Void Stranger

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,672 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Void Stranger Game Cover
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Void Stranger is a challenging 2D puzzle game with sokoban-style gameplay, featuring devious traps and enemies. The game features 2D pixel art visuals and an appropriate soundtrack, with seemingly impossible puzzles and a mysterious story. Autosaving and tips for frustration prevention are included to aid players on their long journey.

  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,672 reviews
story166 positive mentions
grinding70 negative mentions
  • Incredible depth and complexity, with layers of puzzles and secrets that keep players engaged.
  • Beautiful pixel art and an outstanding soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • A unique narrative that unfolds gradually, rewarding players for exploration and experimentation.
  • The game can be punishing, with no undo button and a lives system that forces players to replay puzzles multiple times.
  • Some puzzles are overly obtuse, leading to frustration and potential loss of progress.
  • The narrative can feel disjointed and may not resonate with all players, especially after the initial playthrough.
  • story508 mentions

    The game's story is a complex and layered narrative that unfolds gradually through gameplay, often requiring players to engage deeply with puzzles to uncover its secrets. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and intriguing twists, some find the storytelling convoluted and frustrating, particularly due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay required to progress the plot. Overall, the combination of a compelling story, rich character development, and a captivating soundtrack enhances the experience, making it a worthwhile endeavor for those willing to invest the time.

    • “The story is beautifully well done, and the puzzles are great.”
    • “The story builds slowly over the game, and just like the puzzles, originally feels simple but odd before increasing in scope and engagement constantly.”
    • “The story is rich with mystery and intrigue.”
    • “The story is a total nothing burger, visuals hurt to look at for extended periods, and most of the music really doesn't fit a puzzle-solving experience at all and gets very grating after a while.”
    • “The story overall is honestly a mess, but the main coherent story beats are fun enough to push you through puzzles.”
    • “If the story does not absolutely grip you, or if you find the sokoban action/puzzle design a chore getting in the way of the story itself that you like, then you will not like this game at all.”
  • gameplay363 mentions

    The gameplay of "Void Stranger" is a complex blend of sokoban-style puzzles that gradually introduce new mechanics, creating a rich and layered experience. While many players appreciate the depth and challenge, some find the repetitive nature and punishing mechanics frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about the overall enjoyment. The game rewards patience and exploration, but its demanding gameplay loop may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who dislike puzzle-centric mechanics.

    • “The gameplay starts simple and ramps up as you learn new tricks.”
    • “The mechanics of the game are almost never explicitly told to you, but are introduced and expanded upon slowly and naturally.”
    • “Void Stranger is a great sokoban (tile-based) puzzle game with one of the most engaging stories and uses of meta-narrative mechanics I've ever seen.”
    • “Just save your time from boring puzzles and obfuscated game mechanics and go watch a YouTube video about the game.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive at best and infuriatingly cheap at worst.”
    • “If you play this game, it's going to be for the secrets, but they just aren't good enough to put up with the boring gameplay; I ultimately ended up feeling like my time was being wasted.”
  • music278 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its captivating and diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, often describing it as "banger" and "phenomenal." Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant draw for players, contributing to the game's charm and emotional depth.

    • “Not only are the puzzles strong and their style unique, but the lore is deep, intriguing and intricately linked to everything, the music is full of bangers, and the characters are really interesting.”
    • “The soundtrack is my favorite game OST of all time.”
    • “Void Stranger captivates with its challenging puzzles and immersive music, making it a must-play for puzzle lovers.”
    • “The story is a total nothing burger, visuals hurt to look at for extended periods, and most of the music really doesn't fit a puzzle-solving experience at all and gets very grating after a while.”
    • “Intentionally cryptic puzzle design with fairly unappealing pixel art and ear-grating music.”
    • “The music, while repetitive, is a major draw and the story itself is engaging.”
  • graphics83 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming Game Boy-inspired aesthetic, featuring crisp pixel art and a minimalist design that evokes nostalgia while effectively conveying mood and atmosphere. Many players praise the visuals and soundtrack as standout elements, enhancing the overall experience, although some critiques mention that the art style can be off-putting or simplistic. Overall, the combination of engaging visuals and a captivating soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal, despite some mixed opinions on specific design choices.

    • “At the start of Void Stranger, you are presented with crisp visuals, a fantastic soundtrack, and tons of mood.”
    • “The game features a Game Boy era aesthetic, with charming pixel art and a killer soundtrack.”
    • “The graphics have a retro charm to them, and the music is consistently good, if not excellent.”
    • “The story is a total nothing burger, visuals hurt to look at for extended periods, and most of the music really doesn't fit a puzzle-solving experience at all and gets very grating after a while.”
    • “Visual clarity can get really bad in some sections, which was surprising for a game with this art style.”
    • “The visual style is completely uninspiring (same simplistic graphics can be done so much more tastefully), and overall it is about as fun as randomly pressing your gamepad buttons with your PC turned off.”
  • grinding70 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with players often feeling frustrated by the need to backtrack and redo puzzles multiple times to progress. While some appreciate the depth and secrets hidden within the game, many find the experience exhausting and punishing, leading to a mixed reception where the enjoyment of the narrative and clever mechanics is overshadowed by the monotonous gameplay. Overall, the game demands significant patience and determination, which may not appeal to all players.

