The Square Key

About

The Square Key is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by Dnovel and was released on October 8, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

A CINEMATIC SPACE SHOOTER - WISHLIST NOW! About the GameThe Square Key is a representative of the ancient race of square keys that can open all doors and rotate the world around the Square Key. In the game you have to rotate the level and move the hero across the level to solve puzzles. The game takes place in the world of "Koitia". In The Square Key, events take place in an alterna…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features impressive physics and gravity mechanics that enhance the challenge and gameplay experience.
It has a unique and engaging dark atmosphere, complemented by good music and interesting level design.
The rotating puzzle mechanics are fun and provide a rewarding experience for players who enjoy challenging puzzles.

Some levels can feel tedious and may include unavoidable damage, which can frustrate players.
The game has been criticized for being a low-quality asset flip with a lack of genuine development effort.
The core gameplay loop can become repetitive, and the music may feel choppy and clash with the overall experience.

gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The gameplay features impressive physics and gravity mechanics that enhance the challenge and require quick reaction times. While the core loop can feel tedious initially and may induce nausea during extended play due to frequent screen rotation, the overall experience is enjoyable and timing-based.
- “The physics and gravity mechanics are impressively executed, making the game quite challenging in terms of reaction time.”
- “At times, you need to rotate the screen in different directions in quick succession, so playing for a long period of time may be nauseating, but the gameplay is definitely fun.”
- “Gameplay is fine and timing-based.”
- “The core gameplay loop can be a bit tedious until you get to grips with the game.”
- “Gameplay is fine but heavily relies on timing.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its quality and integration with the story. However, some users note that it can be choppy and repetitive at times, which detracts from the overall experience unless accompanied by enjoyable gameplay elements.
- “The music is good.”
- “Good music and a good story.”
- “Great music score.”
- “The music can be quite choppy and repetitive, and unless you get an enjoyable weapon to listen to, it becomes tedious.”
- “The soundtrack lacks variety and quickly becomes monotonous, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the music to be uninspired and forgettable, which detracted from the overall experience.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is well-received, complemented by good music, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The game features a captivating story that keeps you engaged from start to finish.”
- “The narrative is beautifully crafted, with well-developed characters and unexpected twists.”
- “The combination of good music and a compelling story enhances the overall experience.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that the grinding aspect of the game can feel tedious initially, particularly as they acclimate to the core gameplay loop. However, this experience may improve as they become more familiar with the mechanics.
- “The core gameplay loop can be a bit tedious until you get to grips with the game.”
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the experience.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay motivated and enjoy the game.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are praised for their appealing art style, contributing positively to the overall visual experience of the game.
- “The art style is stunning and really enhances the overall experience.”
- “The graphics are incredibly detailed, making the world feel immersive and alive.”
- “The vibrant colors and smooth animations create a visually captivating environment.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of "The Square Key" is highly praised for its dark and immersive qualities, making it a standout experience for puzzle enthusiasts. Players appreciate how the game's ambiance enhances the overall gameplay.
- “The Square Key is an exceptional game that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys puzzles and dark atmospheres.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of this game has been heavily criticized as a cash grab, with users pointing out that it relies on cheap asset flips and basic level designs. The developers' history of similar practices and the use of fake reviews further undermine the game's credibility, especially given its low price point of $12 and immediate bundling in discount packages.
- “These guys do nothing but copy asset store assets and game tutorials, fill out a few things/stamp out basic levels using the construction kit templates, and dump them on Steam and into daily indie game bundles as cash grabs.”
- “The status of this thing as nothing but an asset/template flip/cash grab is cemented by the developers' prior history of asset flip/construction kit copy and paste jobs, the fake/compromised Steam accounts they used to write fake reviews, the laughable $12 USD price tag for this copy and paste template/asset flip garbage, and the way they dumped it into daily indie game bundles immediately at launch.”