The Game of Sisyphus

About

The Game of Sisyphus is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by cream and was released on April 11, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In "The Game of Sisyphus" , you step into the mythological tale, becoming Sisyphus, tasked to roll a boulder up a mountain. With various obstacles and the boulder's inertia to consider, patience is key in this slow-paced, challenging experience. New boulders can be earned, increasing the difficulty, making each accomplishment a hard-fought victory.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 242 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

grinding16 negative mentions

The game offers a unique retelling of the Sisyphus myth, allowing players to reflect on their own lives while pushing the boulder.
Many players find the game relaxing and meditative, providing a sense of fulfillment despite its challenges.
The inclusion of different boulders with varying properties adds replayability and encourages experimentation.

The physics and control mechanics can feel janky and unpredictable, leading to frustrating moments, especially in certain sections like the ice area.
The game is criticized for its slow pace and lack of engaging challenges, making it feel tedious and monotonous over time.
Some players feel that the game lacks meaningful progression and skill development, resulting in a less satisfying experience compared to similar titles.

grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious rather than challenging or enjoyable, often comparing it to the Sisyphean task of pushing a rock uphill. While the initial experience may be engaging, it quickly devolves into a repetitive and stressful grind without meaningful progression or rewards, leading to frustration rather than satisfaction.
- “When I first started playing this game, I kept complaining how the game wasn't hard but tedious.”
- “Interesting game, had some promise, the first hour was kinda fun but then the realization comes that the game doesn't really get harder, just tedious.”
- “Gets a bit tedious and stressful after a while, but without the immediate reward you get upon passing a hard part, because you can see there's more ahead, but you can't see the top, just a straight line.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by its slow pace and demand for careful focus, which may deter some players who prefer faster action. While the mechanics are simple and require patience to master, the repetition of stages and lack of recovery options after mistakes can lead to frustration. Overall, it appeals to fans of methodical gameplay but could benefit from more variety and forgiving mechanics.
- “Would recommend if you're a fan of simple mechanic games where you just need some patience and focus to master it.”
- “Before delving too far into the gameplay and stage design of this game, the first thing that should be mentioned here is how the controls actually work, seeing how easy it is to get a false impression of the controls if you base the movement entirely on Sisyphus himself since simply pushing him against the boulder to move it upwards will only get you so far; mastering the pushing of the boulder requires the use of the mouse buttons to turn the boulder from one side to the other or to prevent it from falling out of your grasp and back down the long trail you worked so hard to climb up.”
- “Sure, you'd fail more, but losing progress wouldn't be nearly as painful and the actual gameplay itself would be a bit more involved.”
- “The slow-paced gameplay of the game of Sisyphus will likely put off players who are not into games that demand a careful approach with plenty to lose with a mere slip of focus.”
- “One stage, Rock Mountain, is repeated three times with little differences to terrain and gameplay, which simple graphical changes would easily reduce the repetition.”
- “Before delving too far into the gameplay and stage design of this game, the first thing that should be mentioned here is how the controls actually work, seeing how easy it is to get a false impression of the controls if you base the movement entirely on Sisyphus himself since simply pushing him against the boulder to move it upwards will only get you so far as mastering the pushing of the boulder requires the use of the mouse buttons to turn the boulder from one side to the other or to prevent it from falling out of your grasp and back down the long trail you worked so hard to climb up.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The game's story is a retelling of the Greek myth of Sisyphus, emphasizing themes of punishment, perseverance, and the futility of seemingly endless tasks. Players find that the experience is less about enjoyment and more about reflecting on the lessons of patience and the nature of struggle, mirroring Sisyphus's eternal punishment of rolling a boulder uphill. Overall, the narrative serves as a profound commentary on the human condition rather than a traditional gaming experience.
- “But as I went through each level and after I learned the story of Sisyphus, I realized this game isn't a game for fun difficulty; it's a punishment.”
- “The game is meant to be a lesson, as is the story of Sisyphus, of patience, perseverance, and seemingly meaningless tasks.”
