Soulcaster

About

Soulcaster is a single player action game. It was developed by StarByte and was released on September 1, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

Escape an ancient temple by utilizing its arcane artifacts in an intriguing 2D puzzle plat-former.

Genres & Tags

Free to Play

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 41 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The puzzles are engaging and progressively challenging, providing a satisfying experience for players.
The clone mechanic is creative and adds an interesting layer to the gameplay, allowing for unique puzzle-solving strategies.
The game is free and runs smoothly, making it accessible for players looking for a short and enjoyable experience.

The graphics are simplistic and may not appeal to players accustomed to more polished visuals.
The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 30-45 minutes, leaving some players wanting more content.
Controls can feel janky and imprecise, particularly when using a joystick for the clone mechanic, which may hinder the overall experience.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The gameplay is a blend of platforming and puzzle elements, featuring a notable clone mechanic that enhances the experience, though some players feel it lacks depth and connection between introduced elements. While the level design is praised for its creativity and challenge, the overall execution is seen as somewhat simplistic, with room for improvement in animations and music. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit short, experience that leaves players wanting a more fleshed-out game.
- “Fun little puzzle game with interesting mechanics and good level design.”
- “This was a really interesting and fun game; the clone mechanic works well and some of the stages get super challenging.”
- “The game has traded a quantity of mind gameplay in favor of cementing a land experience, using the last three levels to escort me out and an extremely simple final level to contrast the atmosphere of the 'game' part of the game with a modest jungle ambience.”
- “Although other elements are introduced prior to the clone mechanic, elements which are introduced afterward are dependent on the casting ability and could have done with more elegant connection between each other.”
- “The gameplay of Soulcaster consists of a mix of platforming and puzzle elements (it uses a 2D side perspective).”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing the simplistic and retro 2D art style as lazy and unappealing, while others find them passable and fitting for the game's context. Overall, the visuals are described as unremarkable, lacking in detail, and not particularly engaging, which detracts from the overall experience for some players.
- “The background visuals also fit that scenario well, even though the overall visuals were certainly nothing majorly impressive.”
- “The artwork and sound effects are lovely, the puzzles are challenging, and it feels wonderful when you make it through a level.”
- “Fast game with modern-day graphics and easy controls that move from location A to B to C and so on.”
- “This feature is really godawful, lazy 2D retro 'art' instead of real graphics.”
- “Games like Terraria and Stardew Valley succeeded despite the bad graphics, not because of them.”
- “With no story, repetitive music, simple graphics, and a small number of graphics, I found myself too bored to bother with thinking things through.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and annoying, particularly noting that it consists of a single looping theme. While it may capture the atmosphere, many feel it lacks variety and depth, contributing to an overall sense of boredom during gameplay. Additionally, the music's quality is questioned, especially in comparison to the trailer's grating soundtrack.
- “The soundtrack consists of only one theme that loops throughout the game, but it does capture the atmosphere quite well.”
- “I could hear that there was music, but I couldn't really hear it.”
- “If it's anything like the music from the trailer, that's probably a good thing, as the trailer's music is a bit grating on the ears.”
- “With no story, repetitive music, simple graphics, and a small number of graphics, I found myself too bored to bother with thinking things through.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The story in Soulcaster is minimal, centering on a little girl trapped in a pyramid who must navigate through platform puzzles to escape. While some players find the premise engaging, others feel the lack of depth and repetitive elements detract from the overall experience.
- “Soulcaster's story features a little girl who gets trapped inside a pyramid and must find her way out of a maze of rooms by solving platform puzzles.”
- “With no story, repetitive music, simple graphics, and a small number of graphics, I found myself too bored to bother with thinking things through.”
- “Soulcaster's story features a little girl who got trapped inside a pyramid and has to find her way out of that maze of rooms through solving platform puzzles.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a strong emphasis on environmental immersion, particularly in the final levels, which prioritize exploration over complex gameplay. While the soundtrack features a single looping theme, it effectively enhances the overall ambiance, complementing the modest jungle setting.
- “The game has traded a quantity of mind gameplay in favor of cementing a land experience, using the last three levels to escort me out and an extremely simple final level to contrast the atmosphere of the 'game' part of the game with a modest jungle ambience.”
- “The soundtrack consists of only one theme that loops throughout the game, but it captures the atmosphere quite well.”
- “The game has traded a quantity of meaningful gameplay in favor of cementing a bland experience, using the last three levels to escort me out and an extremely simple final level that contrasts the atmosphere of the 'game' part with a modest jungle ambiance.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged with the world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere falls flat, lacking the depth and immersion that would make the experience memorable.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
The game offers decent replayability through achievements that encourage quicker completions and alternative playstyles, as well as the inclusion of a secret ending to discover.
- “Thankfully, the game has a bit of replay value through its achievements, which motivate players to complete the game quicker and with less interaction with the clone. There is also a secret ending to be discovered.”
- “The game has a bit of replay value through its achievements, which motivate players to complete it quicker and with less interaction with the clone. There is also a secret ending to be discovered.”
- “Once you finish the game, there isn't much incentive to play again. The story doesn't change, and the gameplay feels repetitive.”
- “While the game offers some achievements, the overall experience doesn't change enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.”