Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

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Verne: The Shape of Fantasy is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by Gametopia and was released on August 14, 2023. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy is a pixel art narrative experience based on the life and works of Jules Verne, which merges exploration, puzzles and interactive dialogues with the imagery of one of the most famous science fiction and adventure writers.

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 119 reviews

story44 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Beautiful and detailed pixel art with stunning and immersive environments that capture the steampunk and Jules Verne aesthetic.
Engaging and interesting narrative that creatively incorporates Jules Verne's life, works, and themes, offering a heartfelt and thematic adventure.
Good voice acting and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the emotional storytelling and worldbuilding.

Gameplay is very linear and on rails, lacking meaningful player choice or exploration; the puzzles are often simplistic, easy, or underutilized.
Controls are clunky, relying heavily on keyboard movement without mouse point-and-click support, making interactions feel awkward and less intuitive.
The story pacing and writing suffer from exposition dumps, confusing plot elements, and a lackluster or divisive ending, which reduces replayability and engagement.

story
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The story of "Verne: The Shape of Fantasy" is generally praised for its intriguing premise, rich themes, and literary ties to Jules Verne, offering a captivating and atmospheric narrative experience that rewards patient players. However, some find it convoluted, unevenly paced, and occasionally reliant on exposition rather than immersive storytelling, with a rushed or disappointing ending that undermines its potential. Overall, it appeals most to fans of narrative-driven adventures and Verne's works, though its linearity and storytelling execution may not satisfy all players.
- “Rather than treating Verne’s worlds as static adaptations, the game uses them as tools for exploring creativity, self-doubt, grief, and the act of storytelling itself.”
- “Ultimately, 'Verne: The Shape of Fantasy' succeeds because it treats storytelling not as decoration, but as substance—a force capable of reshaping reality, healing wounds, and resisting erasure.”
- “An amazing and captivating story full of surprises, all accompanied by beautiful pixel art visuals.”
- “Aside from slapping the names from Verne's stories, the plot of this game has little to do with Jules Verne or his works.”
- “The story in itself seems to get tired of its own narrative and switches tracks several times throughout the last third of the game, leading to the original premise being all but dropped, replaced by new threads that ultimately amount to: "it was all a dream."”
- “My main problem is with the ending gameplay - the story ending was lackluster and also kind of felt rushed and was a bit confusing (not because of the "complexity", but because of the way it was revealed).”
gameplay
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
78%
4%
The gameplay of "Verne: The Shape of Fantasy" is primarily simple, story-driven, and heavily on rails, blending traditional point-and-click adventure elements with light puzzle-solving and a unique but underutilized time-manipulation mechanic called the imag. While some puzzles and mechanics offer novelty and thematic depth, overall the gameplay is considered slow-paced, repetitive, and lacks escalation or meaningful interactivity, making it more appealing to narrative and Verne enthusiasts than players seeking mechanical innovation or engaging gameplay variety.
- “The gameplay blends traditional point-and-click adventure design with modern visual storytelling, environmental interaction, dialogue-driven decision-making, and puzzle-solving.”
- “The one unique thing that this game has is a time warp mechanic where Verne can use this item he has called an Imag and he can use it to basically re-write a past event. This mechanic is cool and innovative and brings a new level of exploration and puzzle solving to this kind of genre.”
- “You get full and competent voice acting, decision trees in conversations (you can't actually ask about everything), a variety of puzzle types (most are not repeated), and a novel mechanic where you can alter reality according to Jules' imagination (there's usually one correct and one incorrect option).”
- “Most of the gameplay is pretty on rails; you only have one objective at a time and the puzzles are pretty basic. There are a couple of more traditional puzzles thrown in, most of them pretty easy, but the very last one was more annoying than hard.”
- “Gameplay is nonexistent mostly (feels very on rails most of the time, there's only one story line, basically nothing in terms of exploration, and there are no significant sidequests).”
- “The biggest problems I have with the game are probably in its repetitive gameplay mechanic and its overly slow pace.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
19%
The game features stunning pixel art with vibrant, detailed environments and a coherent steampunk aesthetic that effectively captures its narrative atmosphere. Users consistently praise the high-quality visuals, animation, and sound design, considering them among the best in pixel art adventure games. While the graphics are a standout aspect, some reviews note minor shortcomings in voice acting and puzzle design.
