Void Stranger
- April 1, 2023
- system_erasure
- 22h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreVoid 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.
Reviews
- Incredible depth and complexity hidden beneath the surface of a simple sokoban puzzle game.
- Engaging story and characters that evolve as you progress, with emotional moments that resonate.
- Challenging puzzles that reward curiosity and experimentation, making every discovery feel satisfying.
- Repetitive gameplay due to the need to replay puzzles multiple times to uncover secrets and progress.
- Lack of quality-of-life features like an undo button, which can lead to frustrating experiences.
- Some puzzles and mechanics can feel overly cryptic or punishing, potentially alienating players.
- story424 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of *Void Stranger* is a complex and engaging narrative that unfolds gradually through gameplay, intertwining with challenging puzzles and rich lore. Players appreciate the depth and twists in the plot, which keeps them invested despite the game's demanding mechanics, though some find the delivery convoluted and the pacing frustrating. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its emotional resonance and unique presentation, making it a standout feature of the game, even as it requires significant effort to fully appreciate.
“Unlike many puzzle games, Void Stranger has a plot that contains many twists and mysteries that keep you going even when the puzzles become complicated.”
“The story is really engaging and unique, adding a nice touch to an amazing game.”
“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 convoluted nonsense, having to clear the first 200+ puzzles without running out of lives is a real waste of the player's time, and working through the ton of hidden secrets that everyone seems to love would probably take days of boring searching and trial-and-error without a guide.”
“The game hooks you by slowly giving you drips of story, but there's no payoff there - the story goes from pointless anime melodrama to shark jumping nonsense.”
“The story presented in the first playthrough was fine, but not nearly engaging enough to justify that kind of repetition with such a punishing failure mechanic.”
- gameplay311 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Void Stranger" is characterized by its sokoban-style puzzles that evolve in complexity, introducing numerous hidden mechanics and layers as players progress. While many players appreciate the depth and creativity of the puzzles, some find the repetitive nature and lack of clear guidance frustrating, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall enjoyment. The game rewards exploration and experimentation, but its demanding mechanics and potential for tedious repetition may not appeal to everyone, particularly those less inclined towards puzzle-solving.
“The gameplay itself is pretty straightforward (until it's not), just move stuff around to get to the next level.”
“The freedom that the game gives you with its mechanics, combined with the way the player has to use their own creativity and ingenuity to really master the void, means that no two people will experience this game the same way.”
“Void stranger is a deceptively simple puzzle game that begins feeling similar to sokoban or hyper loder runner but continuously builds on new and interesting mechanics and obstacles in an excellent manner.”
“However, this is precisely this game's undoing: its gameplay speaks the language of a roguelike (runs, permadeath, etc.), but in the context of a puzzle game, it means that you have to play through the exact same levels over and over again.”
“The gameplay is repetitive at best and infuriatingly cheap at worst.”
“You have no undo button, restarting levels costs you, you get punished for performing too well, you are punished for manually exiting the game, when you fail or trigger some arcane mechanic your progress gets wiped and you have to go through the same 100+ levels again... and the worst is that instead of interesting puzzles you mostly get annoying traps and tedious tile-shuffling.”
- music232 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Void Stranger" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its captivating and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience of the game. While some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, often describing it as "incredible," "banger," and "phenomenal." The combination of the game's engaging puzzles, intriguing story, and beautiful pixel art further elevates the impact of the soundtrack, making it a memorable aspect of the gameplay.
“The soundtrack is great too, which is fortunate because you may be hearing certain songs a lot as you work out puzzle solutions.”
“The music creates an atmosphere that frankly I'd never considered could be so rich and interesting in a puzzle game, at least not since Portal.”
“The music is beautiful, the monochrome spritework is charming, all coming together to tie up a fantastic puzzle game.”
“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.”
“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.”
“The music helps keep things grounded to a degree, and really gets going with the more exciting parts, but it is very easy to see why some might get frustrated and quit after a while.”
- graphics74 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style reminiscent of Game Boy aesthetics, complemented by an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While many reviewers appreciate the retro visuals and atmospheric presentation, some criticize certain aspects as uninspiring or visually unclear in parts. Overall, the combination of engaging art and music contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in its genre.
“An amazing soundtrack, a fantastic pixel art style, seemingly endless mysteries, and a simple yet surprisingly creative gameplay makes this one an easy favorite.”
“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.”
“However, the quirks of System Erasure's game design style and aesthetic shine through and make the game feel unique despite the obvious comparisons.”
- grinding68 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious, repetitive, and often frustrating, requiring players to repeatedly solve the same puzzles and navigate through levels without sufficient quality-of-life improvements. While some players find the challenge rewarding and engaging, many express that the excessive backtracking and lack of an undo feature contribute to a monotonous experience that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Ultimately, the game's design demands significant patience and determination, which may not appeal to everyone.
“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.”
- emotional38 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players describing it as a deeply touching experience that evokes a range of feelings, from joy to frustration and even tears. Many highlight the heartfelt storytelling, beautiful music, and intricate character development, which together create a powerful narrative that resonates with players. Despite some gameplay tedium, the emotional payoff and the journey through its themes of loss and connection make it a memorable and impactful experience.
“Void Stranger is one of the most unique games I've ever played, and is made with so much love and attention that it has left me stunned and emotional multiple times.”
“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.”
“The story reinforces these themes, with some of the most heartfelt and wholesome dialogue moments I've seen in a modern game, with characters encouraging each other at points even when you wouldn't expect them to.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its phenomenal soundtrack, haunting visuals, and a rich sense of mystery that captivates players. Many reviewers highlight the effective use of pixel art and chiptune music, which together create an immersive experience reminiscent of classic titles. While the atmosphere is a standout feature, some players note that the gameplay can detract from the overall enjoyment, particularly for those who prioritize puzzles over 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.”
“This game instilled a sense of wonder and mystery in me like very few titles managed to, not only because of the atmosphere and lore, which are both absolutely amazingly done, but because the gameplay itself was designed to make you wonder what could be possible.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Only get this game if you are interested in both the atmosphere and the puzzles; emphasis on the puzzles.”
“But if you see those store page trailers and find the vibe and atmosphere of the world's visuals and music to be intriguing, then I beg you to at least give it a try.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as engaging and often surprising, with players appreciating its quirky jokes and light-hearted storytelling. While some elements may be seen as objectifying or obnoxious, the overall comedic tone adds to the enjoyment, making it a standout feature for many reviewers. The blend of humor with gameplay mechanics, such as unexpected gags and amusing character designs, contributes to a memorable and entertaining experience.
“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.”
“I did not expect the funny sokoban game to be my game of the year in a year as stacked as 2023, but here we are.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative 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 excels in providing enjoyable replayable moments, particularly for those who value narrative 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 it does 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
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with players noting that it effectively engages their imagination and curiosity throughout the experience, even extending beyond the game's conclusion. The narrative is complemented by a well-crafted progression of character arcs that enhances the overall enjoyment.
“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.”
