Zniw Adventure

About

"Zniw Adventure" is a nostalgic 2D pixel art game where you play as a young dinosaur. Embark on a journey to save your family, solving puzzles and making friends along the way. With charming retro graphics and a heartwarming story, this adventure is sure to delight players of all ages.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 374 reviews

story70 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Charming hand-drawn animations and art style that evoke nostalgia for 90s point-and-click games.
Engaging story with lovable characters, particularly the protagonist Zniw, who has a relatable personality.
Fun and accessible puzzles that provide a good balance of challenge, along with an in-game encyclopedia that adds educational value about dinosaurs.

The game has a slow pace with long animations and cutscenes, which can make it feel drawn out at times.
Some puzzles can be unintuitive, leading to moments of confusion or frustration, especially for players unfamiliar with the genre.
Limited inventory management and occasional pixel-hunting issues can detract from the overall experience.

story
162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The story of "Zniw Adventure" follows a young dinosaur named Zniw on a heartfelt quest to find a birthday gift for her mother, leading her through various challenges and environments. While the narrative starts off simple and somewhat meandering, it evolves into a more engaging and emotional journey, enriched by charming characters and beautiful hand-drawn art. Although some players found the plot lacking depth and the stakes low, many appreciated the lighthearted tone and the nostalgic feel of the adventure, making it a delightful experience for fans of family-friendly storytelling.
- “The story itself is quite captivating; you watch as this young dinosaur gets lost in a pursuit for a perfect gift for her mother's birthday. You help her overcome many obstacles and dangerous predicaments, but you still find time to make some friends along the way!”
- “The story begins as something very simple, but every step you take, the plot thickens and has a lot of surprises.”
- “With a great story, very appealing style, and just the right amount of frustration we all remember from these kinds of games.”
- “I gave up on it once because the whole first half or so is just random immediate situations that you have to deal with, without much in the way of long-term goals besides 'get home somehow at some point', and that can start to feel like just random chores... but eventually things get more story-heavy, and I got invested.”
- “The game is cute, but the story and characters aren't interesting enough, and the world feels very small.”
- “There was not much buildup or intrigue; all I knew was I was trying to get Zniw home, and then suddenly the main plot is happening when I thought I was just going through some stepping stone side quest on the way to more adventure.”
graphics
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
51%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style that evokes nostalgia for late 90s point-and-click adventures. Players appreciate the detailed hand-drawn animations and character designs, which blend cuteness with scientific accuracy, particularly in the depiction of dinosaurs. Overall, the visuals are described as stunning and integral to the game's engaging narrative and atmosphere, making it a standout feature.
- “The graphics and animation are utterly charming, and a lot of love was poured into this game.”
- “Graphically, it’s one of the most impressive presentations I’ve seen in a two-dimensional video game.”
- “Game's visuals are absolutely stunning – those 2D animated sprites, backgrounds, and many others not only play a big role in the general narrative and mood of the game, but also build a very detailed world of dinosaurs with well-developed characters that will get stuck in your mind for a long time.”
- “My only warning is there's no voice acting at the time of this review, so if you don't like games without that then it's fine to skip this one; you wouldn't be missing much past its pretty art style.”
- “The background artwork is on its own level entirely.”
- “It's detailed, but never breaks the cartoony aesthetic the game keeps from start to finish.”
music
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
24%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and melodic qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a nostalgic 90s vibe. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as both relaxing and fitting for the game's charming visuals and storytelling, with many noting its ability to evoke emotions and complement the gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and immersion.
- “The music is fantastic– it's atmospheric and melodic while also having emotional texture.”
- “The soundtrack is perfect for an old-school point & click.”
- “The love put into this world and these characters shows vividly with the style and animations being just phenomenal, and the soundtrack fitting the mood, atmosphere, and situations you get into perfectly.”
- “The music is purely instrumental (with the exception of the chiptunes exclusively used for the C64-alike minigames) but is perfectly suitable for the landscapes Zniw explores during her journey, as well as the atmospheres that depend on what’s going on in the moment.”
- “The music is also very fitting for the game; the only thing missing for the nostalgia factor is the use of orchestra mockups.”
- “It doesn't skimp on the music by reusing it, either!”
humor
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and clever writing, blending cartoonish visuals with engaging dialogue that appeals to players of all ages. Reviewers highlight the funny animations, relatable characters, and a nostalgic 90s vibe, making it a delightful point-and-click adventure filled with amusing situations and endearing moments. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the game's narrative and educational elements, creating a heartwarming experience for both young and old dinosaur fans.
- “A really great and funny point & click adventure for young and old dinosaur fans.”
- “Zniw adventure is a lovely, heartwarming game with charming animations and funny, interesting dialogue.”
- “The writing is great and there is plenty of extra hilarious dialogue you can see by using items the wrong way or by trying to talk to inanimate objects.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
8%
