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Shadowgate

Shadowgate hates you and wants you dead, but fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
Shadowgate Game Cover
79%Game Brain Score
graphics, music
replayability, grinding
88% User Score Based on 566 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 16 reviews

Platforms

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Shadowgate Game Cover

About

Shadowgate is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Zojoi and was released on August 21, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Shadowgate is a point-and-click adventure game, and one of the original MacVenture titles, celebrated on various gaming platforms. As "The Seed of Prophecy", players explore a perilous living castle, solving countless puzzles and facing numerous ways to die, in order to defeat the Warlock Lord and save the kingdom. The original development team has now reunited to create a full re-imagining of this classic game.

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88%
Audience ScoreBased on 566 reviews
graphics83 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • Faithful remake of the classic Shadowgate, capturing the essence of the original while adding new puzzles and content.
  • Beautiful hand-painted graphics and an immersive soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • Multiple difficulty levels provide a range of challenges, making it accessible for newcomers while still offering a tough experience for veterans.
  • Some puzzles can feel overly obtuse and may require trial and error, leading to frustration.
  • The user interface can be clunky, making inventory management cumbersome.
  • The game includes a time limit mechanic that can lead to unwinnable situations if not managed carefully.
  • graphics
    183 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the hand-painted artwork and modern visuals that enhance the immersive experience. However, the retro graphics mode has been criticized for merely pixelating the updated images rather than offering a true nostalgic experience, leading to disappointment among fans of the original. Overall, while the new visuals are generally well-received, some players feel they lack the charm of the classic style and find the graphical presentation inconsistent.

    • “The graphics and sound effects really add another layer of entertainment that immerses you further into the game; I love the 'blocking' sound. The story feels a lot more fleshed-out in this version than the original as well.”
    • “Visually, the game looks great, with a consistent aesthetic.”
    • “The artwork is amazing, the new music hits the same emotions as the original, and the puzzles are as difficult as ever.”
    • “I don't want to belittle the obvious hard work that went into it, but when the 'retro' selection on the graphics just puts a terrible low-res filter over everything, I just lost my patience with it.”
    • “If you choose the classic visuals, instead of getting something like the NES version or the old computer versions, it just drastically lowers the image's resolution; it looks like the background of a bad VGA point-and-click adventure.”
    • “The new visuals are not great; they look like a painting that's been left in an unsuitable environment, so all of the colors are smearing and blurring together.”
  • music
    179 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the option to toggle between the original NES soundtrack and a new orchestral score. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and nostalgic elements of the music, others find the new compositions repetitive or less recognizable compared to the classic tracks. Overall, the inclusion of both soundtracks enhances the experience, catering to both new players and fans of the original.

    • “The art is stunning and the soundtrack is epic!”
    • “The music is fantastic.”
    • “The artwork and music are exceptionally well done and faithful to the original.”
    • “The new soundtrack is just unlistenable crap, and stretches way too far from the original, not being recognizable.”
    • “The music is appropriate, but seriously repetitive and a tad annoying at times.”
    • “The orchestral soundtrack is based on the melodies of the NES version, but there is also an option to use the actual NES chiptunes, which works surprisingly well.”
  • story
    113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is a reimagining of the original, featuring a classic "noble hero vs. evil dark lord" narrative that, while somewhat generic, is enhanced with more depth, voice acting, and stylized cutscenes. Many players appreciate the expanded lore and immersive atmosphere, though some find the plot lacks coherence and can feel repetitive. Overall, the game successfully combines nostalgia with modern storytelling elements, making it appealing to both returning fans and newcomers to the genre.

