Temple of Xiala

About

Temple of Xiala is a smart puzzle game where you control the gravity, and have to move boulders in slots to clear a path to the next level.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

60%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The puzzles are well-designed and provide a good challenge, especially in the later levels.
The pixel art and animations are charming, adding a pleasant aesthetic to the gameplay.
The game is reasonably priced for the amount of content it offers, making it a fun short experience.

The game is very short, with only 21 levels that can be completed in under an hour.
It lacks a proper ending or completion screen, leaving players feeling unsatisfied after finishing.
The game appears to be abandoned, with no plans for further development or additional content.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay of "Temple of Xiala" is centered around a simple slide puzzle mechanic enhanced by a few unique features, such as mirrored controls and path-restricted blocks. While the game offers a balanced difficulty and appealing art style, it is criticized for its brevity, with only 21 levels providing around 30 minutes of playtime, leading some to question its overall value compared to free alternatives. Overall, it presents a fun but shallow experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
- “A fun little puzzle game with nice mechanics!”
- “There's a couple of special mechanics, like multiple block systems with mirrored controls (so essentially just a linked puzzle), and blocks that are confined to certain paths.”
- “It starts from a concept we've seen many times before, but it adds extra mechanics that make it really worth it for anyone interested in puzzles.”
- “It's just 21 levels with 3 different mechanics and then it abruptly ends.”
- “The technical deficiencies and lame ripoff gameplay, combined with the fact you can play sokoban-like games for free on the web, prevents me from recommending this.”
- “Gameplay is basically a slide-the-blocks puzzle with a pretty skin; not much depth here.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The graphics are characterized by a retro pixel art style that, while visually appealing to some, is often described as simplistic and lacking depth. Many reviewers feel that the graphics do not significantly enhance or detract from the gameplay experience, serving primarily as a functional backdrop to the puzzles. Overall, the art style is appreciated for its aesthetic, but it may not be enough to sustain long-term engagement.
- “The art style is good, difficulty perfectly balanced, mechanics simple but thoughtful, great atmosphere.”
- “I really enjoyed the puzzles and the graphics and the sound effects/ambiance.”
- “The graphics are simple but still cool and effective; they work well for the type of game.”
- “The graphics are lazy, retro pixel style.”
- “It's a shame that it's stuck in early access status, when it's merely missing a victory screen and some basic graphical and sound/music options, and maybe controller support.”
- “Graphics: pixel art is okay, adds nothing to the game, but doesn't take anything away either.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
50%
38%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a coherent story and proper ending, with many players expressing disappointment over its unfinished feel and misleading descriptions. Despite these shortcomings, some still find value in the gameplay, suggesting that while a story would enhance the experience, it is not essential for enjoyment.
- “I still will be recommending the game despite the lack of story, lack of ending (you just finish the last puzzle, there's no indication the game is done) and rather simplistic gameplay because I feel this game is still worth the 1.99 asking price.”
- “There isn't even a proper game completion screen, so it's clearly unfinished, without story nor other fluff.”
- “The description of the game is misleading; it makes it out like there is a semblance of a story to this game.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music aspect of the game is largely criticized for its minimalism, with no significant soundtrack present, only ambient sounds like white noise and crickets. While the sound effects are described as crisp and pleasing, the overall lack of music detracts from the experience, leaving players feeling that the audio design is underdeveloped.
- “It's got a pleasing visual style, sound effects are nice, crisp, and minimal, and the soundtrack is serviceable.”
- “No soundtrack, but I'm not sure if that would've improved the experience.”
- “Sound design is very minimal and there's no music to really speak of.”
- “There's no music (unless you count white noise and crickets), but the boxes made nice clicks, I suppose.”
- “No soundtrack, but I'm not sure if that would have improved the experience.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its limited replayability, with users describing it as short and lacking in content that encourages multiple playthroughs. Many recommend waiting for a sale, suggesting a price point of around $1 due to its minimal replay value.
- “A bit on the short side and has little replayability.”
- “It's a puzzle game with limited moves on each level. If it goes on sale, pick it up, but I wouldn't spend more than $1. There's not a lot of replayability. 1/10.”
- “Minimal replay value.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by a strong art style and a well-balanced difficulty that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the simplicity and thoughtfulness of the mechanics, which contribute to an engaging and immersive environment.
- “The art style is great, the difficulty is perfectly balanced, and the mechanics are simple yet thoughtful, creating a fantastic atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere immerses you completely, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
- “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, drawing you into its world and keeping you on the edge of your seat.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's stability is criticized due to a freezing issue upon completing the final level, leaving players without a proper conclusion or credits. This lack of closure detracts from the overall experience.
- “There are only 21 levels, and it has no ending. After completing the last level, the game just freezes. You can close it using the escape key and 'menu', but other than that, there is nothing.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced multiple bugs that caused the game to freeze, forcing me to restart my console.”