Psychonauts

 PC
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 786 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 661 out of 786
  2. Mixed: 89 out of 786
  3. Negative: 36 out of 786
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  1. The_D4RknesS
    Jul 30, 2023
    9
    This game is unique! The characters are so weird that the game was funny, the way the devs used the scenery is mind blowing, the story is great, the graphics are good, gameplay The freedom that the game gives in the camp is sensational. The only thing I didn't like about this game were the bosses.
  2. lizardkingg
    Jul 21, 2023
    10
    Incredibly inventive & downright delightful. Purely fun & an exciting story. A top tier PS2 classic.
  3. BenjaminMettang
    Jul 17, 2023
    8
    Cool puzzle and platforming game with a very good story and unique humor. Controls can be a bit frustrating, but given the game is almost 20 years old, thats okay.
  4. TheLinkgirl
    May 26, 2023
    8
    Defying definition and expectations is something Psychonauts loves to do, and while I feel the game doesn't land every bullseye, I think that some of its most fantastic elements and moments are going to be things I talk about for a long time. Where the game is a 3D platformer at heart, it loves to stretch that idea about as far as it can, and isn't afraid to just be absurd. I found myselfDefying definition and expectations is something Psychonauts loves to do, and while I feel the game doesn't land every bullseye, I think that some of its most fantastic elements and moments are going to be things I talk about for a long time. Where the game is a 3D platformer at heart, it loves to stretch that idea about as far as it can, and isn't afraid to just be absurd. I found myself adoring many aspects, and even though one or two levels did tire me out, it's evident that Psychonauts is a fantastic game that can't be described to someone who hasn't played it before. Its a truly one of a kind game.… Expand
  5. PanchaMiguela
    Mar 3, 2023
    10
    This game is just almost perfect, great humor, world, gameplay and story, only issues is the collectibles and how complicated they are to find at points, they are hard to see in the world and the game only tells you the total, in one of the worlds I spent like 2 hours to get the last figment I was missing, this only affects completionists and a minor nitpick, so still think it deserves a 10.
  6. AntiqueGull
    Nov 14, 2022
    10
    Очень креативный и весёлый платформер,некоторые моменты понимаешь только спустя года, жаль что игра провалилась финансово.
  7. MetalGearLiquid
    Aug 15, 2022
    9
    I played a lot of 3D platformers and I thought this game would be the same as the other platforming games boy was I wrong. It is a truly unique game that you must play once in your life. The story is amazing and the gameplay is really clever. I recommend this game to every platforming fan no matter how many platforming games you have played this game will surprise you.
  8. Relenea
    Jul 11, 2022
    8
    Psychonauts günümüz için gayet oynanabilir, başarılı, kaliteli, ayrıca özgün ve çeşitli bir yapıya sahip, özellikle türü sevenler tarafından kesinlikle deneyimlenmesi gereken bir platform oyunu.
  9. CharlesDuchemin
    Feb 24, 2022
    8
    A very special game, even 17 years later. Platforming lovers, don't miss it.
  10. ErayTellezi
    Feb 9, 2022
    8
    Her bölümde farklı mekanları, değişik oynanış mekanikleriyle, yaşattığı gelişim hissiyle ve tabii yetişkin mizahıyla oldukça beğendiğim bir iş oldu. Kontroller ve karakterin onlara tepkisi çok az eskimiş gibi dursa da hala çok iyi. Beynine girdiğimiz her karakterin dünyasının kendine özgü olması hakikaten beni şaşırttı. O konuda çok iyi iş çıkarmışlar.

    Godzilla olup şehrin altını üstüne    Her bölümde farklı mekanları, değişik oynanış mekanikleriyle, yaşattığı gelişim hissiyle ve tabii yetişkin mizahıyla oldukça beğendiğim bir iş oldu. Kontroller ve karakterin onlara tepkisi çok az eskimiş gibi dursa da hala çok iyi. Beynine girdiğimiz her karakterin dünyasının kendine özgü olması hakikaten beni şaşırttı. O konuda çok iyi iş çıkarmışlar.

    Godzilla olup şehrin altını üstüne getirdiğimiz bölüm ve bir komplo teorisyeninin zihnine girdiğimiz bölüm hakikaten unutulmazdı.    … Expand
  11. FRIST_008
    Jan 18, 2022
    10
    Сыграл в психонавтов типа щейфера. С патчем на решейдер. В общем очень круто. Явно 10/10 балов, так как я выполнил все достижения. Так она мне понравилась. Да это может быть 9 баллов в 2022, но в 2005 и в 2015 это 10 из 10. Это игра, которую я по своей системе оценки смело рекомендую к прохождению. Озвучка ставится отдельно и она шедеврально выполнена. Количество кат сцен, оригинальногоСыграл в психонавтов типа щейфера. С патчем на решейдер. В общем очень круто. Явно 10/10 балов, так как я выполнил все достижения. Так она мне понравилась. Да это может быть 9 баллов в 2022, но в 2005 и в 2015 это 10 из 10. Это игра, которую я по своей системе оценки смело рекомендую к прохождению. Озвучка ставится отдельно и она шедеврально выполнена. Количество кат сцен, оригинального сюжета просто невообразимо для того года. Даже сейчас, так много кат сцен и диалогов не делают. Это простенький платформер в духе спайроу с путешествем по уровням в псевдо открытом мире.

    Но сама суть игры, путишествие по мозгам других людей, а там всё очень оригинально, так как мозги больные у людей, а мир сам, не совсем как бы... человеческий, и с людьми, что развязывает руки авторам максимально=)) Не смотря, на вроде как - детскость, в игре есть взрывы мозгов и поджигание белок и других милых животных в издевательско-развлекательнр-необязательных целях=) потому гипербализм в сторону того, что игра и детская, и нет - тут присутствует очень прямой.