    • “The story, music, art, and dialogue are nothing I've ever seen in a game!”
    • “The atmosphere, enhanced graphics, well-told story, remixed music, different difficulty modes, and varied puzzles and paths make this one outshine the original version even.”
    • “A fantastic remake that stays true to the tone that made the original a classic while adding more depth to the storyline, and creating a more immersive atmosphere!”
    • “Oh, and don't play it 'just for story': while the story is there, it really doesn't include anything beyond the standard 'noble hero vs an evil dark lord seeking power'.”
    • “The audio is a bit repetitive and the story - 4 hours in - isn't super coherent.”
    • “The story is pretty basic, good guy vanquishes evil guy, but sometimes it's nice to play an uncomplicated story.”
  • gameplay
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Shadowgate is a blend of classic point-and-click mechanics with modern refinements, offering a mix of trial-and-error puzzles and exploration that appeals to fans of the original. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the streamlined interface, others criticize the clunky inventory management and frustrating timer mechanics that can detract from the experience. Overall, the game provides a challenging adventure that may resonate well with those who enjoy high-risk puzzle-solving, though it may feel outdated to newcomers.

    • “Now, if you can handle the visuals and like this kind of older high-risk puzzle adventure gameplay, you'll probably have a great time.”
    • “The gameplay is very similar to the original with some quality of life changes.”
    • “Shadowgate is a gorgeous remake of a timeless classic, expanding on one of the genre’s most beloved titles with refined mechanics and a wealth of new content that’s sure to keep you glued to your PC for weeks deciphering the castle’s cryptic secrets.”
    • “For the PC, however, this game and its gameplay mechanics feel like a step backwards in time.”
    • “The biggest flaw in the gameplay is some UI-related clumsiness, as using items on the environment can get very clunky very quickly when you're experimenting on a puzzle.”
    • “I thought this was a classic dungeon crawling, puzzle solving experience, but in reality, it's just a frustration fest full of zero-logic puzzles, tons of dead ends, and gameplay that can only be appreciated by someone who used to love the original.”
  • atmosphere
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive dark fantasy elements, enhanced by beautiful hand-painted graphics, atmospheric music, and a well-crafted story. Reviewers note that it successfully captures the essence of the original while adding depth, creating an eerie and foreboding ambiance that complements the challenging puzzles. Despite some minor criticisms regarding controls and differences from the original, the overall consensus is that the game offers a captivating and nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The game does what it sets out to do well: create an immersive puzzle-solving atmosphere set in a fantasy world that pays homage to the original game.”
    • “A fantastic remake that stays true to the tone that made the original a classic while adding more depth to the storyline, and creating a more immersive atmosphere!”
    • “The atmosphere was eerie, foreboding, and the graphics were enjoyable, even though a bit rough-looking.”
    • “One thing my nostalgia wants to nitpick is that the atmosphere doesn't quite feel the same as the NES version, but I think that just might be difficult to recapture.”
    • “This also accounts for some of the difference in atmosphere between this and the original: the original seemed very much like it took place in its own world - the descriptions of lands beyond the castle itself created a great sense of the bigger picture.”
  • replayability
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through multiple difficulty settings that alter puzzles and unlock new content, encouraging players to explore different strategies and outcomes. Achievements tied to specific actions and sub-routes further enhance replay value, while hidden mechanics and time constraints add layers of challenge. However, some players note that familiarity with puzzles can limit replayability, despite the overall variety provided by the game's design.

    • “Awesome graphics, high replayability, no microtransactions, no game-breaking bugs.”
    • “The three difficulty settings and many achievements add a great degree of replayability to this game.”
    • “Ultimately, I enjoyed Shadowgate and the addition of difficulty levels (with differing puzzles and win conditions) and achievements for time and turn limits mean that there's decent replayability here.”
    • “As much as I appreciate Double Fine's HD remakes of Day of the Tentacle and Grim Fandango, they had zero replay value because I've known those games inside out in my sleep since I was 10.”
    • “However, if you restart, you know the puzzle ahead of you, so the replay value of this game is quite limited.”
    • “Nonetheless, I consider the replay value of this game to be like the reheat value of a pizza.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a wicked, dry wit and a blend of dark comedy that often catches players off guard, reminiscent of the original's charm. While some players appreciate the high-quality writing and humorous callbacks to the 1987 version, others feel that the balance of humor can be uneven, leading to drawn-out cutscenes. Overall, the game successfully incorporates funny elements, even in moments of frustration, making the experience enjoyable despite its darker themes.

