Zeliria Sanctuary

About

Zeliria Sanctuary is a single player action game with a erotic theme. It was developed by Salangan Games and was released on January 6, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

"Zeliria Sanctuary" is a game featuring an otherworldly setting with a tropical climate and unique creatures. After being transported through a portal, protagonist Maxx must solve the planet's mysteries and build new relationships. With a mix of two distinct game styles, players will encounter action-packed combat and intricate puzzle-solving. As Maxx's connection to his past fades, he must learn to trust new friends and navigate the complexities of his new home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

story26 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Zeliria Sanctuary features a richly layered narrative with a unique blend of genres, engaging players through its imaginative world and diverse cast of characters.
The game offers meaningful player choices that significantly impact character relationships and story outcomes, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different endings.
Visually appealing with well-designed character art and backgrounds, the game is complemented by a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.

The English translation has been criticized for being poorly executed, with awkward phrasing and grammatical issues that can detract from the experience.
Some players found the pacing uneven, with certain routes feeling shorter or less developed than others, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction with the overall narrative depth.
The game has been noted for its lack of mechanical complexity, which may not appeal to players looking for more interactive gameplay elements beyond traditional visual novel mechanics.

story
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The story of "Zeliria Sanctuary" centers on Maxx, a special forces soldier stranded on an alien world after a teleportation mishap, and features a diverse cast of companions with their own character arcs. Players navigate a branching narrative filled with humor, tension, and emotional depth, where choices significantly impact the story's progression and endings, enhancing replayability. While the art and music support the immersive experience, the narrative's complexity and engaging plot make it particularly appealing to fans of story-driven games, despite some critiques regarding translation and pacing.
- “The story follows Maxx, a hardened special forces soldier whose participation in an experimental teleportation mission goes catastrophically wrong, stranding him on the alien world of Zeliria.”
- “Companions such as the proud and capable Leeka, the honorable Velga, and the unexpectedly endearing telepathic hamster Humkey each have their own arcs that unfold gradually over the course of the story.”
- “For fans of story-heavy games who enjoy exploring branching narratives and richly imagined settings, it offers a memorable journey filled with humor, tension, and emotional weight.”
- “Also, spoiler: story endings make little sense.”
- “Apart from poor story-writing skills - nothing.”
- “I genuinely enjoyed the story before they ruined it.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
52%
11%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with a varied soundtrack that adapts to different moods and includes memorable themes and songs, including some sung in Russian. While some reviewers noted the absence of voice acting, the sound effects and music effectively maintain emotional resonance throughout the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The audio presentation complements the visuals with a varied soundtrack that adapts well to the game’s shifting moods.”
- “The first time you launch the game, you immediately notice an excellent song in the main menu and, in general, the music in it is well chosen, which is a clear plus for the genre.”
- “The soundtrack displays a fascinating approach, compiling a set of different artists, and even a couple of songs are available, including a beautiful lullaby sung by Leeka.”
- “The art is pretty average; also, the music.”
- “Then again, it’s very hard to completely please me when music is involved, so…”
- “Occasional ambient tracks can replace music as well.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Zeliria Sanctuary" is highlighted by its distinct character writing, which balances humor and vulnerability, creating memorable personalities. The game effectively uses music and illustrations to enhance emotional moments, making players feel the weight of their choices and the narrative's themes of sorrow, loss, and moral complexity. Overall, it offers a profound and heartfelt journey that resonates deeply with players, particularly those who appreciate story-driven experiences.
- “The writing does an admirable job of making these personalities feel distinct, with dialogue that balances humor, seriousness, and emotional vulnerability.”
- “Taken as a whole, Zeliria Sanctuary is a surprisingly ambitious and heartfelt visual novel that rewards patience and curiosity.”