    Как минимум эта та игра, которую я бы советовал именно попробовать. Вдруг это ваше=) Потому, как платформеры в принципе всегда были про геймплей, а тут у нас очень забавный мультик вырисовывается из-за количества кат сцен ещё.    … Expand
  12. mightybaseplate
    Jan 7, 2022
    8
    Fantastic platformer narrative that seems way ahead of it's time, this game has aged very well and the PC port is perfect.

    I got stuck on some of the platforming sections and puzzle sections that seemed kind of cheap at the time
  13. Mister04
    Nov 17, 2021
    10
    Great game
  14. aragorn77
    Oct 29, 2021
    9
    Full of originality in its story and level design. The controls are a little imprecise, but I still enjoyed playing the game in preparation for Psychonauts 2.
  15. Shimmeywill
    Oct 17, 2021
    8
    A solid charming platformer with good music, characters and writing in an interesting world.
  16. Augusto
    Oct 9, 2021
    8
    Unbelievable how this is a 2005 game. There is so much attention and care with every detail. A must play for every one. Not giving a 10 just because of the clunckyness of the controls
  17. ViridianPenny34
    Sep 14, 2021
    10
    I finally passed the Psychonauts. I heard about this game when I was very young and didn't understand much about games, but even then it interested me in its style and gameplay. In my comments on the game there will not be much description of the gameplay, it will be more a squeeze and a declaration of love for this game. For me, as for a person who for 4 years could not find a game that II finally passed the Psychonauts. I heard about this game when I was very young and didn't understand much about games, but even then it interested me in its style and gameplay. In my comments on the game there will not be much description of the gameplay, it will be more a squeeze and a declaration of love for this game. For me, as for a person who for 4 years could not find a game that I would think about outside the house, at work, at school, on a walk, this game has become the hidden diamond, from the existence of which I am pleased to spend every day. The game is incredible in its plot, incredible in style and in its mechanics, namely in a large number of mental abilities. The game is worked out to the smallest detail, there are a lot of dialogues and they are all interesting to listen to. I'm not a fan of listening to dialogues in games, but I made an exception for this game and did not regret it. I also like that the game offers a challenge in the form of puzzles, where you need to use your abilities to the maximum, and in fact, you will not immediately guess what you need to use to pass them, but when you study the game and the work of abilities, the solutions seem ingenious and simple. After that, I would like to say that every smoke and objects that can be lifted are located around you for a reason, working with the environment in this game is done in moderation and, in my opinion, you do not need more. If you are tired of game conveys, online grinds and games made to earn money, I advise you to pass this game, because every cell of this game speaks about the love of developers for their world and the game. And you feel this love, and you yourself are imbued with feelings for it that you can hardly express in words, they can only be felt.… Expand
  18. Traxillion
    Sep 11, 2021
    8
    One of the most original games out there.

