Shadwen

About

"Shadwen is a single-player historical platformer game with impressive graphics, music, and unique game mechanics. As an assassin on a mission, players must decide whether to kill or spare guards while staying hidden from sight. Move freely through the environment, using shadows and objects to your advantage, as a young girl follows your every move."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 737 reviews

gameplay172 positive mentions

stability49 negative mentions

Unique time manipulation mechanics that allow for strategic planning and experimentation.
Engaging stealth gameplay with multiple approaches to completing levels, including lethal and non-lethal options.
Visually appealing graphics and a dark, atmospheric setting that enhances the overall experience.

Repetitive level design and lack of enemy variety, leading to a monotonous gameplay experience.
Companion AI (Lily) can be frustrating, often running back to previous hiding spots and hindering progress.
The story is underdeveloped and lacks depth, with minimal character development and motivation.

gameplay
536 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
58%
10%
The gameplay in "Shadwen" is characterized by its unique mechanics, particularly the time manipulation features that allow players to freeze and rewind time, making it easier to experiment with strategies without severe penalties. While the stealth mechanics and grappling hook provide engaging moments, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in variety, with some mechanics feeling clunky or underdeveloped. Overall, the game offers a fun but flawed experience, appealing to fans of stealth games while also presenting challenges due to its escort mission elements and simplistic AI.
- “The gameplay is unique and the girl doesn't usually get in the way.”
- “The time mechanics in the game make it perfect for setting up complicated, methodical plans and executing them flawlessly.”
- “The rewind mechanic means that nothing is a threat, ever.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, rules somewhat abstract.”
- “The gameplay is dull and repetitive.”
- “The game is awkwardly designed, even core mechanics.”
story
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
73%
11%
The story of "Shadwen" revolves around an assassin on a quest to kill a king, accompanied by a young girl named Lily, which transforms the gameplay into a lengthy escort mission. While the narrative attempts to explore themes of morality through player choices—such as whether to kill or spare guards—the overall plot is criticized for being simplistic and underdeveloped, often conveyed through guard dialogue rather than substantial cutscenes. Many players find the story lacks depth and fails to engage, making it feel more like a backdrop to the gameplay mechanics than a compelling narrative experience.
- “It's interesting to have to look after the young girl, Lily, and the story is influenced by whether you choose to kill or spare lives.”
- “The story is simple yet captivating, and the way it is told through overheard conversations adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “The story and characters felt lifeless and bland; I can't say I got invested in it story-wise, but if you're looking for a stealth game with good game mechanics, this game is worth a try.”
- “The story is either non-existent or incredibly rote, and the game's reliance on physics-based puzzles sometimes means that situations will spiral out of control based on factors beyond the player's control.”
- “The entire game is basically one long escort mission.”
- “The story is very basic and told mostly through the conversations between guards.”
graphics
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
48%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and overall visual presentation as decent for an indie title from 2016, while others criticize the dated look and lack of polish, likening it to games from the mid-2000s. Many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and solid textures, but note that repetitive environments and clunky animations detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered competent, they do not stand out significantly compared to more modern titles.
- “The graphics are beautiful and engaging and fit the theme of the game spot-on.”
- “This game is by far one of the best I've played in a while, not only is the gameplay smooth and sophisticated, the audio, visuals and even the dialogue is spot on.”
- “The graphics are great, I really like the atmosphere in this game.”
- “The graphics lack the polish needed to create an immersive experience.”
- “The graphics are probably better than I expected for an indie title from 2016, albeit they won't blow you away or anything.”
- “The graphics are a bit last decade (and the few FMVs look two decades old), the controls feel clunky and unpolished, the basic idea of the game boring, and the gameplay itself needlessly difficult at points.”
stability
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
2%
92%
The game's stability is marked by a mix of occasional glitches and bugs, particularly with AI behavior and movement physics, but these issues are generally not game-breaking. Players report that while the game can freeze during gameplay and exhibit some janky mechanics, the time manipulation feature allows for strategic planning, mitigating the impact of these bugs. Overall, many users found the game to run smoothly without major crashes, though some experienced frustrating moments due to its quirks.