- “When I first heard of this most unusual game and its development several weeks back, I was quite intrigued as to what kind of experience one would have when going into what appears to be a retelling of the ancient Greek mythology of Sisyphus in his quest to atone for his misdeeds against the gods for having both cheated death as well as extreme cruelty towards his guests by means of rolling a boulder up atop the mountain Tartarus as part of his divine punishment.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The graphics in the game are criticized for lacking variety and intentional design, leading to a repetitive visual experience, particularly with the repeated "rock mountain" stage. While players can unlock new boulders with different visuals, the overall aesthetic does not offer enough engagement or fun compared to similar titles.
- “Further replayability is added for those who seek to make the trip once more, as gold and coins earned from overall performance and each hike to the top can be used to buy a variety of new 'boulders' with different visuals and effects.”
- “The graphics in the game offer a unique aesthetic that enhances the overall experience, making each hike visually engaging.”
- “The variety of visuals in the game contributes to a more immersive experience, allowing players to appreciate the different environments and elements.”
- “One stage, Rock Mountain, is repeated three times with little differences to terrain and gameplay, which simple graphical changes would easily reduce the repetition.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game offers significant replayability, featuring various boulders with unique properties that players can unlock using gold and coins earned from their performance. This encourages players to revisit the game multiple times, enhancing the experience with new visuals and effects. Overall, it is described as a fun and infinitely replayable game.
- “Fun game, nice ending, infinitely replayable.”
- “Further replayability is added for those who seek to make the trip once more, as gold and coins earned from overall performance and each hike to the top can be used to buy a variety of new 'boulders' with different visuals and effects.”
- “There is replayability, with more boulders that have different properties.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The optimization aspect of the game is well-received, as players are rewarded with gold and coins based on their performance, which can be used to unlock various boulders for enhanced gameplay. This system not only encourages replayability but also allows players to customize their experience, adding both aesthetic flair and increased challenge. Overall, the optimization mechanics contribute positively to player engagement and satisfaction.
- “For those who accomplish the great feat, you are awarded an amount of gold that varies depending on your overall performance (how long it took, how many times the boulder went 'out of bounds', and overall distance traveled alongside the type of 'boulder' used) alongside a single coin as acknowledgment of your victory. Both the gold and coins can be spent on various boulders that were locked at the start of the game, giving a second run either a new fancy flair to your boulder or, for the sadistic, adding even further challenge to an already arduous test of one's stoicism!”
- “Further replayability is added for those who seek to make the trip once more, as gold and coins earned from overall performance and each hike to the top can be used to buy a variety of new 'boulders' with different visuals and effects.”
- “The optimization of performance rewards players with gold and coins that enhance the gameplay experience, allowing for customization and increased challenge with each new boulder.”
- “The optimization in this game feels lacking, as the rewards for performance are minimal and don't significantly enhance the gameplay experience.”
- “The system for earning gold and coins based on performance is convoluted and doesn't provide enough incentive to replay the game.”
- “While there are new boulders to unlock, the overall optimization of the reward system feels unbalanced and fails to motivate players to engage further.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its quality; however, some feel that the soundtrack could benefit from a few additional tracks to prevent repetition during longer play sessions. Players have the option to play their own music if they desire more variety.
- “The music was nice; it could have had one or two more songs. However, for those who might take longer than I did and get tired of the music, they could always play their own.”
- “The music was enjoyable, but I think adding a couple more tracks would enhance the experience. Still, players have the option to play their own music if they prefer.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Game of Sisyphus is a action adventure game.

The Game of Sisyphus is available on PC and Windows.

The Game of Sisyphus was released on April 11, 2024.

The Game of Sisyphus was developed by cream.

The Game of Sisyphus has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its grinding.

The Game of Sisyphus is a single player game.

Similar games include Jump King, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, A Difficult Game About Climbing, Only Up!, Baby Steps and others.

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