    A must-play for anyone who likes games of this genre despite some clunkyness.
  19. gotterpotter56
    Sep 8, 2021
    9
    Очень годный платформер! Насколько же эта игра разнообразна и интересна. Даже в 2021 году эта игра чувствуется отлично. Лучший платформер, в который я когда-либо играл (а я играл мало платформеров ).
  20. Rato0r
    Aug 30, 2021
    8
    Ich wollte Psychonauts nachholen bevor ich mit dem 2 Teil anfange leider spiel ich den 1 Teil aber nicht fertig und werde den 2 Teil anfangen den leider wurde ich mit Teil 1 nicht ganz warm.
    Das ist wirklich schade den vom Artdesign und den Ideen ist Psychonauts ein echt klasse Spiel gehört zum besten was ich in spielen bisher gesehen habe. Leider kann ich mich mit den Gameplayschwächen    Ich wollte Psychonauts nachholen bevor ich mit dem 2 Teil anfange leider spiel ich den 1 Teil aber nicht fertig und werde den 2 Teil anfangen den leider wurde ich mit Teil 1 nicht ganz warm.
    Das ist wirklich schade den vom Artdesign und den Ideen ist Psychonauts ein echt klasse Spiel gehört zum besten was ich in spielen bisher gesehen habe. Leider kann ich mich mit den Gameplayschwächen nicht abfinden.
    Das Spiel war beim erscheinen glaube ich steuereungstechnisch nicht das beste zur damaligen Zeit und mit dem Alter wurde es nicht besser.
    Und obwohl mich das vor dem, durchspielen abschreckt freue ich mich jetzt auf Teil 2 den das ganze Artdesign mit einer vernünftigeren Steuerung wird bestimmt klasse.    … Expand
  21. moth7ek
    Aug 27, 2021
    10
    اسطورية وحدا من افضل الالعاب الي لعبتها بحياتي
  22. WboxSeriesX
    Aug 27, 2021
    10
    One of the greatest platformers ive ever played, heavily improved from the first game
  23. Dariabi2020
    Aug 20, 2021
    10
    i don't know how i didn't play this game sooner. but this game is great even after all these years. level design, character design, everything is great
  24. TheHambro
    Jul 8, 2021
    8
    Psychonauts, how did I ever miss this gem? I didn’t have any interest whatsoever to try this, but what pushed me over the edge was the announcement of its sequel. I’m glad I did. You can call it your typical 3D platforming collectathon, but where it truly shines are its level design and humor. Each level, at its core, has you jumping, collecting stuff, and fighting the big bad boss atPsychonauts, how did I ever miss this gem? I didn’t have any interest whatsoever to try this, but what pushed me over the edge was the announcement of its sequel. I’m glad I did. You can call it your typical 3D platforming collectathon, but where it truly shines are its level design and humor. Each level, at its core, has you jumping, collecting stuff, and fighting the big bad boss at the end. Got it. But, each level is unique; it’ll throw a different mechanic at you every time, so no two levels will ever feel the same. It’s fantastic. Not only that, it’s cleverly funny. I know you’ll enjoy this, so get it. Now to get my hands on the sequel….… Expand
  25. Gilel
    Jun 8, 2021
    10
    Very epic good game, if you have not played it then you are fake gamer. Seriously tho it’s actually very good and has amazing writing
  26. SuperkenGaming
    Jun 4, 2021
    9
    Psychonauts
    getting stuck in your mind
    Psychonauts is an 8 and a half hour long 3D platformer where you play as raz.. youre a psychis and youre at this camp to hone your psychic abilitites and become a psychonaut… and I absolutely loved this game from start to finish.. it feels like youre in an interactive cartoon from the late 90s or early 2000s, the humour, the voice actin, the    Psychonauts
    getting stuck in your mind
    Psychonauts is an 8 and a half hour long 3D platformer where you play as raz.. youre a psychis and youre at this camp to hone your psychic abilitites and become a psychonaut… and I absolutely loved this game from start to finish.. it feels like youre in an interactive cartoon from the late 90s or early 2000s, the humour, the voice actin, the perasonality of every character in the worlds.. I absolutely loved it… eventually brains strat getting snatched up so youll be going on a journey to get them back.. and along the way youll need certain items to progress and to get those items you have to teleport into the minds of different charatcers and deal with their demons, their insecurities, really anything that’s holding them back emotionally.. and every mind feels unique.. this is ultimately a 3d platformer with light combat aspects.. youll unlock new psychic abilities as the game goes on,giving you new ways to interact with the world… but no 2 levels feel the same, and I love that especially for a 3d platformer… every level here is memorable, youll be faced with different obstacles and problems to solve, and I love it.. one moment youll be floating through the air and rolling on a ball, and the next youre inside of a board game…
    the only issues psychonauts has is that it is in ways. But only in a couple of ways stuck in time.. I did have to check a walkthrough a couple of ytimes to figure out where to go or what im supposed to be doing to do damage to a boss.. as in a good and bad way.. bosses are all different and cant be damaged in the same way.. this is great when it comes to boss variety, but I feel I would’ve appreciated some cinsistancy in this aspect of the game.. especially since dying will cause you to restart the battle completely, and there are multiple stages and the way to damage the boss isn’t even consistent within its own battle…
    overall though psychonauts is pure nostalgic magic, this over 15 year old game is worth going back for before the sequel comes out.
    I give Psychonauts
    an 8.5/10    … Expand
  27. UncleEd
    Feb 14, 2021
    8
    Psychonauts is often considered one of the most underrated games ever due to the poor sales, but I tend to disagree although I will admit it’s a pretty good game. It is great in some aspects and mediocre in others and your experience will depend on how much you love the good so you can tolerate the bad. It is a Tim Schafer game so aesthetically it’s beautiful with its Tim Burtonesque artPsychonauts is often considered one of the most underrated games ever due to the poor sales, but I tend to disagree although I will admit it’s a pretty good game. It is great in some aspects and mediocre in others and your experience will depend on how much you love the good so you can tolerate the bad. It is a Tim Schafer game so aesthetically it’s beautiful with its Tim Burtonesque art style combined with Lucas Arts humor. Sounds like the perfect game, doesn’t it? Well, yes and no.

    Gameplay is just mediocre at best. It is often a platformer and at times a puzzle game, both of which are not well implemented. Controls and camera are not good but tolerable except some specific levels (if you are playing with a controller that is). But the combat, puzzles and platforming all feel quite dull. There are many sections where you need to just collect stuff without any entertainment value. Boss fights are not memorable either. All levels play very different from each other and you will find some levels that you enjoy quite a bit and others you may simply hate. My favorite one was Black Velvetopia, followed by Waterloo World and Lungfishopolis. I particularly disliked the infamous final mission Meat Circus and funny but frustrating Milkman Conspiracy.

    In conclusion, you will probably love the cinematics, story, characters and overall writing. Despite its shortcomings, it is definitely a memorable experience, but I wouldn’t call it underrated. Gameplaywise, Psychonauts is nothing special. Your final experience with Psychonauts will depend on what aspect of a video game is more important for you.    … Expand
  28. gamerz4life
    Sep 27, 2020
    9
    Classic and just old fashioned ‘PS2’ fun, Psychonauts is a “Collect it all-story driven platformer” and it succeeds on all of those mechanics. Psychonauts has exciting story (with primary missions and a lot of side missions in different areas around the maps), and actually pretty entertaining platforming (with different powers and abilities to achieve getting around levels and collectingClassic and just old fashioned ‘PS2’ fun, Psychonauts is a “Collect it all-story driven platformer” and it succeeds on all of those mechanics. Psychonauts has exciting story (with primary missions and a lot of side missions in different areas around the maps), and actually pretty entertaining platforming (with different powers and abilities to achieve getting around levels and collecting items).

    I would go so far as to rank Psychonauts among one of the preeminent titles of the (collecting/platformers) of its day and even currently (it still looks actually pretty spectacular taking in the fact it was launched in 2005!). I would even go so far to say it ranks above the ‘Spyro’ series in my opinion.

