Exo One

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. KeenGamer
    Dec 10, 2021
    90
    Exo One is a notably well-crafted audiovisual journey that is quite enjoyable to simply play through. While the story is lackluster and can even sometimes get in the way of the real joy of actually playing the game, it still adds some degree of depth and direction. Still, the game could do with an option to skip the story all-together and a level selection option after beating it to go back to your favorite planets. Leaving the story aside, flying through the different planets alongside your alien craft is quite an experience on Exo One. Headphones recommended.
  2. Multiplayer.it
    Nov 24, 2021
    90
    In Exo One, each world has its own characteristics, which make the journey truly unique.
  3. TheGamer
    Nov 18, 2021
    90
    As confusing as this might sound, Exo One is every bit relaxing as it is intense. Its exploration of the mysterious and deep reaches of space combined with its perfectly arranged soundtrack creates a different kind of sci-fi experience that should definitely be checked out by fans of the genre. As far as I know, this is Exbleative’s first title, but it’s an absolute banger. I’ll be eager to see future projects from the studio, science fiction-based or otherwise.
  5. PC Invasion
    Nov 18, 2021
    85
    Intriguing and startlingly original, Exo One offers a quiet, meditative experience that's both foreign and mysterious.
  6. GameByte
    Nov 17, 2021
    85
    Exo One is almost a perfect sci-fi puzzle game, let down by one poor level right in the middle. The movement, the beauty of its scenery, and the peculiarity of the narrative is something I really appreciate about video games as an art form.
  7. GameStar
    Dec 29, 2021
    82
    Exo One delights with innovation and an immersive atmosphere - if you let it.
  8. TheSixthAxis
    Jan 5, 2022
    80
    Exo One is an enjoyable other-world experience that challenges players with the mastery of an alien spacecraft. Tight controls and great physics more than make up for the odd repetitive spot, making Exo One an absolute must for anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Even without one, I’d still recommend picking it up.
  9. Guardian
    Dec 12, 2021
    80
    There are none of the dials and tickers that usually clutter the screen in sci-fi games and films: your HUD is empty save for the occasional text prompt to inform you of your distance to the monolith, or the raindrops that smear across the screen. The uninterrupted views and undulating rhythms invite a near meditative state, the thrill of which deepens as your skill at manoeuvring the craft increases. A joyous, otherworldly ride.
  10. Gamer.nl
    Dec 3, 2021
    80
    Exo One can be included in the list of most unique games that have appeared this year. Not because it is so innovative, but in which other game do you ride like a marble through the cosmos? This game puts you in a state of movement and wonder.
  11. Edge Magazine
    Dec 2, 2021
    80
    This absorbing, flawed, daringly singular adventure firmly places Weston and team among the kind of risk-taking explorers to which his game pays tribute. [Issue#366, p.120]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. Everyeye.it
    Nov 24, 2021
    80
    A very powerful experience, which can be completed in less than three hours but capable of burning itself into your eyes and mind.
  13. NME
    Nov 17, 2021
    80
    Despite offering a faster-than-light flight through the galaxy, Exo One‘s wider angle is a slower-paced and melancholy journey through a beautifully-realised cosmos. There are some issues with bugs, and the unhurried pacing won’t be for everyone, but Exo One is an unmissable voyage for those who know what they’re getting into.
  14. Meristation
    Dec 29, 2021
    78
    Visually with some breathtakings moments of space beauty, Exo One is like a No Man’s Sky made by Thatgamecompany, a journey trough beautiful alien planets where you cannot die nor lose. Where is the challenge, then? In the journey itself, a contemplating and at the same time interactive journey with a simple and accessible gameplay where gain momentum is the key to all. The story is not very well narrated and the game is simply too short, but jumping trough asteroids fields and sea worlds is definitely something.
  15. Jeuxvideo.com
    Nov 28, 2021
    75
    Despite everything, a very nice adventure to discover.
  16. Vandal
    Nov 29, 2021
    70
    Exo One is a great experience with a great concept, although sometimes its own level design can feel detrimental to its own success.
  17. Hardcore Gamer
    Nov 22, 2021
    70
    Short and sweet but in no way significantly dented by its own strict vision and run-time, Exo One‘s picturesque voyage through one far-flung planet to the next, though not without fault, is more engaging and novel than it is mildly indulgent.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Eurogamer
    Nov 22, 2021
    An otherworldly journey that runs out of things to do.
  2. Polygon
    Dec 6, 2021
    Exo One is not a mechanically deep game, nor a narratively enthralling one, but nevertheless, I see myself returning to it many times in the future. The game pulls off a fantasy I’ve heretofore only approached in my dreams: to leave all remnants of Earthliness behind and skim the surface of an alien world, the desert as smooth as polished glass.
  3. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Nov 23, 2021
    Beyond its success as a mood piece, it's tempting to recommend Exo One solely for its scenery. As a machine for generating desktop wallpapers or screensavers, it's first rate. Some of you, I feel, will love it for this alone. But as I said up top, maybe I just don't like sci-fi vistas as much as I thought I did. Long before Exo One's short three hours reached their conclusion, I just wanted it to be Exo Done.

Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Best PC Game of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 46
  3. Negative: 9 out of 46
  1. Cloneus
    Nov 25, 2021
    5
    This game is painfully average with controls that make you feel like you are constantly fighting the camera to see where you are going.This game is painfully average with controls that make you feel like you are constantly fighting the camera to see where you are going. Nothing here is new, the story is not thought provoking at all, and the worlds have the depth of a puddle. Once you get past the awe of the art style, (which is actually pretty good) you will notice that after the 3rd world which is 10 minutes in you've already seen everything the game has to offer. This makes the rest of the game a dull slog to the finish line with some levels very uncomfortable overstaying their welcome in run-time. The developers seem to have had a great idea here, but when push came to shove, they couldn't flesh it out enough to make it work well which ended in a lot of bad design decisions. I don't think this game is worth the buy and you will probably get more enjoyment watching others play this walking sim rather than playing it yourself.… Full Review »
  2. 3t3rnal
    Dec 19, 2021
    3
    Strong beginning, falls apart throughout.

    The first couple stages of the game are amazing, the quick and simple tutorial explains all of    Strong beginning, falls apart throughout.

    The first couple stages of the game are amazing, the quick and simple tutorial explains all of the necessities, and armed with the knowledge of how to move about, you set off via well crafted, atmospheric environments, supported by a wonderful, fitting soundtrack, forwards to reach the resolution of the mystery that is supposed to be the main driving force, though the story isn't anything special.

    Still, the first couple of stages feel great, the sense of movement and speed, of wonder as you roll and fly and swim through a variety of well designed (albeit upon closer inspection, a bit technically undercooked and empty-ish) environments, it simply feels amazing and I was looking forward to more.

    Oh boy, was I in for a rude awakening. After the first couple open stages with near complete freedom of movement and approaching your objectives, you are pushed into a more linear, closed in stage, forcing slower movement and requiring more precise jumps, etc. The enclosed, restricted space makes the technical shortcomings (in regards to the graphics) of the game very glaringly obvious and controlling your "probe" becomes frustrating due to the controls and camera which were good for more open spaces - and very obviously tuned for them.

    Well, this dampened my mood a bit, but hey, it's an indie, and it's just one stage so far, can't expect flawless experience and miracles, yes? Well, next stage just suckerpunched me and I just quit the game, because it was even worse - by an order of magnitude. At first glance, open space, yes! Except you are restricted to very, very, very small portion of it, and to move forward, have to do several very precise jumps which require a very specific velocity and angle, which is A) hard to determine and B) even harder to perform, due to the shape of the surface you will be moving on. After a couple attempts (and getting stuck on the last jump) I just gave up. I play games to have good experiences, not to frustrate myself due to poor design choices of the author(s). The feelings the first stages evoked were gone anyways, and there was no guarantee any of the following stages were any good.

    Also, the game is definitely not optimized all that well - considering it's full of pretty low poly geometry, blurry low-res textures, and particle effects from a decade ago, this is even worse than if it had high quality graphics. Despite running it from a near-empty nvme SSD on a pretty decent rig (R9 5900X, RX 6900 XT), the loading was a bit slow and the game would, in the first stage at least, stutter at times. It also crashed when I tried to play it with a gamepad - would freeze on the loading screen for a bit, then crash.    … Full Review »
  3. Kelen
    Aug 7, 2023
    3
    [PL]
    3/10 - Słaba
    (po graniu 2,5h i ukończeniu) Lecenie kulo-plackiem w stronę słupów światła. Na początku przyjemna i relaksująca, ale    [PL]
    3/10 - Słaba
    (po graniu 2,5h i ukończeniu)
    Lecenie kulo-plackiem w stronę słupów światła.

    Na początku przyjemna i relaksująca, ale z czasem męczy, nudzi i rozczarowuje.
    Nie warta uwagi.

    Fabuła jakaś jest i początkowo kusi byciem tajemniczą, ale jest ostatecznie bardzo prosta i niespecjalnie ciekawa.
    Cała narracja to od czasu co czasu mignięcie jakiegoś obrazka i kilka napisów raz na długi czas, towarzyszących niewyraźnemu gadaniu.

    Mechanika latania i turlania całkiem ciekawa - do przyspieszania wykorzystujemy grawitację, kształt terenu i ogólnie otoczenie.
    Poruszanie się przyjemne, dynamiczne. Całkiem niezłe poczucie prędkości.

    Czasem ujęcia znad chmur bywają ładne, ale ogólnie grafika przeciętna.

    Bywa zbugowana.
    W 6-tym etapie przeleciałem gdzieś nad górami i ominąłem przepadkiem prawie cały etap, co odkryłem oglądając "walkthrough", a najwidoczniej był to jeden z tych ciekawszych... choć za mało ciekawy, bym zaczynał całą grę od początku.
    Potem już do końca gry miałem wątpliwości, czy nie lecę gdzieś, gdzie nie powinienem...

    Dawno nie grałem w nic aż tak słabego.    … Full Review »
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