- “Was very much pleasantly surprised when I got into this game; one of the best stealth games I've ever played. It looks great, runs great, and offers interesting ways to work around your enemies. There are cool contraptions to create to aid you in various ways. I'd highly recommend this game and will certainly play a sequel should they decide to make one.”
- “Looks great, runs great.”
- “Runs great: on my mid-to-lower end laptop, getting 60fps in anything is a blessing, and there hasn't been a single hiccup.”
- “The game every so often completely freezes during gameplay.”
- “I've encountered so many bugs and glitches (some kind of game-breaking, such as enemies spawning dead in the level during a no-kills playthrough), that it left me feeling drained and irritated.”
- “The grapple system is buggy and has laughable physics, the crafting system is unnecessary as I'd never used it once, and the unlimited rewind system makes the game absurdly easy.”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
57%
11%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a mix of eerie and epic tones that react to in-game events. While some players appreciate the diverse soundtrack and its ability to set a dark tone, others find it repetitive and not particularly memorable. Overall, the audio design, including sound effects and voice acting, is considered decent, contributing positively to the game's aesthetic, though some critiques highlight a lack of originality compared to other titles.
- “The game's sound effects and music add to the overall atmosphere of the game, with a mix of eerie and epic music.”
- “The medieval atmosphere is one of the best I've ever seen, with beautifully designed scenarios, vistas, and soundtrack.”
- “The music is very atmospheric and changes depending on your circumstances (gets a lot more intense when you kill someone or are being pursued, for example).”
- “Mediocre and repetitive gameplay with bad controls, mediocre voice acting and music.”
- “A lot of the sounds and some of the animations seem like placeholders as well as the music.”
- “The soundtrack could be a lot more developed; I've heard so much great stuff from indie soundtracks lately that this seeming endless loop of the first few notes of 'Scarborough Fair' gets old quickly.”
atmosphere
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
19%
11%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, immersive world, featuring beautifully designed environments and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the blend of eerie and epic music, alongside detailed graphics that contribute to a unique medieval setting reminiscent of titles like Skyrim and Thief. However, some reviews note that while the atmosphere is strong, the gameplay can feel repetitive and monotonous, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “The game features a dark and atmospheric world, with detailed environments and character designs.”
- “The game's sound effects and music add to the overall atmosphere of the game, with a mix of eerie and epic music.”
- “Beautifully rendered and highly atmospheric setting.”
- “While the base game mechanics of Shadwen are sound and make for some interesting puzzles, the bland and repetitive level design and atmosphere makes the relatively short experience still overstay its welcome.”
- “Right from the start, I got the sensation of a tactical turn-based game like Shadowrun or tactics series, mixed with the atmosphere of older Thief games; particularly Thief: Deadly Shadows.”
- “It's a good late-night game, easy to look at, calm atmosphere and not too demanding.”
humor
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its janky mechanics and the absurdity of its AI, leading to numerous hilarious moments, such as characters getting stuck or behaving nonsensically. Players find joy in the game's physics engine, which allows for creative and comedic interactions, like using objects to distract guards or setting up elaborate traps. Overall, while the humor can stem from frustrating bugs, it adds a layer of enjoyment that many players appreciate.
- “Lily’s pathfinding is sometimes hilarious when she wanders straight through enemy sight lines that somehow don’t register her, while at other times refusing to move from cover to cover when the opportunity presents itself.”
- “And it's a hilarious concept, that your badass assassin would be completely defeated by the first door - without a presence of a little girl to pull a lever.”
- “Watching her abruptly bumping into guards over and over again only to rush back to her previous hiding spot in panic was totally hilarious.”
replayability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
Replayability in the game is mixed, with some players finding value in pursuing different achievement sets and playstyles, such as pacifist versus aggressive approaches. However, many reviewers note that the game can feel repetitive and lacks substantial replay value beyond achievement hunting, leading to a consensus that while there are options for varied playthroughs, the overall replayability is limited.
- “It has some replay value in that you can either distract the guards or eliminate most of them.”
