TurnOn

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 109 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
TurnOn Game Cover
TurnOn is an enjoyable and heartwarming little game. With electrical wires instead of platforms, it offers gameplay that feels fresh, piquing your interest at every turn with whatever new adventure or obstacle you’ll face next.
Starting at $2.51Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

"TurnOn" is a single-player kids' platformer game with splendid graphics and fantastic music. As a living electric spark, you must restore electricity to a darkened city, solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles in a visually-told story with a charming art style and soothing soundtrack. Experience the magic of a world that depends on electricity and help its citizens regain their safe and carefree lives.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 109 reviews
music52 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • Charming graphics and a unique art style that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • Relaxing soundtrack that complements the game's atmosphere and adds to the enjoyment.
  • Simple controls and casual gameplay make it accessible for players of all ages.
  • Runner levels can be frustrating and feel out of place compared to the more casual platforming sections.
  • Occasional bugs and glitches, such as unresponsive controls and issues with jumping mechanics.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4-5 hours, which may not justify the full price.
  • music112 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, which enhance the overall experience. However, some find it repetitive and occasionally mismatched with the gameplay, particularly during challenging segments. Overall, the soundtrack features a diverse range of styles, contributing positively to the game's charm, though some sound effects detract from the enjoyment.

    • “The music in this game is beautiful and is necessary considering there's no dialogue or text moving along the story, but when I'm scaling the heights of a building and the piano concerto starts to pick up, I understand the urgency and pressure behind my ascent.”
    • “The colorful art style and smooth jazz music fit well together, while the simple gameplay and dynamic level design made it fun.”
    • “The soundtrack of the game is also very well done, setting a nice tone for each of its stages while following the game's motif.”
    • “It's pretty clear that the creators just picked songs they thought fit, but it's a shame so many of them sound like YouTube Creator Studio stock music when it has a nice mix of styles otherwise.”
    • “But then come the music segments with a huge difficulty spike to the 3-lamp score, which means you might be playing over and over the same level until you get frustrated, or memorize the entire level.”
    • “Even though the jumps seem like they are in tune with the soundtrack's rhythm, they quickly go out of sync with the music.”
  • graphics63 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their charming and cute aesthetic, featuring a colorful 2.5D art style that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers noted the appealing animations and well-designed levels, with some highlighting the unique comic book-inspired visuals and effective use of lighting effects. While a few comments suggested that the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are consistently described as lovely and fitting for the game's theme, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “The graphics are simple, but cute - I love how the little spark has its eyes move and squish as it moves along the wires, and I love the papery aesthetic done in 2.5D.”
    • “This was simply put a beautiful and lovingly crafted game from a graphics standpoint.”
    • “The graphics are incredibly well done, in a heavy battle for supremacy with the audio soundtrack.”
    • “The music is okay, the graphics aren't impressive, and the gameplay is pretty boring.”
    • “The graphics are nothing to write home about, but graphics are never my first concern.”
    • “The 'cut scene' graphics are 2D drawings which are somewhat ugly.”
  • gameplay59 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of casual platforming and runner mechanics, often described as simple and straightforward, with a focus on traversing electric lines and activating elements in the environment. While some players appreciate the charming atmosphere and relaxing experience, others criticize the gameplay for being inconsistent, overly easy, and lacking depth, with new elements introduced without explanation. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing and engaging experience, but its gameplay may not satisfy those seeking a more challenging or innovative platforming experience.

    • “Overall, the visual story coupled with the intuitive gameplay where the entire level becomes your playing field makes for a very casual game.”
    • “Child-friendly gameplay, cute aesthetics, and visual storytelling elements make this game a truly relaxing ride through Electro City.”
    • “The colorful art style and smooth jazz music fit well together, while the simple gameplay and dynamic level design made it fun.”
    • “New gameplay elements occasionally come into play with no introduction or explanation of those elements whatsoever.”
    • “The history isn't great, gameplay is so-so and the game is very easy and short.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty simple and straightforward - you traverse through electric lines/wires and apparatuses which activates and/or repairs them through contact while collecting blue lightning symbols.”
  • story55 mentions

    The story in "Turnon" is conveyed through visual storytelling and comic-style cutscenes, focusing on a charming narrative where players control an electric alien helping to restore energy to a darkened city. While the overarching plot is simple and somewhat nonsensical, each level features light, engaging mini-stories that enhance the gameplay experience, making it a relaxing and enjoyable journey. Overall, the story is appreciated for its creativity and visual appeal, despite being light on depth and dialogue.

