The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue

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The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Richard Campbell and was released on September 23, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

ADD FULL GAME TO YOUR WISHLIST About the GameWe are developing this short experience into a new full game called Imagined Leviathans, which will greatly develop the gameplay and themes into a full 2-3 hours of play, with improved visuals and significantly more to do and see, including meeting other survivors“At fifty degrees below zero frostbite can strike in as few as five minutes” A poetic su…

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Single-Player

The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue screenshot

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76%

Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews

atmosphere10 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a striking visual style and immersive atmosphere, effectively creating a sense of dread and isolation.
The narrative hints at deeper themes, such as climate change and human introspection, which can provoke thought and reflection.
As a free experience, it offers a unique, albeit short, exploration of survival mechanics combined with storytelling elements.

The gameplay is often confusing and lacks clear direction, making it easy for players to get lost and frustrated.
Many players found the mechanics to be buggy, with issues related to picking up items and navigating the environment.
The prologue is very short and may leave players wanting more content, leading to a feeling of incompleteness.

gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
73%
16%
The gameplay is characterized by simple and easy-to-learn mechanics focused on exploration and survival, with players navigating a snowy environment while managing resources to avoid freezing. However, the experience is marred by technical glitches and a lack of engaging narrative hooks, leading to frustration during gameplay. While the dialogue adds some charm, the overall mechanics need refinement to enhance player engagement and reduce frustration.
- “With a focus on exploration and survival mechanics, the game looks to keep things balanced between having to resist the cold while narrating an enticing and mysterious story.”
- “The actual gameplay and story made me think, creating an engaging experience.”
- “The gameplay loop is simple: wander around the world hoping to figure out where to go, occasionally building a fire so you don't freeze to death.”
- “The mechanics are basic and easy to learn, but there are a few glitches that make you unable to pick things up, especially after you accidentally drop them.”
- “The game in its current state has serious bugs in one of the basic gameplay mechanics.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and art direction that evoke feelings of isolation and dread. While some players find the mechanics could be improved to further enrich the experience, the overall ambiance—marked by elements like blizzards and a sense of being lost—remains a standout feature that captivates and engages players. Despite mixed feelings about the narrative, the atmospheric elements are consistently highlighted as the game's strongest aspect.
- “Aside from that, the immersive atmosphere combined with the poetic narrative make this game very nerve-wracking and thought-provoking.”
- “Very immersive and atmospheric, the game really makes you feel dreadful whenever you get lost and have no materials to make a fire.”
- “And yet, we are constantly between two states: black/white, warmth/cold, the sight of buildings on the horizon/the total absence of vision (just snow), a completely open world/the feeling of being trapped in a closed one… the art direction serves this oppressive atmosphere well, reinforced by the sound design (blizzard, again), the voice-over whose source is unknown, the words (from whom?), the unclear direction to take… and at times, it is genuinely difficult to know where to go.”
- “Only if one gets lost and starts wandering in circles, finding all of the side locations, does the game really shine, but even then, it is the atmosphere of being stranded in a snow storm that's the highlight here, not the narrative.”
- “This game certainly has an atmosphere to call its own but the story didn't grab me, what little of it I experienced before completing the game.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The game's story is characterized by themes of survival, exploration, and existential reflection, drawing comparisons to literary works like Jack London's "To Build a Fire." While some players find the narrative intriguing and atmospheric, with hints of Lovecraftian elements, others feel it lacks depth and coherence, particularly in its ending and campfire storytelling mechanics. Overall, the story's presentation and the oppressive atmosphere contribute to a unique experience, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
- “Between confusion and disorientation, the birth of language or perhaps its corruption—what is expressible and what is unspeakable—there’s a personal quest to put words to situations that escape us.”
- “With a focus on exploration and survival mechanics, the game looks to keep things balanced between having to resist the cold while narrating an enticing and mysterious story.”
- “The way it presents story branches, the presentation, the premise, the way it manages to make the player feel the oppressive chill of hypothermia, and the random horrifying events (I was terrified when the shadow in the sky showed up).”
- “The story's okay, but the parts needed for building fires can be really scarce.”
