Gorogoa is widely celebrated as a unique and deeply creative puzzle game that offers a visually stunning experience through hand-drawn, artistic graphics. Players engage with clever, innovative mechanics involving the manipulation and combination of image tiles on a 2x2 grid, requiring out-of-the-box thinking beyond traditional logic puzzles. The game's short duration of approximately 2-3 hours is a common theme, with many recommending it as a concise yet memorable journey.
The narrative is presented without text, relying on surreal, symbolic imagery and sound to evoke emotion and atmosphere, allowing players to interpret the story individually. While the puzzles are challenging and rewarding, the game maintains an accessible difficulty level that keeps the flow smooth and engaging. Technical performance is noted as flawless, enhancing the immersive experience. Overall, Gorogoa is praised as a masterpiece of puzzle design and artistic expression, though its brevity might affect replay value for some.
Players highly praise Gorogoa's innovative puzzle mechanics that challenge spatial and aesthetic reasoning in a fresh way. The hand-drawn, beautiful art style is often described as sublime and timeless, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere. The storytelling through surreal imagery and sound is considered emotionally moving and masterfully done without the use of words. The game's smooth controls and flawless technical performance further enhance the experience, making it a standout title in the puzzle genre.
The most common criticism concerns the game's short length, with many players noting it lasts only 2-3 hours, which might not justify full price for some. A few players found some puzzles to be inconsistently difficult, ranging from very challenging to quite easy, which could disrupt the pacing. Additionally, the lack of explicit story explanation leaves some players wishing for clearer lore or narrative context. Replayability is limited due to the linear and concise nature of the game, and some players suggest waiting for sales to improve value for money.
Gorogoa is an elegant evolution of the puzzle genre, told through a beautifully hand-drawn story designed and illustrated by Jason Roberts. Winner of Debut Game at the 2018 BAFTA Games Awards, as well as Best Mobile Game and the Innovation Award at the GDC 2018 Choice Awards.