Zof

About

Zof is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by Pete Wilkins and was released on October 5, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

"Zof is an single-player adventure game with a bad story, focusing on puzzles and problem-solving. The game features simple yet hidden solutions, with no hand-holding or clue-searching. With a hint guide available and a free demo, Zof offers a challenging and rewarding experience for those looking to test their mindset."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

story22 negative mentions

The puzzles are imaginative and often require out-of-the-box thinking, providing a rewarding experience when solved.
The game features beautiful graphics and diverse environments that enhance the overall aesthetic experience.
Zof is a unique puzzle game that encourages exploration and experimentation without providing explicit clues, appealing to fans of the genre.

The lack of a cohesive story or narrative can make the game feel disjointed and less engaging for some players.
Many puzzles can be frustratingly obscure, leading to moments of confusion and reliance on hints or walkthroughs.
Some puzzles involve tedious back-and-forth movement and slow animations, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.

story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
37%
55%
The game is largely devoid of any narrative or lore, focusing solely on puzzle-solving, which some players appreciate while others find disappointing. Many reviewers compare it to Myst, noting that it lacks the environmental storytelling and cohesive plot that characterize that game. Overall, the absence of a story is seen as a matter of personal preference, with some players enjoying the pure puzzle experience while others feel it detracts from the overall engagement.
- “There is a lot of potential if the game could have a higher budget and production time to aim for that narrative/environmental storytelling experience; it would make the game shine.”
- “If not better narrative storytelling, then at least a more focused medium where the puzzles are the emphasis.”
- “There is also no plot at all, which I personally didn't notice much because the puzzles were captivating enough to keep me playing the game.”
- “Unlike Myst, where there's a story that's somewhat loosely tying everything together, Zof has no story at all.”
- “There was also no story as to why you were there and what you had to do other than complete puzzles.”
- “I am still early in the game, and although I gave it a thumbs up because the puzzles are interesting and different, I am very disappointed that so far there is no story, no note to find, no clues to search for; there are just puzzles after puzzles to solve.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The graphics in the game are generally well-received, with some players praising the superb scenery, particularly in the desert and night visuals. However, there are criticisms regarding a lack of cohesion, as the environments appear somewhat disjointed and in need of refinement. Overall, while the graphics are good, they could benefit from a more unified artistic direction.
- “The puzzles themselves were brilliant, as were the graphics.”
- “Some sceneries are really superb, my favorites were the desert areas and the visuals at night.”
- “Graphics are overall well done.”
- “A lot of refinement is needed and the graphics and environments seem a bit stitched-up from different works and lack the cohesion that a player would expect.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The gameplay of Zof is characterized by its lack of cohesive mechanics and narrative, resembling a Myst clone but with unique puzzles that vary significantly from level to level. Players often find the puzzles cumbersome, requiring extensive trial and error to understand the mechanics, which are not consistently reused throughout the game. Overall, the experience may frustrate those seeking a more structured and lore-rich adventure.
- “Each level has a unique puzzle mechanic, which is almost not repeated in other levels.”
- “Understanding first the mechanics of a puzzle works a lot on trials and experimentation, then we tinker some more to input the solution.”
- “Even having the mechanical transition period halved would still leave the puzzles cumbersome to solve.”
- “Zof is a puzzle adventure game, which plays and looks like a Myst clone but is completely devoid of any plot or consistent puzzle mechanics.”
- “Each level has a unique puzzle mechanic, which is almost never repeated in other levels.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often involving a lot of guesswork and slow animations that hinder progress. Even after grasping the objectives, the experience remains finicky and unengaging.
- “You're thrown into situations and left to tediously guess-and-check how things work and what the goal is (often involving a lot of back-and-forth and slow animations).”
- “Even once I understood what I was supposed to be doing, it just felt finicky, tedious, and a bit silly.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's music is nearly nonexistent, with a minimal sound design that relies heavily on environmental sounds. Players may miss crucial audio cues if they are not using headphones, highlighting the importance of sound in the gameplay experience.
- “There is almost no music, and the sound design is very minimal.”
- “The soundtrack is primarily environmental sounds, and if you take your headphones off, you are apt to miss important aural clues.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is consistently praised for its excellent optimization, ensuring smooth performance across various systems.
- “Well optimized”
- “Well optimized”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by distinct visual styles across different levels, creating a sense of variety that can make it feel more like a puzzle anthology than a cohesive experience. This diversity in atmosphere contributes to a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
- “The levels have completely different visual styles and atmosphere, making the game feel more like a puzzle anthology rather than a single connected experience.”
- “The levels also have completely different visual styles and atmosphere, thus at times it feels more like a puzzle anthology rather than a single connected game.”