    Pros: Story, Platforming, Puzzles, Control Mechanics

    Con: Can get redundant if played in long play thru runs with no break. Sometimes the camera does not help, (it reminds you it was on the ‘PS2’).    … Expand
  29. Babekon12
    Aug 16, 2020
    10
    Mükemmel bir oyun. Şuana kadar oynadığım en iyi oyun sanırım. Eski meski değil. Sadece mükemmel. Tek sıkıntı pc portunda biraz grafik bugu var. O da sadece bende var sanırım. Onun dışında mükemmel.
  30. Edco0328
    Jul 31, 2020
    9
    Pyschonauts | Aug. 1, 2020 | [★★★★]

    I did not expect this to be this good when I started it. This has a writing & production par with a Nickelodeon show while having a story setting of the movie Inception. The aging graphics really not bothers me since they're not aiming for a realistic approach and yet the world felt more alive than most games I've recently played. Really good    Pyschonauts | Aug. 1, 2020 | [★★★★]

    I did not expect this to be this good when I started it. This has a writing & production par with a Nickelodeon show while having a story setting of the movie Inception.

    The aging graphics really not bothers me since they're not aiming for a realistic approach and yet the world felt more alive than most games I've recently played.

    Really good voice acting and even though the game was targeting young audience, You could still enjoy the humor it brings. I just hope that the sequel still stays true to the nature of this gem.    … Expand
  31. ignacior95
    Mar 23, 2020
    10
    One of the most innovative and genuinely charming games I have ever played. Besides being my favourite Shafer work.
    A very interesting and funny platform/adventures game that has barely aged over these 15 years. Still as fun to play as when it was released.
  32. Xzenor
    Mar 4, 2020
    9
    I really loved this game! It doesn't even look that bad considering its age (2005!).
    Great story, fine gameplay. A little issues with the camera once in a while but not really a lot.
  33. curzon_dax
    Dec 21, 2019
    9
    This game deserves a 9, not a 10, not an 8, and I'll tell you why. First of all it's extremely underrated since it's almost unknown compared to its quality, being one of the best platformer games in the history of gaming, with extremely good variety and even originality and a well all-rounded game that even balances difficulty and length of the game very well. However, it is definitelyThis game deserves a 9, not a 10, not an 8, and I'll tell you why. First of all it's extremely underrated since it's almost unknown compared to its quality, being one of the best platformer games in the history of gaming, with extremely good variety and even originality and a well all-rounded game that even balances difficulty and length of the game very well. However, it is definitely imperfect because at least the sociological aspect of the game, namely the relations between the characters in the story and the characters themselves while they are are relatively good they are not perfect and at times they try too hard to seem cool but they aren't that cool but it's not that bad at that though.… Expand
  34. Criiich
    Jul 27, 2019
    10
    Best game ever made hands down! I love this game play it every once in a while been a fan for 14 years
  35. YoloDuckTV
    Feb 5, 2019
    10
    Psychonauts is the most creative video game experience of our generation. Every idea the developers throw at the wall, sticks and provides a unique experience that anyone can enjoy. Tim Schafer an the boys at double fine had a brilliant vision for an adventure game about going into the minds of the characters, and it just works. Everything about the game works. Honestly the few negativePsychonauts is the most creative video game experience of our generation. Every idea the developers throw at the wall, sticks and provides a unique experience that anyone can enjoy. Tim Schafer an the boys at double fine had a brilliant vision for an adventure game about going into the minds of the characters, and it just works. Everything about the game works. Honestly the few negative things i have to say about the game is just nitpicks. For example some of the enemies are just frustrating and feel like a chore to deal with, like the mountain lions that set you on fire or all the enemies in Gloria's mind. Also there is a point in the game where you have to farm for arrowheads to get a cobweb duster (which you need to progress in the game), its honestly so stupid I don't know why they put it in the game, it feels like a major halt in an overall cohesive experience. Another issue is how some of the psychic abilities are just never used. Like you have the levitation which you use all the time to get more height on your jump, and the telekinesis which is utilized on a bunch of boss fights. Then you have invisibility and clairvoyance, which are only used once, especially invisibility which i only used once. At least clairvoyance has a whole level centered around using it. I swear you only use invisibility once to get past a crow. Obviously that's just a bit of hyperbole, but you get the gist. One more I can think of is that the controls can feel a little dated, like the LT targeting when it flips the camera around in a 360. But other than those I can't think of many more flaws. Now let's talk about why it's so good. THE GAME IS SO **** CREATIVE. Every single level introduces something new and it's just a treat to play. Let's talk about a lot of people's favorite level. The Milkman Conspiracy. First of all the ascetic of the level is incredible, I like how the town is in a spiral and flipped upside down and you can go in all the houses, which doesn't do **** but its still cool. But the crème de la crème is the gameplay, The whole level is centered around figuring out who the milkman is, so there are these detectives everywhere but their vision is **** so if you're holding a stop sign, they'll think you're a road worker. If you're holding a plunger, they'll think your a plumber. THIS IS SO CREATIVE. And every level is like this. Except for the tutorial ones, but even those are creative in their own right. In Napoleon's stage you are playing a strategy game against the real Napoleon, and you have to recruit different board game pieces to your army. In Edgar's stage you have to help him build a house of cards to see this girl, and fight a bunch of luchadors along the way. Every level introduces something new, some new aesthetic, and new characters, and it's a joy to play through. The voice acting and characters are really good too. Steven Horvitz does a great job voicing Razputin and adding more personality to his character. I was surprised how good the dialogue between the characters were too, I thought most of the dialogue would be much more dated than it was, but it's good, and Raz drops some zingers as well. One final note I want to say is that some of the speedrun glitches are easy and fun to do as well like the flying glitch or the water skip. Also you should buy it. The game is like 10 dollars on steam, and like 1 dollar when its on sale. Honestly there is not much more I can say, this game is a masterpiece, and there honestly no other game like it. Playing this game has made me an immediate fan of the series, and I can't wait for the sequel. Don't **** it up Double Fine, because the demo looked like **** 10/10… Expand
  36. HarrySatschel
    Dec 14, 2018
    9
    I had a great time with this game. It truly is a case study in imaginative level design. There are so many memorable moments and details within the story & levels.
  37. RagingPoet
    Aug 27, 2018
    8
    Psychonauts is an amazing platformer/adventure with stylish visuals that look good even today, great characters and original story.
    The only problem for me was that I don't really like 3D platformers and I am terrible at them. So the last level of the game was just way too difficult and frustrating.
  38. TitaniumDragon
    Apr 26, 2018
    10
    Psychonauts is a classic 3D platformer where you play as Rasputin (AKA Raz), a boy who runs away from the circus to go to a psychic summer camp, run by international secret agents with psychic powers. But all is not well, as an evil dentist is stealing the brains of the campers to put into psychic death tanks, in a bid to take over the world.

