Technobabylon

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 831 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Technobabylon Game Cover
Technobabylon may not make you a new convert to the retro-style adventure, but as a fan, it's by far one of the best I've played.
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"Technobabylon" is a single-player mystery arcade game set in 2087, where genetic engineering and the addictive Trance dominate. As Charlie, Latha, or Max, you'll face high-stakes choices in a beautifully designed world with a masterful soundtrack. Caught in a web of deceit, blackmail, and assassination, how far will you go to protect your legacy or survive your past?

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 831 reviews
story408 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-thought-out Sci-Fi/Cyberpunk story that captivates players.
  • Excellent atmosphere and world-building, immersing players in a believable futuristic setting.
  • Clever puzzles that are logical and satisfying to solve, with some having multiple solutions.
  • Some puzzles can be obscure or require pixel hunting, leading to frustration.
  • The story can feel convoluted at times, with certain character motivations lacking clarity.
  • Minor technical issues, such as bugs and slow character movement, can detract from the overall experience.
  • story703 mentions

    The story of "Technobabylon" is widely praised for its engaging and intricate narrative set in a richly developed cyberpunk world, featuring well-written characters and thought-provoking themes. While many reviewers highlight the compelling plot twists and emotional depth, some express concerns about pacing issues and occasional convolutions that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is recommended for its strong storytelling and immersive atmosphere, making it a standout in the point-and-click genre.

    • “Technobabylon is hands down one of the best storylines I've come across in a video game (a sci-fi plot as grandiose as any William Gibson or Neil Stephenson novel) and as a storytelling device, the adventure style of gameplay is masterfully implemented to deliver a truly compelling narrative.”
    • “The story is intriguing, well-described and immersive... and not so distant, to be honest - it might actually happen at some point, which is kind of scary.”
    • “The story is masterfully balanced between serious, heavy moments and enjoyable touches of levity/humor; it avoids being a grimdark nightmare like so many cyberpunk games, yet also doesn't rely on tongue-in-cheek references to genre classics to score nostalgia points.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story has huge plot holes.”
    • “In fact, I would say most of the story makes no sense at all, and that left me so unsatisfied that I have no desire to replay it.”
    • “The story starts strong but gets rather longwinded through the middle of the game, and the dialogue during the last major puzzle was incredibly clumsy, lacking any emotional consistency from one dialogue option to the next, at a time when two of the main characters really needed to establish their relationship.”
  • graphics147 mentions

    The graphics of Technobabylon are characterized by a retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic point-and-click adventures, effectively capturing the cyberpunk aesthetic. While some players appreciate the charm and detail of the visuals, others find them outdated and occasionally frustrating, particularly when it comes to visibility and interaction. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting that despite their limitations, they do not detract significantly from the game's engaging story and atmosphere.

    • “The makers of this game have created a fleshed-out world and have made brilliant use of the pixelated graphics to create this world and let your imagination fill in the rest.”
    • “The artwork is exceptional in its simplicity where a 2D world is made to feel like a 3D one, the music is a blend of styles all aimed at the chapter themes, the point-and-click environment not too ridiculous in its options and an unforgettable experience that magnificently completes this in such a way that deserves recognition for what it delivers to the game.”
    • “The visuals, although lo-fi, are very suggestive and evocative, and the writing is exciting, with twists and turns that keep you glued to the monitor.”
    • “The graphics are bad even for pixelated standards, but luckily it doesn’t affect the gameplay.”
    • “Admittedly, these graphics are just not good enough for me to enjoy the game.”
    • “The art style makes it hard to see what you're supposed to do or read the (copious amounts of) text.”
  • music114 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality, beautifully complementing the pixel art and narrative. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's mood, particularly in its cyberpunk setting, with many describing it as evocative and fitting. While some noted minor issues, such as repetitive tracks in certain scenes, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the immersive experience.

    • “This adventure draws you in with its excellent pixel art, gentle atmospheric soundtrack, and a fairly well-paced story.”
    • “The music was awesome; it wonderfully complemented the whole experience!”
    • “The soundtrack is really good, setting up the mood nicely, but never drawing too much attention to itself.”
    • “There is a scene where Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is very prominently featured, and you can't turn it down even if you set the music volume to 0.”
    • “There is another scene at a biolab where you have a relatively relaxed conversation with a scientist, but the music in the background is quite hectic and loud.”
    • “I didn't particularly care for the soundtrack though.”
  • gameplay99 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is primarily a classic point-and-click adventure, featuring a mix of engaging puzzles and a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the clever mechanics and challenging puzzles, others find the gameplay to be linear and occasionally frustrating due to obscure solutions and a lack of innovative mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its immersive story and atmosphere, though the gameplay experience can vary significantly among players.

    • “It's a beautifully crafted adventure game, about 7 hours worth of gameplay.”
    • “Great story and fascinating gameplay with the different personas and perspectives.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, using great puzzles and exploration that make sense but are still challenging.”
    • “Some of the chapters are flashbacks where there is no meaningful gameplay, just clicking on characters to reveal some backstory.”
    • “It's just straight linear gameplay with frustrating pixel-hunt puzzles that only very rarely have more than one solution, and these few puzzles never have any impact on the narrative at large.”
    • “For Technobabylon, I needed a walkthrough within the first 10 minutes of gameplay, which is utterly ridiculous.”
  • atmosphere66 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, effectively blending cyberpunk aesthetics with engaging storytelling and strong voice acting. Players appreciate the intricate world-building, atmospheric soundtrack, and pixel art that enhance the overall experience, although some critiques mention a lack of cohesion in certain gameplay elements. Overall, the game successfully draws players into its richly crafted environment, making it a standout in the point-and-click adventure genre.

