The Deer God

This game is really fun to play, but it does have many issues. Nothing you would not expect from a Beta version of the game. Once they get this fixed, the game should do rather nicely.

53%Game Brain Score

graphics, story

stability, replayability

65% User Score Based on 352 reviews

Critic Score 48%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $4.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$14.99

Buy NowGet on itch.io Store$4.99

About

"The Deer God" is a pixelated, side-scrolling adventure game where you play as a deer. Seeking redemption, you must navigate through a procedurally generated world, solve puzzles, and interact with various creatures, some of which can be hostile. Your actions and choices will affect your character's development and the outcome of your journey. Reference: ]

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 362 reviews

graphics92 positive mentions

stability50 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and art style that create an immersive atmosphere.
Relaxing soundtrack that complements the gameplay experience.
Unique concept of playing as a deer with a focus on self-discovery and redemption.

Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks clear objectives, leading to boredom.
Numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder progress and enjoyment.
Limited instructions and guidance, making it difficult for players to understand mechanics and objectives.

graphics
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
35%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and artistic style, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning pixel art and immersive atmosphere created by the visuals and soundtrack. However, some players feel that the impressive graphics do not compensate for the game's lackluster gameplay and technical issues, such as glitches and performance problems. Overall, while the graphics are a strong point, they are often seen as the game's only redeeming feature amidst criticisms of repetitive gameplay and shallow mechanics.
- “The graphics... the soundtrack... together, they really bring you into a new level of immersion.”
- “It's an excellent combination of modern 3D lighting and effects over a wonderfully drawn and realized pixel art style.”
- “This unique idea of self-discovery paired with the beautiful level of visual depth and gorgeous 3D pixel art style is where this game shines.”
- “The overall feel of the game doesn't really fit the aesthetic they were going for in my opinion.”
- “Other than the graphics, there isn't much else here to make it an enjoyable experience.”
- “Once you get past the pretty visuals in the back, you quickly realize that there isn't very much to this game.”
story
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The game's story is generally perceived as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it serves primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a central focus. While some appreciate the simple and neat narrative, others criticize it for being almost nonexistent, with repetitive fetch quests and a lack of meaningful progression. Overall, the story is described as basic and straightforward, with potential for more depth in future installments.
- “It looks amazing, has amazing sprite work, and for what story there is, it still keeps you captivated.”
- “The story is simple but neat.”
- “I highly recommend this game; the story is fun, the graphics make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and even the music is relaxing and enjoyable.”
- “The storyline isn't really all there and none of what is doesn't actually seem to have a reason for being.”
- “There is such a lack of direction and purpose to the 'story' that I can't even justify telling anyone to play it.”
- “They've sold it on having some sort of profound spiritual content in the story but the story barely exists.”
gameplay
129 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
11%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive, lacking clear objectives, and often frustrating due to bugs and simplistic mechanics. While some appreciate the beautiful visuals and relaxing atmosphere, others criticize the monotonous tasks and insufficient depth, leading to a gameplay experience that feels flat and unengaging. Overall, the game offers a blend of platforming and survival elements, but it struggles to maintain player interest due to its lack of variety and meaningful challenges.
- “The gameplay is a simple platformer and runner mixed with an odd type of open world and survival elements that comes together as a lovely little relaxing adventure without getting bored just roaming aimlessly.”
- “A minimalistic runner/platformer, this game actually manages to put a decent amount of challenge into a small package, and rewards you for perseverance in mastering its mix of survival and puzzle mechanics with progressively better items, skills, and powers.”
- “Between the breathtaking graphics, satisfying gameplay, fun little puzzles, more than comfortable controls, and the absorbing music; I have come to the conclusion that this epic platformer simply has too much to offer to just pass by.”
- “The gameplay loop feels boring, repetitive, and without purpose: no map, no 'real' objectives, it incentivizes the player to have babies as a respawn whose AI dies 2 seconds after birth.”
- “The core gameplay is rather repetitive and predictable after a short time, and whilst the puzzles break it up a bit towards the end, there's simply not enough there to break up the monotony.”
- “The gameplay is pretty much broken in its current state.”
music
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
