Sisyphus Reborn

About

Sisyphus Reborn is a single player action game. It was developed by Edwin Montgomery and was released on September 5, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Sisyphus Reborn" is a free, short adventure game centered around existential themes, where you wake up in a world where everyone digs endlessly. With a simple point-and-click interface, this game offers a 30-minute experience, featuring low-res hand-drawn art, an atmospheric soundtrack, and introspective exploration of meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 785 reviews

music115 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of existential themes, encouraging players to reflect on the meaning of life.
The minimalist art style and atmospheric soundtrack create an immersive experience that enhances the game's philosophical message.
It's a short, free game that can be completed in about 30 minutes, making it accessible for players looking for a quick yet impactful experience.

The gameplay is very simplistic, with limited interactivity and puzzles, which may not appeal to players looking for more engaging mechanics.
Some players experienced technical issues, such as glitches and control problems, which detracted from the overall experience.
The dialogue can sometimes scroll too quickly, making it difficult for players to absorb the philosophical content being presented.

music
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The music in this minimalistic game has received widespread acclaim for its haunting and atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Many players noted that the soundtrack is beautifully composed, fitting seamlessly with the game's visuals and themes, and some even expressed a desire to listen to it outside of the game. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's emotional depth and philosophical narrative.
- “The game excels in its atmospheric presentation: the dark, brooding visuals and immersive soundtrack effectively capture the essence of the Greek myth, lending the experience a weight and gravitas that draw you into its existential narrative.”
- “A beautifully crafted and touching experience, with exquisite music and sound design.”
- “The music is beautiful and atmospheric which also correlates with the art of the game.”
- “You can't turn off the annoying music.”
- “I found the music to be a bit annoying to my ears, but I do think it's worth playing through at least once.”
- “The music was fitting; gave me a bit of an empty feeling.”
story
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The reviews highlight a strong emphasis on the philosophical and existential themes woven into the game's narrative, particularly drawing from the myth of Sisyphus. Players appreciate the short, thought-provoking story that encourages reflection on life's challenges and purpose, often noting its artistic presentation and emotional depth. While some found the story simplistic or difficult to grasp, many agree that it delivers a meaningful experience that resonates long after playing.
- “The story encourages reflection, as you guide your character through seemingly insurmountable challenges that are both metaphorically and literally linked to the myth of Sisyphus.”
- “Sisyphus Reborn is an excellent experience, with a somber atmosphere and a short but moving story.”
- “This game is proof that you don't need much to tell a good story.”
- “The story is very drawn out and failed to grab my attention.”
- “The game tries to have a story and a meaning but it's really nothing after all.”
- “The story is... short and not much in the way of a story.”
graphics
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist, hand-drawn art style that evokes a range of reactions, from charm to criticism. Many players appreciate the unique and atmospheric visuals, which complement the game's philosophical themes and immersive soundtrack, while others find the simplicity and low resolution lacking. Overall, the art style is seen as fitting for the game's narrative, though opinions vary on its execution and appeal.
- “The game excels in its atmospheric presentation: the dark, brooding visuals and immersive soundtrack effectively capture the essence of the Greek myth, lending the experience a weight and gravitas that draw you into its existential narrative.”
- “The hand-drawn art style is really charming and adds to the simplistic game.”
- “The art style fits perfectly for the game and the music definitely elevated the experience.”
- “The graphics themselves are very lazy... it's hard to say if it is deliberately 2D pixel 'art', or if the game just runs at a bizarrely low resolution so everything looks pixelated.”
- “Even for this kind of art, the graphics are way, way too sketchy.”
- “Graphically, the 'scratchy' art style is charming at first, but is ruined when early animations are pixelated and need some serious anti-aliasing work.”
atmosphere
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
24%
5%
The atmosphere of "Sisyphus Reborn" is widely praised for its philosophical depth and immersive qualities, characterized by a minimalist black-and-white art style and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. Reviewers highlight how the game's dark visuals and ambient music create a somber yet enchanting experience that effectively conveys existential themes, making it a thought-provoking journey despite its simplicity and short length. Overall, the game excels in crafting a unique and atmospheric adventure that resonates emotionally with players.