    • “This point and click adventure oozes a rich atmosphere that combines cyberpunk and noir.”
    • “The atmosphere is dead-on cyberpunk, and the music and voice acting is top-notch.”
    • “Fantastic atmosphere and music that creates a very believable world.”
    • “The puzzles were good generally, but the atmosphere is really bad in my opinion; too much dark and dirty world. The atmosphere, story, and dialogues didn't match together, and I felt the game was too superficial. The story itself was weak compared to top old Wadjet Eye games.”
    • “The atmosphere is second to none (it captures old-school pixel art perfectly), but the plot is mediocre.”
    • “The game is dripping with atmosphere and has the dingy cyberpunk feeling of something like Blade Runner.”
  • humor35 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the clever dialogue, witty character interactions, and dark humor that balances the serious themes of the story. While many found the humor to be well-executed and genuinely funny, others felt it sometimes clashed with the game's darker elements or lacked consistency. Overall, the writing and voice acting contribute to a humorous experience that enhances the engaging narrative and character development.

    • “The characters are likable and act realistically while the use of AI in general has a more humorous approach and actually made me laugh out loud on several occasions, in a good way.”
    • “Ben Chandler's art is fantastic as always, the dialogue and interactions are extremely funny but also well written and interesting.”
    • “The story is masterfully balanced between serious, heavy moments and enjoyable touches of levity and humor; it avoids being a grimdark nightmare like so many cyberpunk games, yet also doesn't rely on tongue-in-cheek references to genre classics to score nostalgia points.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its gripping narrative and well-developed characters, which evoke a range of feelings from engagement to heartbreak. While some players found the pacing and dialogue inconsistent, leading to a lack of emotional investment at times, others praised the story for its depth and the exploration of complex themes like artificial intelligence and morality. Overall, the game offers a mix of emotional highs and lows, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of intricate storytelling in a sci-fi setting.

    • “I found the game to have a gripping and emotional story that kept me engaged from start to finish, along with voice acting and well-drawn environments to keep the immersion value high.”
    • “The characters' emotional arcs feel realistic and don't suffer from 'because the plot says I can't be mad you tried to kill me, I'm fine now' type issues.”
    • “A standalone cyberpunk adventure from Wadjet Eye that leads to some cool questions and a surprisingly emotional finale.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game offers moderate replayability, primarily through multiple story branches, player choices, and achievements that encourage exploration of different outcomes. While some players felt satisfied after their first playthrough, the presence of decision points and various puzzle solutions provides enough incentive for players to revisit the game. Overall, it strikes a balance between a fulfilling initial experience and opportunities for further engagement.

    • “It actually has a couple of story branches that yield achievements and change some dialogue options, so there's also some replay value.”
    • “It's very cool to see this in an adventure game because it adds a bit of replayability and makes you less likely to get stuck.”
    • “There is a lot of opportunity for player choice in both the narrative and gameplay, so the game is replayable to a degree.”
    • “If you do it this way, then the game will have little to no replay value.”
    • “Doesn't have a ton of replay value, and I definitely needed a walkthrough, but I still highly recommend it!”
    • “Also, there is a lot of opportunity for player choice in both the narrative and gameplay, so the game is replayable to a degree.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is marred by numerous bugs, particularly in the final act, where players report game-breaking issues and frustrating glitches that hinder progress. While some minor graphical glitches and stiff animations are noted, the experience is generally solid until the end, leading to mixed feelings among players. Despite these issues, fans of the genre may still find value in the game's retro puzzles and thematic elements.

    • “Honestly, it just gets annoying and buggy.”
    • “Game is buggy as hell; I'm stuck on the germination part, and for some reason, it's not letting me progress.”
    • “Some of the animation is overly stiff and lifeless, and the final puzzles see you swapping characters, and boy does that get buggy.”
  • character development8 mentions

    The character development in the game is praised for its complexity and fluidity, revealed through engaging interactions that enhance the compelling sci-fi narrative. Reviewers highlight the impressive character design and the well-crafted storyline, which together create an immersive experience, particularly appealing to fans of cyberpunk and dystopian themes. Overall, the game is noted for its thoughtful character arcs and captivating atmosphere.

    • “I really thought the worldbuilding and character development were both complex and fluidly revealed through character interactions, which combined to make for a very compelling and thought-provoking sci-fi setting!”
    • “Tl;dr - I was blown away by the storyline, character development, and atmosphere of this game.”
    • “Tl;dr - If you like cyberpunk, dystopian-like futures, well-paced stories, and character development, then you could do a lot worse than Technobabylon.”
    • “Character development is lacking and feels superficial throughout the game.”
    • “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evolve in any meaningful way.”
    • “I expected more depth in character arcs, but they felt rushed and unconvincing.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating and tedious, primarily due to illogical puzzles, slow movement, and inconspicuous interactions that require excessive exploration. This leads to a repetitive experience as players often find themselves aimlessly wandering to progress.

    • “Clunky and slow movement makes for a tedious experience throughout the game.”
    • “Interactions are often inconspicuously blended into the background, making it easy to miss something unless you hover over every part of the backdrop, which is tedious.”
    • “This gets pretty tedious, particularly when you're a little stuck and wandering around trying a few different things.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for poor craftsmanship, though it is somewhat redeemed by high-quality vocal performances, smooth animations, and appealing artwork. While the overall experience is immersive, the optimization itself feels lacking, overshadowed by the game's aesthetic elements.

    • “It's an experience brought to life beautifully by high-quality vocal performances, decent if underutilized synth and techno music, solid character and background artwork, and butter-smooth animations.”
    • “Anyhow, the performance was great - it left a pleasant feeling of visiting 'another world' like a good movie or a book.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
5-14hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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