Kotama and Academy Citadel

 PC
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. TheSixthAxis
    Apr 14, 2026
    70
    Kotama and Academy Citadel hits the ground running and expects you to keep up from frame 1. It's a beautiful and well animated metroidvania that packs a punch when it comes to art and gameplay, but leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to creating a cohesive beginning-and-end narrative experience.
  2. Hey Poor Player
    Jan 27, 2026
    70
    I was really hoping to enjoy my time more with the game, but ultimately Kotama and Academy Citadel fell prey to unclear mechanics and incredibly challenging progression. While the adventure is quite attractive and novel in many ways, this Metroidvania fan was hoping for something much more streamlined. Here’s hoping the next adventure from Atomstring Games builds upon to good here to deliver a true knockout adventure.
  3. Cubed3
    Jan 14, 2026
    70
    A fairly by-the-book platformer where gameplay never goes to any great heights or depths. Certain small aspects regarding platforming and combat can occasionally become annoying, but these negatives aside, the art and general charm of the game is quiet compelling. The story hints at some dark sci-fi plots, and exploration is satisfying, if sometimes annoyingly difficult. The characters are especially attractive with their highly animated visual novel portraits, which gives a sense of life this genre often doesn't have. Overall, though, Kotama and Academy Citadel feels like it needed more cohesion to really come together.
  5. GameCritics
    May 14, 2026
    65
    I spent a lot of time complaining in this review because it chafed against my particular tastes for these kinds of experiences, but there’s little here that’s bad on an objective level. As such, Kotama and Academy Citadel wouldn’t be at the top of my metroidvania recommendation list, but that’s due more to the amount of stellar competition in the genre than any particular flaw of its own.