Aphelion

Aphelion is a cinematic masterclass in storytelling. From the very beginning, you can tell that every moment of the game will be important. While it can't seem to keep up that same sort of engagement in the moment-to-moment gameplay, it works well enough to keep driving you forward. A short and enticing space-age mystery thriller that can satisfy from a story standpoint, but leaves a little to be desired in terms of gameplay.

Aphelion is a thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi adventure of loss, desperation, survival, and importantly, hope. Despite a few very late-game wobbles, this is one mission for humanity you should undertake.

Aphelion is an adventure that shines far brighter for what it tells and how it presents itself than for what it asks you to do with the controller. Don't Nod has crafted a fascinating setting in Persephone, a survival story driven by human relationships that hooks you in, and an atmosphere that grabs you through its soundtrack and visual design. But the mechanics that support that experience, the constant climbing and the stealth segments with the Nemesis, fail to evolve enough and end up becoming the weak link in an otherwise very solid chain.

It’s a game I’d recommend with caveats: Adjust the settings, be patient, and expect to die more than you think you should. If you can meet it halfway, there’s something worthwhile here.

Aphelion confirms Don't Nod's versatility and its determination not to remain confined to a single genre, venturing wherever the studio's imagination feels the need to go. However, this adventure on the planet Persephone—in terms of both its gameplay and narrative components—ultimately does little more than scratch the surface of the ice of which it is composed, without ever truly breaking through it. The result is a work that attempts to weave together themes of survival, responsibility, and human connection against the backdrop of an environmental crisis, yet struggles to fully develop its own core concepts. Nevertheless, it remains an intriguing experience—particularly for that segment of the audience seeking a more intimate and grounded science fiction story.

According to Aphelion, it all comes down to hope. If that were truly the case, Don’t Nod’s latest title would undoubtedly reach soaring heights. But much like its characters, the game must confront the harsh reality. It is not always an easy feat to reconcile narrative intensity with video game mechanics. On the narrative front, it delivers—despite a certain lack of originality. Yet, in many other respects, Aphelion lacks the precision that would have allowed the title to leave a lasting imprint on players' memories—and not just those of narrative game enthusiasts. It is thanks to its realism and its handling of emotions that it nonetheless succeeds in offering a rewarding journey through its own vision of space. It is an enjoyable space vacation, featuring a few particularly memorable moments—though the memory of it will surely eventually fade with time, much like the silhouette of a planet on the horizon.

Aphelion is far from the next classic Don’t Nod game, but fans of the studio will likely have a good enough time with it. The concept and narrative execution are strong here, but so much of it is bogged down by gameplay segments that made me wish I could skip like a cutscene.

Aphelion is the most classic of DON'T NOD's games. On paper, but also in practice, it lacks everything to be a good title, but at the same time it lacks the magic, the originality, the quality necessary to shine. While Remember Me and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden undoubtedly represent two of the French studio's finest achievements, not to mention the usual Life is Strange, this sci-fi adventure falls behind those titles. While there are no major flaws, and while the game strives to offer sci-fi fans an experience comparable to Interstellar, Solaris, or Deliver Us Mars, for a game primarily focused on story, it lacks a twist, a completely convincing and engaging level of writing, and the digital direction and top-notch sound are all missing. The gameplay is just okay, completely lacking in depth and even repetitive over long periods, especially in the sections where you play as Ariane. With Pragmata and Saros vying for the attention of sci-fi fans, Aphelion risks coming away with more broken bones than it deserves. It's not a bad game, but it certainly chose the worst time of year to try to win over genre fans with its slim, yet undeniable, qualities.

An experience that I don’t think even DON’T NOD fans will enjoy, firmly in the “play it and forget it” category, and if it’s remembered at all, it’ll only be for its ending.

Aphelion offers a compelling sci-fi premise and an immersive soundtrack, but stumbles in its execution. What should be an emotional and epic journey ends up getting lost in a rushed pace and repetitive gameplay, which turns exploration into a tedious climbing (or mountaineering) simulator.

Aphelion turned out to be one of those games that I really wanted to love, but unfortunately started to dislike more as time progressed. DON'T NOD's marvelous UE5 showcase and its excellent Interstellar-like soundtrack can only do so much to disguise the flawed climbing and stealth gameplay mechanics.

Aphelion is hugely ambitious, but saddled with an unengaging narrative and dated mechanics that result in a rare misstep for Don't Nod.

Aphelion has some powerful voice acting and a few scenes of arresting beauty and palpable tension, but its rough edges, unconvincing storytelling, and tedious repetition would make for a dull and frustrating time under any circumstances. As another game centered around climbing through a strange and dangerous alien landscape from the studio that made Jusant, it's a bitter disappointment.

Aphelion delivers a visually striking world and excellent soundtrack, but ultimately fails where it matters most – gameplay. The story never truly gains momentum and the characters feel generic, resulting in an experience that feels style-over-substance. Despite strong audiovisual presentation, the game serves as a reminder that presentation alone is not enough to carry a title.