Soulace

About

Soulace is a single player action game. It was developed by Sander Bos and was released on June 20, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Soulace is a single-player adventure game offering a 127-hour immersive journey through the afterlife inspired by the Tibetan Book of the Dead. This meditative VR experience transports players to the Bardo, a transient realm between life and rebirth, featuring magical landscapes and poetic reflections on mortality. Players can explore using either point-and-click teleportation or smooth locomotion.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

atmosphere2 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a deeply immersive and spiritual experience, with stunning visuals and atmospheric audio that evoke strong emotions.
The developer demonstrates a commendable ambition and artistic vision, creating a unique journey that feels like a piece of artwork.
Despite some gameplay issues, the game is enjoyable and relaxing, providing a meditative experience that encourages exploration and discovery.

The game suffers from bugs and technical issues, including problems with controls and interactions that can disrupt the experience.
Gameplay mechanics can be confusing and tedious, with a lack of clear direction leading to frustrating backtracking and non-linear tasks.
Some design choices, such as flat pre-rendered cutscenes and limited teleportation options, detract from the overall immersion and flow of the game.

graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The graphics are praised for their artistic quality, showcasing top-notch visuals and designs that enhance the overall experience. However, some game mechanics disrupt the visual flow, and while certain graphics may appear dated, they contribute to a retro aesthetic that complements the game's spiritual journey. Overall, the visuals create an immersive experience akin to navigating through a piece of art.
- “Read the other reviews, but it's so clear that Sander is a world-class artist; visuals and designs are top-notch.”
- “It's a short and relaxing journey through the afterlife with simple puzzles and trippy visuals.”
- “It feels like you're playing in a piece of artwork or like you're playing in spirituality.”
- “Specifically, this 'journey' is hindered by game elements that detract from both the visuals as well as the message.”
- “Sometimes they 'unlock' visuals that are key to the experience, but that's just using a gaming mechanic to interrupt the flow of what the devs are really trying to portray.”
- “Some graphics seem dated, but it goes with the retro vibe.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The story is described as trippy and beautifully crafted, immersing players in a unique world that encourages exploration and self-discovery. While it provides some cutscene hints, the narrative allows for a degree of independence, aligning with the game's themes of navigating through an unfamiliar environment.
- “It's a little trippy, oddly beautiful, and not terribly difficult to figure out. Yet, aside from a few cutscene 'hints', it doesn't do too much to handhold, allowing you to sort of figure out what to do in this crazy new world you are finding yourself in - oddly very parallel to the theme/story.”
- “Other things to say - it's a little trippy, oddly beautiful, and not terribly difficult to figure out, and yet aside from a few cutscene 'hints', it doesn't do too much to handhold, allowing you to sort of figure out what to do in this crazy new world you are finding yourself in - oddly very parallel to the theme/story.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The gameplay is described as a mix of rough mechanics and outdated point-and-click elements, which can disrupt the immersive experience intended by the developers. Despite these critiques, many players find the game to be a hidden gem, appreciating its artistic and experimental qualities. Overall, while there is room for improvement, the gameplay offers an enjoyable experience for those willing to overlook its flaws.
- “But even with so much critique, which just shows there is still a lot to be improved, I still stand by my word that this game is really a hidden gem. Even though it sometimes has a bit rough gameplay, and a few spots are not so well made for VR, overall I've quite enjoyed it.”
- “While it certainly does have some old school point-and-click mechanics (which are outdated in VR), this is mostly an artistic, spiritual, experimental experience.”
- “Sometimes they 'unlock' visuals that are key to the experience, but that's just using a gaming mechanic to interrupt the flow of what the devs are really trying to portray.”
- “While it certainly does have some old school point and click mechanics (which are outdated in VR), this is mostly an artistic, spiritual, experimental experience.”
- “But even with so much critique, which just shows there is still a lot to be improved, I still stand by my word that this game is really a hidden gem, even though it sometimes has a bit rough gameplay, and a few spots are not so well made for VR, but overall I've quite enjoyed it.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game's stability is inconsistent, often experiencing jankiness, confusion, and bugs that detract from the overall experience.
- “It's sometimes janky, confusing, and buggy.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I experienced numerous glitches that disrupted my gameplay.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Users express a desire for games that incorporate Kabbalistic themes, highlighting the potential for rich musical elements intertwined with shapes, patterns, and poetry. This suggests an appreciation for music that enhances the thematic depth and immersive experience of the game.
- “There's shapes, patterns, music, sound, and even poems.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The sound effects are often jarring and disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its fantastic quality and outstanding audio that enhances the overall adventure experience, filled with surprises.
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, as well as the audio for this adventure.”
- “Full of surprises, and the atmospheric audio is outstanding.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it often requires extensive searching across large maps to acquire specific items and complete tasks, leading to a sense of frustration with the game's pacing and task management.
- “I'm not saying that the game is consistently difficult, but I found it tedious to search large maps in order to acquire a specific item, then have to search further to use the item in a specific way, all while being presented with various other tasks before the previous ones have been completed.”