Solstice

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"Solstice" is a single-player mystery role-playing game set in a dystopian, wintry city filled with intriguing misfits and an atmospheric, masterful soundtrack. As the doctor and a mysterious young woman, players investigate the disappearance of the local madman, uncovering a story of small personal disasters that turn into great catastrophes. The game features stunning graphics and a haunting environment, perfect for those seeking a deep, immersive narrative experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 172 reviews

story104 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The artwork and music are stunning, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
The game features complex characters with diverse backgrounds and motivations, making the narrative engaging.
The branching storylines and multiple endings provide good replay value, allowing players to explore different outcomes.

The story can feel convoluted and the pacing slow, with some players feeling disconnected from the characters due to the dual protagonist setup.
Technical issues, such as bugs and misleading autosave features, detract from the overall experience.
Many choices feel arbitrary and do not significantly impact the story, leading to frustration for players seeking meaningful decision-making.

story
282 mentions
37 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its rich, intricate narrative and character development, particularly in the visual novel "Solstice," which is noted for its beautiful artwork and multiple endings. However, others found the storytelling format frustrating, feeling it detracted from immersion and clarity, leading to confusion about character motivations and plot progression. Overall, while many appreciated the depth and complexity of the story, some felt it lacked engagement and coherence, making it a polarizing aspect of the game.
- “Solstice tells a rich and interesting story and does a wonderful job at building a detailed fantasy world.”
- “The storyline is really compelling and it was an utter joy to go through multiple times to get all the endings and see the different dynamics you could invoke between characters.”
- “The story is really rich, the characters are very nuanced and everything is so extremely well-written - it's a delight to read!”
- “I still gave the game a fair chance and watched all the endings, but the story just wasn't good in my eyes.”
- “But the way the story is told makes it frustrating more than intriguing.”
- “The technical issues and challenges of the way they chose to present the story break immersion constantly and the format also keeps too much hidden to actually make the story a mystery that the player can solve.”
music
60 mentions
77 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional resonance, effectively complementing the stunning artwork and enhancing the overall atmosphere. While many reviewers appreciate the varied and elegant soundtrack, some note issues with volume levels and repetitiveness. Overall, the combination of music and visuals creates an immersive experience that many players find unforgettable.
- “The music does a great job at communicating emotions.”
- “The soundtrack is also beautifully composed and effectively complements the fantastical atmosphere of the game.”
- “It's immersive, with incredible atmospheric music and gorgeous visuals.”
- “The music was loud, repetitive, and not that interesting.”
- “But being able to turn the music down, instead of only being able to turn it off, would have been nice, at the very least.”
- “The music didn't really help the situation either.”
graphics
60 mentions
83 % positive mentions
12 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning and vibrant artwork, which creates an immersive atmosphere and enhances the storytelling experience. Reviewers highlight the detailed character designs and the beautiful, wintry landscapes that contribute to a fairy tale-like ambiance. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's narrative and emotional impact.
- “The artwork is sumptuous; each scene is vibrant and full of life, filled with detail and a saturation which gives the impression of a wintry wonderland and enforces the fairy tale-like impression you get when you first arrive in the game.”
- “The gorgeous artwork creates a haunting fantasy backdrop to a dramatic and intricate story.”
- “The production values are very high, particularly the graphics--the backgrounds in particular are nothing short of impressive.”
- “The technology within this world is a complimentary mix of sci-fi and fantasy, and it is very apparent in the aesthetics of the city.”
- “I won't say more not to spoil anything for you except that it is refreshing to see beautiful and smart western novels that do not try to copy Asian visual novels (especially the graphics).”
gameplay
24 mentions
17 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily text-based and follows a visual novel format, focusing on dialogue choices that influence character relationships and narrative progression. While the mechanics include unique features like switching perspectives between two characters and a notebook for tracking information, some players feel that the lengthy dialogue segments detract from player agency. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate narrative depth and character exploration, rather than traditional gameplay mechanics.
- “Mechanically, this game is the same as Cinders, which focuses on role-playing through dialogue choices and what you select impacts both your ability to explore the world and meet people, and the relationship you have with other characters. As it is a visual novel, it is a text-heavy game and there is a lot of dialogue between the various characters.”