    • “It is unbelievably tedious, and the celebrated 'meta' of this game only serves to alleviate some, but crucially not all, of this tedium.”
    • “You have to enjoy doing hundreds of boring, tedious puzzles over and over again to get anything out of this game.”
    • “The process of carrying over your items from one run to the next involves the tedious process of copying a pixel image into a 6x6 grid two times per item.”
  • emotional42 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players expressing that it evokes deep feelings, often leading to tears through its heartfelt storytelling and poignant themes of loss and connection. The combination of intricate puzzles, a captivating narrative, and a powerful soundtrack creates an emotional roller coaster that resonates with players, making it a memorable experience. While some found the gameplay tedious at times, they felt that the emotional payoff was worth the effort, resulting in a profound and rewarding journey.

    • “It's such a rare thing for me, but you're now two for two when it comes to games released and games that made me cry, but it may as well be higher given the amount of times I was brought to tears.”
    • “Void Stranger is one of the most genuinely astounding, intricate, thought-provoking, emotional, interesting, and silly experiences I have ever had consuming media.”
    • “Many parts of the game made me want to cry due to how beautiful they were, ranging from narratives about loss to scenes that break the fourth wall, bending the scenery as melancholic music plays that ties perfectly with the game's lore.”
  • atmosphere30 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting and mysterious qualities, enhanced by a phenomenal soundtrack and charming pixel art. Players find themselves deeply immersed in its intriguing world, with many noting the game's ability to evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia reminiscent of classic titles. While the atmosphere is consistently highlighted as a standout feature, some reviewers caution that the enjoyment of the game may depend on one's appreciation for its puzzle mechanics alongside the atmospheric elements.

    • “The vibes are immaculate, and I can't praise enough how much I liked its mysterious story, nice pixel art, lovely music, and haunting atmosphere. I quickly got completely engrossed with the game, so much that I used an Excel sheet to keep track and organize all my notes, observations, screenshots, and everything I wanted to try.”
    • “Not only does it challenge you logically, but it also immerses you in its intriguing world with an outstandingly atmospheric soundtrack, eerie and flashy graphical effects, and a lingering mystery to leave you pondering at night.”
    • “The soundtrack by eebrozgi deserves particular praise in nailing the atmosphere and driving home the game's most memorable moments - at least ten different spoilers come to mind here, so let me stop at saying that the first area's theme, 'Void Symphony,' sets a high benchmark for that 'starting a new adventure' feeling that makes you just fall in love with video games all over again.”
    • “It's atmosphere is dark and mysterious throughout, and only gets cooler and weirder as you continue.”
    • “If you are in it for the atmosphere (music, story, art) and you think you can 'get through' the puzzles to get to the good stuff, then I cannot recommend this game because I tried and failed to do just that.”
    • “Not only does it have incredibly solid puzzle fundamentals, it also nails it in terms of atmosphere, soundtrack, and an overall sense of mystery and wonder.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as quirky and engaging, featuring memorable lines from characters like a nun and a speedrunning princess, alongside absurd situations that elicit genuine laughter. While some jokes may tread into objectification and sexism, they often add to the game's charm and light-heartedness, making it a standout experience in a year filled with notable titles. Overall, players appreciate the blend of humor with gameplay, finding it both entertaining and unexpectedly delightful.

    • “You meet a nun who says such great lines like 'sister ballbuster is going to kick my ass', a princess who is speedrunning every brat stereotype possible, and a naga with breasts larger than your character's sprite (although admittedly, the in-game joke involving that is pretty funny the first time around).”
    • “Incredibly engaging storytelling, surprises, and jokes that I'm still laughing at.”
    • “It's even got some fun humor along your descent to madness in places.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers immense value through exploration and discovering secrets, the inherent limitations of puzzle mechanics can lead to diminished replay interest over time. Players appreciate the depth of meta-puzzles that encourage multiple playthroughs, but some feel that forced repetition can detract from the experience. Ultimately, the game is recognized for its strong replayable elements, particularly for those who enjoy narrative-driven interactivity.

    • “The game has immense replay value and I've had so much fun figuring out little secrets in the game over time.”
    • “The meta-puzzles of this game are dense and that leads to many enjoyable, replayable hours.”
    • “Clearly this game was made for replayability, and God does it do it right.”
    • “This is fun at first, especially as you figure out shortcuts and skips, but replayability only has so much mileage in a puzzle game.”
    • “Unlike action games, puzzle games have limited replay value, so forcing the player to replay puzzles against their will is just going to waste their time.”
    • “Clearly this game was made for replayability, and god does it do it right.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is praised for being engaging and thought-provoking, effectively stimulating players' imagination and curiosity throughout the game. The progression of the story and challenges enhances the overall experience, making it memorable even after completion.

    • “The story is nice and engaging, the puzzles start easy but get really challenging quickly. The character development is very good and keeps tickling your imagination and curiosity all the way until, or even after you finish it.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight the game's stability as a significant strength, noting that it offers a more polished experience compared to many other high-priced titles, which are often plagued by bugs. Additionally, the game's storyline is praised as superior to that of many AAA games, further enhancing its overall quality.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

22hMedian play time
26hAverage play time
15-47hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 19 analyzed playthroughs

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