There Was the Moon

About

There Was the Moon is a single player casual simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by Ben Lapid and was released on July 24, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

"There Was the Moon" is an atmospheric exploration game where players must complete a ritual in a monument under the moon's gaze. The game features meticulously crafted environments, a surreal soundscape, and puzzles to solve. With a short, satisfying experience and multiple endings, players can expect a divine encounter in this mystical adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

atmosphere12 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in a surreal experience.
The puzzles, while not overly difficult, are engaging and complement the exploration of the beautifully crafted environments.
The narrative and artistic direction create a unique and meaningful journey, reminiscent of other atmospheric exploration games.

The game is quite short, with many players feeling that the experience does not justify the price point.
Some puzzles can be obscure or frustrating, leading to moments of confusion and backtracking.
Limited replayability due to only having a couple of endings and a lack of additional content to explore.

atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating and unique qualities, evoking feelings of isolation and intrigue through its sound design and environmental storytelling. Many players appreciate the blend of light puzzle-solving with exploration, highlighting the game's ability to create an immersive experience reminiscent of classic atmospheric titles. However, some players noted a discomfort with the game's religious undertones, which affected their overall enjoyment of the atmosphere.
- “I wish I could have played more, but I would still recommend this game for the atmosphere alone.”
- “The atmosphere was really good; it managed to inflict a feeling of isolation, even scaring me a few times with strange sound effects.”
- “Really captivating environment and atmosphere!”
- “But buying it, I think I failed to understand how religious the atmosphere of the game feels.”
- “And I wasn't a fan of the religious eerie atmosphere.”
- “There is some light puzzle solving, but it's mostly just wandering around soaking up the atmosphere.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
20%
10%
The game's story is described as a surreal and experimental journey that unfolds through environmental puzzles and exploration, creating an enjoyable mystery despite its vagueness. While some players appreciated the psychological twists and atmospheric elements, many expressed a desire for more depth and content in the narrative. Overall, it is seen as a visual storytelling masterpiece that captivates players with its artistic approach.
- “It truly is a visual and storytelling masterpiece.”
- “The story had an interesting premise, and I would say the atmosphere of the world was the best part.”
- “I've always loved these kinds of puzzle game/walking simulators; these surreal, experimental journeys through strange places and structures, piecing together the story through the bits you find, if there is a story to begin with.”
- “The game drops you in the middle of something bigger than you, and as you travel the mind-bending ambient landscape, performing a ritual through environmental puzzles and exploration that leaves you in mystery, the story unravels in front of you.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Gameplay is primarily focused on exploration and solving sequencing puzzles, but many players found the mechanics unintuitive, leading to frustration. While updates improved the experience by clarifying mechanics, some still felt the overall gameplay duration was too short for the price.
- “I was having trouble with one of the puzzles in the game, but after it was updated, it was much more enjoyable since I could understand the mechanics - but it wasn't too easy.”
- “I don't know how much development went into the game, so I don't want to undermine the devs' work, but the price feels a bit steep for less than an hour of gameplay.”
- “Game mechanics weren't super intuitive (at least not to me), and it became unplayable.”
- “The gameplay consists of walking around and occasionally solving sequencing puzzles.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
62%
The music and sound design in the game are highly praised, with reviewers noting that the soundtrack enhances the overall aesthetic and creates an enjoyable atmosphere. The combination of top-notch art direction and fitting ambient music contributes to a visually and audibly immersive experience.
- “The art direction and sound/music design are top notch.”
- “It is a visual treat with a soundtrack that I took pleasure in listening to.”
- “The sound design and ambient music fits the aesthetic really well.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The graphics are praised for their stunning psychedelic visuals, which enhance the exploration experience. The aesthetic is complemented by fitting sound design and ambient music, creating an immersive atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “Amazing experience, this type of aesthetic is my favorite in exploration games.”
- “Really cool psychedelic visuals throughout the game, pretty fun.”
- “The sound design and ambient music fit the aesthetic really well.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game offers limited replayability due to its only two endings, which many players feel is insufficient. Reviewers suggest that incorporating more secrets and achievements could enhance replay value, similar to other games in the genre.
- “I find that many similar games do well when you add lots of little secrets around the game for replay value, maybe more achievements to support them.”
- “There are only 2 endings, so there is very little replayability.”
- “I find that many similar games do well when you add lots of little secrets around the game for replay value; maybe more achievements to support them.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game "Ego," as they primarily focus on its potential connection to the game "Naissance." There is no clear information regarding pricing, in-game purchases, or overall monetization strategy.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, though it is often balanced by enjoyable psychological twists in the story, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few reported glitches that do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful atmosphere and engaging puzzles, indicating that stability issues are minor in comparison to the game's strengths.