    • “This was all narrated by a writer with a wicked, dry sense of humor, with lines that seem innocuous but are laden with snark.”
    • “Great graphics, new locations and puzzles, all combined with the trademark dark humor of the creators make for an awesome return to the castle.”
    • “How you proceed in the remake has changed greatly from the original, and what were solutions to problems in the original now kill you in somewhat humorous ways and even offer secret death endings which I greatly enjoyed.”
  • grinding
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews consistently highlight the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with many players expressing that the trial-and-error nature of puzzles leads to boredom rather than enjoyment. Despite some nostalgic appreciation for problem-solving, the overall sentiment is that the grinding elements detract significantly from the experience, making it feel more like a chore than a challenge.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The best word to describe this game is 'tedious.' I got it on sale for about $5, and I still wouldn't recommend it.”
    • “I wanted to like this game, but it was surprisingly more tedious and unintuitive than I would have ever expected.”
    • “Gave it a go; after a while, it just got too tedious and boring.”
  • monetization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Shadowgate is priced at $15, which some players consider steep compared to older AAA titles, yet it offers impressive graphics and high replayability without microtransactions or significant bugs. While the game is a well-crafted remake of the 1987 classic, some players feel that the ending is undermined by an advertisement for a sequel, leading to mixed feelings about its monetization strategy.

    • “Awesome graphics, high replayability, and no microtransactions.”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't hinder gameplay.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no game-breaking bugs and no pressure to spend money.”
    • “Shadowgate has the greedy, cash grab price of $15 USD, for which you could easily get any number of older AAA games.”
    • “The ending is severely hampered by an advertisement for a sequel.”
    • “You die somehow and you defeat the dread warlock lord and live unhappily ever after due to the presence of an advertisement for a sequel.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express a desire for more character development, particularly through dialogue, indicating that the current portrayal feels lacking in depth and engagement.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, with each character evolving in meaningful ways throughout the story.”
    • “I appreciate how the game allows for deep character development, making each choice feel impactful.”
    • “The way characters grow and change based on player decisions adds a layer of depth that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “I would have liked some character development through dialogue.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “There are missed opportunities for deeper backstories and interactions that could have enhanced character development.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is well-optimized, delivering smooth performance and impressive graphics.

    • “The game runs smoothly and the graphics look great.”
    • “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
    • “I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it maintains a high frame rate without sacrificing visual quality.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express that the game evokes strong emotional responses through its nostalgic elements, such as classic puzzles and music, while simultaneously feeling fresh and modern due to its updates and redesigns. This blend of past and present creates a powerful sense of time travel and emotional connection.

    • “Playing this game practically made me feel like I jumped back in time, except I didn't... the game jumped through time to this modern remake and made the past available.”
    • “The puzzles and music are classic enough to bring every bit of emotional response you want in nostalgia, and with so much updating and redesign, it feels current and new again.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is notably poor, particularly on Mac, where users report significant bugs related to achievements and frequent freezing that can lock up their PCs, necessitating hard reboots. Overall, there is a lack of responsiveness from the developers regarding these issues.

    • “If you play on Mac and look for achievements, you can forget this game as this part is buggy and the developers do not seem to care about it.”
    • “The game freezes up every time I try to load it, locking up my PC and forcing me to do a hard reboot.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 16 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shadowgate is a role playing game.

Shadowgate is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, iPhone, Windows and others.

Shadowgate was released on August 21, 2014.

Shadowgate was developed by Zojoi.

Shadowgate has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its replayability.

Shadowgate is a single player game.

Similar games include Beyond Shadowgate, Legend of Grimrock 2, Legend of Grimrock, Primordia, Quern - Undying Thoughts and others.