Spiral

About

"Spiral is a single-player, third-person role-playing game with a poetic vision of cognitive degeneration. As Bernard, a roleplaying-veteran and introspective writer, you'll explore five stages of his life and help him reconnect with memories from his past. With its interesting plot and good graphics, Spiral offers a wholesome story of navigating the increasing instability of the mind."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews

story13 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Spiral features a deeply emotional and captivating narrative that explores the theme of cognitive degeneration with empathy and care, making it a unique and meaningful experience.
The game boasts beautiful visuals and a charming art style, complemented by excellent voice acting and a moving musical score that enhances the overall atmosphere.
Players can enjoy a variety of engaging mini-games and interactive elements that break up the narrative, providing a fun and immersive experience while exploring Bernard's memories.

Some gameplay mechanics can be frustrating, with minor bugs and issues such as audio inconsistencies and unclear puzzle instructions that detract from the overall experience.
A portion of the game feels disconnected from the main narrative, particularly the D&D-like segments, which some players found unnecessary and detracting from the core story.
The pacing can be slow at times, which may not appeal to all players, especially those looking for a more action-oriented experience.

story
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
7%
The story of "Spiral" follows Bernard through five poignant chapters of his life, exploring themes of memory, cognitive decline, and the emotional weight of relationships. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend humor with heavier subject matter, creating an immersive experience that is both captivating and empathetic. The narrative is praised for its poetic storytelling and beautiful art style, making it a standout in the genre of story-driven games.
- “We get to experience Bernard’s story through five different chapters of his life, helping him reconnect with the memories of his loved ones while navigating his increasingly unstable mind space.”
- “The storytelling is truly poetic, mirroring cognitive degeneration in a way that is deeply emotional and immersive.”
- “By the end, I found myself in tears—not just because of the story, but because it captured a perspective we rarely see: that of the person living with dementia.”
- “The story of Bernard, from his childhood to old age, is compelling and well-told.”
emotional
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply immersive atmosphere, heartfelt narrative, and well-written characters that evoke strong feelings, often leading players to tears. Many reviewers describe it as a touching journey that combines nostalgia with a coming-of-age story, making it both emotionally challenging and comforting. The storytelling is praised for its poetic quality, effectively mirroring themes of memory and cognitive degeneration, resulting in a captivating and emotionally stirring experience.
- “It is an emotional journey with well-written characters.”
- “The emotional depth of the narrative is unparalleled; I found myself deeply invested in the characters and their struggles.”
- “The storytelling is truly poetic, mirroring cognitive degeneration in a way that is deeply emotional and immersive.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with a standout "holy pizza" song and a fitting score that enhances the overall experience. However, some players found certain tracks, particularly in the board game scenes, to be less enjoyable and distracting, leading to a mixed reception overall. The ambient music is praised for its relaxing quality, contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere, though some reviewers rated the soundtrack a modest 6/10.
- “The 'holy pizza' song had me rolling and the whole 'D&D' experience was beautiful.”
- “Second, I have to say: the dialogue, art design, music, and voice acting are all great, and they work together well to create a moving tale.”
- “Its stunning visuals and immersive soundtrack create a world that feels truly alive.”
- “And at the same time, the other music choices were well-fitting for the areas they played, maybe not tracks I would want to listen to for as long as I had to while in certain scenes, such as the board game scenes.”
- “It's music was more rock/grunge and although fitting, I found myself wanting something a bit less stifling since we spent a significant amount of time there.”
- “You could hear the main spiral tracks playing, while the board game music played too, which did distract from immersion at times.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The gameplay offers a solid 6 to 10 hours of engaging content, featuring stylized visuals, a heartfelt narrative, and a mix of relaxing and varied mechanics. While it excels in meaningful storytelling and enjoyable moments, some minor mechanical issues, such as fishing controls, have been noted, though developers are addressing these concerns. Overall, players appreciate the game's depth and variety, making it a worthwhile experience for its price.
- “It will take between 6 and 10 hours to complete, depending on how thorough the player is, and provides a good amount of gameplay for its price tag.”
- “It offers stylized visuals, delightful characters, a heartfelt narrative, and a strong mix of relaxing and engaging gameplay with a lot of variety.”
- “Interesting mechanics, funny moments, and throughout really smooth and colorful gameplay.”
- “The game has a couple of small annoyances in terms of mechanics; the fishing on controller leaves a lot to be desired, although I have been assured that the devs are working on that.”
- “Gameplay: 6.5/10”
- “I am writing this review with about 3 hours of official gameplay, playing demos, etc.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their stylized visuals and beautiful 2D art style, reminiscent of "James and the Giant Peach." Reviewers highlight the stunning scenes and effective blending of art and storytelling, creating an immersive experience that enhances the heartfelt narrative. Overall, the art direction is considered fantastic, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact.
- “It offers stylised visuals, delightful characters, a heartfelt narrative, and a strong mix of relaxing and engaging gameplay with a lot of variety.”
- “Its stunning visuals and immersive soundtrack create a world that feels truly alive.”
- “The 2D art style was particularly beautiful as well, and the idea of blending both into a game for a stronger use of storytelling was well done.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by witty banter and amusing moments that provide a lighthearted contrast to the more serious elements of the story. Players appreciate the interesting mechanics and the overall smooth, colorful gameplay that enhances the comedic experience.
- “Full of funny banter.”
- “These puzzles often offer a humorous reprieve from the heavier parts of the story.”
- “Interesting mechanics, funny moments, and throughout really smooth and colorful gameplay.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as deeply emotional and immersive, drawing players into its world and enhancing their overall experience.
- “The game creates a deeply emotional and immersive atmosphere that pulls you in from the very start.”
- “The atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, making every moment feel significant and impactful.”
- “You can feel the tension in the air; the atmosphere is so well-crafted that it keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of voice and dialogue in the game has received high praise, with users commending the quality of the dialogue and the exceptional performances of the voice actors and actresses.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I love how the developers have fine-tuned the mechanics, making every action feel responsive and satisfying.”
- “The game's performance is top-notch, with minimal loading times and seamless transitions between areas.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report that while there are some glitches present, they do not significantly hinder gameplay or progress.
- “There are frequent crashes that disrupt gameplay.”
- “The game is riddled with bugs that make it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”