Spirits of Xanadu

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 377 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

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 377 reviews
story82 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Engaging and immersive atmosphere that effectively builds tension and dread.
  • Well-written story delivered through audio logs and notes, with strong voice acting.
  • Offers multiple endings and encourages exploration, providing a rewarding experience.
  • Very short gameplay, can be completed in under 10 minutes if rushed.
  • Combat mechanics are simplistic and can feel clunky, with limited enemy variety.
  • Graphics are minimalistic and may not appeal to everyone, potentially detracting from immersion.
  • story262 mentions

    The story of "Spirits of Xanadu" is primarily conveyed through audio logs, notes, and environmental storytelling, creating an engaging narrative that players must piece together as they explore the abandoned spaceship. While some reviewers noted the plot's simplicity and lack of originality, many praised its atmospheric execution and the depth it offers through exploration, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as the game's strongest aspect, providing a captivating backdrop that enhances the eerie atmosphere and encourages player curiosity.

    • “The story is the strongest part of this game, but the whole package is pretty satisfying.”
    • “The story unfolds itself only if you seek it out actively, rather than force it upon you.”
    • “The story is pieced together from audio recordings, blood splatters, and the occasional office memo, and is easily enjoyed or ignored as you prefer, but without the story there's probably not enough to the game to be worth it.”
    • “The story is not that ground-breaking, it's actually quite a cliché.”
    • “The story is linear, straightforward, and fairly unoriginal.”
  • atmosphere136 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 spaceship. While the low-poly graphics and minimalistic design may not appeal to everyone, the sound design and storytelling enhance the overall experience, creating a sense of tension and exploration. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and combat, many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a strong emotional response through its atmospheric elements.

    • “It has everything it needs to set you on a short, but well-made, and quite atmospheric sci-fi adventure.”
    • “The atmosphere is phenomenal, is what I'm saying.”
    • “Spirits of Xanadu delivers with an unsettling atmosphere, solid voice acting, and a good amount of detail within the environment.”
    • “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.”
    • “But you've quickly got a gun in your hands and the lights get switched on and the atmosphere departs.”
    • “Also, the creepy atmosphere is lost once you restore power to the ship and then it becomes far less tense.”
  • graphics134 mentions

    The graphics of "Spirits of Xanadu" are generally described as simplistic and low-poly, reminiscent of early FPS games, which may not appeal to everyone. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and atmospheric design, others find the visuals lacking in detail and polish, detracting from the overall experience. Despite the graphical shortcomings, many reviewers note that the game's story and immersive elements compensate for its visual limitations.

    • “The graphics are simple but well done enough not to complain about.”
    • “The atmosphere is well-done and the style of the graphics sets up a nice, simple kind of 'retro' feel that makes me feel like I'm back in the early 90s of gaming.”
    • “The graphics may not look spectacular, but they fit the theme perfectly.”
    • “The graphics are horrible and I still get low FPS on the lowest graphics configuration.”
    • “The one and only place that this game is truly let down is in the visuals; many will find the style a little primitive, and this can take away from the immersion of the experience.”
    • “However, between some dated graphics, clunky UI, and some design choices that did not survive the test of time, I just didn't get the experience I was looking for.”
  • gameplay91 mentions

    The gameplay of "Spirits of Xanadu" is characterized by its simplicity and minimalistic design, appealing to some players while leaving others wanting more depth and complexity. While the combat and puzzle mechanics are generally enjoyable, many reviewers noted a lack of emergent gameplay and depth, leading to a repetitive experience. The game offers a blend of exploration and light combat, but its brevity and simplistic mechanics may not satisfy those seeking a more robust gameplay experience.

    • “The combat is surprisingly fun and the gameplay can cater for an overt or covert approach.”
    • “Do not let the visuals deceive you, this is a nicely crafted little game that cut corners where it didn't matter (graphics), but did a proper job on gameplay, environment, puzzles, and story.”
    • “The gameplay revolves around your investigation of a mysterious spaceship called Xanadu, communication with which was lost months prior.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty simple and the environment is pretty much just a generic spaceship.”
    • “The problem isn’t that the gameplay is unresponsive or incomprehensive like the original System Shock; the issue is the gameplay is rather bland as the combat and the puzzles meet a borderline of acceptability.”
    • “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.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in "Spirits of Xanadu" is noted for its impressive audio design, effectively enhancing the game's eerie atmosphere without overwhelming the player. While there is minimal music, the haunting soundscapes and ambient noises contribute significantly to the sense of dread, making the experience immersive and unsettling. The combination of well-executed sound effects, voice recordings, and occasional music from in-game sources creates a rich auditory environment that supports the game's horror elements.

    • “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.”
    • “The occasional music you can find from the tape recorder is very haunting and works perfectly.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting the presence of multiple endings and achievements that encourage exploration, while others criticize its short playtime and lack of significant variation in gameplay. Although some find value in replaying for different outcomes, many agree that the overall content does not justify a high price point, leading to a consensus that replayability is limited.

    • “While this can break the uneasy flow the narrative is going for, on reruns it ends up increasing its replayability while one is going for its other endings.”
    • “A fun little sci-fi atmospheric adventure-FPS game with plenty of replay value, at a $5 USD price point.”
    • “There is a lot of replay value packed into this simple little game.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization15 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues and others noting improvements following a recent update. While the Unity engine runs smoothly for some, others report poor performance and unoptimized elements that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely among users, with some enjoying a seamless experience and others facing ongoing challenges.

    • “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.”
    • “The visuals do not justify the performance I'm getting.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some elements contribute to a tense atmosphere, the repetitive nature of certain tasks and the respawning mechanic can make exploration and progression feel tedious. Overall, the gameplay is described as well-placed but occasionally frustrating due to the need for repetition.

    • “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.”
    • “The respawning mechanic puts you in a certain place on the ship, which makes exploring and achieving some objectives a bit tedious from time to time.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent glitches that hinder gameplay, such as issues with door interactions and lighting. However, others report a smooth experience with no crashes or significant problems. Overall, while some users encounter bugs and annoyances, others find the game stable and enjoyable.

    • “I would frequently get glitches that prevented me from going through doors until I reloaded my save file.”
    • “The second time playing, the game revealed many glitches - lights did not turn on until I opened a safety door and many more glitches.”
    • “Everything else is a buggy disaster.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in "Spirits of Xanadu" is described as quirky and often unexpected, blending well with its intriguing story and engaging gameplay. Players appreciate the funny achievements and humorous notes scattered throughout, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere despite the game's occasional lonely moments. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.

    • “There's an odd amount of humor in it and a lot of things that seem inexplicable.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional1 mentions

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

    • “The voice acting for the small cast is impressive and truly enhances the emotional depth of the story.”
    • “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the characters.”
    • “Every moment is filled with emotional weight, leaving a lasting impact long after the game is over.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users report that monetization in the game heavily relies on ads, which are required to access certain content, leading to a frustrating experience.

    • “I had to watch ads in order to access content.”
    • “The monetization model feels overly aggressive and detracts from the gameplay experience.”
    • “It's frustrating that so many features are locked behind a paywall.”
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 7 analyzed playthroughs

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