- “This game certainly has an atmosphere to call its own, but the story didn't grab me, what little of it I experienced before completing the game.”
- “Campfire 'stories' feel bugged because they require two sets of words and the first set just starts the fire, without triggering a story.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique black-and-white aesthetic that evokes a cinematic feel reminiscent of films like "Sin City." While some players appreciate the immersive and artistic visuals, others criticize the simplistic style and occasional graphical glitches that can hinder navigation. Overall, the game's distinct art direction is seen as a double-edged sword, offering beauty and atmosphere while also presenting challenges in gameplay.
- “The graphics are so simple, but even this black-and-white monochromatic environment has your eyes seeing many perspective illusions.”
- “The imagined leviathan is a relaxing game to play, if you want to explore a dead world with interesting visuals, I can definitely recommend.”
- “The game's unique aesthetic and its price of free make it well worth a play.”
- “Some (including me) will dislike the graphics style.”
- “I get that they wanted to go with an artsy approach, but honestly, there are bits where the graphics are so bad it has to out-and-out tell you which way to go.”
- “And then when I began to approach the hill leading to the Stonehenge, I was confronted with moving shadows. Perhaps a graphical glitch, but the shadows looked alien and I couldn't quite understand what I was looking at. For a moment, I thought it was some vast, strange entity, and I felt fear and hesitation as I stared into something unknown, taking up almost the whole of the screen.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of this game is heavily criticized for being essentially an advertisement masquerading as a full product, offering no real value to gamers. Reviewers express frustration over misleading marketing practices that clutter the gaming space with demos and ads instead of genuine content, ultimately detracting from the gaming experience. This approach is seen as harmful, as it misleads consumers and undermines the integrity of the gaming market.
- “If you enjoy advertisements, you can consume them for free on the web or on YouTube without needing to add them to your game library, download them, and then launch the advertising.”
- “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
- “It's impossible for me to recommend this incorrectly published advertising spam to gamers; you deserve better than adverts.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as map issues and problems with item interactions. While the aesthetic is praised, the overall experience is marred by these mechanical bugs, making it feel simplistic and frustrating.
- “So buggy, in my first playthrough I glitched out of the map...”
- “The mechanics are basic and easy to learn, but there are a few glitches that make you unable to pick things up, especially after you accidentally drop them.”
- “This demo was just a boring and simplistic buggy survival game with a really cool aesthetic that reminded me of the movies 'Spirit' and 'Sin City' with its really high contrast black and white.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express concerns that the grinding aspect of the game may lead to a tedious experience over extended play sessions.
- “I could see this game becoming tedious over a longer experience.”
- “The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “Repetitive tasks make the gameplay feel like a chore rather than fun.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is delivered through engaging dialogue from the character Foddy, which balances between being funny and heartfelt, helping to alleviate potential frustrations in gameplay. Players appreciate this witty commentary as it keeps them invested in the experience.
- “The gameplay can be frustrating and uninteresting with plenty of setbacks, but to keep the player engaged, Foddy constantly talks to you. The dialogue is not only interesting but also funny and heartfelt at times.”
- “The humor in the game is cleverly woven into the dialogue, making even the most challenging moments enjoyable.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty remarks and unexpected jokes throughout the game, which added a delightful layer to the experience.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally perceived as generic and unremarkable, with players noting that it either blends into the background or is barely noticeable. However, the sound design is considered acceptable overall.
- “The sound and music are kind of generic.”
- “I didn't notice the music; either it fits well or there is none. Sound-wise, this game is okay.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game engaging due to the constant dialogue from the character Foddy, which adds depth to the experience. The conversations are noted for being both humorous and heartfelt, helping to maintain player interest despite potential frustrations in gameplay.
- “The gameplay can be frustrating and uninteresting with plenty of setbacks, but to keep the player engaged, Foddy constantly talks to you. The dialogue is not only interesting but also ranges from funny to heartfelt.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue is a casual simulation game.

The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue was released on September 23, 2020.

The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue was developed by Richard Campbell.

The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its atmosphere but disliked it for its gameplay.

The Imagined Leviathan: Prologue is a single player game.

Similar games include Kona, No, I'm not a Human, Dream, Lifeless Planet, Arctico and others.

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