Tales of the Neon Sea

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 300 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Tales of the Neon Sea Game Cover
Tales of the Neon Sea is a promising cyberpunk puzzler marred by an underbaked story and a host of small annoyances. Although it boasts engaging puzzles and beautiful visuals, Neon Sea drags and loses its direction as it progresses. It's a game that has potential, but it just can't seem to capitalize on it.
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"Tales of the Neon Sea" is a cyberpunk-noir point-and-click adventure game set in a dystopian future. Players take on the role of a private investigator, solving cases involving advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and a divided society. The game features stunning hand-drawn 2D graphics and a thrilling, immersive storyline.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 300 reviews
story104 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art and vibrant cyberpunk visuals create an immersive atmosphere.
  • Engaging story with interesting characters and a mix of humor and seriousness.
  • Variety of puzzles that challenge players without being overly frustrating.
  • Dialogue and writing suffer from translation issues, leading to awkward phrasing and grammatical errors.
  • Some puzzles can feel tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The game ends abruptly with a cliffhanger, leaving players wanting more without a satisfying conclusion.
  • story232 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative, intriguing characters, and rich world-building, particularly within a cyberpunk setting. However, some critiques highlight issues such as pacing, a rushed ending, and occasional incoherence, suggesting that while the story is enjoyable, it could benefit from further development and refinement. Overall, it combines a compelling detective plot with a mix of puzzles, though some players feel the gameplay sometimes detracts from the narrative experience.

    • “The story is engaging and follows a detective (a man with a lot of past, little present, and no future) in a string of events that lead him back to an old unresolved and particularly brutal case of his; a degree of cuteness is added by a parallel story of a street cat and its endeavors and how it helps out the main protagonist.”
    • “The story flows like a fun cheesy cyberpunk movie, except there are a lot of problem-solving in the game.”
    • “The devs managed to establish a world, with sufficiently detailed background and lore and everything feels so alive in the tiny pixelated cities this main story is set in.”
    • “The story is a bit complex and hard to follow sometimes, as are some of the puzzles.”
    • “My biggest complaint is that the story seemed a bit rushed towards the end and it felt rather underwhelming to me.”
    • “Tales of the Neon Sea is a promising cyberpunk puzzler marred by an underbaked story and a host of small annoyances.”
  • graphics108 mentions

    The graphics of "Tales of the Neon Sea" are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic, which effectively create an immersive atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the detailed environments, charming character designs, and the unique blend of retro and modern visual styles that enhance the overall experience. While the visuals are a standout feature, some critiques mention that certain design choices may not align perfectly with the game's tone.

    • “Something about the pixel art style, the vibrant shade of neon pink that pervades the cityscape, the character designs and the animations - the game's graphics scratched an itch I never knew I had.”
    • “The graphics, visuals, and the overall atmosphere of the game are very beautiful and well designed, and are probably the best thing about this game.”
    • “The game immediately hooks you in with its gorgeous visuals and hand-crafted pixel art, creating a vibrant cyberpunk world teeming with life at every corner, just waiting to be explored.”
    • “The base font of the game clashes really hard with the pixel art style, which also means some puzzles will be easier than intended because the detail you have to spot on a pixeled document is the only thing written in default font.”
    • “Also, the higher resolution dialog pictures don't really fit the glowing pixel art style of the game.”
    • “Despite being portrayed in pixel graphics, the game manages to deliver a vibrant yet cruel world, accompanied by an enticing storyline and great puzzles.”
  • music49 mentions

    The music in "Tales of the Neon Sea" is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, complementing the game's vibrant pixel art and cyberpunk aesthetic. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the mood, although some note that it can be subtle and not particularly gripping. Overall, the audio design, including sound effects and music, contributes significantly to the game's engaging experience, despite a few critiques regarding the lack of volume control options.

    • “Tales of the Neon Sea is a very good puzzle/adventure game with pixel and neon graphics, a cyberpunk ambiance, and a nice soundtrack.”
    • “The pixel art is gorgeous, the music and atmosphere are perfect, and the detective work and puzzles can be genuinely fun at times.”
    • “Pretty pixel art graphics, nice atmospheric music, a gorgeous cyberpunk environment, a variety of puzzles, and an engaging story that will keep you pushing until the very end.”
    • “The in-game music is a bit dull.”
    • “The credits music is completely out of place, shifting from easy-going music throughout the game to typical anime rock music.”
    • “There are no voiceovers whatsoever, and the music lacks engagement.”
  • gameplay49 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the easy controls and engaging puzzles that maintain interest, while others criticize the lack of variety and coherence, feeling that many puzzles are repetitive and disconnected from the story. The game is described as more of an adventure title than a true detective experience, with a focus on collecting clues and solving mechanical puzzles rather than deep investigative gameplay. Overall, while the visuals and story are praised, the gameplay often leaves players wanting more depth and integration with the narrative.

    • “Easy controls made it very relaxing, the puzzles were easy but there were so many of them that it kept the gameplay really interesting, and the story was engaging!”
    • “The gameplay was story-oriented, with a mix of puzzles thrown in that mimicked the process of investigation, decoding software locks, and so forth.”
    • “Great storyline with lots of depth, clever mechanics, a nice mix of puzzles that weren't too hard but not so easy they were pointless.”
    • “My one issue is that there wasn't much variety in gameplay.”
    • “The visuals of this game are amazing and atmospheric, but the gameplay and writing are mind-numbingly boring.”
    • “But god damn the gameplay is so annoying with some real pain in the a** puzzles.”
  • atmosphere33 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals, rich art style, and immersive sound design, effectively creating a captivating neo-noir cyberpunk world. Players appreciate the blend of light-hearted narrative elements with complex societal themes, alongside the engaging pixel art and ambient music that enhance the overall experience. While the atmosphere is a standout feature, some reviews note inconsistencies in gameplay and puzzle design.

