Spirits of Xanadu

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 578 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
Spirits of Xanadu Game Cover
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In "Spirits of Xanadu," explore a derelict starship and uncover its mysterious past through environmental storytelling and puzzles. As a space explorer, discover hidden secrets and use your ship's equipment to delve deeper into the abandoned vessel's history. Experience a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere and a unique blend of science fiction and Lovecraftian horror in this indie adventure game.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 578 reviews
story124 positive mentions
replayability6 negative mentions
  • The game has a very atmospheric and immersive experience, reminiscent of classic sci-fi horror games like System Shock.
  • The story is engaging and unfolds through well-written audio logs and notes, providing depth to the characters and setting.
  • Multiple endings and a variety of puzzles add replayability and encourage exploration.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking only 2-4 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unsatisfying, with enemies respawning and limited weapon variety.
  • Some puzzles can be obscure or frustrating, leading to potential confusion and a lack of direction for players.
  • story374 mentions

    The story of "Spirits of Xanadu" is primarily conveyed through audio logs and environmental storytelling, creating an intriguing narrative that players must piece together themselves. While some reviewers found the plot to be simplistic and reminiscent of classic sci-fi horror tropes, many appreciated its atmospheric execution and the depth it offers through exploration. Overall, the story is seen as the game's strongest aspect, providing a captivating experience despite its lack of originality and occasional vagueness.

    • “The story is the strongest part of this game, but the whole package is pretty satisfying.”
    • “The story is layered such that there's a lot to simply uncover; audio logs to hear and pages to read provide texture to the crew's lives, unveiling the horrors of the Xanadu.”
    • “Spirits of Xanadu really excels in its atmosphere and story and is a really good proposition for those fondly remembering System Shock.”
    • “The story is not that ground-breaking, it's actually quite a cliché.”
    • “The story is a classic sci-fi horror premise which could have been fleshed out more; it's too vague to have any real meaning or impact.”
    • “The story is linear, straightforward, and fairly unoriginal.”
  • atmosphere192 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively drawing players into a chilling sci-fi environment aboard a troubled spaceship. While the low-poly graphics and minimalistic design may not appeal to everyone, the sound design and storytelling contribute significantly to the overall experience, creating a sense of isolation and tension. However, some players noted that the atmosphere can diminish during certain gameplay moments, particularly when light is restored, impacting the game's initial suspense.

    • “It is a short atmospheric exploration game set in the past on board a spaceship that has engine and power issues and you were sent to repair it.”
    • “The atmosphere is phenomenal, is what I'm saying.”
    • “From the very second you step out of your little pod you are instilled with a deep sense of dread and a feeling of 'something ain't right here...' there are a handful of scares but you could go through the game and completely miss all of them because there isn't some cheap musical sting to startle you and in most cases when they happened I spent a second asking myself 'did I actually see that?' and that is what I love so much about this game, it's smart with its scares and baths the entire experience in a rich atmosphere that stuck with me even after I turned the game off.”
    • “Sadly, although the aesthetic and atmosphere are quite nice, the design and style of the game have not aged all that well, in my opinion.”
    • “Also, the creepy atmosphere is lost once you restore power to the ship and then it becomes far less tense.”
    • “The gun-play is smooth and precise, but fighting each of these enemies once instantly shatters the dense atmosphere, as the threats become more ridiculous than they are frightening.”
  • graphics178 mentions

    The graphics of "Spirits of Xanadu" are generally described as simplistic and low-fidelity, reminiscent of early FPS games, which may not appeal to everyone. While some players appreciate the minimalist art style and atmospheric lighting that contribute to the game's eerie vibe, others find the visuals lacking in detail and polish. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose in supporting the game's narrative and immersive experience, even if they don't stand out in terms of modern standards.

    • “The lighting is what really takes the cake though, as it's aesthetically exquisite through its sparing usage; creating a dark and eerie atmosphere across the whole spaceship.”
    • “This is a master class in immersion, and it achieves that with the simplest 3D graphics possible.”
    • “The minimalist texture palette on offer might make this look like an asset-flip on first glance but it is often a beautiful, haunting experience, capable of some stunning visuals.”
    • “When taking graphics and mechanics into account, it feels as if it should have been released in 2005 instead of 2015.”
    • “The graphics are horrible and I still get low FPS on the lowest graphics configuration.”
    • “Sadly the game suffers from a low budget overall; its graphics are really plain and the small map can't provide a lengthy experience to the player.”
  • gameplay148 mentions

    The gameplay of "Spirits of Xanadu" is characterized by its simplicity and minimalistic design, featuring light exploration, basic combat, and straightforward puzzles that some players found enjoyable while others deemed repetitive and lacking depth. The game offers a non-linear experience with multiple endings, but its brevity and reliance on familiar mechanics from classic titles like "System Shock" left many feeling underwhelmed. Overall, while the atmosphere and story received praise, the gameplay itself was often criticized for being tedious and lacking the complexity expected from modern immersive sims.

