Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

Trine 4 is a love letter to fans, providing a fully-realized puzzle game rife with experimentation, quality-of-life features, and utterly breathtaking visuals, all but guaranteeing a bright and beautiful future for the franchise.

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In Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, players guide three heroes in a 2.5D puzzle platformer, solving physics-based challenges and battling enemies. The game follows the story of Prince Selius, whose nightmares are causing chaos in the world. Players must rescue the prince and restore peace by navigating lush environments, using the characters' unique abilities to progress through the game's 20+ levels.

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Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,435 reviews

graphics490 positive mentions

stability33 negative mentions

graphics
684 mentions
72 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning fairy tale aesthetic, vibrant colors, and intricate details, making it one of the most visually impressive entries in the series. Players appreciate the beautiful art style, which enhances the immersive experience of the game, alongside smooth animations and well-crafted environments. Overall, the visuals are consistently highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, full of magic and color and detail, making this game a visual feast.”
- “Trine 4 is a fantastic entry in the series that offers beautiful graphics, engaging puzzles, and a well-crafted story.”
- “The visuals are stunning, vibrant, colorful, dreamy, and gorgeous to look at, making the gameplay experience truly enchanting.”
- “Game is full of bugs, crashes, and graphics glitches.”
- “The graphics feel very polished, but I have issues with the graphics settings - I can't seem to change the resolution in fullscreen.”
- “The purple platforms and the repetitive glowy purple enemies just don't mesh well with the rest of the visuals.”
story
645 mentions
40 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story in "Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince" is generally described as charming and whimsical, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate its fairy-tale elements and character development, others find it simplistic and lacking depth, often viewing it as a means to connect the various levels. Overall, the narrative is considered enjoyable but not groundbreaking, with many reviewers noting that the game's strength lies more in its puzzles and visuals than in its storytelling.
- “Trine 4 is a beautiful combination of challenging puzzles, a nice story and leveling structure.”
- “The story is engaging and immersive, the graphics picturesque, and the puzzle mechanics rewarding...especially in multiplayer mode!”
- “The story, the characters, the puzzles, and the artwork make the game experience something special.”
- “The story is a bit generic and combat could be spiced up a bit more.”
- “The story goes nowhere and the big bad is an effeminate prince who you mindlessly chase after for the whole game.”
- “The story is bare bones and frankly low stakes for the series.”
gameplay
610 mentions
43 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Trine 4" has been widely praised for its return to the classic 2.5D style reminiscent of the first two games in the series, featuring engaging puzzles and a variety of character abilities that encourage creative problem-solving. While many players appreciate the introduction of new mechanics and the overall smoothness of gameplay, some have noted that combat can feel simplistic and repetitive, with a few mechanics feeling overly streamlined. Overall, the game offers a fun and visually stunning experience, particularly in cooperative play, though some players desire more challenge and variety in puzzle design.
- “After finishing Trine 3, this was an amazing change of pace and a great return to classic mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is a perfect blend of platforming and puzzle-solving, with satisfying mechanics that keep the experience fresh.”
- “The puzzles feel natural and interesting, often offering more solutions where you sometimes need to think outside the box, with new mechanics introduced at a steady and comfortable pace.”
- “The gameplay itself was yet again plain, nothing new, and it even had some downgrades from the first two games like Amadeus can move his stuff in only four points.”
- “The slow movement of the characters, high damage and movement speed of enemies, and the overall dump of unexplained mechanics quickly turn every fight into a mire of confusion and frustration.”
- “The gameplay is quite repetitive with not many unique puzzles; I think the first two were more 'puzzling'.”
music
364 mentions
71 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its enchanting and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some noted that the soundtrack may lack variation compared to earlier titles, the majority found it beautifully composed and fitting for the game's fairy-tale aesthetic. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersion.
- “The environments have never looked so beautiful, and the soundtrack is a pleasure to listen to as always.”
- “The evocative fairy tale atmosphere returns, with better graphics, a super soundtrack, and enjoyable puzzles to solve.”
- “The music captured me immediately.”
- “The music could have more variation.”
- “- tedious, generic music that plays all the time in the background.”
- “The music is sleepy.”
humor
71 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its whimsical charm and clever writing, often leading to hilarious moments, especially in co-op play. Players enjoy the goofy character interactions and the comedic chaos that arises from solving puzzles together, although some feel the humor may not reach the heights of previous installments. Overall, the blend of lighthearted dialogue, funny mechanics, and engaging multiplayer experiences contributes to a delightful and entertaining atmosphere.
- “The game is not difficult, but when you and your friends are trying your own solutions at the same time, it becomes challenging in a funny way.”
- “With our playthrough we have solved plenty of puzzles through hilarious overcomplicated structures which in itself is probably the best part of this game as it will keep the gang surprised and laughing.”
- “It was especially fun in co-op, with 2 or more people causing utter chaos for each other as we try to work together, often leading to accidentally knocking each other into pits, launching each other away with physics, and other hilarious nonsense.”
atmosphere
66 mentions
73 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting fairy-tale quality, enhanced by stunning graphics, detailed world design, and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the immersive experience created by the combination of beautiful visuals and atmospheric music, which together evoke a sense of nostalgia and charm. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as magical, relaxing, and a joy to explore, making it a standout feature in the series.
- “The attention to detail in the world design, character animations, and lighting effects enhances the magical atmosphere of the game.”
- “Combined with the atmospheric soundtrack, it creates an immersive and enchanting atmosphere that is a joy to explore.”
- “The levels are designed with such creativity and talent that my friends and I often had to stop just to 'take in' the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere of the different checkpoints throughout the game.”