- “The game excels in its atmospheric presentation: the dark, brooding visuals and immersive soundtrack effectively capture the essence of the Greek myth, lending the experience a weight and gravitas that draw you into its existential narrative.”
- “Its minimalist black-and-white art style complements the somber atmosphere, and the story raises profound questions about purpose, life, and monotony.”
- “Sisyphus reborn is a short, atmospheric, indie adventure game.”
- “The atmosphere gradually switches from empty, dark, and hopeless to enchanting as the minutes go by.”
- “Sisyphus Reborn is a short game that is heavy on atmosphere, but relatively light on puzzles; this game explores philosophical ideas in a short form.”
- “The music is very ambient, and it lends to a ghostly, eerie sort of atmosphere which is very appropriate.”
gameplay
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
66%
11%
The gameplay is predominantly a simple point-and-click experience with minimal mechanics and puzzles, often described as repetitive and lacking depth. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and philosophical narrative, many feel that the gameplay does not engage or satisfy, leading to a mixed reception overall. Improvements in gameplay variety and control could enhance the experience, but the game's strength lies more in its storytelling than in its mechanics.
- “The gameplay is a very simple point and click adventure with simplified puzzles, but those are just the catalyst for a fantastic story.”
- “The gameplay, based on point-and-click adventures, is minimal, but the same cannot be said about the content which is actually a deep and even disturbing reflection on human life itself.”
- “The style is simple, gameplay is kind of point and click, soundtrack is just on point, the atmosphere is perfect for what the game is about.”
- “Maybe this was really what was intended, but we left the gameplay feeling unsatisfied.”
- “The subject matter isn't really explored with much nuance, and the gameplay is just a really bad point & click adventure and a few choices.”
- “There's no real gameplay to speak of, but that's not the point, I believe.”
emotional
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke deep feelings, ranging from existential contemplation to profound sadness and beauty. Players describe it as a touching and poetic experience, often leading to strong emotional responses, including tears and introspection. The combination of a dark narrative, exquisite music, and philosophical themes creates a uniquely engaging and impactful emotional journey.
- “I had a strong emotional response to it, and I found it extremely creative and engaging to play.”
- “Perhaps its greatest achievement is that it is relentlessly bleak, nihilistic and hollow, yet knows enough to offer a possible ending that is uplifting and encouraging enough to be genuinely emotionally affecting and even outright beautiful, even if you still don't know what it all means.”
- “A beautifully crafted and touching experience, with exquisite music and sound design.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of dry wit and philosophical undertones, offering players amusing dialogue options that encourage deeper reflection on life and choices. While it may appear simplistic, the humor resonates through circular conversations and clever references, reminiscent of classic comedic styles. Overall, players appreciate the thoughtful integration of humor that enhances the game's deeper themes.
- “Although it looks overly simplistic on the surface, this game contains splashes of dry humor and little features to appreciate which I feel perfectly encompass the lessons we can learn from the tale of Sisyphus.”
- “I enjoyed the circular 'pointless' conversations with the various diggers before arriving at the pyramid--the sense of humor reminded me a little of that 'who's on first?' joke and the gravedigger in Hamlet.”
- “The dialogue has its funny moments, but once you stop and think about what the words mean, it almost reminds me of my intro to philosophy class because you can honestly dig deep into what is being said.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game offers significant replayability through its multiple endings, encouraging players to experiment with different choices and outcomes. However, some users feel that it lacks replay value, suggesting a mixed reception on this aspect.
- “The whole idea of the different endings gives the game more freedom to experiment with its ideas and also adds replay value, which is nice.”
- “It is exceptionally replayable and serves well in remotivating me during my darker hours.”
- “There is no replayability.”
- “The game lacks any incentive to play again.”
- “Once you finish it, there's really no reason to go back.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has been criticized for being poor, with users reporting significant issues related to the engine's performance.
- “Bad engine optimization.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally criticized due to significant bugs affecting movement and controls, which can lead to frustration. Additionally, accessing Steam through the game can cause severe glitches, although the overall short length of the game somewhat mitigates these issues.
- “There are some points where the movement and control are so buggy that it might make you frustrated, but it's a very short game, so that's okay, I guess.”
- “Very great, except for the fact that the game completely glitches when you access Steam from it using Shift+Tab.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that the game presents philosophical concepts in a less tedious manner, making the grinding aspect feel more engaging and less monotonous compared to traditional methods.