- “The art and mini-animations were charming and brought a lot to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is standard for a narrative game, click to proceed and keep reading with occasional dialogue choices.”
- “I'd recommend the game on sale for people who like fantasy/sci-fi novels, and who will read it as such, not so much for gameplay.”
- “The game mechanics require you to read through rather a bit of dialogue.”
replayability
20 mentions
30 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The game offers a mix of replayability, with multiple story paths and endings that encourage players to explore different choices and character interactions. However, some reviewers noted limitations in replay value due to the placement of key choices and a desire for a more engaging experience beyond a few playthroughs. Overall, while there are achievements and variations to discover, opinions vary on how compelling the replay experience is.
- “You've got a choose-your-own-adventure sort of layout, with multiple story paths depending on the choices you make – definitely some replay value there.”
- “There are also a lot of achievements and different endings which give good replay value.”
- “The game has 4 main endings with several smaller variations per ending, so it has replayability.”
- “It makes it much less replayable for me personally.”
- “Less replay value than I'd hoped for due to the placement of key, ending-determining choices.”
- “Aside from the pacing, the only major negative aspect of this game for me was the lack of replay value.”
atmosphere
14 mentions
86 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Solstice" is widely praised for its stunning visuals and immersive soundtrack, creating a captivating and unforgettable experience. The combination of beautiful art, intricate motion effects, and a rich narrative contributes to a fantastical yet increasingly darker ambiance, appealing to players seeking depth rather than lighthearted storytelling. Overall, the game's blend of arctic wilderness and Arabian architecture enhances its enchanting atmosphere.
- “The art is gorgeous, with little motion effects applied to certain objects in the background that help create an entrancing atmosphere, and the soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
- “It's immersive, with incredible atmospheric music and gorgeous visuals.”
- “The soundtrack is beautifully composed and effectively complements the fantastical atmosphere of the game.”
- “This is definitely not for lovers of Disney-type storytelling, as the atmosphere becomes successively darker.”
character development
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features strong character development and intricate storytelling, enhanced by stunning and unique character designs. However, while the protagonists are well-developed, the romance interests lack depth, and the plot does not significantly change based on player choices. Overall, the artwork is a standout element, contributing to the immersive experience.
- “Visual novel with an intricate story, good character development and a lot of choices.”
- “The artwork, which drew me in the most, is absolutely breathtaking, and the character designs are varied and beautiful.”
- “Beautiful, stunning artwork; detailed character design.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, especially during later replays aimed at unlocking all endings, as the lack of fast forward or skip options necessitates careful reading. While some appreciate the introspective nature of repeated playthroughs, others feel that the comedic elements detract from the tension and drama, making the grind feel more laborious. Overall, the experience can be a mixed bag, with satisfaction derived from completion tempered by the repetitive nature of the grind.
- “It got a bit tedious when working towards the 100%.”
- “Witnessing all the variants can get very tedious.”
- “Though I will admit it can feel a tiny bit tedious during later replays of the game (if you are trying to unlock all the various endings) and the comedic element is slightly overused and does cut a little bit into the tension the game is trying to build.”
stability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting significant bugs that caused them to lose progress, while others experienced no technical issues and found it to run smoothly on various devices. Overall, the inconsistency in stability has affected players' enjoyment and willingness to continue.
- “Runs great, no bugs or technical issues, even on a toaster.”
- “It's incredibly buggy; I lost my progress at least twice, which made it hard to stay motivated.”
- “The game is filled with bugs, and losing my progress multiple times has really dampened my enthusiasm to continue.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional response, with some players feeling content due to the visuals and memorable story, while others express disappointment, noting a lack of pleasure in gameplay despite previous experiences being more emotionally impactful.
- “For me, the visuals and memorable story made me feel content with the purchase.”
humor
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by decent dialogue, with flirtatious scenes occasionally providing unintentional hilarity. While some colloquialisms feel out of character and conversations can be stilted, the overall execution is well-received.
- “The dialogue was decent; scenes with a lot of flirtation were sometimes inadvertently hilarious, and there were some odd colloquialisms that seemed out of character, making for some amusing moments.”
- “The humor in the game is cleverly woven into the dialogue, with unexpected punchlines that catch you off guard and leave you chuckling.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty banter between characters; the humor really adds a delightful layer to the overall experience.”