Volume

Volume shows us that limitation really does breed creativity, delivering a thrilling, accessible experience in bite-sized pieces.

Starting at $2.80Buy now

Get on Steam

"Volume" is a single-player Science Fiction Stealth game with an intriguing story, exceptional game mechanics, masterful visuals, and a fabulous soundtrack. It offers a near-future retelling of the Robin Hood legend with BAFTA-winner Danny Wallace, Charlie McDonnell, and Andy Serkis as voice actors. The game features three modes including a new mode with no checkpoints, encouraging speedrunning or stealth, and continuously evolves with new community-created missions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 294 reviews

story62 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Engaging stealth mechanics that require strategic thinking and puzzle-solving skills.
Stylish visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
A variety of gadgets and level designs that keep gameplay fresh and interesting.

Most levels have a single solution, leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.
Keyboard controls can feel sluggish, making quick movements challenging.
The story is underdeveloped and fails to engage players effectively.

story
245 mentions
25 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it underwhelming and poorly executed. While some appreciate the intriguing premise and voice acting, others criticize the minimalistic storytelling approach, which often feels disjointed and fails to engage players throughout the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as lacking depth and charm compared to previous works by the same developer, leaving many players wanting more from the story experience.
- “Wonderful story and fun gameplay.”
- “The story brought me in and kept me hooked, the gameplay was simple to grasp, and nothing in it was too frustrating.”
- “The story is interesting, the mechanics are cool, and Alan, oh my, he's so awesome.”
- “The story is abysmally boring and with a weak villain that you won't know he's even there until a good 2/3 into it; you are a streamer that replays with a VR headset robberies, that's it.”
- “The story as a whole is quite underwhelming, and the ending is too predictable for the amount of time it takes to arrive.”
- “There is ostensibly some kind of plot -- but the only way you are exposed to it is by reading short text snippets before each mission.”
gameplay
173 mentions
32 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Volume is characterized by its engaging stealth mechanics and gradual introduction of new elements, keeping the experience fresh and challenging. While the core mechanics are solid and reminiscent of classic stealth games like Metal Gear Solid, some players find the gameplay repetitive and occasionally disjointed from the narrative. Overall, the game offers a mix of puzzle-solving and stealth that appeals to fans of the genre, though it may not satisfy those seeking deeper complexity.
- “The gameplay is fun; it presented some challenge in mapping out the precise positioning that would let a guard hear my whistle or give me just enough room to sneak past a vision cone unseen.”
- “Volume's gameplay is so cleverly streamlined that there are few faults I can find in it.”
- “The gameplay is varied and extremely fun with new items to help you sneak around showing up every 15-20 levels and new enemies/obstacles that are immune to those items showing up at about the same rate.”
- “The gameplay is somewhat reminiscent of a real-time Hitman Go, except less cerebral and more action-packed with the rush of pursuing enemies.”
- “Unfortunately, the execution falls short of handling both changes, which undermines the narrative praise from TWA and the gameplay potential within Volume.”
- “The basic gameplay is a polished version of arcade-stealth controls that annoyingly lacks a run button but offers a whistle button to compensate for your limited speed with various gadgets, environmental effects, and superb level design.”
music
56 mentions
45 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and emotional impact, particularly during stealth sequences and moments of tension. However, some players found the abrupt transitions to intense chase music jarring and stressful, leading them to mute the game at times. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered beautiful and well-composed, its implementation can detract from the overall experience for some players.
- “The soundtrack is superb and changes depending on whether you are hidden or not.”
- “What really makes this game stand out is the music: I absolutely love it and listen to it regularly outside the game.”
- “The music fits well with the game and is frankly quite beautiful.”
- “The detection soundtrack is basically a jumpscare mechanic, with it playing loud the instant you get spotted.”
- “After getting seen/caught a few times it can get annoying; at times I played with sound very low or completely off, which is a shame because I could not enjoy the normal music.”
- “The not-so-smooth transition between the standard stealth music track and the 'seen' track is rather irritating after a while.”
graphics
56 mentions
66 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful, stylized art style that complements the gameplay, creating an engaging visual experience. Reviewers appreciate the clean, minimalist design and vibrant colors, which enhance the overall atmosphere and immersion. While some note the simplicity of the graphics, they agree that it effectively serves the game's aesthetic and mechanics, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to explore.
- “Overall this game has amazing graphics and is a joy to play.”
- “The art style in this game is beautiful, and the gameplay is basic, but loads of fun.”
- “A combination of gorgeous visuals and especially well-designed stealth mechanics pulls you in, making you ready for the artistically constructed levels that'll never let go.”
- “The world-building is severely hampered by its rigid adherence to a 'retro' aesthetic, with all evidence of a future Britain controlled by a dictator being limited to 3 line paragraphs before each mission and the mission spaces themselves being completely utilitarian 'house', 'office' or 'museum' spaces.”
- “The graphics are simple, but clean and reasonably stylish, and serve the concept well.”
- “The graphics are clear and really fit the situation, with nothing looking muddy or cluttered.”
humor
