Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

About

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 positive reviews from players.

In "Verne: The Shape of Fantasy," play as Jules Verne in 1888, aboard the Nautilus in search of the Flame of Hephaestus to save Hemera from the destructive Nation. Discover wonders and confront a dark entity threatening to eliminate imagination. Two other games are also mentioned in the store page: "Between Horizons" and "Mira and the Legend of the Djinns."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 103 reviews

story39 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features stunning pixel art and beautiful visuals that enhance the overall experience.
The narrative is engaging and serves as a love letter to Jules Verne, incorporating references to his works and life.
Voice acting is generally well-received, adding depth to the characters and story.

The gameplay is linear and lacks depth, with many puzzles being overly simplistic and not challenging.
There are numerous issues with voice acting quality and writing, including typos and awkward dialogue that detract from immersion.
The game suffers from pacing problems, with a lackluster ending and some frustrating stealth sections that disrupt the flow.

story
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The game's story is a heavily narrative-driven experience that intertwines elements of Jules Verne's works with themes of creativity and imagination, though it often feels linear and lacks depth in gameplay. While some players appreciate the engaging voice acting and rich visuals, others criticize the storytelling for being convoluted, slow-paced, and at times confusing, particularly towards the end. Overall, the narrative appeals to fans of story-centric games, but may not satisfy those seeking more interactive gameplay.
- “The game features references to the author's iconic works, and the plot introduces us to his biography, which is important for one of the central ideas of his books: peace is the most important human value; creation is what people should do, not war.”
- “The story itself is pretty good, which in my opinion makes the game worth it; after playing for just 20 minutes, I was already feeling like I was in the middle of reading a book!”
- “It's a mesmerizing experience that truly transports you to another world; the captivating and enigmatic storyline had me hooked from the very beginning.”
- “This game isn't a quest at all, but rather a linear narrative with interactive elements, 90% of which consists of walking around and picking up codex files lying around.”
- “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.'”
gameplay
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
75%
5%
The gameplay of the game is primarily story-driven, featuring a mix of light puzzle-solving and exploration, but many players feel that it lacks depth and interactivity, often feeling linear and on rails. While the innovative "imag" mechanic allows for some unique gameplay elements, such as altering past events, it is not fully realized, leading to a sense of missed potential. Overall, the gameplay is accessible and user-friendly, appealing to fans of visual novels, but may disappoint those seeking more complex mechanics or exploration.
- “I love the story, I love the graphics, and there are many little details in the gameplay that make it fun and user-friendly, and therefore a delight to play.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet engaging, and the puzzles are fun but not frustrating.”
- “While the story is a key highlight, Verne: The Shape of Fantasy also impresses with its innovative gameplay mechanics.”
- “It is not for everyone; it is more story than gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is nonexistent mostly (feels very on rails most of the time, there's only one storyline, basically nothing in terms of exploration, and there are no significant sidequests).”
- “The biggest problems I have with the game are probably its repetitive gameplay mechanic and its overly slow pace.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
7%
7%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and beautiful environmental artwork, which effectively bring the game's steampunk world to life. Many reviewers highlight the vibrant colors, attention to detail, and overall art style as standout features, although some note that the voice acting and writing could be improved. Overall, the visuals are considered a major strength, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.
- “The graphics were very impressive and looked great on a 1440p monitor.”
- “Stunning visuals, soundtrack and an enormous amount of references to the original authors and inspiration.”
- “An amazing and captivating story full of surprises, all accompanied by beautiful pixel art visuals.”
- “Graphics: retro”
- “The visuals can be charming at times.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
6%
19%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its captivating soundtrack and effective voice acting, which enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers noted that the music complements the story beautifully, with a mix of ambient sounds and public domain selections that elevate the game's atmosphere. While some feedback suggests that improvements could be made, the overall consensus is that the music and sound design significantly contribute to the game's quality and immersion.
- “A story-driven puzzle game that has robust character development, beautiful pixel art, and a fantastical soundtrack.”
- “The voice acting, sound effects, and music are all phenomenal, as is the writing and storytelling featured here.”
- “Especially for a small indie studio, the voice acting and music are okay, but they could be better.”
- “The voice acting and soundtrack were captivating and so well done!”
- “The use of music, captivating story, and no illogical puzzles make this a perfect adventure game.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its intriguing story, stunning visuals, and exceptional pixel art and animation, creating a captivating steampunk environment. Reviewers highlight the fantastic style and sound, contributing to a unique and immersive adventure experience.
- “The story is 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 to have them on my walls.”
- “Very special adventure with a great story and atmosphere.”
- “+ Steampunk atmosphere.”
- “The steampunk atmosphere feels underdeveloped and lacks the depth needed to immerse players fully.”
- “While the game attempts a steampunk atmosphere, it ultimately falls flat, leaving players wanting more in terms of environmental detail.”
- “The steampunk aesthetic is present, but the overall atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers minimal replayability, as players can complete it in about five hours and the experience is primarily focused on a one-time journey of discovery rather than encouraging multiple playthroughs. Achievements may provide some incentive for replay, but overall, the lack of engaging content for subsequent runs limits its replay value.
- “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.”
- “There is no replayability value.”
- “It's also important to note that this experience is a one-time journey, with its allure stemming from revelation rather than replayability.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been criticized for its fluctuating difficulty and frustrating stealth mechanics, alongside reports of significant bugs and underutilized imagery, leading to a generally unstable gameplay experience.
- “Fluctuating difficulty makes the game frustrating, especially during stealth parts. The imagery is underused and the game is buggy as hell.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience, leading to a lack of stability.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly in relation to the final puzzle, but overall, the engaging gameplay and compelling story make the experience worthwhile.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated for its cultural references, particularly the amusing portrayal of English speakers attempting French phrases, though some feel it misses the mark in authenticity.
- “Being French myself, it is always funny to hear an English person saying 'mon dieu.' It was close, but not quite there, I am afraid!”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users noted that the game struggles to establish an emotional connection with its characters, particularly in the beginning and middle, leading to a sense of confusion and detachment from the narrative.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features strong character development, enhancing its story-driven narrative, complemented by beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack.
- “A story-driven puzzle game that features robust character development, beautiful pixel art, and a fantastical soundtrack.”

Skip Game Offers

Buy Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

79%729reviews

Tales of the Neon Sea

2019

Arcade Role Playing

+12

83%3.2kreviews

Call of the Sea

2020

Casual Action Adventure

85%755reviews

The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales

2023

Role Playing

92%23.4kreviews

A Plague Tale: Innocence

2019

Action Adventure

+12

82%299reviews

Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit

2022

Casual Action Adventure

More games like Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

Skip FAQs

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 positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its atmosphere.

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

Similar games include Tales of the Neon Sea, Call of the Sea, The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales, A Plague Tale: Innocence, Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit and others.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

Platforms

Buy Verne: The Shape of Fantasy