Gorogoa

Developer : Buried Signal
Released:
Platforms :
Adventure
Casual
Indie
Gorogoa Poster

" Elegant indie adventure with innovative puzzles and stunning art but short playtime limits "

Gorogoa Review

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.

Highlights

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.

Criticisms

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.

Pros

  • Innovative and unique puzzle mechanics that challenge conventional thinking.
  • Hand-drawn graphics that are visually stunning and artistically rich.
  • Surreal and emotional storytelling conveyed through images and sound.
  • Smooth, intuitive controls that enhance gameplay flow.
  • Challenging puzzles that reward creative problem-solving.
  • Flawless technical performance with no noticeable bugs.
  • Atmospheric soundtrack that complements the game's mood perfectly.

Cons

  • Game length is very short, around 2-3 hours, limiting playtime.
  • Some puzzles have inconsistent difficulty, causing occasional frustration.
  • Lack of explicit narrative can leave players confused about the story.
  • Limited replayability due to linear progression and short duration.
  • Full price may feel steep given the game's brevity.
  • Minimal guidance can make some puzzle solutions obscure.
  • No multiplayer or community features to extend engagement.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price

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.

Release Date Dec 14th 2017
Publisher Annapurna Interactive
Developer Buried Signal
Required Age 0+
Platforms
Creative
Beautiful
Innovative
Emotional
Short

User Reviews

Overwhelmingly Positive (5,109)
96% Positive 4% Negative

Online Reviews

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Metacritic
84