Vessel

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 538 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Vessel Game Cover
A novel use of fluids, but sometimes scuppered by cumbersome platforming and the annoyingly happenstance physics.
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"Vessel" is a game with an intriguing story centered around Arkwright, who has the power to bring ordinary matter to life. The game features splendid mechanics with a variety of liquids, each with unique properties, simulated for stunning effects. Combined with an excellent soundtrack and stunning atmosphere, the game presents puzzles that require creative use of the simulated fluid and 'Fluro' creatures.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 538 reviews
gameplay61 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • Vessel features unique liquid physics mechanics that create engaging and clever puzzles.
  • The art style and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The game offers a satisfying challenge with a gradual increase in difficulty, making it rewarding to solve puzzles.
  • Controls can feel imprecise and awkward, leading to frustration during platforming sections.
  • Some puzzles may rely on trial and error rather than logical reasoning, which can detract from the experience.
  • The game suffers from occasional bugs and performance issues, particularly in later levels.
  • gameplay135 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its innovative use of fluid mechanics, which creates engaging and clever puzzles that challenge players without being overly difficult. While some users noted issues with controls and occasional jankiness, the overall experience is enhanced by a captivating atmosphere, unique mechanics, and a gradual introduction of gameplay elements. Despite some criticisms regarding the execution of certain mechanics and the presence of bugs, many players found the gameplay to be enjoyable and rewarding, making it a standout title in the puzzle-platformer genre.

    • “The gameplay, although it may seem complex at first glance, becomes intuitively understandable fairly quickly.”
    • “The game has really satisfying physics and uses the game mechanics in really interesting and fun puzzles.”
    • “Vessel is unique, as mesmerizing to look at as it is to hear, brimming with smart mechanics and puzzles, and just a joy from start to finish.”
    • “The platforming feels a little janky, and as I was going deeper into the game, the platforming started to play a more important part, and I kept getting killed due to inaccurate movement mechanics, sluggish controls, and seemingly random events.”
    • “Unfortunately, the core gameplay mechanic of using liquid physics to solve the game's puzzles doesn't feel like it was well implemented.”
    • “Some puzzles are very easy and some are difficult until you find out that some mechanics were not properly shown, so you did not have a clue that you could do that.”
  • music90 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and fitting ambiance, primarily composed by Jon Hopkins, which enhances the overall experience with its soothing and immersive soundscapes. Reviewers highlight the adaptive nature of the music, which shifts dynamically during gameplay, and its ability to complement the game's unique art style and challenging puzzles. While some find the music occasionally repetitive, the general consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack from Jon Hopkins makes it even more wonderful!”
    • “Vessel is a liquid physics-based puzzle platformer that has wonderfully gorgeous graphics, beautiful and memorable music, and a vibrant and interesting world to explore.”
    • “The scenario is engaging, the puzzles are challenging, the music and the atmosphere is absolutely sublime.”
    • “None of the music the game includes is really very fitting and it all adds to the already ham-fisted attempt at a steampunk theme.”
    • “Boring platformer with monotonous music, I expected much more...”
    • “Cute art style and music (though the one piano track has also become quite repetitive).”
  • graphics83 mentions

    The graphics of "Vessel" are often praised for their beautiful and unique steampunk art style, which enhances the game's atmosphere and complements its fluid physics-based puzzles. While many reviewers appreciate the artistic presentation and vibrant visuals, some note that the graphics can feel dated or suffer from optimization issues. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered a strong point, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.

    • “Vessel is a liquid physics-based puzzle platformer that has wonderfully gorgeous graphics, beautiful and memorable music, and a vibrant and interesting world to explore.”
    • “Beautiful lighting, painterly landscapes, a steampunk aesthetic that even I, not a huge steampunk fanatic, can drool over.”
    • “The visuals are better than you'd expect from most platformers; you can tell they put a great deal of thought and effort into the design and feel of the game.”
    • “Ugly graphics and broken physics hold Vessel back.”
    • “The graphics are very dated but serviceable.”
    • “On the downside, Vessel's graphics engine seems to have some optimization issues.”
  • story65 mentions

    The story in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing elements and worldbuilding, while others find it thin and poorly explained. Many reviews highlight the unique storytelling approach through journal entries and visuals, which adds depth to the gameplay, but some criticize the lack of narrative clarity and character development. Overall, the story is seen as enjoyable and complements the puzzle mechanics, though it may not be the main draw for all players.

    • “The worldbuilding and story are neatly done, providing context to your unique abilities and the situations that you'll encounter throughout the world.”
    • “The story is enthralling, the music is soft, yet moving, the atmosphere is beautiful, and the gameplay is rather clever.”
    • “Vessel is such a great puzzle platformer with a great storyline, great level design, great fluid dynamics, great dynamic lighting, and pretty much awesome everything.”
    • “It's that they barely explain any of the story!”
    • “In Vessel, they just literally never tell you half the story.”
    • “The story is pretty thin until the ending, which is just... terrible...”
  • atmosphere29 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating artwork, thematic depth, and engaging soundtracks, particularly in its steampunk setting. Players appreciate the varied environments and the way the music enhances the overall experience, creating a unique and immersive ambiance. Despite some criticisms regarding initial level design, the game's atmosphere is consistently highlighted as a standout feature that complements its challenging puzzles and gameplay.

