The Eternal Cylinder

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 410 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Eternal Cylinder Game Cover
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"The Eternal Cylinder" is a survival adventure game where players control a herd of creatures called Trebhums. Explore a procedurally generated alien world, avoid the destructive path of the Cylinder, and evolve your Trebhums through eating various flora and fauna, gaining new physical attributes and abilities. Each Trebhum can have different mutations, allowing for diverse gameplay and puzzles solutions.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 410 reviews
story58 positive mentions
grinding11 negative mentions
  • The Eternal Cylinder offers a unique and surreal gameplay experience, combining exploration, survival, and puzzle-solving elements in a beautifully designed alien world.
  • The game features charming and imaginative creature designs, with the Trebhum being particularly endearing, creating an emotional connection with players.
  • The soundtrack and narration enhance the overall atmosphere, making the story engaging and immersive, while the constant threat of the Cylinder adds tension and excitement.
  • The game suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, particularly on lower-end devices, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
  • The AI companions can be frustratingly incompetent, often leading to their untimely deaths and requiring players to reload saves frequently.
  • Some players find the gameplay repetitive and the lack of a new game plus mode limits replayability, as missing collectibles require starting over from the beginning.
  • story136 mentions

    The story of the game is widely praised for its creativity, emotional depth, and engaging narrative, often described as well-crafted and thought-provoking. Players appreciate the unique world-building and the philosophical themes of survival and cooperation among the creatures called Trebhum, although some note pacing issues and occasional confusion in the plot. Overall, the storytelling, combined with stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack, contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “I love this game; I was so amazed by the story of survival and the journey for the survival of these creatures.”
    • “The story is beautifully presented, the creatures are adorably weird, and the monsters are imaginatively grotesque.”
    • “The story has themes of hope and family, with plenty of mystery and emotion.”
    • “The plot of the last 2 chapters is also not great; it majorly fails to deliver on such a nice mystery.”
    • “This game is 3-4 hours of content and story stretched over 12 hours of extremely tedious gameplay with janky controls and major 'fatal error!' crashes.”
    • “But as the story depends on the narrator simply telling you everything, I can't really recommend it.”
  • gameplay84 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a unique and engaging loop that involves exploration, survival mechanics, and managing a family of creatures, though it can become repetitive and occasionally frustrating due to clunky controls and unclear mechanics. While many players appreciate the innovative concepts and charming design, some find the gameplay lacking in variety and polish, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution. Despite these criticisms, the captivating story and artistic direction often overshadow gameplay shortcomings, making for a memorable experience.

    • “The gameplay loop is quite simple, but to me that only adds to the charm.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic too, it has a lot of emphasis on creating your family of Trebhum and building them out as you want.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the soundtrack and visuals are really great.”
    • “The gameplay is actually rather monotonous to be honest, but I enjoyed it.”
    • “This game has a lot of gameplay decisions that detract from the experience rather than add to it.”
    • “The graphics are mediocre, the mechanics are frustrating, and things like collision detection are not implemented right.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and unique art style, with many players praising the stunning visuals and immersive alien environments. While some users experienced technical issues such as stuttering and crashes related to graphic settings, the overall consensus highlights the game's breathtaking graphics and effective integration with its soundtrack and storytelling. Despite a few criticisms regarding performance, the visuals are often described as a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “The graphics are out of this world, absolutely breathtaking on max settings.”
    • “The art-style alone is gorgeous, even more so combined with the soundtrack and graphics.”
    • “The visuals and the soundscape are great, maybe the strongest points of an already well-made game.”
    • “The game is also a bit stuttery no matter the graphic settings (lowering everything didn't really help).”
    • “5 times I had to reinstall my graphic drivers (clean install with DDU each time) before figuring out that graphic settings were causing issues.”
    • “The graphics are mediocre, the mechanics are frustrating, and things like collision detection are not implemented right.”
  • music41 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beauty, variety, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as stunning, immersive, and effectively complements the game's visuals and narrative, contributing to a sense of wonder and engagement. While some noted issues with sound balancing, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature that significantly elevates the game's appeal.

    • “This soundtrack is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredible, the creature designs are super alien and unique and the gameplay, whilst not super challenging, is engaging enough to keep you from getting too relaxed or bored.”
    • “The music helps enhance the beauty and danger of the setting.”
    • “Also, even if excellent, the soundtrack and sound effects are poorly balanced, resulting in very loud bits at times.”
    • “The soundtrack and overall gameplay loop were enough to keep my interest through the whole experience, but I'm afraid I probably won't be replaying this soon.”
    • “Music-wise, this game is also a big step up with an effective and beautiful OST.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often citing repetitive tasks and janky controls that detract from the experience. Many reviews highlight the need for extensive resource gathering and the lack of clear guidance, leading to a drawn-out gameplay experience that feels unnecessarily stretched. While some players note that it doesn't seem grindy at first, the underlying mechanics require significant effort to progress, making it a slog for many.