- “The game is highly replayable because it fully supports a pacifist playthrough and an all-kills playthrough.”
- “The game does feel a little short, but it does offer some replay value by choosing different ways to play.”
- “Replayability in this game is a no for myself, because there are too many annoyances for me to want to achievement hunt in this game.”
- “There is no real replayability; there are custom mods and levels, but the base story got repetitive, so I doubt I'll be playing it again.”
- “Conclusion: great & unique gameplay with lack of story or replay value.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, particularly when employing non-lethal strategies or engaging with the crafting system, which many players find pointless. While some mechanics, like the rewind ability, offer a degree of fun and experimentation, the overall gameplay can feel drawn out and lacking in payoff, especially as players progress through the levels. Despite its initial enjoyment, the game tends to become infuriating due to the reliance on a frustrating AI companion and limited tools for stealth.
- “The grinding in this game feels rewarding rather than tedious, as it allows for strategic planning and execution.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics encourage creativity and problem-solving, making each session feel fresh and engaging.”
- “Unlike typical grinding experiences, this game offers a sense of progression that keeps me motivated to continue.”
- “The methods for making this run work did start to get a bit repetitive and at times even fairly tedious through the back portion of the game, though I did enjoy the harder difficulty of the last level.”
- “It's very tedious and you don't get to use most items in the game, because getting materials to craft them is even more tedious and you don't win much doing that anyway.”
- “This game is fun for the first couple of levels but slowly starts getting more tedious and tedious.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through engaging dialogues and character interactions that evoke feelings of guilt and empathy, particularly during violent encounters. Players experience a unique emotional twist as they navigate the world, with ambient conversations revealing deeper narratives that enhance the emotional weight of their choices. However, some reviewers felt that the storyline could have been more impactful, as the emotional depth was often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and a lack of character backstory.
- “The brief dialogues elaborating the world were engaging and fresh -- not strictly by way of story but more in emotional touch.”
- “Provides a unique emotional twist; I never enjoy gratuitous violence in games, but I find myself feeling guilty on another level.”
- “By doing so, the game will tell a very touching story and during the course of the game Lily and Shadwen will become friends.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players find it runs smoothly and is well-optimized for various hardware, others criticize it for being inefficient, particularly on lower-spec PCs. Additionally, there are concerns about the lack of a scoring system that could enhance gameplay challenge. Overall, the performance is generally acceptable, but improvements could be made, especially for Linux users.
- “Performance-wise, the game is well optimized, so you won’t be needing a NASA-funded computer to run it.”
- “Great optimization.”
- “Performance-wise this game scales way up and looks great.”
- “I think the game should at least have a score system implemented, which grades you on performance and takes away score if you rewind time, as you really have no incentive to play better and the mechanics in the game essentially erase challenge.”
- “Graphics look okay, but I think it's extremely unoptimized and inefficient with the GPU.”
- “[*] Linux performance could be better, but the game is playable on high settings with a GTX 1050 Ti.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game presents a dark and atmospheric world with impressive character designs, particularly for the protagonist Shadwen. However, reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, resulting in a simplistic and two-dimensional portrayal that fails to foster a connection with the characters.
- “The game features a dark and atmospheric world, with detailed environments and character designs.”
- “Shadwen as a character has a cool design.”
- “The character development and dialogue between Lily and Shadwen feels a bit simplistic and two-dimensional.”
- “There's little character development, and you don't feel any connection with the protagonist.”
- “So far, the character development and dialogue between Lily and Shadwen feels a bit simplistic and two-dimensional.”
- “Zero character development.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no microtransactions or downloadable content (DLC), providing players with a complete experience without additional costs.
- “No microtransactions, no DLCs, or anything else.”
- “The game offers a complete experience without any additional costs.”
- “I appreciate that there are no paywalls or hidden fees.”
- “The game is completely free of microtransactions, DLCs, or any additional costs.”
- “I appreciate that there are no hidden fees or paywalls in this game.”
- “It's refreshing to see a game that doesn't rely on monetization tactics to keep players engaged.”