    • “His melodies add depth and darkness to the game's atmosphere, making the gameplay even more captivating.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is great.”
    • “The story is enthralling, the music is soft, yet moving, the atmosphere is beautiful, and the gameplay is rather clever.”
    • “Visually, the game actually improves as you play further, but even this improvement is marginal at best. The opening couple of levels are absolutely dire as you are faced with some very blocky environments which lack any atmosphere and have you platforming through some very generic areas.”
    • “The puzzles are challenging and the story is intriguing, but most of all the fluros feel alive and give a mysterious atmosphere to it all.”
    • “The scenario is engaging, the puzzles are challenging, but the music and the atmosphere are absolutely sublime.”
  • stability13 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with users reporting occasional glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during puzzles. While some players found the experience enjoyable despite these issues, others noted that the game's unpolished nature and graphical glitches detracted from their enjoyment. However, the physics and AI generally performed well, contributing to a solid core experience.

    • “The game is incredibly stable, with no bugs or crashes to disrupt my experience.”
    • “I appreciate how smooth and reliable the gameplay is; it really enhances immersion.”
    • “The stability of the game allows me to focus on enjoying the story and mechanics without interruptions.”
    • “Buggy, somewhat unpolished indie title.”
    • “There are also some both graphical glitches and gameplay bugs that hamper things.”
    • “I did have to restart a puzzle or two due to not being able to fix various glitches, but overall it went pretty smoothly.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with many players noting that once achievements are completed, there isn't much incentive to replay. While the enjoyable storyline and challenges add some value, the short to medium playtime means it may not support extensive replayability. However, some players still find the experience fun enough to warrant multiple playthroughs despite these limitations.

    • “Not because the game has some sort of 'infinite replayability' but simply because it was genuinely fun...”
    • “The storyline is very enjoyable and keeps the game replayable.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game doesn't provide much replay value, but with about 10-12 hours of gameplay, it's a lot longer than most AAA games these days - and that for 1/5th of the price!”
    • “Fairly limited replayability, particularly once achievements are done.”
    • “Short to medium-length playtime (con because it isn't longer and limited replayability).”
    • “It tries to add challenges to extend playtime, but this is not the kind of game to support replayability.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and often frustrating, particularly during the finale which relies on trial-and-error. Many players found the puzzles to be repetitive and time-consuming, detracting from the overall enjoyment despite some redeeming qualities in the game's design. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major flaw that overshadows the more enjoyable elements of the game.

    • “The levels so far have been a bunch of door switch puzzles that require more tedious repetition than brain power.”
    • “Unfortunately, I couldn't overlook some tedious and time-wasting puzzles, but the ending was quite amusing.”
    • “Horrible game with boring, tedious, and repetitive puzzles.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, highlighting its thought-provoking puzzles and the protagonist's deep emotional connections with other characters. The combination of a unique steampunk world and character development fosters a heartwarming experience that resonates with players, making it a title worth revisiting.

    • “If you find yourself looking for an inward title that perhaps speaks to the more logical and emotional part of your essence, then this title is the quintessential display of thought-provoking and heart-rending gameplay.”
    • “I felt that the protagonist has an emotional bond with them, and I started to feel that.”
    • “An interesting steam-punk-esque world filled with a heart-warming bit of character development makes this a game I'd like to play several times over.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with users noting significant performance issues related to water physics and ladder climbing mechanics. While some players experienced lag and crashes, others attributed these problems to their outdated hardware, suggesting that the optimization may not be a widespread issue. Overall, the game is still recommended despite these technical shortcomings.

    • “Oh, the only thing I wish were optimized was the ladder climbing.”
    • “The water physics used in this game consumes a lot of performance.”
    • “The water physics used in this game consumes a ton of performance.”
    • “Very interesting game with nice, but not optimized water physics, which made my computer lag sometimes due to the complexity of the game. I stopped playing after a couple of hours, but I still strongly recommend checking it out!”
    • “On the downside, the vessel's graphics engine seems to have some optimization issues.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is consistently highlighted as entertaining and inventive, featuring amusing fluid creatures and quirky contraptions that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the combination of humor with challenging puzzles, making it a standout title for those who enjoy a comedic twist in their gaming. The art style also contributes to the humor, balancing lightheartedness with a touch of foreboding.

    • “Everything before those last minutes is highly entertaining, full of funny fluid creatures that you create and/or guide through funny contraptions with your funny tools.”
    • “Revolutionary and funny mechanics!”
    • “Funny and challenging puzzles.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game features a captivating steam-punk world that is enhanced by meaningful character development, making it a compelling experience that encourages replayability.

    • “An interesting steampunk-esque world filled with a heartwarming bit of character development makes this a game I'd like to play several times over.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Vessel

Play time

13hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
8-23hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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