34%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience alongside the stunning visuals. While many players find the soundtrack beautiful and fitting, some note that it can become repetitive and occasionally buggy. Overall, the combination of soothing music and appealing aesthetics makes the game enjoyable for those seeking a tranquil gaming experience.
- “The soundtrack completes the experience as you embark on an epic journey.”
- “The soundtrack and environments are pleasantly relaxing, making it a game best enjoyed at your own pace.”
- “The visuals are stunning, the music and sounds along with the visuals create a beautiful atmosphere.”
- “Also the sound/music seemed buggy as hell.”
- “Visually it gets repetitive quickly, the gameplay is boring and uninteresting and the music is pretty but doesn't play all that often.”
- “This is not 1998, it is not acceptable to force-feed users your music with your game.”
stability
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly detract from the overall experience, making it feel unfinished and aggravating. Players report issues with combat, platforming, and puzzles, often leading to frustrating gameplay moments, such as getting stuck or encountering unresponsive mechanics. Despite its beautiful graphics and potential, many users express a desire for patches and optimizations to improve stability and playability.
- “Overall, the game is just buggy and feels incomplete.”
- “I wanted to play through the entire game to give it a fair judgment, but unfortunately it's quite buggy; I ended up getting stuck in an area that was too high to double jump out of, and dying and respawning there over and over again due to the game's hunger mechanic.”
- “The game has several puzzles, most of which are extremely finicky - such as requiring you to hit a rock in a very specific place or it won't break and you have no indication, you just have to keep doing it until you hit the right spot - or outright buggy - such as a lightning puzzle where you must get rid of all that stands on a couple of light pillars, except the puzzle may or may not be solved when you do it right.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals and immersive music, creating a captivating experience that enhances gameplay. Many players appreciate the beautiful sceneries and the dynamic day-night cycle, which contribute to a lively environment. However, some reviews note that while the atmosphere is impressive, it is somewhat undermined by repetitive gameplay and unclear objectives.
- “The sceneries are simply beautiful and the day-night cycle gives the world a nice atmosphere and makes it that much more alive.”
- “The visuals are stunning, the music and sounds along with the visuals create a beautiful atmosphere.”
- “With the gorgeous 2D scenery to soak in and atmospheric music, The Deer God was a wonderful success for me; I found it to be a blast to play.”
- “The game's atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to truly engage players.”
- “Despite its beautiful visuals, the atmosphere fails to create a sense of immersion, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
- “The overall ambiance is underwhelming, making it difficult to become invested in the game's world.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many players expressing frustration over persistent bugs that hinder their ability to fully experience all features. While some find it replayable, the recurring issues significantly detract from the enjoyment of revisiting the game.
- “Replayable”
- “It doesn't have much replay value.”
- “Honestly, the replayability factor for me is summed up in 'has this bug been fixed already?' and it's frustrating to try and get all features of the game when you keep encountering the same problems keeping you from achieving completion.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game is currently perceived as not optimized, with players noting issues such as overly sensitive controls in the inventory and power screens, as well as various glitches. Despite its potential, users express a desire for improvements in optimization and additional features to enhance the overall experience.
- “I believe it has great potential, but I'd like to see it optimized, see the controls in the inventory/power screen be a little less sensitive, and hopefully see more features added in and the glitches mostly ironed out.”
- “The game is not optimized.”
- “The game ends and starts from the beginning after death, but you can compare the performance of growth or the distance to justify your progress.”
- “The game is not optimized.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of combat to be tedious and frustrating, often leading to feelings of exasperation. While the game's premise of playing as a deer limits combat expectations, the repetitive nature of encounters can still become overwhelming.
- “It's so tedious it makes you want to scream.”
- “The combat can get tedious after a while (but then again, we are playing as a deer; I wouldn't expect to do much fighting with such an animal in the first place).”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development is highlighted by well-crafted pixelated designs that enhance the visual appeal, particularly with impressive lighting effects that transition beautifully from day to night. However, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character arcs.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users express a strong emotional connection to deers, highlighting their significance and the feelings they evoke. This sentiment is consistently noted, indicating a deep appreciation for these animals within the context of the game.
- “I felt a deep emotional connection to the deer in the game, their struggles resonated with me.”
- “The portrayal of the deer brought out a strong emotional response, making me reflect on nature and life.”
- “I was moved by the emotional depth of the story surrounding the deer, it truly touched my heart.”