Syberia

High-quality role-playing/adventure games have been few and far between in recent years, making Syberia a refreshing alternative to the action games that dominate the market. As a legal representative of a large American corporation, your job is to close the deal on the acquisition of a small, innov

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Syberia is a captivating adventure game following Kate Walker, a lawyer who travels across Europe and Russia to find the inventor Hans Voralberg for a factory sale. Along the way, she encounters surreal characters and faces challenges that make her question her values, turning the deal into a life-changing journey. With its unique atmosphere, intriguing puzzles, and film-like presentation, Syberia offers an exciting, imaginative, and unforgettable adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,268 reviews

story467 positive mentions

grinding36 negative mentions

Engaging and emotional storyline with well-developed characters.
Beautifully designed environments and art style that still holds up.
Logical puzzles that enhance the narrative experience.

Slow movement and unskippable animations can make gameplay tedious.
Some puzzles can be frustrating due to pixel hunting and lack of clear direction.
Technical issues on modern systems can hinder the experience.

story
916 mentions
51 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Syberia" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and engaging character development, particularly that of the protagonist, Kate Walker. Many players appreciate the unique blend of steampunk aesthetics and a compelling narrative that explores themes of self-discovery and adventure, despite some criticism regarding pacing and plot holes. Overall, the game is recommended for those who value storytelling in their gaming experience, with many noting that it sets a high standard for narrative-driven adventure games.
- “The story is beautiful and quite compelling with fantastic voice acting and beautiful music to complement the stunning visuals.”
- “The characters, story, and lore are all so rich and alluring.”
- “The story is engaging, the characters interesting (the engineer in particular), and did I mention it is beautiful?”
- “Riddled with plot holes, stupid decisions made by supposedly intelligent people, nonsensical events, and an absurd amount of running around.”
- “The story, while it takes a while to ramp up, is interesting and mysterious, but it starts off so slow that it's a bit of an effort to get into, and ends quite abruptly, leaving many things frustratingly unfinished.”
- “The story is lacking and wastes a promising steampunk atmosphere, characters are comically imbecile and have horribly awkward dialogue, and the relatively small number of puzzles more tedious than challenging.”
graphics
355 mentions
47 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, originally released in 2002, are generally considered dated but still possess a unique charm and artistic quality that many players appreciate. While some reviews highlight issues such as graphical glitches and clunky animations, others praise the beautiful hand-drawn backgrounds and steampunk aesthetic that continue to evoke a sense of wonder. Overall, the visuals may not meet modern standards, but they effectively complement the game's engaging story and atmosphere, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of classic adventure games.
- “The graphics are good for a 20-year-old game.”
- “The game is beautiful, with dozens of hand-drawn steampunk scenes that look like artwork.”
- “The graphics are amazing and the scenery that was used was so beautiful that I felt like I was there.”
- “The graphics are hard on the eyes.”
- “The graphics are dull, often muddy and extremely low resolution.”
- “The graphics have aged, there's no way around it.”
gameplay
204 mentions
23 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Syberia is characterized by its classic point-and-click mechanics, which many players find slow and tedious due to lengthy animations and backtracking. While the puzzles can be engaging, they often involve pixel hunting and obscure item interactions that can frustrate players. Despite its dated mechanics and visuals, the game's captivating story and atmosphere still resonate with fans of the genre, making it a nostalgic experience for those willing to overlook its gameplay shortcomings.
- “The voralberg automata are all amazing and well integrated into the puzzles and gameplay.”
- “As you progress, you discover hidden secrets and solve puzzles, making for a thrilling and rewarding gameplay experience.”
- “With its captivating storyline, breathtaking visuals, and engaging gameplay, it's a standout title that's sure to leave a lasting impression.”
- “You practically have to guess your way through and hope for the best, while also having to deal with the tedious and slow gameplay.”
- “The gameplay and pacing of the story is sluggish and dull.”
- “The only major irritant in the game is its tedious gameplay.”
music
151 mentions
62 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its haunting and emotional qualities that complement the stunning visuals and engaging story. While some players mention occasional repetitiveness in the soundtrack, the majority find it memorable and fitting for the game's various settings. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The story is beautiful and quite compelling with fantastic voice acting and beautiful music to complement the stunning visuals.”
- “The music, artwork and atmosphere are especially on point.”
- “The music will travel you to places made out of dreams, and accompany you step by step through this adventure.”
- “The music suddenly blasting into my ears randomly for a jumpscare is one of the worst additions to this game.”
- “The music is quite boring and repetitive.”
- “Reason is because no matter what location you are in a particular chapter (hotel, factory, cave, church, cemetery, etc.) the same song will continue looping and playing.”
atmosphere
125 mentions
62 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful visuals, enchanting sound design, and rich storytelling that create a unique and memorable experience. While some note that the gameplay mechanics may feel dated or tedious, the overall ambiance—often described as melancholic, whimsical, or mysterious—remains a standout feature that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “The real standout feature is the atmosphere; the sounds and environments are so engrossing and beautiful.”
- “The music, artwork, and atmosphere are especially on point.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, with an aesthetic that I haven't really seen since the Walking Dead game by Telltale.”
- “Besides the gameplay, the atmosphere is not all that attractive either and the visuals feel bland, even for an older game.”
- “The story is lacking and wastes a promising steampunk atmosphere; characters are comically imbecile and have horribly awkward dialogue, and the relatively small number of puzzles are more tedious than challenging.”
- “This game feels pretty lonely and empty sometimes, but overall I'd say it has a pretty distinct atmosphere and the world is beautiful and desolate.”
