Shine Within

About

Shine Within is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by ayetoons and was released on September 8, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

A top-down action-adventure game as you collect & solve puzzles in order for you to explore & unravel this mysterious world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 93 reviews

story7 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and a charming atmosphere, making it visually appealing.
It offers a unique and wholesome experience, with engaging interactions and a touching story that resonates with players.
Despite its short length, the game is enjoyable and provides a relaxing experience, perfect for unwinding.

The gameplay is simplistic and lacks depth, with easy puzzles that may not engage all players.
The story feels underdeveloped and confusing at times, leaving players wanting more clarity and substance.
It heavily borrows from Undertale, which may detract from its originality and appeal to those seeking a unique experience.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The reviews for the "story" aspect of the game are mixed, with some players finding it trite and poorly executed, while others appreciate its cryptic and intriguing elements. Many noted that the narrative feels underdeveloped or confusing, though some expressed hope that future installments would clarify the plot. Overall, while the storytelling has its flaws, it is complemented by strong aesthetics and engaging characters, making it appealing to fans of narrative-driven games.
- “Overall, the ambience is great, and the story is cryptic but intriguing.”
- “It has an amazing story with great characters.”
- “The aesthetics to this game is mesmerizing and the story behind it is great, give it a try.”
- “The puzzles aren't great, the story is worse (and feels like Google Translate was having a bad day) and the graphics are atrocious.”
- “It feels like someone had a concept for a neat story in their head, but simply didn't workshop it enough to turn it into something great.”
- “There is a story hidden here, but it is told in a vague enough fashion that I never really felt sucked into the world.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its fittingness and ability to enhance the overall experience. While some noted issues with awkward looping and occasional annoyance, the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and memorable, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, with some reviewers rating it as a perfect 10/10.
- “Audio: the OST sounds good and fits the game well.”
- “The animations for the creatures, the player, and whatever else is amazing, the quirky texts you get from interacting with the world gave me a laugh, and the soundtrack was perfect for every moment in this game.”
- “Nice, short game with a beautiful soundtrack and old-school design.”
- “Letting away the fact that it follows a few basic ideas of another successful developer to create an entirely new experience is something I am more than welcome to see, and overall the game looks neat and sounds alright, though there are parts where the music gets annoying since it is badly looped and you take longer to finish a room than the music needs to play itself.”
- “Sometimes I felt the music would awkwardly loop, but it's barely noticeable if you're captivated by the story as I was.”
- “This is only free in a rudimentary sense... the developer has their hand out for a $4 USD 'donation' for this as you're expected to buy soundtrack DLC from Steam to 'support' the 'developer'... digital panhandling.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong emotional response, blending touching moments with wholesome experiences that resonate deeply with players. Many reviewers highlight its ability to balance lightheartedness with impactful, sadder elements, often leading to tears and a lasting impression. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt and memorable gaming experience.
- “The game’s message is both touching and beautiful, leaving a lasting impression.”
- “Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and heartfelt experience!”
- “The game is mostly very wholesome, which makes the more sad/scary parts more effective.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay features a relaxed 2D, cartoony experience focused on item collection and puzzle-solving, with simple mechanics that make it accessible for younger players. While the initial gameplay may feel unengaging, it picks up towards the end, though some players feel it lacks depth and irony. Overall, it offers a light-hearted adventure with optional interactions and minigames, but may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay.
- “The gameplay involves collecting items and solving puzzles in a 2D, cartoony setting, with some minigames and optional interactions with monsters.”
- “The mechanics are simple and the puzzles are not that hard, so you can play relaxed without stressing about not progressing.”
- “Gameplay takes place in an underground environment populated by benign monsters, whom you help out in exchange for the statue pieces you need to advance.”
- “The gameplay isn't too engaging, until the end where it begins to pick up, but everything else makes up for it.”
- “Having said that, this game misses opportunities to build up irony where it seemingly wants to, which results in boring gameplay fairly quickly.”
- “Gameplay is very easy, even when you're being chased by the 'boss' with simple puzzles a young kid could solve.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; some players criticize them as "atrocious" and reminiscent of poor pixel art, while others praise the visuals for their beautiful aesthetics and thematic diversity. Overall, the quality of graphics seems to significantly impact players' enjoyment, with some feeling it detracts from the experience, while others find it enhances the game's charm.
- “Graphics: the game looks really good, different places have different themes and design choices.”
- “Literally such an amazing game with amazing artwork.”
- “It's nice and short, filled with beautiful aesthetics from beginning to end.”
- “The puzzles aren't great, the story is worse (and feels like Google Translate was having a bad day), and the graphics are atrocious.”
- “This features really godawful pixel art instead of real graphics.”
- “It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to create 3D visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a nostalgic warmth that evokes cherished memories, while also incorporating a unique and spooky ambiance that enhances its Halloween theme. The world and monster designs contribute to this intriguing atmosphere, making it a compelling experience for players.
- “At the same time, it carries a nostalgic atmosphere that gave me a warm, familiar feeling—like rediscovering something dear and cherished.”
- “It has a unique and spooky atmosphere, and the world and monster designs are interesting.”
- “Atmospherically, it's a good Halloween game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game features basic puzzles, but players find it enjoyable due to its humorous dialogue, which adds to the overall fun experience.
- “The puzzles are pretty basic, but the game is fun and the dialogue is hilarious.”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty banter between characters.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, making even the simplest tasks enjoyable.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players often find grinding to be a tedious and somewhat boring aspect of gameplay, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “It can be a little boring and tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and lacks variety.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which becomes frustrating.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express uncertainty about the replayability of "Shine Within," as the ending hints at potential differences in a second playthrough, but the game remains enjoyable enough to warrant a single run, especially considering it is free.
- “As of this writing, I've only completed one playthrough, so I don't yet know if the provocative 'The End???' concluding screen indicates a second run would be different and thus add replay value. However, even if not, 'Shine Within' is enjoyable enough (and free), so it's worth checking out.”
- “The game offers multiple paths and choices that make each playthrough feel unique, encouraging players to explore different strategies and outcomes.”
- “With various character builds and storylines to experience, the replayability factor is high, making it a game that you can return to time and again.”