Sethian

  • November 8, 2016
63%
Game Brain Score Based on 92 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Sethian Game Cover
Starting at €4.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

"Sethian" is a single-player mystery puzzle game set in a sci-fi world where you, an archaeologist, must master a fictitious language with unique grammar and vocabulary to unlock an abandoned computer's secrets and solve the mystery of a vanished civilization. Over 100 handwritten journal pages assist in learning the language, making for a challenging and immersive experience. With elements borrowed from real-world languages like Chinese and American Sign Language, Sethianese provides a unique and engaging linguistic puzzle.

Play Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 92 reviews
story6 positive mentions
replayability1 negative mentions
  • The concept of the game is intriguing, allowing players to engage with an alien language and decipher it through interaction.
  • The game provides a satisfying sense of achievement when players successfully construct sentences and understand the computer's responses.
  • The interface is polished and the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The game is overly linear, requiring players to input specific phrases from the journal to progress, which limits exploration and creativity.
  • The computer's responses are often limited, leading to frustration when attempting to ask questions outside the predetermined path.
  • The game feels short and lacks replay value, with many symbols and concepts left unexplored.
  • story35 mentions

    The story in "Sethian" is intriguing but ultimately underwhelming, as players find it simplistic and linear, often feeling frustrated by the rigid mechanics that dictate how to progress. While the concept of deciphering an alien language and uncovering a lost civilization is compelling, the execution is marred by a lack of depth and clarity, making the narrative feel more like a short story than an engaging game experience. Many reviewers express a desire for a more fleshed-out story and smoother gameplay that allows for genuine exploration and discovery.

    • “The story is simple: you find a computer that belongs to an ancient extraterrestrial civilization, and in order to make contact with this machine, you need to comprehend not only the language but also the background, the meaning of the sentences and expressions.”
    • “I like the idea of trying to figure out what is going on in an ancient piece of tech, slowly uncovering the story.”
    • “The story, though, was indeed intriguing, and the premise was nice.”
    • “The story isn't great; I'd say it's actually quite bad.”
    • “The specific lines to trigger the later parts of the plot are extremely specific, which ruins the feeling of exploration.”
    • “As it stands, the game is extremely linear and a bit frustrating, and only wants to tell one specific and kind of cliched story.”
  • gameplay13 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a lack of balance in guidance, oscillating between excessive hand-holding and minimal direction, which can hinder the learning experience. While the mechanics of learning an alien language are innovative and engaging, the game often introduces concepts prematurely, leading to frustration. Overall, the intriguing premise is undermined by a disjointed experience that feels more like a demo than a fully realized game.

    • “Gameplay consists of looking at the symbols, thinking about what you know, and trying a new sentence based on words that you think might give you useful data.”
    • “The game has an intriguing concept and mechanically is well made; the interface looks nice and fits its purpose.”
    • “To base the gameplay entirely on interacting in an alien language you get to learn on-the-fly was a bold premise, but it's actually so cool.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, at the beginning it does hold your hand a little too much.”
    • “First of all, I appreciated that it took notes (though I also did that myself), but I hated how it continually doled out things I had not yet learned, including words and grammar that I really wish I could have learned via the gameplay.”
    • “If Braid was a game where, according to Ben Croshaw, 'a game where the gameplay and story are kept in separate rooms with you in the gameplay room looking into the story room via a tiny hole in the dividing wall', Sethian feels like a game where the gameplay slaps you away every time you try to even peek through the hole.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its brilliance and atmospheric quality, featuring a soft, spacey ambient soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many players feel that the soundtrack alone makes the game worth playing, as it complements the themes of language and meaning effectively.

    • “The soundtrack is absolutely brilliant and it might be worth playing just to listen to it.”
    • “Compelling and atmospheric with a spacey ambient soundtrack, Sethian is not without its frustration points but as a game it definitely works, especially for lovers of science fiction and linguistics.”
    • “Just a soft song that will be in the background, but that's more than enough because this game is about what you can learn about language, the structure, and the meaning of things.”
    • “Just a soft song that will be in the background, but that's more than enough because this game is about what you can learn about language, the structure, and the meaning of things.”
    • “Compelling and atmospheric with a spacey ambient soundtrack, Sethian is not without its frustration points, but as a game, it definitely works, especially for lovers of science fiction and linguistics.”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The graphics of Sethian are minimal, primarily consisting of a computer interface with logographic buttons and a notebook, which some players find too abstract and lacking in visual appeal. While the concept is intriguing, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a clunky experience that may detract from overall enjoyment. Despite these shortcomings, some players still find value in the game's unique approach and narrative.

    • “The game's logographic language is interesting, but it's too abstract; there's no way to know what anything means except by consulting the in-game notebook.”
    • “It reminds me a bit of the dig story-wise, but graphically it's just you, the interface, and your notebook.”
    • “In contrast, Sethian has no graphics to speak of, and while it has an interesting concept, it's poorly realized.”
    • “It reminds me a bit of the Dig story-wise, but graphically it's just you, the interface, and your notebook.”
    • “The game takes place entirely in the interface of that computer, with an input/output channel, a series of 100 logographic word buttons, and a series of grammatical and punctuation markers.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by an ancient and cryptic ambiance, enhanced by its art and journal elements that invite players to piece together the narrative. The spacey ambient soundtrack further enriches the experience, making it particularly appealing to fans of science fiction and linguistics, despite some frustrating moments.

    • “The game's world shines with an ancient, distant atmosphere that is certainly complemented by its cryptic presentation.”
    • “The art and journal really add to the atmosphere of the game, and I really enjoyed reading through it and puzzling over the missing pieces and how to tie it all together.”
    • “Compelling and atmospheric with a spacey ambient soundtrack, Sethian is not without its frustration points but as a game it definitely works, especially for lovers of science fiction and linguistics.”
    • “The game's world shines with an ancient, distant atmosphere that is certainly complemented by its cryptic presentation.”
    • “The atmosphere feels lifeless and lacks the depth needed to immerse players in the experience.”
    • “Despite the beautiful graphics, the overall atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability, as players can complete it in under two hours and find little incentive to revisit it after experiencing the two available endings. While it may be worth playing if obtained for free, most users feel there is no compelling reason to keep it long-term.

    • “It doesn't take too long to complete (I beat the entire thing in under 2 hours) and if you get it for free, you might as well play it, but there's no point in keeping it any longer because it doesn't really have replay value.”
    • “There isn't an awful lot of replay value either once you've gotten the two endings.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of Sethian to be tedious and reminiscent of learning a complex language, as it demands significant rote memorization and can feel monotonous.

    • “Playing Sethian is like learning Chinese; it is very tedious and requires a lot of rote memorization.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the game feel more like a job than a fun pastime.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization aspect of the game encourages active player engagement, enhancing the overall experience through moments that demand more from the player.

    • “These moments were wonderful because they required a more active performance from me.”
    • “The optimization in this game allows for a seamless experience, making every action feel fluid and engaging.”
    • “I love how the game encourages strategic thinking and resource management, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Sethian

Videos

Similar Games

Game News