Skein

About

Skein is a single player and multiplayer action game. It was developed by Nocturne Games and was released on November 13, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Run The Procedural Gauntlet! Skein is a procedural dungeon shooter in an "old-skool" arcade style for one or two players where you must battle through hordes of monsters on a quest to save the soul of a talking sheep.

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

humor5 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features fun pixel art and a fast-paced, engaging gameplay reminiscent of classic Gauntlet-style dungeon crawlers.
It offers a variety of characters and abilities, allowing for strategic gameplay and experimentation with different combat styles.
Local co-op play is available, enhancing the experience for players who enjoy gaming with friends.

The grid-based movement system feels restrictive and can lead to frustrating gameplay, especially when trying to avoid enemy attacks.
Some design flaws, such as awkward controls and a lengthy, unfunny tutorial, detract from the overall experience.
The game lacks depth and variation in gameplay, leading to a repetitive experience after a short period.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay is characterized by its fast pace and charm, featuring engaging mechanics and appealing visuals. However, it suffers from a lack of depth and variation, leading to potential boredom after initial enjoyment. While it offers addictive fun, players may find the old-school style and certain mechanics, like the 45-degree attack angle, challenging to adapt to.
- “The gameplay, although it's fun and addictive, I had some trouble getting used to the lock 45-degree attack angle.”
- “Unfortunately lite on RPG persistent elements, but absolutely charming and has gripping mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is fast and never dull.”
- “The problem is, the depth of the gameplay here lasts for about 2 minutes, and then it's boring because it keeps going, with no variation of any kind.”
- “Not only that, but they got in the way of understanding the mechanics.”
- “Funny voice acting and lead-in story, but quite old school gameplay, so don't expect a Nuclear Throne-like 2D shooter.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is hit-or-miss; while some players found the voice acting and certain gameplay elements amusing, others criticized the tutorial's attempts at humor as cringe-worthy and ineffective. Overall, it may appeal to those looking for a lighthearted experience with friends, but expectations should be tempered regarding its comedic execution.
- “Funny voice acting and lead-in story, but quite old school gameplay, so don't expect a Nuclear Throne-like 2D shooter.”
- “If you want a funny game to play with some old friends on a couch, give it a try, I guess.”
- “Spells and special abilities feel unique, and playing around with scrolls to make new combos is quite funny.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; some players find it reminiscent of other franchises like Raiden and Power Rangers, which detracts from the experience. While the sound design is generally praised for fitting well during gameplay, it can become overwhelming at times, particularly in the menu, and the voice acting has also drawn criticism. Overall, the music complements the pixel art and fast-paced gameplay, but its execution leaves room for improvement.
- “Nice pixel art, nice sound and music, smooth fast-paced gameplay.”
- “The sounds are good and the music fits in well when I'm actually playing the game.”
- “The music was clearly ripped off from Raiden and Power Rangers, which bothered me a lot.”
- “The music can get obnoxious sometimes, and I'm not necessarily a fan of the voice acting; I kind of wish the music would quiet down when I go to the menu.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are praised for their fun and high-quality pixel art style, reminiscent of classic games like Gauntlet, contributing to an engaging endless dungeon crawling experience. Overall, the visuals are described as nice and flashy, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “The sound effects, graphics, and the concept of endless dungeon crawling action are great.”
- “The fun pixel art style reminds me of the classic Gauntlet game.”
- “The pixel art graphics are top notch, nice and flashy.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often citing amateurish and annoying design flaws that detract from the overall experience.
- “The grinding feels tedious and is filled with amateurish and annoying design flaws.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes the game feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
- “I found the grinding mechanics to be overly drawn out, making progress feel frustrating and unfulfilling.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story features humorous voice acting and an engaging lead narrative, though the gameplay is described as old school, lacking the fast-paced action of modern 2D shooters like Nuclear Throne.
- “The voice acting is hilarious and the lead-in story is engaging, though the gameplay feels quite old school, so don't expect a fast-paced experience like Nuclear Throne.”