- “There’s a huge emotional deal within the events occurring in this adventure; there’s sorrow, loss, misery, and a detachment from many human feelings, that in a way, Maxx feels, but those feelings are completely alien to some of those living in Zeliria.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its distinct character personalities and well-crafted dialogue that effectively balances humor with emotional depth, resulting in a memorable narrative experience. Players report frequent laughter and enjoyment from the cute jokes and funny situations, with some highlighting the clever use of dark and dry humor. Overall, the humor adds significant value to the game's story-heavy approach, making it engaging and entertaining.
- “The writing does an admirable job of making these personalities feel distinct, with dialogue that balances humor, seriousness, and emotional vulnerability.”
- “This game made me laugh and smile quite a bit, with cute jokes and funny situations.”
- “It had a lot of great humor, enough to give me quite a few chuckles and a few hearty laughs of riotous laughter.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The gameplay is centered on traditional visual novel mechanics, emphasizing reading, dialogue choices, and narrative progression over action or puzzles. While this may deter players looking for mechanical complexity, the depth of decision-making and strong worldbuilding and character writing create a compelling experience. The music enhances the gameplay, contributing to the overall enjoyment despite the simplicity of the mechanics.
- “Its strength lies not in flashy mechanics, but in its worldbuilding, character writing, and the meaningful consequences of player choice.”
- “Gameplay is firmly rooted in traditional visual novel mechanics, focusing on reading, dialogue choices, and narrative progression rather than action or puzzles.”
- “While this may limit appeal for players seeking mechanical complexity, the weight of decision-making provides its own form of engagement.”
- “In a way, the game almost acts like an RPG, but without its direct gameplay factor.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The graphics are generally praised for their consistency and suitability to the game's tone, enhancing immersion despite not being cutting-edge. While some characters have minor visual quirks, the overall artwork is described as beautiful, colorful, and detailed, complemented by a high-quality soundtrack that enriches the experience. As an indie visual novel, the visuals are considered above average, contributing positively to the game's appeal.
- “The art style may not be cutting-edge, but it is consistent and well-suited to the tone of the story, supporting immersion rather than distracting from it.”
- “Overall, for an indie visual novel, the visuals are above average.”
- “The graphics are beautifully rendered, full of color and detail, while the music, including Josh Woodward's catchy main title theme 'I'm Not Dreaming', is of high quality and enhances the story.”
- “I put the sequel on my wishlist because of the graphics, but I am going to re-evaluate my decision.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development in Zeliria Sanctuary is highly dynamic, influenced by player choices that shape relationships rather than adhering to a linear narrative. The expressive character designs and impactful illustrations enhance emotional moments, while exploring various routes is encouraged to fully appreciate the depth of the story and world-building.
- “Character development plays a central role in Zeliria Sanctuary, with relationships evolving based on player choices rather than following a fixed path.”
- “Character designs are expressive and memorable, even when limited by the static nature of the genre, and key moments are often highlighted with special illustrations that add impact to emotional or dramatic scenes.”
- “Character development and world-building are revealed through different routes, so to gain a better grasp of what is going on, I recommend trying many different paths.”
- “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The choices I made didn't seem to impact the character development in any significant way, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story.”
- “Despite the potential for rich character arcs, the development feels rushed and underwhelming, failing to deliver on its promises.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its captivating music and sound effects, which effectively convey emotional depth despite the absence of voice acting. Visually stunning landscapes and enchanting environments contribute to an otherworldly feel, creating a magical and immersive experience for players.
- “The plot is really intriguing, and the good voice acting from Anilibria, along with the beautiful art of landscapes and characters, creates the whole atmosphere of the game.”
- “Visually, it’s a pleasure to see such beautiful environments in Zeliria Sanctuary. The otherworldly feeling, the exotic forests, and the earthly-like atmosphere are more enchanting, with a sparkle of magic surrounding it.”
- “Although the game does not feature voice acting, the music and sound effects do enough to maintain atmosphere and emotional resonance.”
- “Visually, it’s a pleasure to see such beautiful environments in Zeliria Sanctuary, the otherworldly feeling, the exotic forests, the earthly-like atmosphere but more enchanting, with a sparkle of magic surrounding it.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that the game's replayability is significantly enhanced by its engaging story, which offers new layers of excitement with each playthrough.
- “It really adds to replayability and makes the story a lot more exciting to uncover.”