Monochroma

 PC
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 27
  3. Negative: 7 out of 27
  1. Merlin'in Kazanı (Turkey)
    May 27, 2014
    73
    This atmospheric puzzler/platformer takes you to a 50s dystopia. Playing as a kid with a little brother puts boundaries on you to go wherever you want freely. Monochroma is a great first start for the studio, but brings nothing new to this genre.
  2. Vandal
    May 26, 2014
    73
    Clearly inspired by Limbo, Monochroma is an experience fans of the former will enjoy. There are some aspects that should have been polished, but it does deserve a try.
  3. Gaming Nexus
    Jun 12, 2014
    70
    While obviously being influenced by games like Limbo, Monochroma has a flavor and story all its own. Monochroma is a good game at heart, but it's hidden under technical errors and gameplay flaws that gave me no end of frustration.
  5. Kill Screen
    Jun 6, 2014
    70
    Monochroma wants you to debate your every move, to drain you of color and splash you with hope when you play well. It’s often too quiet to know if you’re doing just that.
  6. Hardcore Gamer
    May 27, 2014
    70
    What Monochroma gets right, however, is tone and gameplay. The puzzle platforming is fun to solve once you get the feel for character movement, there’s a lot of variety in puzzle design, and some very clever level layout ties everything together.
  7. IGN Italia
    May 26, 2014
    70
    Despite being clearly inspired by Limbo, Monochroma finds its own voice and uses it to say interesting things. Sadly, its level design lacks imagination and the mechanics are a bit rough, so you should consider buying it only if you really dig its style.
  8. GameStar
    May 26, 2014
    69
    Another case of "would have been much better with more fine tuning". The botched controls and some bugs are annoying.
  9. NZGamer
    May 30, 2014
    65
    It’s a great looking game. The look and feel is wonderful and moody, punctuated with flashes of red, such as a boy’s blowing scarf or a blooming flower found at the bottom of a well. And it’s great seeing games coming out of all corners of the world. But this only makes the experience all the more frustrating.
  10. Multiplayer.it
    May 27, 2014
    65
    Monochroma is a good puzzle platformer with a remarkable artistic level, inspired by famous products such as ICO and Limbo, however, the game mechanics are sometimes affected by imprecise controls and a physics engine not always responsive. The social commitment of the developers is laudable.
  11. PC Gamer
    Jul 16, 2014
    62
    Despite some memorable imagery, Monochroma plays like a budget-price Limbo. [Sept. 2014, p.69]
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  12. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 8, 2014
    60
    The arty crust hides a tasty platformer, that is unfortunately marred by perpetual darkness. The gloomy atmosphere rules everything.
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  13. Game Revolution
    Jun 7, 2014
    60
    Amidst all the other plateaued features the game has to offer, it’s not enough to maintain sufficient buzz or convince jaded gamers not to wait for a seasonal sale.
  14. Eurogamer Italy
    Jun 5, 2014
    60
    A Limbo-like game with good visuals and inspired puzzle design, ruined by frustrating controls, poor animations and some minor bugs.
  15. Worth Playing
    Jun 30, 2014
    55
    Monochroma has the heart of a good dramatic game, but it has neither the soul nor mechanics of one.
  16. GameWatcher
    Jun 2, 2014
    55
    Nowhere Studios have an artistic eye that spoke in a unique and moving way to me at first but the technical problems voided that emotional connection and Monochroma ended up being a slog rather than a joy.
  17. Ragequit.gr
    Jun 8, 2014
    53
    To the question if Monochroma meets the high expectations raised from the Kickstarter campaign, the answer is no. However, despite the game's mediocrity, there are some glimpses of quality and since it's the studio's first attempt, there could be better results in the future.
  18. games(TM)
    Jul 19, 2014
    50
    In truth, it's an average game, with the music and the presentation proposing a more dramatic and meaningful experience than is actually manifested in the gameplay. [Issue#150, p.118]
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  19. GameFront
    May 30, 2014
    50
    Monochroma is a flawed but beautiful game that has a few shining moments, but for the most part struggles with the two most important aspects of a puzzle platformer: the puzzles and the platforming.
  20. GameOver.gr
    May 28, 2014
    50
    It is more than obvious that Monochroma's inspiration is derived -mainly- from the excellent Limbo, presenting a rather interesting dystopian world. Unfortunately the large number of bugs, the unimaginative riddles and the inability to create any interest for the fate of the two brothers make this game utterly forgettable.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 124 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 124
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 124
  3. Negative: 32 out of 124
  1. Nobilis1984
    Jun 3, 2014
    5
    Nice experiment in black and white and red
    The game is on the same principle as once Limbo. A black male running isolated against white    Nice experiment in black and white and red
    The game is on the same principle as once Limbo. A black male running isolated against white background from left to right. The color red loosens the game on but not more. The story takes players even less with like Limbo.
    The style is ok but after the umpteenth game of this type you are just fed up.    … Full Review »
  2. talhakaya
    May 29, 2014
    9
    Monochroma is the artistic puzzle platformer from an indie studio in Istanbul, that reminds Limbo and Ico. Stylish, atmospheric, emotional.Monochroma is the artistic puzzle platformer from an indie studio in Istanbul, that reminds Limbo and Ico. Stylish, atmospheric, emotional. That's what Monochroma is, to me. It tells the story of two little boys without a word. You, the older boy, need to carry your little brother through industrial landscapes, giant robots, zeppelins. You'll be running away from a big guy that keeps reappearing and gives me goosebumps every time he does. You'll be exploring a beautifully realized city, in which there are a lot to look at, and take screenshots of. What Nowhere Studios delivered is a thing of beauty. I can look at it for hours and get lost in the details of the city.

    Although the city is beautiful, doesn't mean it's not scary. There are babies in tubes everywhere, robot advertising all around and at some locations, giant statues of a dictator show itself. You'll be guessing the story yourself, because there are no spoken words in this game.

    The puzzles are well designed, not very hard but satisfying. And over your adventure, you really begin t grow some sympathy for the brothers. There was one scene that I really felt like crying, but I won't spoil that. Monochroma is about moments, surprises, characters. You are vulnerable, it seems hopeless. What can you do in a giant city with robots? How can you stay alive? There's a man following you. And he'll get what he wants.

    There are negatives about this experience. Controls are not as good as they are supposed to be. Placing jumps can be problematic. I was worried that the game might fail to communicate what it wants from me in puzzles. That was never the issue. I always knew where to go, and what to do. There were some puzzles that frustrated me because of the controls, but overall, I'm satisfied with the general quality of gameplay.

    In my book, Monochroma deserves 20 dollars. I was a Kickstarter supporter and I'm happy that I was a part of this journey.    … Full Review »
  3. samuelmason900
    May 31, 2014
    8
    if you are new to puzzle platformer 2d games then you might found this game amazing.
    but if you are veteran in 2d puzzle games you don"t    if you are new to puzzle platformer 2d games then you might found this game amazing.
    but if you are veteran in 2d puzzle games you don"t find nothing useful.yet keep the negatives aside enjoy the moody setting of the game and enjoy amazing art style. this game is like an limbo with more story and with a brother to take care of    … Full Review »
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