Shipwreck

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Shipwreck is a single-player Fantasy Action game with stunning graphics and masterful music. As a shipwrecked survivor, explore the unknown land, delve into treacherous dungeons, and defeat monsters to secure your passage off the island. This top-down adventure is brought to you by the talented team of Kelly Gravelyn, Joe Gravelyn, Ty Lagalo, and Dan Waters at Brushfire Games.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 143 reviews

music31 positive mentions

story12 negative mentions

Charming pixel art and nostalgic graphics reminiscent of classic Game Boy Zelda titles.
Short and enjoyable gameplay with well-designed dungeons and unique boss fights.
Fun for fans of Zelda-like games, providing a simple and straightforward adventure.

Lack of world map and exploration elements, resulting in a barren overworld with no enemies.
Combat mechanics are flawed with inconsistent hit detection and limited item variety.
Very short playtime (around 2-3 hours) with minimal story and character development.

story
64 mentions
13 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being simplistic and lacking depth, revolving around a basic premise of escaping a cursed island after a shipwreck. Players note the absence of subplots, character development, and world-building, leading to a narrative that feels shallow and unengaging. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel, many agree that the story fails to provide a compelling experience, making it a weak point in an otherwise charming game.
- “The story is simple: you are shipwrecked on some cursed island.”
- “The storyline is about the unnamed character who gets shipwrecked on an island.”
- “Even though it's shallow story- and character-wise, it's a great short game.”
- “The plot is very simple, with four dungeons (plus a tutorial one and a final one, so actually six) to beat in order to finish the game, which can be done in about two hours.”
- “The story is extremely simple - defeat the big bad to escape the island - and no subplots or sidequests exist to flesh it out.”
- “There is no story to speak of, the graphics and music are nothing special, the controls are stiff and awkward, and the dungeon design is atrocious.”
music
61 mentions
51 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and quality, with many reviewers highlighting it as one of the standout features. While the soundtrack is generally enjoyable and fits the game's aesthetic, some players feel it lacks variety and can become repetitive. Overall, the music is described as relaxing and well-composed, enhancing the gaming experience despite some criticisms regarding its fit with the retro graphics.
- “The music is pleasing to the ear but it feels out of place since it is not retro-styled, rather some modern easy-listening vibes.”
- “The soundtrack is nifty and gives a good vibe.”
- “The music fits the areas really well, and I found myself really enjoying it.”
- “The soundtrack is largely inoffensive, but lacks combat music, meaning boss fights are occasionally done to gentle ocean music.”
- “There is no story to speak of, the graphics and music are nothing special, the controls are stiff and awkward, and the dungeon design is atrocious.”
- “The music did nothing for me.”
gameplay
37 mentions
16 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Shipwreck" offers around 4-5 hours of classic, 8-bit-style action reminiscent of old-school Zelda titles, featuring simple mechanics and dungeon exploration. While the game is praised for its solid dungeon design and enjoyable soundtrack, it suffers from vague directions, repetitive tasks, and a lack of innovation, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall depth and engagement. Players can expect a straightforward experience that, despite its shortcomings, provides a nostalgic charm for fans of the genre.
- “Just like a classic Zelda title, the gameplay mainly revolves around traversing dungeons in search of the four seals that act as a key to the haunted lighthouse, your final destination.”
- “Over all I give this game a 10/10, because it accurately captures a pure Zelda-inspired gameplay and exploration feeling.”
- “Simple but great gameplay, solid dungeon/boss design, and a cheap price.”
- “Fairly solid in gameplay but be prepared to wander around looking for the places you need to go with only vague directions.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay here is worse than where it is borrowed from, and Shipwreck has no mechanics that it can really call its own.”
- “Very simple barebones gameplay and level design and fairly fast progression with miniature everything.”
graphics
24 mentions
33 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by charming, cutesy pixel art that evokes nostalgia for classic 8-bit and 16-bit titles, reminiscent of the Game Boy and TurboGrafx-16 eras. While many players appreciate the retro aesthetic and vibrant colors, some critique the graphics as lacking depth and feeling somewhat soulless. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, though there are calls for improvement in certain areas, particularly in terms of world design and integration with gameplay mechanics.
- “I love the pixel graphics.”
- “The game uses pixelated graphics and it looks bold and enjoyable.”
- “Nice retro graphics, and a nice soundtrack as well.”
- “Cutesy, well-drawn pixel graphics hampered by an obvious lack of controller support, lack of a world map, and a lack of a wind-up dash at the start of the game despite a huge, empty map.”
- “The 8-bit graphics sometimes feel okay and other times feel soulless.”
- “There is no story to speak of, the graphics and music are nothing special, the controls are stiff and awkward, and the dungeon design is atrocious.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is described as a mixed experience; while some dungeons feature distinct aesthetics and a strong soundtrack that enhance the ambiance, others fall flat in comparison to titles like Anodyne, lacking the surreal quality and engaging level design. Overall, the game offers a retro feel with some atmospheric elements, but the simplicity of puzzles and ease of enemies detracts from the overall immersive experience.
- “Dungeons are nicely distinct in both aesthetic and atmosphere; the soundtrack is arguably the game's best feature.”
- “It was huge, had great atmosphere, and had some actual puzzles.”
- “Well-balanced enemies, unique boss fights, and some good retro atmosphere all over.”
- “If you have already played Anodyne, then Shipwreck is going to seem weak by comparison; it is similar in terms of gameplay, but completely lacking the surreal atmosphere and level design that made Anodyne a memorable experience.”
- “The game tries to create a haunting atmosphere, but it falls flat and feels more like a bland imitation of better titles.”
- “Despite its potential, the atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when backtracking through dungeons after dying or missing items, compounded by the lack of a run function. While some appreciate the retention of health pickups, the frequent need to switch to healing items adds to the overall monotony of exploration.
- “It can be tedious to work your way back through a dungeon if you die or want to get a big heart you missed.”
- “It's annoying that there's no run functionality (like in the GBA Pokémon games), which makes backtracking tedious and a bit annoying.”
- “Anyway, it makes running around the world uninteresting and tedious.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game evokes nostalgia through its charming pixel art and emotive music, creating a heartfelt atmosphere despite its brevity and lack of depth. While it captures a moody essence reminiscent of classic Game Boy Zelda titles, some players suggest exploring alternatives like *Anodyne* for a more profound emotional experience.
- “What it lacks in depth and length, it makes up for with lovely pixel art and heartfelt, moody music.”
- “Graphics are okay; they made me feel nostalgic for Game Boy Zelda games.”
- “Otherwise, try Anodyne, which is a much more involved and heartfelt take on the same concept.”
replayability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, with many users noting a lack of incentive to revisit it after completion. While it successfully delivers a specific experience, the ease of obtaining achievements further diminishes its long-term engagement.
- “It may not be as long or replayable as Zelda, but it is a fun game.”
- “There isn't much replay value and the achievements are all fairly easy to get, but clearly the developers had a very specific experience in mind that they wanted to emulate, and they totally nailed it.”
- “There is no replayability either.”
- “There isn't much replay value, and the achievements are all fairly easy to get, but clearly the developers had a very specific experience in mind that they wanted to emulate, and they totally nailed it.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is consistently described as very funny and easy to play, making it an enjoyable experience for players seeking humor in their gaming.
- “A little game, very funny.”
- “Funny game, easy to play.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is positively received, with users highlighting strong character design and an engaging plot that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “The backstories and growth of the characters are beautifully crafted, adding layers to the overall narrative.”