    Yes, it is one of *those* kinds of games.    Psychonauts is a classic 3D platformer where you play as Rasputin (AKA Raz), a boy who runs away from the circus to go to a psychic summer camp, run by international secret agents with psychic powers. But all is not well, as an evil dentist is stealing the brains of the campers to put into psychic death tanks, in a bid to take over the world.

    Yes, it is one of *those* kinds of games.

    Psychonauts is, at its heart, a comedy; this is a game full of witty dialogue, silly-looking characters, an absurd but still somehow logical plot, and silly challenges. The core of the game is diving into the minds of various characters and helping them work out their internal mental issues. Given that most of the characters you do this with are insane, this leads to a wide variety of pretty absurd levels, from a level where you play as a giant monster in a city full of lungfish, to a twisted conspiracy theorist level where secret agents wear paper-thin disguises while conspiring against the girl scouts, to a level where a primma donna’s ego refuses to perform on the internal psychic stage due to a critic complaining about their performance. This is not, in other words, a game that takes itself very seriously, but in so doing, the player is able to enjoy a wide variety of unusual and very silly challenges that make good use of the game’s mechanics.

    Mechanically, you can jump, double-jump, and use the “levitation” power to jump much higher and float down at a slower speed. As Raz is an acrobat, you can also can swing around on bars, climb selected walls (covered with netting or similar things), and climb some objects. There are also some “on-rails” segments where you jump on a railing or similar thing and coast down along it, sometimes jumping between parallel rails or across gaps in the track.

    The game doesn't really do anything spectacular with its 3D platforming; the platforming is mostly competent, with a few odd hiccups here and there, but the game is never really all that clever with its platforming. There are a few moments where you have to make some overly precise jumps, but mostly the game errs more on the easier side of things. The game is at its weakest when it is leaning on its 3D platforming.

    There is combat in the game, and indeed, there is a pretty wide variety of enemies – a shocking variety, in fact, considering that most games like this have a very limited variety of enemies, and that the game itself is not all that long. The enemies are mostly very easy, and it is mainly a matter of figuring out what you’re supposed to do the first time, then applying it. To the game’s credit, the game knows its combat is easy, and doesn’t actually swarm the players with pointless enemies; indeed, the game is pretty sparse on its enemies on the whole.

    This is a good thing, because the game believes in giving you powerful psychic powers, and unlike most games, which give you super awesome powers that are seldom useful, these powers are pretty much always useful in situations where you’d expect them to be. The invisibility power turns you invisible, and enemies genuinely cannot see you; the shield power will block any attack as long as it is up. You can kill most enemies with the ranged shot attack, set them on fire with pyrokinesis (the ability to set things on fire with your mind), or pick them up and throw them with telekinesis, and when you can’t, it is usually clear why. Only the bosses really restrict your attacks on them by and large, but even then, your shield and invisibility powers still work just fine.

    The game expects you to use these powers to solve various (mostly simple) puzzles, and while they aren’t really complicated (mostly using 1-2 powers to solve), they actually feel kind of nice, as while they’re pretty trivial, it makes it feel like your powers are actually meaningful.

    In the real world, wandering around the camp and the nearby obligatory abandoned insane asylum, you can talk to your fellow campers, spy on them with invisibility, try to set them on fire with your mind, pick them up with telekinesis, and show them various items, all to get various silly reactions out of them. The location and dialogue of the NPCs changes between missions, and exploring around the camp has you stumble upon various little encounters and conversations which give the game the opportunity to characterize your fellow campers, as well as the people in charge of the camp, all of which are very silly. While most of the characters are deliberate 2D stereotypes, they’re gloriously hammy and spend a great deal of time chewing on the scenery.

    This game’s greatest weakness is likely the core gameplay itself. While the game is enormously creative, and gives the player an excellent variety of landscapes to explore, the actual levels are at times hit and miss.

    If you are looking for a mechanical masterpiece, this is not it. But if you seek heart and humor, look no further.    … Expand
  39. shadowpoker
    Apr 25, 2018
    9
    Original and fun game with nice art, fun story, interesting game mechanics. It have a few problems with some levels seems repetitive but it is very enjoyable.
  40. Claytality
    Nov 10, 2017
    9
    Great environments, collectibles, platforming, abilities, characters and humor combine to form an amazing adventure. The levels are unique and incredibly creative.

    There are several puzzles, and I found myself stuck a few times, but it makes for a good challenge. There are a lot of cutscenes, which can be annoying. A few control difficulties, for example while grinding on rails    Great environments, collectibles, platforming, abilities, characters and humor combine to form an amazing adventure. The levels are unique and incredibly creative.

    There are several puzzles, and I found myself stuck a few times, but it makes for a good challenge.

    There are a lot of cutscenes, which can be annoying.

    A few control difficulties, for example while grinding on rails it can be difficult to jump off. Sometimes Raz falls off poles or refuses to grab onto them.