- “Fantastic sense of scale and grandeur despite the pixel art and AGS (Adventure Game Studio) type graphics and engine.”
- “Story intriguing, nailing the atmosphere, style and sound is simply fantastic, some of the best pixel art and animation I've ever seen, the visuals are stunning; I'd love them on my walls.”
- “- Beautiful environmental artwork: the vibrant use of color and attention to detail bring the steampunk world to life, providing stunning visuals throughout the game.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its ability to enhance the mood and support the story with orchestral, ambient, and soothing melodies. Combined with excellent sound effects and often commendable voice acting, the soundtrack creates an immersive and emotionally engaging experience that complements the visuals and narrative effectively.
- “The soundtrack reinforces mood with orchestral swells, melancholic piano, ambient aquatic resonance, and quietly triumphant melodies, supporting emotional beats without overwhelming them.”
- “The voice acting, sound effects and music are all phenomenal, as is the writing and storytelling featured here.”
- “Also, I thought that the soundtrack was excellent and perfectly complements the story and draws you in.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a richly imaginative and emotionally nuanced narrative centered on Jules Verne's inner world and his relationship with Nemo, supported by a thoughtful soundtrack that enhances key emotional moments. While its layered storytelling offers depth for those engaged with its literary and philosophical themes, some players may find the beginning confusing and struggle to connect emotionally with the characters. Overall, it provides a memorable, heartfelt experience for fans of narrative-driven and emotionally complex adventures.
- “The relationship between Verne and Nemo forms the emotional centerpiece, offering philosophical tension, mentorship, conflict, and mutual reliance.”
- “Dialogue choices influence character dynamics and narrative nuance more than branching outcomes, encouraging players to think about Verne’s emotional state, motivations, and creative impulses.”
- “The soundtrack reinforces mood with orchestral swells, melancholic piano, ambient aquatic resonance, and quietly triumphant melodies, supporting emotional beats without overwhelming them.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning hand-painted pixel art, rich in detail, texture, and atmospheric lighting, creating a deeply immersive and reflective experience. The game's style, sound, and steampunk elements enhance its unique and captivating ambiance, making it one of the best in its genre. Overall, the atmosphere is a key strength, supporting a focused narrative adventure with thematic depth.
- “Its hand-painted pixel art stands among the genre’s finest, dense with detail, texture, expression, color, and atmospheric lighting.”
- “Story intriguing (though starting as if we are missing an introduction), nailing the atmosphere, style and sound is simply fantastic, some of the best pixel art and animation I've ever seen, the visuals are stunning, I'd love them on my walls.”
- “Very special adventure with great story and atmosphere.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game offers a compelling, emotionally cohesive narrative but is largely linear and brief, resulting in minimal replay value. Players are unlikely to revisit it except to pursue in-game achievements, as the experience is designed primarily as a one-time journey focused on revelation rather than repeated playthroughs.
- “The narrative, while beautifully layered, remains largely linear, trading replayability for emotional cohesion.”
- “You’ll probably finish your first playthrough within five hours, and unfortunately, there is no replay value unless you are desperate to find all the in-game achievements.”
- “No replayability value.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding is described as somewhat tedious, particularly in the final puzzle, but does not detract significantly from an otherwise enjoyable gameplay experience with a compelling story.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor is light and culturally specific, eliciting amusement through playful language and cultural references, though it may not fully resonate with everyone.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is robust and well-crafted, enhancing the story-driven experience and contributing to an engaging narrative.
- “A story-driven puzzle game that has robust character development, beautiful pixel art, and a fantastical soundtrack.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is hindered by frequent bugs and inconsistent difficulty, particularly in stealth sections, leading to a frustrating experience. Additionally, key features like the AI are underutilized and prone to issues.

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58%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy is a puzzle game.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS and Windows.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy was released on August 14, 2023.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy was developed by Gametopia.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy is a single player game.

Similar games include Tales of the Neon Sea, The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales, Silence, Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth, Minute of Islands and others.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

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