emotional
41 mentions
98 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its engaging and heartfelt storyline, with many players noting that it evokes strong feelings, including tears during pivotal moments. The character development, particularly of the protagonist Kate, and the rich, atmospheric settings contribute to a deeply touching narrative that explores themes of personal growth and emotional distance. Overall, players describe the game as a beautiful and inspiring experience that resonates on multiple emotional levels.
- “The story is heartbreakingly warm, the sceneries are magnificently beautiful set in an enchanting fantasy steampunk world.”
- “The story, settings, and characters are interesting and original, and seeing the development in Kate's relationships and mindset over the course of the game really made me feel things sometimes :)”
- “A beautiful story — sad, touching, and inspirational at the same time, a pinnacle of Benoît Sokal's career in my opinion.”
- “The storytelling is boring, the characters are uninteresting, and worst of all, there are no real riddles at all.”
- “The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or their struggles.”
- “I felt no emotional investment in the story; it was flat and uninspiring.”
humor
39 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of charming and subtle, often fitting well within the melancholic atmosphere. While some characters and moments provide genuine laughs, others fall flat or feel repetitive, leading to a varied comedic experience. Overall, the dialogue and character interactions are noted for their wit, with standout moments that enhance the game's appeal, despite some criticisms of certain characters and voice acting.
- “The story is rich and funny, the characters (even those you only speak to on the phone) are interesting and have tons of personality.”
- “The main character is very sassy, which made me laugh a lot when she interacts with characters who are... unique.”
- “The story is full of adventure and discovery with unique and sometimes funny characters.”
- “Oscar is worthless, uninteresting, unfunny, and more of a hindrance than anything.”
- “It is not funny.”
grinding
36 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium in the game's grinding mechanics, primarily due to slow movement, excessive backtracking, and unskippable animations. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and narrative elements, many find the gameplay frustratingly repetitive and lacking in engaging puzzles, leading to a generally tedious experience. Overall, the game may appeal to fans of classic point-and-click adventures, but its slow pace and mundane tasks can detract significantly from enjoyment.
- “The navigation is tedious and there is too much backtracking, but I like the main character and aesthetically the game is great.”
- “Unfortunately, I think the game is spoiled by the tedious walking that is required to advance in the puzzle and the story.”
- “Gameplay is of the bad old school adventure game variety; a good chunk of the puzzles just feel like tedious busywork, and the game loves its back and forth backtracking.”
stability
23 mentions
9 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The stability of Syberia is a mixed bag, with many users reporting various glitches, including graphical issues and game freezes, particularly when multitasking or using multiple monitors. While some players experienced a smooth gameplay experience after troubleshooting, others found the bugs to be frustrating, occasionally hindering progress. Overall, the game's age contributes to its instability, but many still appreciate its unique story despite these technical shortcomings.
- “I was extremely happy to find that the Steam version runs great on my current system!”
- “Once up and running, it appears to be bug-free.”
- “Steam version is buggy and requires editing properties to work properly, just make sure you choose the game.”
- “In addition to this, there are game freezes like when Kate walks up the steps to Valadilène’s chapel.”
- “The minuses: it's buggy in that objects that are necessary to make progress disappear from their location, so you're stuck and can't continue.”
character development
16 mentions
56 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Character development is a standout aspect of the game, with many reviewers praising the depth and plausibility of the protagonist's growth, particularly in relation to the engaging plot and immersive atmosphere. However, some critiques highlight inconsistencies in character arcs, especially regarding interactions with secondary characters, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully intertwines character development with its narrative, though there are areas where it could have been more cohesive.
- “The best part of the game is the character development and plot, though the puzzles, as said, are also great.”
- “In many ways, this game is about Kate's character development, and you can't help but go through the experience with her.”
- “Syberia has such amazing character development, a story that takes hold of you and makes you want to play to the end, and very unique and interesting environments.”
- “And our protagonist, at that, has a character development that makes no sense either, when instead, she could have developed much differently whilst uncovering what really happened to the person in question and following their trail.”
- “The only part of the game that was almost a dealbreaker for me was the character development, not of Kate (your playable character) but of the people she interacted with by phone throughout the game.”
- “Character development takes place through a series of phone calls which are supposed to show the personal growth of the main character through the use of a sub-plot, but really have no connection to the main events of the game, nor do they serve to connect you to the hero.”
replayability
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting a lack of incentive to replay despite enjoying the experience. However, the strong soundtrack and engaging story leave a lasting impression, prompting some players to revisit the game for its memorable elements.
- “The soundtrack is excellent and the English dub voice actors are quite good, so it remains enjoyable throughout and has good replay value.”
- “Replay value: virtually none.”
- “This is one of the best games I have ever played; it's short enough to be finished in a weekend, yet it has no replay value. Still, I want to play it again as soon as I can.”
- “No replay value, but I will remember this story!”
optimization
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization allows for smooth performance at 2K resolution, although prerendered backgrounds may appear pixelated and restrict the resolution to 4:3. Overall, players appreciate the art and music quality, with standout musical performances enhancing the experience.
- “This made the game run smoothly at 2K for me (of course the prerendered backgrounds were pixelated, and because of those I was limited to 4:3 resolutions).”
- “The art and music are good -- the music, in fact, is outstanding at times, and a musical performance is one of the key events.”