    Cost $1, played for 25 hours (collecting all items), will replay every few years for the rest of my life. Highly recommended.    … Expand
  41. FromKanga
    Aug 2, 2017
    9
    Psychonauts is a very charming game and it still holds up.
    The story was weird but charming and unique, it has a lot of dark humor and it works really well.
    The characters were likable, I thought that Raz had a really annoying voice but I do found his character to be enjoyable, the other characters were over the top but really fun and entertaining. The gameplay is fun, it's a    Psychonauts is a very charming game and it still holds up.
    The story was weird but charming and unique, it has a lot of dark humor and it works really well.
    The characters were likable, I thought that Raz had a really annoying voice but I do found his character to be enjoyable, the other characters were over the top but really fun and entertaining.

    The gameplay is fun, it's a platformer with great level design, there is a great sensation of progression when you unlock a new power and a new area, the worlds you travel in are all unique and look different from each other, my only problem is that the camera can get annoying.

    I didn't know what to expect with this game but I'm so glad I gave it a chance, it's unique, it's funny, it has great gameplay and a great story and I highly recommend it.    … Expand
  42. turbotapok
    Jun 21, 2017
    10
    "Inception" the game
    and the BEST GAME DESIGN EVER!
    Incredibly creative classic in which must-play!
    __________________________________________________
  43. thealexmott
    Mar 26, 2017
    10
    The most creative and hilarious 3D platformer I've ever played, and I didn't touch it until 10 years after its release! Worth playing if you're a fan of games like Banjo-Kazooie and Ratchet & Clank, or if you're a fan of creepy kid's show humor like Invader Zim.
  44. josiahstick
    Nov 30, 2016
    10
    My FAVORITE GAME OF ALL TIME, and probably one of the BEST GAMES EVER. Okay, not the best game ever, I'll admit it, but I would like to think it is. The PC controls suck, yes, but if you use an Xbox controller it's no problem. This was never meant to be a PC game anyways, it was designed for consoles, and if you play it with a controller the way it was meant to be played it is an absoluteMy FAVORITE GAME OF ALL TIME, and probably one of the BEST GAMES EVER. Okay, not the best game ever, I'll admit it, but I would like to think it is. The PC controls suck, yes, but if you use an Xbox controller it's no problem. This was never meant to be a PC game anyways, it was designed for consoles, and if you play it with a controller the way it was meant to be played it is an absolute dream. Pretty literally in fact, considering what the game's actually about.

    There are a lot of platformers out there which, I'm sure, are mechanically much better than this. By today's standards the physics are wonky, the graphics, which often evoke a very unique modernistic 60s style, are quite dated, but the story? The characters? The worlds, the secrets, the twists? Awesome. Such an excellent well-developed world, full of mystery and intrigue, it all feels like the best cartoon show never made. I'm so glad they're making the sequel because there are a ton of things they touched on in this game which they could only have scratched the surface of back in 2005 - that plus the agony DF went through developing this game (which is recounted in a documentary retrospective on their YouTube channel). And there are so many hidden things in the overworld, lots of conversations and events that keep me coming back from time to time to revisit the characters and their stories - though I'm pretty sure I've seen most if not all of it by now.

    I could honestly go on about it for ages, but what could I say that hasn't already been said? Just play it! (P.S. The final level really isn't that hard when taken out of context. It's just a bit of a difficulty spike from the rest of the game. Look up how to do it on YouTube once. I find that after beating it one time it's VERY VERY doable the second time around. It's not even the whole level, it's really only two fifths of the entire level that are hard - the escort mission, and the rising water obstacle course, and both are reasonably easy once you know the way through. If you love the game enough just keep trying. It's not impossible, and the payoff, the completing of this awesomely awesome game and the culmination of its excellent story, is HUGE.)    … Expand
  45. russiangamer
    Oct 20, 2016
    10
    Абсолютный шедевр.
    Сюжет, персонажи, стиль, геймплей, дизайн уровней, графика, атмосфера и т.п. выполнены на твёрдую десятку.
    Одна из лучших игр за всё время.
    Браво,аплодирую стоя!
  46. zzzsheepyzzz
    Feb 10, 2016
    9
    This comes very close to being a "perfect game".

    Compelling story and characters, very fun and dynamic game and best of it is intelligent and it really left an impression on me - the kind of feeling from reading a worthwhile book, or great movie, or awesome game. One reviewer said that it includes a knowledge of a Masters level of Psychology, and I think that is what makes this game    This comes very close to being a "perfect game".

    Compelling story and characters, very fun and dynamic game and best of it is intelligent and it really left an impression on me - the kind of feeling from reading a worthwhile book, or great movie, or awesome game.

    One reviewer said that it includes a knowledge of a Masters level of Psychology, and I think that is what makes this game so awesome and unique; it comes from an intelligent background of Psychology and of History.

    There is room for customization for your character, and each level is dynamic and unique. The artwork is phenomenal, and the characters (and character work) grow on you. Also it is full of very witty humour along the way.

    I suppose the only flaws are that I wish the game was longer, or there was a sequel as there could be a lot more to explore with the world and the characters - although there are 'collect everything' features to this game for those who enjoy the 100% completion.

