Solo

36%
Game Brain Score Based on 91 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Solo Game Cover
Perhaps it’s not the most exciting or enjoyable of games, but I’m sure Solo will find a core audience which will appreciate it for what it does best.
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"Solo" is an introspective puzzler game exploring the theme of love through a personal and branching narrative. Players solve puzzles by combining blocks with various properties and contemplate a living world filled with charming, colorful islands and cute creatures. The game encourages players to reflect on love's place in their life amidst tranquil tunes and dream-like islands.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

36%
Audience ScoreBased on 91 reviews
graphics8 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful low-poly graphics and a charming aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
  • Solo offers an introspective journey that encourages players to reflect on their own views of love and relationships through engaging puzzles.
  • The soundtrack and calming atmosphere create a soothing environment that many players find enjoyable and therapeutic.
  • A critical bug causes inventory items to disappear upon loading saved games, making the game unplayable for many users.
  • The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks polish, with clunky controls and janky movement that detracts from the puzzle-solving experience.
  • The writing and narrative can come off as preachy or overly simplistic, failing to resonate with players who seek deeper emotional engagement.
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay of *Solo* is a mixed bag; while the core puzzle mechanics can be engaging and challenging, they are often marred by repetitiveness, glitches, and a lack of depth. Players appreciate the game's aesthetic and overarching story, but many find the gameplay to be tedious and hindered by technical issues, leading to a frustrating experience overall. Despite its potential, the execution leaves much to be desired, with some reviewers noting that the puzzles feel artificially extended and reminiscent of children's games.

    • “The core gameplay loop of 'solo', which sees you progress through 3 archipelagos littered with box puzzles, is great and challenging fun, especially the latter puzzles that really require you to use your noggin.”
    • “All in all, I found the game to be a very compelling experience on a personal level, but it also offers a solid execution on the puzzle gameplay.”
    • “I liked the overarching story as well as the interesting mechanics they used for the puzzles.”
    • “Solo is a fairly pretentious third-person puzzle platformer that is visually quite lovely, but let down by fairly lackluster gameplay, tragically lame writing, and an absolutely brutal bug that will make you lose inventory items if you save the game and then come back to it later, forcing you to do the whole game in one go.”
    • “Has a cute aesthetic, but the gameplay is severely lacking.”
    • “The art direction and music is kind of nice; however, the gameplay is too boring, the controls too rigid, and the content too agenda-pushing for me to want to continue playing.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game feature a low-poly aesthetic that, while not groundbreaking, effectively utilizes vibrant colors to create visually appealing environments. This simplistic design complements the narrative focus, enhancing the overall experience despite some critiques regarding gameplay polish. Overall, the art style and unique aesthetic contribute positively to the game's immersive journey.

    • “The colorful, unique aesthetic and upbeat music of each island might help you overlook the aforementioned issue, and help you enjoy your very personal journey into the corners of your psyche.”
    • “Solo makes stunning use of its low-poly graphics through the vivid use of color that really causes the graphics to pop on the screen, making it a total treat for the eyes.”
    • “The great art style and the profound questions create a powerful and introspective journey that feels truly unique.”
    • “The low-poly and indie aesthetic only seems to exist to cover up the game's lack of polish.”
    • “Has a cute aesthetic, but the gameplay is severely lacking.”
    • “It doesn't clutter the player with extremely elaborate or fancy graphics, focusing on what's important in this game, the narrative.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and unobtrusive, contributing to a calming and zen-like atmosphere. While some players appreciate the colorful aesthetic and upbeat soundtrack, others find the overall musical experience to be somewhat lackluster and not particularly memorable. Overall, the music enhances the relaxing nature of the game, making it suitable for those seeking a tranquil gaming experience.

    • “Fortunately, the colorful, unique aesthetic and upbeat music of each island might help you overlook the aforementioned issue, and help you enjoy your very personal journey into the corners of your psyche.”
    • “I would recommend it for people who want a beautiful and relaxing game, with not much of a challenge, where you can take your time, enjoy the art and the music, and maybe think about your life.”
    • “I lost almost two hours of playtime on my first attempt to play the game because when I restarted the next night, I had lost the music notes, the parachute, the magic staff... almost everything.”
    • “The music in solo was unobtrusive and pleasant, while I found the constant lapping of the shore against the land and the sound of seagulls calming and soothing, which adds to the whole zen-like experience the game tries to cultivate.”
    • “Fortunately, the colorful, unique aesthetic and upbeat music of each island might help you overlook the aforementioned issue and help you enjoy your very personal journey into the corners of your psyche.”
  • story18 mentions

    The game features an engaging story centered around love, complemented by interesting puzzle mechanics that allow players to make meaningful choices reflecting their own experiences. While some players noted flaws in the storytelling and occasional glitches in the puzzles, many found the overall narrative and gameplay to be immersive and enjoyable, making it accessible even for those who aren't typically puzzle enthusiasts.

    • “I liked the overarching story as well as the interesting mechanics they used for the puzzles.”
    • “It's about love, where many choices are available along the story to reflect the best your own relation with love.”
    • “Solo is a breathtaking story about love.”
    • “If you can look past the flawed way the game tries to tell its story and the often glitchy puzzle mechanics, when the game works, it really works and can come together beautifully.”
    • “You'll progress through the game by solving puzzles; at times they got a little too complex for me when I felt I just wanted to go along with the story, but still, it's fine.”
    • “Even if you are not really a puzzle gamer, you will enjoy this game as it is not just about doing one thing and then another, but a game that feels like you progress throughout the story, make your own decisions, and decide the answers with your own experience.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the emotional aspect of the game. While some players appreciate the attempt to evoke feelings, many criticize the writing as clichéd and lacking depth, describing it as "facile" and "banal." Overall, the emotional layer is seen as a key feature, but its execution leaves much to be desired.

    • “The real USP here is the emotional layer of the game.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with multiple users reporting frequent bugs that significantly impact gameplay.

    • “The game is incredibly buggy.”
    • “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay.”
    • “The stability issues make it hard to enjoy the game.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with users reporting various performance issues and bugs that affect gameplay. While some players experience smooth performance, others encounter significant problems that hinder their overall experience.

  • replayability2 mentions

    The reviews highlight a strong emphasis on "replay value," indicating that players find the game engaging enough to return to multiple times. This suggests that the game offers varied experiences or challenges that encourage repeated playthroughs. Overall, the consensus points to a high level of replayability, making it a worthwhile investment for players.

    • “The game lacks significant replay value, making it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
    • “Once you complete the game, there isn't much incentive to go back and play it again.”
    • “The limited choices and outcomes diminish the overall replayability, leaving little to explore.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development in the game is highlighted by its charming character designs and engaging NPCs, which contribute to a delightful and immersive experience.

    • “The character designs and NPCs are absolutely adorable.”
    • “The character designs and NPCs are absolutely adorable.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its beauty, evoking a strong desire among players to immerse themselves in the environment and even envision living within it.

    • “Beautiful atmosphere; it makes me want to live there.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

9% average critic score

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