Shipwreck

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 144 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Shipwreck Game Cover
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Shipwreck is a single-player adventure game with good graphics and an outstanding atmosphere. The top-down gameplay involves traveling the land, exploring dungeons, and defeating monsters to earn safe passage off the island. With a great soundtrack and a grind-heavy experience system, Survive and unravel the secrets of this mysterious island.

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Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 144 reviews
music31 positive mentions
story12 negative mentions
  • Charming pixel art and nostalgic music reminiscent of classic Game Boy Zelda titles.
  • Satisfying puzzles and unique boss fights that provide a fun challenge.
  • Short playtime makes it a quick and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
  • Overworld is empty and lacks enemies, making exploration feel pointless.
  • Combat mechanics are flawed with inconsistent hit detection and limited enemy variety.
  • The story is bland and lacks depth, with unmemorable characters and dialogue.
  • story65 mentions

    The game's story is widely criticized for being overly simplistic and lacking depth, with a basic premise of escaping a cursed island after a shipwreck. Reviewers note the absence of engaging characters, subplots, or world-building, leading to a narrative that feels bland and uninteresting. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of older titles, many agree that the story fails to provide a compelling experience, making it a weak point in an otherwise mechanically satisfying 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 non-existent.”
    • “The story is extremely simple - defeat the big bad to escape the island - and no subplots or sidequests exist to flesh it out.”
    • “There isn't much in the way of a story: basically, you get shipwrecked on an island unknown to you and learn from the town inhabitants that the frequent storms are caused by an entity which dwells in the said island's lighthouse.”
  • music61 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 enhances the gaming experience, providing a pleasant backdrop to the gameplay, despite some critiques 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.”
  • gameplay38 mentions

    The gameplay of "Shipwreck" is reminiscent of classic Zelda titles, featuring simple mechanics and a grid-based exploration system, but it suffers from a lack of innovation and variety. While the dungeon design and puzzles are solid, players may find the vague directions and repetitive tasks detract from the overall experience. With a playtime of around 4-5 hours, the game offers decent entertainment for its price, but many reviewers suggest there are better options available.

    • “About 4-5 hours of gameplay which is just right for the price.”
    • “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.”
    • “Simple but great gameplay, solid dungeon/boss design and 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.”
  • graphics24 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 for feeling simplistic or lacking depth, particularly in comparison to modern standards. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, though opinions vary on their execution and the game's overall design coherence.

    • “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 (Zelda: A Link to the Past had it in 1991), and a lack of a wind-up dash at the start of the game despite a huge, empty map.”
    • “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.”
    • “Graphics and screen size are built to be reminiscent of a Game Boy Zelda, but the high-quality sound effects and music clash with the 8-bit graphics.”
  • atmosphere6 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 more memorable titles like Anodyne. Overall, the game offers a retro feel with some atmospheric elements, but lacks the depth and challenge that would elevate the 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 (although they are too easy for my taste) 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.”
  • grinding6 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.”
  • emotional3 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, and 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.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many users noting that it lacks the depth and variety found in titles like Zelda. While it offers a fun and well-crafted experience, the ease of achieving in-game goals further diminishes its replay value.

    • “It may not be as long or replayable as Zelda, but it is a fun game.”
    • “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.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game is consistently praised for its humor, with users finding it both funny and enjoyable to play. Its lighthearted nature contributes to an easy and entertaining gaming experience.

    • “A little game, very funny.”
    • “Funny game, easy to play.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is positively noted for its strong design and integration into the overall plot, contributing to an engaging 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 add so much depth to the overall narrative.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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