The Librarian

About

The Librarian is a single player action game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Octavi Navarro and was released on August 13, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

"The Librarian: Curse of the Janus Stone" is a first-person puzzle adventure game. As the newly appointed librarian, you must explore a sprawling, ancient library, solving puzzles to uncover its mysterious past and save your mentor. With challenging brain teasers and a captivating story, this game will keep you engaged for hours.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews

story8 positive mentions

The pixel art and atmosphere are beautifully crafted, creating an engaging and immersive experience.
The game offers a short but sweet adventure with straightforward puzzles that are enjoyable without being overly challenging.
It's a charming and cozy experience, perfect for a quick break, and showcases the developer's talent for storytelling and art.

The game is extremely short, with gameplay lasting around 20-30 minutes, which may not justify the price for some players.
Many players found the puzzles to be overly simplistic and lacking in depth, leading to a feeling of minimal challenge.
The narrative is underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more context and resolution by the end of the game.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
56%
12%
The game's story is generally perceived as minimal, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and character development. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the potential for a more expansive narrative, others criticize the simplicity and brevity of the plot, describing it as a mere backdrop to the gameplay. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a mixed bag, with some finding it charming and others feeling it falls short.
- “I liked the atmosphere and what I saw during this brief experience demanded a wider world to explore - it would be interesting if the author came back to expand on this story.”
- “The atmosphere, imagery, and gameplay were both distinct and familiar enough to allow me to become immersed in the storytelling and even care about saving a library that I was never really introduced to.”
- “And it's such a heartwarming story, a perfect way to spend 20-30 minutes of your evening.”
- “While there's not much of a story to talk about, the mysterious atmosphere both sounds and music create is great!”
- “There's absolutely no story (we don't know what happened in the library) and it's extremely easy.”
- “There is hardly any story and the ending is bland.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
11%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating art style, immersive sound design, and a blend of cozy and eerie elements that enhance the overall experience. Many players express a desire for a more expansive world to explore, highlighting the game's ability to evoke strong emotions despite its brevity. Overall, the atmospheric qualities are seen as a significant strength, contributing to a memorable and engaging adventure.
- “I liked the atmosphere and what I saw during this brief experience demanded a wider world to explore - it would be interesting if the author came back to expand on this story.”
- “While there's not much of a story to talk about, the mysterious atmosphere created by both the sounds and music is great!”
- “Having played the other games by Octavi Navarro before, this one immediately had a different atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere, imagery, and gameplay were both distinct and familiar enough to allow me to become immersed in the storytelling and even care about saving a library that I was never really introduced to.”
- “I really like the ideas and the atmosphere and wanted more when it was done.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay of this pixel-art point-and-click game is characterized by its simplicity and brevity, with most players reporting a completion time of around 10 to 30 minutes. While the aesthetic and atmosphere are praised for their immersive qualities, the gameplay itself is considered basic, featuring standard puzzles that may leave some players wanting more content. Overall, it offers a charming experience but may not justify its price due to its short duration.
- “This dev consistently puts out fantastic pixel-art point and click games with superb gameplay and an amazing aesthetic, and this game is no exception.”
- “The atmosphere, imagery, and gameplay were both distinct and familiar enough to allow me to become immersed in the storytelling and even care about saving a library that I was never really introduced to.”
- “In the gameplay, you won't see anything new: you'll find a standard point-and-click adventure in which you'll have to solve various puzzles to find out what happened in the library.”
- “Start to finish it's maybe 20 minutes of gameplay max, so take that into consideration before purchase.”
- “Game itself is very very short (10-15 min tops) and has very basic gameplay and puzzles.”
- “The gameplay is very simple and not much work has to be done to see the end credits rolling.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the mysterious atmosphere, contributing to the overall charm of the experience. Players appreciate the combination of pleasant melodies with the game's pixel art and environmental storytelling, making it a delightful addition to the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's aesthetic and emotional impact.
- “While there's not much of a story to talk about, the mysterious atmosphere both sounds and music create is great!”
- “Very short, but absolutely worth it :) lovely music, cute pixel animations and a couple simple puzzles make this game a charming break from everything else.”
- “Quality soundtrack, eerie setting, lovely pixel art, puzzles that don't make you tear your hair out, exciting mysterious story and atmosphere....all add up to a wonderful little gem of a game.”
- “The sound and music are just okay.”
- “For a small price, you'll get a small game, the soundtrack, and the artbook as a PDF.”
- “In the special edition, you'll get the soundtrack and artbook as bonuses.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
11%
The graphics of the game are consistently praised for their beautiful pixel-art style and atmospheric visuals, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the thoughtful details in animations and scene setups, noting that the art style sets it apart from other point-and-click games. Overall, the aesthetic quality is a significant draw for players, contributing to their enjoyment of the game.
- “This dev consistently puts out fantastic pixel-art point and click games with superb gameplay and an amazing aesthetic, and this game is no exception.”
- “The graphics, as always, are beautifully well done.”
- “The artwork is beautifully atmospheric and there's lots of thoughtful touches between the animations, storyline, 2D-3D scene setup, and puzzles.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a heartwarming experience, highlighting its ability to evoke strong emotions in a brief 20-30 minute playtime. The game's dreamy and wholesome narrative is praised for its depth, proving that shorter games can deliver significant emotional impact.
- “And it's such a heartwarming story, a perfect way to spend 20-30 minutes of your evening.”
- “It's easy to underestimate games of this length and size, but I've always been a fan of these dreamy, wholesome creations that don't ask for much but offer a lot in return.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews highlight strong character design and unique storytelling, particularly praising the distinctiveness of characters in games like *The Supper* and *The Librarian*. While the focus is more on visual and narrative elements, the character development is noted for its creativity and engaging presentation.
- “My favorite so far has been the supper, with its unique character designs and playfully macabre story, but the librarian features his most striking close-up work (particularly of a crow, late in the game) and his best puzzle design so far.”