    • “The combat is surprisingly fun and the gameplay can cater for an overt or covert approach.”
    • “Great story, great atmosphere, great puzzles --> great gameplay.”
    • “But the most important part is of course the gameplay and this is where Spirits of Xanadu takes the cake - it is just really really good.”
    • “The core story is okay; however, the gameplay around it does not add anything interesting.”
    • “The visuals are artistically appealing, but the gameplay and narrative design are so repetitive and simple that I'm genuinely uncertain as to what people see in it.”
    • “Overall, when I completed the game (2 hours), my first thought was 'Did I really pay 15€ for 2 hours of gameplay?' It was a letdown; just when I expected to access a new area for the game, there was the end.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting a few different endings that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize its short length and lack of significant variation in gameplay. Although there are elements that can enhance replay value, such as speedrunning and achieving different endings, many feel that the overall experience is limited and may not justify the price. Overall, it offers decent replayability but is ultimately constrained by its brevity and static nature.

    • “There is a lot of replay value packed into this simple little game.”
    • “There are two different endings which adds to the replay value, but you are really going to have to work those brain cells to achieve the 'failed mission' ending.”
    • “There's your standard good and bad ending (although they won't be exactly what you think, at least not right off the bat) and there is also a really neat ambiguous and kind of trippy ending that I really like but is a massive pain to actually achieve; those endings are part of what provide the game with so much replayability.”
    • “There's absolutely zero replayability value.”
    • “This is a game that gives you an hour or two of playable content, with no replay value and no staying power.”
    • “More than that, there is little replayability once you have achieved everything because, well, the ship is static, nothing varies over time except for maybe randomly generated robots.”
  • music22 mentions

    The music and audio design in the game effectively contribute to its eerie atmosphere, with ambient sounds enhancing the sense of dread and unease. While the music may not be award-winning, it is praised for its thoughtful integration into the gameplay, creating a rich and immersive experience. The clever use of silence and sound effects further amplifies the horror elements, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The audio is what helps set the mood for the game; the music alongside the ambient noises you hear makes you feel uneasy throughout the entire game, and it's actually some pretty impressive audio design for an indie game.”
    • “Spirits of Xanadu is one horror game, out of few, that I like and enjoy playing because it focuses on atmosphere, music, story, and narration with nice voice acting. It's a good horror game in my eyes because it uses the atmosphere and its environment to inject fear in you.”
    • “Music and sound, including the soundtrack, are brilliant, and there are tons of voiced dialogues.”
    • “The graphics and music won't win any awards, but they get the job done.”
    • “Its use of sound effects and lack of music makes it genuinely creepy.”
    • “Music in games is important, but sometimes silence is much more important.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant improvements after a recent update that enhanced performance. However, others still report issues, including unoptimized gameplay and minor performance degradation due to respawning enemies and environmental debris. Overall, while the Unity engine runs smoothly for some, there are persistent concerns about optimization across different systems.

    • “Unity engine runs smoothly, the game is well optimized.”
    • “Update: so sometime before I wrote this review, an update was rolled out that was at least partially focused on optimization and the game runs like a dream on my computer now.”
    • “After the optimization update it feels great.”
    • “Additionally, the game doesn't seem to be optimized very well.”
    • “No optimizations at all.”
    • “A separate but related issue in the immersion is that some of the enemies (including the aforementioned kamikaze robots) are somehow capable of respawning on a derelict ship in space for no reason, and the debris from potentially infinite encounters with these respawning enemies causes performance degradation over a playthrough.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in "Spirits of Xanadu" is described as quirky and often inexplicable, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the combination of funny achievements, humorous notes, and amusing scenarios within the game's intriguing story and engaging puzzles. The lighthearted elements, including mini-games and comedic situations, enhance the game's charm and entertainment value.

    • “Spirits of Xanadu has an interesting story, excellent voice acting, fun puzzles, and funny achievements; it all melded together into a really fun experience.”
    • “To resolve the situation, you will need to run the usual obstacle course: there'll be security systems, locked doors, roaming androids, broken things to fix, dark sections needing a torch, toilets, a general plot to uncover, audio logs, humorous notes, a few little mini-games, and a multi-choice ending.”
    • “It made me laugh to see such a huge room occupied by very little.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some elements can feel tedious, the overall gameplay maintains a sense of engagement and atmosphere. Many express a desire for a more streamlined approach to replaying choices without the need for repetitive tasks, indicating that the grind can detract from the enjoyment.

    • “I was happy with my choices (which is why I chose them first!), but I wanted to play through the others without needing to tediously repeat the rest of the game.”
    • “However, the actual gameplay is very tedious.”
    • “Everything felt well placed, but not to the point that the game ever felt tedious or frustrating.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Users report frequent glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly with issues like being unable to pass through doors without reloading save files. While there are no significant graphic glitches, some mechanics, such as shooting in basketball, are noted to be frustratingly difficult.

    • “I frequently encountered glitches that prevented me from going through doors until I reloaded my save file.”
    • “The game suffers from stability issues, as I often had to reload my save file due to glitches.”
    • “There are no graphic glitches to be seen, but the game's stability is questionable, making it difficult to perform actions smoothly.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The voice acting in the game is praised for effectively conveying the emotional depth of the narrative, enhancing the overall impact of the story.

    • “The voice acting for the small cast is impressive and truly enhances the emotional depth of the story.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Users express frustration with the monetization model, noting that they are required to watch ads to access content, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “I had to watch ads in order to read.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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