    Definitely a must play for any single-player advocates!    … Expand
  47. tggjordan
    Jan 19, 2016
    10
    Game is amazing whole time playing was pure ecstasy great game #2 will be even better this games combination of humor, storyline , and gameplay simply put orgasmic not much can compare to good ol' psychonauts 10/10
  48. choderman
    Jan 19, 2016
    10
    Psychonauts is the greatest game of all time, nothing can be compared to it. It's about as good as The Last of Us is bad. Absolutely cannot wait for Psychonauts 2 to come out and finally have a new amazing game on the market
  49. Sir_Swag117
    Jan 19, 2016
    10
    Raz has the same voice as Zim from the TV show Invader Zim. That sold me on Psychonauts. Good gameplay etc. etc. the creativity etc. generic praise here.
  50. imnotyourguy
    Jan 15, 2016
    8
    Let's tackle this one thing at a time.First off,the gameplay is very solid.It doesn't reinvent the platformer per se,but it incorporates the main character's psychic powers so well into itself that it feels kinda original.Though,using telekinesis can be a bit inprecise.The art style is pretty cool and very reminiscent of Nightmare before Christmas.The game's main attraction is theLet's tackle this one thing at a time.First off,the gameplay is very solid.It doesn't reinvent the platformer per se,but it incorporates the main character's psychic powers so well into itself that it feels kinda original.Though,using telekinesis can be a bit inprecise.The art style is pretty cool and very reminiscent of Nightmare before Christmas.The game's main attraction is the writing,which is awesome.Every character is memorable and there are some legitimately funny moments(mostly in funny comebacks,not resorting to toilet humour or racism.Much like any joke that you'd see in a Saturday morning cartoon),although the game isn't very emotionally evocative.This game is just here for you to have a good time.That being said,this game is nothing close to simple when it comes to creativity:some levels and some characters will be embedded in your mind for a long time.If I had to name one bigger problem with the game,it'd be the difficulty.It's way too easy throughout most of it,and then at the end it ramps up like hell.However,in the end,this game is good and you should play it.… Expand
  51. TheAcidBoot
    Nov 27, 2015
    9
    Psychonauts is a masterpiece! Now I usually wouldn't give a game such a high rating however I truly believe that Psychonauts deserves it. This game plays out kind've like a Pixar animation just much much darker. Like be prepared for some dark stuff in this game. The story is top notch and entertaining. The gameplay is great aswell. The characters are all interesting and funny. The music isPsychonauts is a masterpiece! Now I usually wouldn't give a game such a high rating however I truly believe that Psychonauts deserves it. This game plays out kind've like a Pixar animation just much much darker. Like be prepared for some dark stuff in this game. The story is top notch and entertaining. The gameplay is great aswell. The characters are all interesting and funny. The music is amazing! My only complaint with Psychonauts is that the first few hours of the game feel more like a tutorial rather than actual gameplay. But other than that this game is great. I would rate it a 9/10. A must buy!… Expand
  52. djball
    Jul 24, 2015
    9
    I would say one of top 5 pc games ever created, next to NOLF1, Dues Ex1, Grim Fandango, Diablo 2.

    It's a dirty filthy whore near the end, but just keep trying! Most people drop out at meat circus, so test your old school skills to the max! Difficulty is beyond insane, be warned. Good Luck young brainless campers!
  53. ThatCooperGuy
    Jun 27, 2015
    9
    Everyone should go buy this game right now.
    Seriously. It's on Xbox Live, PSN(America only), and Steam for just $9.99. It's a very under-looked game that needs more attention.
    GO NOW. PLAY IT.
  54. Steeldude
    May 29, 2015
    9
    Easily one of the best platformer games, in Psychonauts you play as Raz, a boy that has unique psychic powers and wants to become a Psychonaut (something like a super hero). In order to do that, he has gone to a training camp. This game excels in story telling, humour and the overall complexity. You can walk around the camp and talk to all children, you will be visiting people's minds toEasily one of the best platformer games, in Psychonauts you play as Raz, a boy that has unique psychic powers and wants to become a Psychonaut (something like a super hero). In order to do that, he has gone to a training camp. This game excels in story telling, humour and the overall complexity. You can walk around the camp and talk to all children, you will be visiting people's minds to solve their problems and take part in uncovering the huge conspiracy that's happening in the world.

    The platforming in this game is simply brilliant and level feels completely different and is filled with unique ideas. Just to give you an example, you'll visit a level that is basically a large cube, as the person whose mind you're going to visit is an organized one.

    Combat is fun as well and there are a lot of things to collect in this game if you are a fan of that. You'll be acquiring new powers and abilities as you go, making you a better and better fighter. The game is pretty long, the art style is great, the story and characters are simply phenomenal, all the levels are unique and varied and the game never stops to be great fun. if you haven't played this game yet and you like platformers, this is your dream come true.

    I didn't gave this game a 10 because of the following reasons:
    - No sequel even though the ending suggests continuation
    - Some portions can be quite annoying (such as the bull level, good luck finding everything there)
    - The bosses are too easy
    - The controls are not always precise    … Expand
  55. RiotKnight
    Mar 17, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I remember seeing this advertised a bit as a kid in the year 2005. Seemed pretty popular, but never got to play it myself. However, recently Steam had one of those NSFW (Not Safe For Wallet) Sales going on over Thanksgiving Weekend and I saw this in the list of games with discounts. So I bought it along with a bunch of other games I may never get to play any time soon. I would just like to share some of the experiences I had playing it.

    You play as Rasputin (or just Raz for short), a 10 year old boy with psychic powers who runs away from home to avoid his father's prejudiced attitude towards psychics. He ventures into Whispering Rock Summer Camp to learn how to become a Psychonaut. Psychonauts are a group of individuals capable of using psychic powers and do so for the greater good (i.e. super heroes). Now they don't quite accept Raz at first, but they see he has incredible potential as they can't even read his mind even with their combined efforts. Thus Raz begins to learn how to utilize his psychic abilities.

    Now this game is more of an adventure type of game with some puzzles involved. You enter people's heads and make your way through their subconscious, their memories, and all of their thoughts. The gameplay itself was nicely done, but the best part of the game is what you see. I saw the thoughts of a man who dreamt of being in the military, so his mind reflected a battlefield with tanks, planes, bombs, land mines, and ...rabbits? Whatever. You can see some of the more personal thoughts by unlocking vaults. It is revealed that even though this man dreamt of being a 5 star general, he never became one because he never got into the military. He was rejected due to being too short.