The gameplay is a nostalgic point-and-click adventure that combines engaging puzzles with charming art and witty dialogue, reminiscent of classic 90s games. While some players found the puzzles challenging and occasionally frustrating, the overall experience is enhanced by the game's vibrant graphics and well-crafted story. Minor issues, such as the inventory system, were noted, but they did not detract significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Gameplay itself is challenging enough to be engaging; I got stuck at a few points, but generally I was able to figure everything out without help.”
- “Though the puzzles are occasionally difficult for a casual gamer like me, the payoff is always satisfying, and the vivid art, dialogue, and character design light up the gameplay experience every step of the way.”
- “The humour, ideas, amazing graphics, and smooth gameplay, along with the intuitive interface, all work together to create this amazing game!”
- “The main con is gameplay; the game itself is really frustrating and not rewarding.”
- “Gameplay-wise it could use a bit of polish; the fact that you have to press, not just click, never truly got through to me.”
- “There are a few very minor things that bugged me during the gameplay, like the inventory mechanism, but there’s nothing that will make you tired of the game.”
emotional
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its fantastic, atmospheric music and heartwarming story, which evokes nostalgia and a sense of childhood wonder. Players appreciate the balance of humor and depth in the writing, alongside charming characters and engaging puzzles that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers noted that the game left them feeling deeply moved, particularly by its touching ending, solidifying its place as a wholesome and memorable adventure.
- “The music is fantastic– it's atmospheric and melodic while also having emotional texture.”
- “Not gonna lie, the ending made me so very emotional.”
- “One of the best and most wholesome gaming experiences in my life.”
character development
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game features an adorable and expressive cartoon-esque art style, showcasing a variety of memorable character designs, particularly cute dinosaurs. Players appreciate the vibrant animations and how the character designs enhance the overall gameplay experience, contributing to a charming and engaging atmosphere. The blend of whimsical and anatomically accurate designs adds depth to the characters, making them stand out in the game's narrative.
- “A great game, with great character design and overflowing with personality at every single corner.”
- “Though the puzzles are occasionally difficult for a casual gamer like me, the payoff is always satisfying, and the vivid art, dialogue, and character design light up the gameplay experience every step of the way.”
- “Each moment is beautifully animated, and every character design is memorable.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its fantastic, atmospheric, and melodic music that enhances the emotional experience. The clever design of puzzle-solving segments complements the prehistoric setting, while the overall aesthetic and animations evoke a nostalgic 90s vibe. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the way the soundtrack aligns with the game's various moods and landscapes, creating an immersive experience.
- “The music is fantastic – it's atmospheric and melodic while also having emotional texture.”
- “The music is purely instrumental (with the exception of the chiptunes exclusively used for the C64-alike minigames) but perfectly suitable for the landscapes Zniw explores during her journey, as well as the atmospheres that depend on what’s going on in the moment.”
- “The love put into this world and these characters shows vividly with the style and animations being just phenomenal, and the soundtrack fitting the mood, atmosphere, and situations you get into perfectly.”
- “The music is purely instrumental (with the exception of the chiptunes exclusively used for the C64-alike minigames) but perfectly suitable for the landscapes Zniw explores during her journey, as well as the atmospheres that depend on what’s going on at the moment.”
- “The quality of the final product paid off, and it’s a love letter to the genre that succeeds in replicating the atmosphere of the same type of games developed in the decade of the 90s.”
- “It wasn't necessary to do, but it's just one of those minor things that create the entire 90's PNC and cartoony atmosphere.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
50%
38%
The game offers strong replayability due to its collectible pebbles, unlockable extras, and a relatively short completion time, encouraging players to revisit for additional achievements and secrets. Many users noted that unless they fully explore every interaction and collectible, they are likely to return for another playthrough.
- “Unless you somehow manage to interact with everything and everyone, collect all pebbles and achievements, and read everything, you will probably want to play this game again sometime.”
- “The pebble collectibles, unlockable extras, and short playtime to completion make for immediate replay value.”
- “-Replayability: unless you somehow manage to interact with everything and everyone, collect all pebbles and achievements, and read everything, you will probably want to play this game again sometime.”
- “There are also some extras you can unlock by finding secret collectibles, so there is replayability for going back to find those.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the farming and watering minigame for shells to be tedious, particularly due to the repetitive dialogue with the character Tra. Many suggest that a more streamlined, continuous farming process would enhance the experience.
- “The farming and watering minigame for shells is a bit tedious when you have to talk to Tra over and over.”
- “It would feel smoother if it was just continuous farming until I got enough shells.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report occasional stuttering during camera movement and after conversations, although disabling Vsync appears to improve performance slightly.
- “Stuttering every now and again when coming out of a conversation or moving the camera (seems to be a bit better with VSync turned off).”
- “Stuttering every now and again when coming out of a conversation or moving the camera (seems to be a bit better with VSync turned off).”