- “Gotta tell I miss so much the atmosphere Trine 1 had, like medieval and more adult but beautiful and fable.”
- “The atmosphere recreated through music and visuals is as good as the previous games, but there is a serious lack of new ideas and variety in the overall gameplay.”
- “Audiovisual quality varies heavily and reaches the atmosphere of Trine 1 or 2 in my opinion only in the night levels.”
stability
38 mentions
8 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and graphical glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on certain platforms and experienced only minor issues, others faced frequent disconnects and problems with the saving system. Overall, the multiplayer experience is often described as fun but marred by instability, requiring troubleshooting and workarounds to enjoy the game fully.
- “The game runs great out of the box on Linux.”
- “There are pretty much no glitches or significant bugs, though controls may be a bit of a challenge initially if you are new to the series.”
- “Very clean experience - runs great on my machine.”
- “Game is full of bugs, crashes, and graphics glitches.”
- “The co-op mode is extremely buggy, with frequent disconnects and crashes.”
- “Unfortunately I get stuck on the loading screen with the running wizard guy and it just freezes there.”
grinding
24 mentions
13 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the repetitive puzzles and combat tedious, especially over extended play sessions. While some appreciate the puzzle-solving elements, they often feel stretched out and lacking in challenge, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a detractor, with players suggesting that it disrupts the game's flow and enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “And the bosses aren't tedious sponges like what is trendy nowadays.”
- “It combines all these together into a lovely mixture of puzzles of all kinds, which are fun to solve but not tedious or too difficult.”
- “The game feels stretched out; around 10 hours of similar puzzles start to get tedious towards the end.”
- “And the checkpoints were always before the combat, so if you died shortly after, you had to redo the boring, tedious fights.”
- “It's very grindy, and I think it clashes with the spirit of the game, which is mostly puzzle solving rather than long fights that rely on reflexes.”
character development
21 mentions
43 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the significant growth of characters like Selius and Zoya, who evolve from their previous roles into more complex figures. While many appreciate the vibrant character designs and the integration of skill upgrades that enhance gameplay, others feel that the plot lacks depth, resulting in limited character development beyond whimsical interactions. Overall, the game successfully combines beautiful visuals with a degree of character progression, though it may not reach the narrative heights of earlier installments.
- “I love it because it's the first Trine to have a clear story with real character development.”
- “Great character development; we finally see Selius brave enough to stand for himself, and Zoya finally becomes less of a thief and more of someone who loves nature and animals.”
- “The character development and bosses were much more in depth than previously.”
- “It feels as if the devs are arguing among themselves whether they should add more plot and character development to the game, instead of just focusing on improving the mechanics.”
- “Unfortunately, you won't find much character development throughout the lackluster plot aside from some whimsical banter and run-of-the-mill humor.”
- “In addition, the linear progression of skill trees feigns the belief of character development as skills are ever so conveniently gained to solve a particular puzzle at a particular point in the level.”
emotional
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming experience, often evoking feelings of creativity and satisfaction from solving puzzles. Players appreciate the touching story and the game's ability to provide a calming escape, though some express frustration with certain gameplay elements. Overall, it is seen as a delightful experience, especially when shared with others, despite some mixed feelings about specific characters and challenges.
- “I cried playing this.”
- “The visuals and the music just create a really heartwarming experience, perfect to wind down with after a stressful day.”
- “All while telling a unique and touching story.”
replayability
17 mentions
24 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, the replayability of the game varies significantly among users. While some appreciate the multiple approaches to puzzles and the differences between solo and co-op play, others criticize the lack of challenging content and unique achievements, leading to a perception of limited replay value. The consensus suggests that while some players find replayability in puzzle-solving and exploration, others feel the game lacks depth for repeated playthroughs.
- “These are often hidden in out of the way locations and usually require solving some very difficult puzzles to actually obtain, which also adds replay value to the game.”
- “Puzzles could be tackled in multiple different ways, which made the game replayable.”
- “Even after completing this game, the replay value is definitely there.”
- “So they're 'do and move on', no replayability.”
- “The only real downside of Trine 4, to me, is that it has far less replay value than Nine Parchments.”
- “This game just looks like the first two but has zero replayability and almost all puzzles can be solved only in one way.”
optimization
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
31 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and high temperatures on modern hardware. While the graphics are praised for their beauty without a high performance cost, many users feel the game is not well-optimized for multiplayer experiences and older PCs, leading to lower frame rates and technical problems. Overall, while some players report smooth performance, others highlight a lack of optimization that affects gameplay experience.
- “The graphics in this game are very beautiful, a work of art without the high performance cost.”
- “Well-optimized game without any crashes.”
- “The Trine games were by far the most optimized games for 3D gaming while still being great games in their own right.”
- “I don't know if I'm having a streak of bad luck or if it's becoming common for PC games launched from 2015 until now to be increasingly poorly optimized and full of technical problems.”
- “80-90°C on a new RTX card seems a bit hot when the average heavy load I've experienced is 70-76°C, with games like this normally running at 60°C or lower. I'm not sure why this runs so hot; maybe it's an optimization issue. Just thought it was worth mentioning if you play on something with less cooling power.”
- “In addition, it's not optimized for older PCs, like mine.”
monetization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is praised for its absence of microtransactions, allowing players to purchase the game outright and enjoy it without additional financial pressure. Reviewers appreciate this straightforward approach, highlighting it as a refreshing change in the gaming landscape.
- “First of all, this game in 2019 has zero microtransactions. It's nice just to be able to buy a game and play it without the game trying to beg for more money from the player, which is how a game should be.”