    • “Farming in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is minimal, allowing for a more enjoyable experience.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding, but it's worth every moment!”
    • “After a bunch of hours gathering food and water gets tedious and the escapes from the cylinder lose their charm.”
    • “This game is 3-4 hours of content and story stretched over 12 hours of extremely tedious gameplay with janky (but fun at times) controls and major 'fatal error!' crashes.”
    • “The controls are janky, there is a lack of direct guidance, the narrator only hints you at what needs to be done, your trebhum will die randomly and unfairly to enemies you didn't know existed, there's all sorts of problems with this one which makes it tedious and generally irritating to play.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and whimsical elements, featuring funny creatures with amusing voices and names. Players find joy in the game's lightheartedness, with charming alien characters and a playful environment that enhances the overall fun experience. The humor is a significant draw, making it highly recommended for those who appreciate a comedic touch in gaming.

    • “Quirky and funny!”
    • “I play funny creatures with funny voices.”
    • “The creatures have funny names and you play as funny little things called trebhums.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming and engaging qualities, enhanced by a captivating narrator and music. While it maintains a family-friendly tone, certain elements, such as hostile creatures, introduce a disturbing aspect that adds depth to the overall experience. The combination of appealing visuals and a well-paced narrative contributes to a compelling and immersive atmosphere.

    • “A narrator and music that creates a great atmosphere.”
    • “An absolutely amazing game with a charming atmosphere.”
    • “The look and atmosphere of this game are awesome.”
    • “Also, I should mention the strange mix of game appearance and atmosphere.”
    • “Some of the hostile creatures can be a bit frightening when they come at you, and the atmosphere at certain points can feel a bit disturbing.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of wholesome charm and underlying creepiness, fostering a deep attachment to the adorable creatures players control. The gameplay emphasizes themes of family, safety, and exploration, evoking a nostalgic sense of wonder while also confronting players with the poignant reality of potential extinction. Overall, the storytelling is engaging and emotionally resonant, creating a rich and immersive experience.

    • “The idea of your little Trebum family, the idea of growing and keeping your family safe offered a beautiful, societal, and emotional aspect to the gameplay.”
    • “You’ll find none of these flaws here, as the world of the Eternal Cylinder is evocatively bizarre, the storytelling is engaging and surprisingly emotional, and the gameplay is polished and predominantly player-driven.”
    • “At the same time, the entire game is permeated by this emotionally engaging feeling of potentially being the last of your kind, facing the imminent annihilation of an entire world.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, players report significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, crashes, and low frame rates, which detract from the gaming experience. However, some users still find the game enjoyable despite these problems, indicating that while stability is a concern, it may not be entirely game-breaking for everyone.

    • “But in 96 minutes, I spent more time troubleshooting bugs than actually playing and enjoying myself.”
    • “I barely get above 10 fps and I have constant freezes, and I don't think it's my system's fault.”
    • “Despite having glitches like the game crashing when loading or entering the shrine, I give this game a 10/10; best indie game I have ever seen.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted through intricate designs and animations that enhance the narrative, particularly in the portrayal of an intriguing antagonist. Players appreciate the depth added by elements such as mutations and team dynamics, which contribute to a rich ecological and interpersonal experience. Overall, the character design and interactions are praised for their creativity and engagement.

    • “As a person interested in character design, along with zoology, the ecology and interactions between creatures was really something.”
    • “His animations, sound design, music, and most importantly of all, character design, really made him an intriguing antagonist.”
    • “Character development in the form of mutations, cannibalism, team building, and team management.”
    • “Character development is lacking depth and feels superficial, with little to no meaningful progression.”
    • “The character arcs are predictable and fail to engage the player emotionally.”
    • “There are limited options for character customization, which restricts personal expression and connection to the characters.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing consistent frame rates around 40-50fps regardless of settings, while others reported occasional crashes and performance issues. Overall, many found the optimization lacking, indicating that it could benefit from improvements despite moments of smooth gameplay.

    • “Slight performance issues sometimes, but otherwise fantastic all the way through.”
    • “Performance is weird; I had the game always at 40-50 FPS no matter what setting (RTX 2070).”
    • “The game is very poorly optimized.”
    • “I had a few performance issues, and I also had the game crash on me two times, but it ran fine for me the majority of the time.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players express a desire for enhanced replayability, particularly through the addition of an endless mode, which could significantly extend the game's longevity. While some mention limited replay value tied to collecting items, others feel the simplistic story detracts from overall replayability.

    • “This game is a masterpiece, and I want to play it forever! An endless mode would significantly enhance its replayability and attract even more players.”
    • “There is some replay value if you want to collect items.”
    • “Story is very simple and has no replay value.”
    • “Some replay value if you want to collect stuff.”
    • “If you can add an endless mode, it would greatly enhance replayability and attract more players.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally well-received, with users appreciating its visually stunning and psychedelic design, complemented by a chill soundtrack that effectively builds anticipation and anxiety.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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