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its well-written dialogue and strong vocal performances, featuring clever references and a mix of self-deprecating and situational comedy. Players appreciate the blend of charming, nerdy commentary and British wit, which enhances the overall experience, even if some find the humor subjective. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of its predecessor while delivering a humorous and engaging narrative.
- “Humorous and well-written dialogue supported by solid vocal performances.”
- “The game's difficulty is just perfect, not too hard but not too easy. There are some moments that the game has humor and references other stuff like 'like and subscribe,' which is something every YouTuber says nowadays, and even referencing Minecraft, which, to be honest, I definitely did not see coming.”
- “It knows when to be quiet, dramatic, and hilarious with fantastic performances from Charlie McDonnell, Danny Wallace, Andy Serkis, and a few other brilliant performances that I promise not to spoil.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
63 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its engaging storyline, strong voice acting, and immersive sound design, contributing to a compelling experience. However, some players feel that the atmosphere is diminished when playing in a smaller window. Overall, the game successfully creates a unique mood that resonates with fans of stealth and puzzle genres, reminiscent of other titles by the same developer.
- “This is a pretty good top-down stealth strategy game with quite an interesting storyline, atmosphere, and some good voice acting to boot.”
- “Volume is a stealth-based puzzle game that has an excellent atmosphere and story.”
- “Same great atmosphere, music, art direction, and sound design in every other Bithell game I've played.”
- “However, I like the graphics, the spoken dialogue, the music, the virtual atmosphere, and the gameplay & controls were designed well (if you're using a gamepad, at least; haven't tried with keyboard controls).”
- “Although it's different from Thomas Was Alone in that it's more of a stealth puzzle game, it has a similar feel in terms of atmosphere, narrative, and humor.”
- “The stories are connected and are in the same universe, however the atmosphere and mood are very different.”
emotional
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players feel a strong connection to their character and enjoy the immersive experience of stealth gameplay, others find the overarching story dull and uninspiring. The lack of narrative depth and escalating challenge detracts from the emotional engagement for some, leading to a sense of boredom despite moments of personal investment in the gameplay.
- “A story of New England is revealed to you, along with your role, your goal, and an emotional connection is quickly established.”
- “Overall, the game has drawn me in and made me feel like I was Locksley, dodging and sneaking past guards to deactivate alarms, collect gems, and laughing while I confuse the hell out of other guards.”
- “The story isn't interesting; it feels more like an instruction guide for others to work, which mechanically justifies the existence of 'restarting,' but ultimately makes for a boring narrative.”
- “Meh - a tragically boring story with a difficulty that never really amps up across 100 levels.”
replayability
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the high replayability of the game, citing its simple yet engaging mechanics, custom level creation, and a variety of challenges that keep the experience fresh. The combination of upgrades, a compelling story, and the ability to share levels contributes to its enduring appeal, making it enjoyable even after completing the main content. Overall, the game offers a wealth of replay value that enhances its longevity.
- “The game is a lot of fun with tons of replayability.”
- “The game may be short, but it has a lot of replayability value, and the custom levels help increase the playtime.”
- “You can create and share your own levels with the world, effectively giving the game endless replayability.”
- “The level creator is solid and leads to lots of replay value.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
While the game features humorous dialogue and strong vocal performances, it suffers from significant technical issues that hinder its overall optimization, preventing it from achieving top ratings.
- “The game features humorous and well-written dialogue supported by solid vocal performances.”
- “It knows when to be quiet, dramatic, and hilarious, with fantastic performances from Charlie McDonnell, Danny Wallace, Andy Serkis, and a few other brilliant talents that I promise not to spoil.”
- “Underutilized voice performances and some really nasty technical issues stand in the way of the title getting top marks.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to cumbersome controls when using cover and a slow restart button that disrupts the flow of gameplay. Additionally, the lengthy wait times for ability recharge contribute to a frustrating experience, making it difficult to engage with cliffhanger moments.
- “Control could get a little tedious when using cover.”
- “This makes getting to the continuation of a cliffhanger conversation feel a little tedious.”
- “A useless restart button that is nowhere near quick enough, and too much tedious waiting for abilities to recharge.”
character development
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Character development is criticized for occurring primarily off-screen, leaving players disconnected from the narrative, while the main character design is noted as visually appealing. The lack of clear stakes further diminishes the impact of the story's conclusion.
- “Most character development happens off-screen, and the stakes are so poorly telegraphed that I had no idea what was going on when the end came.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional, and their growth is minimal, making it hard to connect with them throughout the story.”
- “There are moments that hint at deeper backstories, but they are never fully explored, leaving the characters feeling flat and unengaging.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
While the game is praised for its overall quality, players report significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and input glitches that can disrupt gameplay and cause the game to crash.
- “This is an incredible game, but it has many bugs and input glitches that make the game stop working.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress.”
- “I love the gameplay, but the constant stability issues ruin the experience.”