Siren's Call: Escape Velocity

About

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity is a single player action game. It was developed by ThePenSword and was released on January 10, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A surreal, coming-of-age visual novel set in early 2010s Central Florida, "Siren's Call" is the small town you swore you'd always leave. Something inside of you knows that this is your last chance. Will you reach escape velocity?

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity screenshot

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 94 reviews

story33 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity features a deeply engaging story with well-developed characters, making it a compelling visual novel experience that resonates emotionally with players.
The game is praised for its beautiful art style, immersive soundtrack, and the unique way it handles serious themes, including mental health and personal growth.
Players appreciate the intricate connections within the narrative and the satisfying exploration of character backstories, which enhance the overall experience.

Some players found the pacing to be slow, particularly in the middle sections, which could lead to moments of tedium and confusion about progression.
The absence of a hint system for unlocking certain content and achievements was noted as a frustrating aspect, making it difficult for some players to achieve 100% completion.
A few reviews mentioned technical issues, such as glitches and the inability to skip certain scenes, which detracted from the overall experience.

story
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
The story of "Siren's Call: Escape Velocity" is a deeply emotional and layered coming-of-age narrative that explores themes of friendship, guilt, and personal growth, often through a psychological horror lens. Players are drawn into a compelling plot filled with twists and character depth, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that resonates emotionally. While the beginning may feel formulaic, the latter parts reveal a rich tapestry of character interactions and hidden secrets, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visual novels.
- “The core story is great, but there are also a lot of secrets to uncover after you've finished it.”
- “It's a beautiful coming-of-age drama, but it's the type of story that has multiple layers which is slowly revealed, and is best experienced blind.”
- “The story is layered, with satisfying twists, psychological and philosophical musings, and a great cast of characters.”
- “The start of the story (categories 1-4) I don't think are very good and often just feel like wheel-spinning of the story where (as a reader) you'll likely feel a tedium of knowing exactly where the story is going and exactly what the gameplay loop is doing--and the author is aware of it, too; the dull formulaic first few categories set up for the thesis of 'what this story is about' revealed in the final category, and there I think the writing is truly special--this final chapter, and the journal entries, and the entirety of the 'finishing touches' epilogue are worth reading and worth your time, even if you don't care at all about Central Florida.”
- “By the end of Siren's Call, I did not like the story that was presented. Even if there wasn't something to 'get', and it wasn't intended to be some profound tale that makes you use every wrinkle of your brain, the story that is told flat out isn't interesting enough on its own by the end.”
- “The game doesn't care about the backstories though, or at least they only care about elements of the backstory which have direct impact on Oliver's present and future.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its professional quality and ability to enhance immersion, particularly through its unique rock-inspired guitar tracks. However, some players noted moments of blandness and silence that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and emotional depth.
- “The sound design is excellent, both in the effects, the soundtrack, and the way it's woven with the experience.”
- “The music is well-made and often feels like it fits the scene, which is not always the case.”
- “A huge plus is that I can listen to the music on repeat during gameplay and not grow tired of it; the simplicity of the music allows you to take in the dialogue a lot more and start to immerse yourself.”
- “There is no voice acting at all and the music can be a little bland in many scenes.”
- “There was also some music downtime where nothing was playing which left scenes feeling a little empty.”
- “The music is well-made, and often feels like it fits the scene (which is not always the case).”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply impactful, featuring a blend of surreal and heartfelt moments that explore complex themes such as guilt, inadequacy, and friendship. Players have noted the powerful and satisfying endings that evoke strong feelings, with some experiencing genuine tears due to the emotional weight of the narrative. However, opinions vary, as some felt the conclusion lacked the emotional resonance they anticipated, leaving them less attached to the characters despite the compelling story throughout.
- “There's a lot more than meets the eye to this one, and it's hard to get into any of it without spoilers, but expect some surreal and creepy scenes, but also some very heartfelt, very human moments.”
- “This game was written in such a way that you can tell that so much of who these characters really are was present in that dream despite the creepy, out-of-character moments. You can discern pretty well what parts of them were 'real' and which parts were exaggerated due to various emotions Oliver was processing during the whole dream sequence, such as his feelings of inadequacy as a friend, guilt, and suicidal ideation. The ending was also greatly satisfying, wrapping up Oliver's story and the overall mystery of the game in such a perfect way that I genuinely cried due to how emotionally satisfying it was.”