    • “The atmosphere lives up to the title, the setting being neo-noir-esque, cyberpunk setting in the not-so-distant future, where real complex issues (AI sentience, technological progress having gone too far, overpopulation, corporate dominance, corruption, political inefficiency, growing social inequality, etc.) loom above society, yet the narrative manages to be passed on mostly light-hearted.”
    • “The graphics, visuals, and the overall atmosphere of the game are very beautiful and well designed, and are probably the best thing about this game.”
    • “The pixel art is gorgeous, the music and atmosphere are perfect, and the detective work and puzzles can be genuinely fun at times.”
    • “In the last chapter(s), the designers suddenly decided it was a good idea to let Rex die all the time, which is somewhat annoying as it destroys the relaxed atmosphere of the first 80% or so.”
    • “The story is not groundbreaking or particularly innovative, but it is executed well, solidly grounded by the lore, has the right pacing and atmosphere, and links its branching threads rather nicely.”
    • “Although this is a 2D tablet game style, this cyber atmosphere is no less than other famous cyberpunk games.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some puzzles are enjoyable and engaging, many reviewers note that excessive backtracking and tedious tasks can detract from the overall enjoyment. The balance between fun and frustration varies, with some sections feeling monotonous and requiring significant time investment without clear direction. Despite these issues, the game's visuals and story can make it worth the effort for some players, especially at a lower price point.

    • “Instead I'm stuck doing an endless series of tedious chores.”
    • “But towards the end, the puzzles just start to become almost absurdly tedious and monotonous. At one point, I was stuck at a particular puzzle which spanned an entire section of the game for nearly 2 hours, not because it was hard but just because it required constant backtracking and trial and error.”
    • “There's a lot of backtracking and tediousness, and at one point I *gasp* had to look up a solution, and even the solution offered no explanation and made no sense.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of lighthearted moments and darker undertones, with character dialogue often veering into awkwardness and unintentional hilarity due to its clumsy English. While some players appreciate the cute and funny elements, others find the humor lacking depth, as characters feel underdeveloped and their attempts at humor fall flat. Overall, the game balances its comedic aspects with a more serious narrative, providing a unique blend of humor and ethical dilemmas.

    • “Despite the great creepy atmosphere, it is also cute and funny at times.”
    • “The English is hilarious and definitely not written by someone who has English as their first language.”
    • “The story was interesting and balanced humor and seriousness well for the most part, with great pixel graphics and a nice noir vibe mixed with ethical questions.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, players report occasional stability issues, including screen blackouts and glitches, particularly around the warehouse chapter. While these problems can be disruptive, they tend to resolve themselves as the game progresses, and the experience remains largely enjoyable despite some subpar mouse controls.

    • “My only complaint is that somewhere around the warehouse chapter I had a few issues with the screen blacking out after completing a task and loading to advance the story. I had to restart my computer, but it resolved after the boat chapter and it wasn't too disruptive—just a few glitches and I was back on track.”
    • “The mouse controls are subpar and even buggy.”
    • “It's a good game, but there are still some glitches happening here and there.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while players appreciate the engaging problem-solving elements, the storyline lacks depth and emotional stakes, leaving some feeling disconnected from the narrative's potential intrigue.

    • “Really made me feel like I was solving something.”
    • “The storyline is interesting, but not very emotionally engaging.”
    • “There is no sense of intrigue or emotional stakes that make a murder mystery worth delving into.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development in the game is visually striking, featuring detailed pixel art and vibrant neon colors that enhance the overall aesthetic. However, some players feel that the character designs may not align perfectly with the game's tone, suggesting a disconnect between visual style and narrative depth.

    • “The game has lush pixel graphics with a lot of detail put into the environments and characters, showcasing a unique blend of aesthetics that enhances character development.”
    • “The vibrant shade of neon pink that pervades the cityscape, along with the character designs and animations, creates a visually stunning experience that enriches the character development.”
    • “The game's graphics scratched an itch I never knew I had, particularly in how they contribute to the depth and evolution of the characters.”
    • “The game has lush pixel graphics with a lot of detail put into the environments and characters, though I'm not sure if the aesthetic choices for a lot of the character designs match the tone of the game.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game has limited replayability, with most players feeling that it can only be enjoyed for one or two runs due to its linear structure and lack of meaningful story choices. However, some players are motivated to replay it for its appealing art style.

    • “I wouldn't say this game is exactly replayable beyond one or two runs, but I powered through a second and a third time because of how much I liked the art.”
    • “It was okay for what it was, but it's an on-rails modern puzzle adventure game, which leaves it without any real story choices besides some side lore and no replayability.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game excels in optimization, delivering a visually stunning "neon" atmosphere while maintaining stable performance and impressive art presentations.

    • “Outstanding in rendering the 'neon' atmosphere in addition to very stable game performance and art presentations.”
    • “The optimization is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I appreciate how the game runs flawlessly with minimal loading times, showcasing excellent optimization.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
10-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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