”
- “I love the default character design, but her colors are so muted that she can get a little lost in the scenery.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its good writing, though some find it lacking in engagement, with a predictable twist. Additionally, a minor glitch involving a character's graphic adds an unintended comedic element.
- “Even if it didn't really engage me at any point, it's good writing for video games; I'll take it - even with the hilariously obvious twist.”
- “There's also a funny but minor glitch where Seraph's graphic got stuck in a prone position, but otherwise played fine.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be surprisingly touching, particularly in moments that evoke genuine feelings rather than cynicism. The gameplay mechanics, which allow for close-quarters combat without taking damage from enemies directly, contribute to a unique emotional experience as players engage with the game's challenges.
- “It's even a bit touching when it's not being cynical.”