- “It is a genuinely emotional and enthralling experience.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their high-quality artwork and charming art style, featuring beautifully drawn characters and captivating oil painting-style backgrounds. Players appreciate the eye-catching visuals, including animated stills and a well-designed user interface that enhances the overall aesthetic experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- “Great artwork, the characters are drawn well and their expressions change based on the dialog.”
- “I enjoyed the art style of the game, especially the oil painting style backgrounds in many scenes.”
- “The backgrounds and cgs are certainly eye-catching, and the UI both fits the game's aesthetic and is easy to navigate.”
- “The graphics quality is disappointing, especially considering the expectations set by modern games.”
- “The character models look outdated and lack detail, making the overall experience feel less immersive.”
- “While the artwork has its moments, the technical execution falls short, leading to a lackluster visual experience.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay in this visual novel is characterized by shallow mechanics typical of the genre, primarily involving clicking and reading, which may lead to a sense of tedium in the early stages. However, the game incorporates interactive choices effectively and features a pleasant soundtrack that enhances immersion. While it lacks traditional gameplay elements, the added features in the "definitive edition" offer some new experiences for players.
- “A huge plus is that I can listen to the music on repeat during the gameplay and not grow tired of it; the simplicity of the music allows you to take in the dialogue a lot more and start to immerse yourself.”
- “Despite being a visual novel and thus not being particularly heavy in the gameplay department, the game features a slew of mechanics that are used quite well for the story.”
- “The mechanics are very shallow, which is to be expected for a visual novel.”
- “That being said, it's still a visual novel, so most of the gameplay is still clicking and reading, so your mileage may vary.”
- “While there are no traditional minigames or heavy gameplay scenes, this visual novel uses everything it can think of to give you that bit of interactivity.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is described as unique and unsettling, enhanced from the original, with expertly crafted psychological horror elements that create a chilling yet engaging environment. Players feel a strong connection to the characters, fostering both emotional investment and moments of levity amidst the tension. Overall, the game successfully combines relatable narratives with a captivating atmosphere, making it a standout experience in RPG storytelling.
- “It creates a unique and unsettling atmosphere while maintaining an engaging message, and I found myself really caring about these characters and wanting to see good things happen to them.”
- “Everything you may have liked about the original is still here, and the game is now dripping with atmosphere even more than before.”
- “The psychological horror elements are expertly crafted, creating a chilling and thought-provoking atmosphere while allowing for authentic connections and moments of levity between the player and characters.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers a substantial amount of content and a compelling story, encouraging multiple playthroughs to fully experience its depth. However, some players note that replayability is somewhat limited, primarily revolving around achievements and exploring different narrative paths. Overall, while there is incentive to replay, it may not be as robust as some players hope.
- “Hours of content, replayability, and a good story.”
- “Not much replay value aside from achievements on different paths.”
- “More replay value, too, since you won't experience everything this game has to offer in a single playthrough.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is praised for its strong visual design, with unique silhouettes that effectively convey each character's personality and background. Reviewers highlight the impressive quality of the art, noting that it enhances the overall understanding of the characters.
- “The character designs ensure that each character has a unique silhouette, allowing players to understand a lot about them just by looking at them.”
- “The art in this game runs from quite good to superb, showcasing impressive character development through visual storytelling.”
- “Comparing the early designs to the final versions, it's clear that the character development has been thoughtfully crafted to enhance the overall experience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, featuring a mix of amusing moments, clever puns, and high-quality comedic elements that enhance the overall experience.
- “There are some good puns and other god-tier humor that I enjoyed.”
- “It was genuinely funny.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of autistic characters in media is often criticized for portraying them as mere performances of symptoms rather than as fully developed, relatable individuals. This approach can lead to a lack of authenticity and depth in their representation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity is a action game.

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity is available on PC and Windows.

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity was released on January 10, 2025.

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity was developed by ThePenSword.

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Siren's Call: Escape Velocity is a single player game.

Similar games include Siren's Call, Goodbye Volcano High, Heart of the Woods, Lucid9: Inciting Incident, The House in Fata Morgana and others.

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