    • “The cutscenes resemble a graphic novel, and you as the player can put the pieces together as the story unfolds.”
    • “The leisurely way you roam the levels and interact with things to see the effect you have on them and watch a small story unfold - it's relaxing and fun.”
    • “Each beautifully crafted level tells a different story that unfolds in a series of sequences triggered by your little ball of electricity solving puzzles along various wires!”
    • “Every few levels tells a bit of story about what you have to do and who you're helping, but story elements, while touching at points, are very light and non-consequential to gameplay.”
    • “The story in Turnon is presented without any captions or voice work, which makes it feel incomplete and less engaging.”
    • “There’s a kind of understated plot behind it all, dealing with aliens made of electricity, but it’s all kind of nonsensical.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful piano music and a unique, Tim Burton-inspired visual style. Reviewers highlight how the game's focus on atmosphere over gameplay creates a cozy and delightful experience, making it a standout feature that captivates players and allows them to escape reality. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics and atmospheric sound design significantly contributes to the game's charm.

    • “The atmosphere is colorful and Tim Burton-esque and delightfully gloomy.”
    • “The developers definitely hit the mark with creating a great atmosphere for their game with the music.”
    • “The unique design and style, stunning graphics, atmospheric music, and a variety of levels make you forget about reality and relax.”
    • “Turnon is one of these games that don't focus specifically on gameplay alone, but rather on the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is colorful, Tim Burton-esque, and delightfully gloomy.”
    • “Another area where Turnon excels is its atmosphere.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is subtly woven into its platforming mechanics, with brief story elements that provide a light yet touching narrative backdrop. While the gameplay remains non-consequential to the story, the cutscenes manage to evoke just the right amount of emotion, enhancing the player's connection to the experience without overshadowing the core mechanics. Overall, the emotional impact is present but understated, complementing the gameplay rather than driving it.

    • “Even the most touching cutscenes elicit just the right amount of emotion.”
    • “Every few levels tells a bit of story about what you have to do and who you're helping, but story elements, while touching at points, are very light and non-consequential to gameplay.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game experiences notable stability issues, including frequent glitches, buggy savepoints, and problematic invisible platforms that contribute to frustrating gameplay, especially during high-pressure moments. Additionally, there is a specific problem with Xbox controller compatibility on Windows 10, leading to unintended constant movement. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability concerns detract from the experience.

    • “Add to this frustratingly placed and occasionally glitchy save points, the very precise movements and foresight required for good scores, and the occasional buggy invisible platform, and the runner levels bring a very annoying difficulty spike at the end of each section.”
    • “Game is fantastic, but a bit nervous and buggy when it comes to rush time.”
    • “There is an issue with using an Xbox controller on Windows 10 (constant movement to the left), which is noted as a known issue in the troubleshooting discussion.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game's humor is described as charming and lighthearted, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the witty storytelling and amusing character interactions, which enhance the overall gameplay. The combination of cute visuals and funny sound effects adds to the game's appeal, making it a delightful choice for casual gaming.

    • “This game is perfect to take it easy after a long day of work/school/gaming hard... it is a very relaxing game, nice music, easy controls, funny-cute story, good graphics/art/animations, the sounds of some characters/objects made me smile a lot!”
    • “This one is a casual platformer with humor and wit.”
    • “Charming, calming, and hilarious gameplay experience - summarizing the gameplay experience that I felt as I played through the game, it was very calming, charming, and a fun experience that I would proudly say I enjoyed thoroughly.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its fast loading times and smooth performance, with users reporting no crashes or stuttering. However, some players have noted that performance issues may arise due to specific hardware limitations rather than flaws in the game's design.

    • “Game loadings are fast and have awesome optimization.”
    • “The game runs smoothly on my PC, showcasing excellent optimization.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in time-sensitive and music-based levels. The lengthy respawn animation and the teleportation back to checkpoints contribute to the overall sense of monotony during these segments.

    • “But the levels racing against the clock and music-based levels can get tedious and frustrating.”
    • “Despite there being no punishment for jumping to your death, this makes this part of the game incredibly tedious, especially with the 4-5 second respawn animation and being teleported back to the last checkpoint.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game has been criticized for lacking replay value, leading to a consensus that once completed, there is little incentive to play it again.

    • “There is no replay value as a result.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices means replaying feels pointless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy TurnOn

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games