    I saw many other things in other people's heads and noticed how it affected their behavior. For example, this one person was a simple night guard, but what was really off about him was his constant muttering and the strange drawings surrounding him. He seemed to be trying to connect clues and hints to answer one question: "Who is the Milkman?" The level representing his thoughts consisted of TONS of private investigators looking for something (or someone) and objects that followed you everywhere! This place made me very paranoid and some locations I couldn't enter without the right "disguise." These disguises were literally just items. No clothing, just items. Apparently holding a plunger makes you look like a "Sewer Maintenance Worker" to these identical and ubiquitous investigators. Also running around were these little innocent looking girls selling cookies. Some of them could be found whispering into bushes, trash cans, and dog houses as if they were talking to someone. They just looked crazy to me.

    But then it all began to make sense after viewing one of the vaults. A person who looked exactly like the night guard was seen in the vault lighting a bottle of milk and using it as a Molotov Cocktail Explosive! It suddenly dawned on me that the man whose mind I occupied IS the Milkman! The investigators represented his mind searching for the conspirator and the little girls symbolized his innocence and ignorance for this man was blissfully unaware that he had done such things. Once everything had been fixed and settled, I left and the night guard seemed more stable. He still lit the building on fire, but at least he found out who he was.

    This may seem like a pointless thing, but get this: things like this can apply to reality. Granted, we cannot venture into the minds of other people physically, but through therapy (also known as "communicating") we can find out a person's mental issues and fix them. Anyone who is mentally sick is genuinely sick and curable! We don't just let them destroy themselves.

    But that epiphany aside, this game was amazing. The characters are memorable, the gameplay was smooth, the levels were well designed, the difficulty didn't spike too high or fall too short of expectations, and not once did I think "When does this end?" in a negative way. I really didn't want it to end. I felt like I only explored just a few of the minds. Maybe a sequel or spiritual successor of this game will be made.    … Expand
  56. andrew0w
    Dec 2, 2014
    9
    Psychonauts does what few games can manage to do, have a good story, great comedy, and fun game play. This game is a diamond in the rough that everyone should play.
  57. FrannyFantastic
    Nov 15, 2014
    9
    Easily one of my five favourite games. Psychonauts is genuinely funny, remembering that idiosyncratic characters have always been key to good comedy. I was also impressed by the big themes that the game tackled: mental illness, child-parent relationships and trauma being among them. For all this Psychonauts is never heavy-handed or frivolous in its treatment of these concerns.

    The    Easily one of my five favourite games. Psychonauts is genuinely funny, remembering that idiosyncratic characters have always been key to good comedy. I was also impressed by the big themes that the game tackled: mental illness, child-parent relationships and trauma being among them. For all this Psychonauts is never heavy-handed or frivolous in its treatment of these concerns.

    The gameplay is incredibly solid, keeping enough variation to keep the audience engaged. Each level offers different challenges and objectives, never lingering too long at a certain point, but without straying from core mechanics. I wouldn't say it's perfect, and it times the 'collect-a-thon' elements are a bit tiresome, but aside from this Psychonauts is a game of incredible merit and creativity.    … Expand
  58. DarumaBlue
    Aug 9, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Psychonauts is a big game for such a small team. Most of the time the gameplay is engaging and fun, and the storyline has a kind of whimsy to it that I miss from my childhood days of gaming. Still, there are hiccups to the gameplay - places where it's no longer fun, but a slog. Notable mentions include the Lungfish level, the Bonaparte level, and a few boss battles which are devastatingly boring. These are matched by some utterly brilliant levels including the arduous but curious Milkman level, as well as one of my favorite levels ever: Black Velvetopia. A good mix, and overall a great game, especially considering you can pick it up for the price of a couple of tacos these days.… Expand
  59. ritardedartkid
    Jul 5, 2014
    10
    Aside from a few poorly explained controls this was a really fun and original game. The plot is strange, the dialogue is humorous, and the levels each offer something new and different from one another. Unfortunately, the cutscenes are low res, but for a game from 2005 that's to be expected.
  60. GameWizard
    Apr 20, 2014
    10
    Psychonauts is one the best games I have ever Played because it is fully original, it is just plain fun and so much more. If one of your friends says it is a bad game don't listen to them!
  61. whatthefunk
    Mar 1, 2014
    8
    The story and level design certainly are original, and it was fun to play. However, wonky controls and sometimes horrendous camera control bring the score down a couple notches. 20 hours of game play make it definitely worth the money though.
  62. benpaco
    Feb 6, 2014
    10
    I throw 10s around more often than I should to boost a rating of a game I really consider a 9.5 or 9.7 maybe, but there are very few games I consider perfect. This is one of them.

    The levels are mental, quite literally, the dialogue is perfectly written and well delivered, the gameplay is fun and the concept is unique. The art style, even, was like anything before it.
  63. SASteve999
    Dec 29, 2013
    10
    The writing is very funny, which you won’t see in this industry very often, because in this apparently, in this industry stupid drama is better than smart comedy. The story is very original and interesting, I don’t wish to spoil it so you will have to trust me on this one. Every character has his own personality and struggles, even the unimportant ones, which is nice to see in this land ofThe writing is very funny, which you won’t see in this industry very often, because in this apparently, in this industry stupid drama is better than smart comedy. The story is very original and interesting, I don’t wish to spoil it so you will have to trust me on this one. Every character has his own personality and struggles, even the unimportant ones, which is nice to see in this land of Mr. Johnny Testosterone Space Marine and Mrs. Sassy Action Chick.
    The gameplay is intresting, but it has it’s flaws (they might be forgivable), the psychic powers are awesome and the boss fights really require skill, every boss has it’s own weak spot, you have to deduce it by watching it’s attacks. On the other hand the camera can be a little female dog some times. The combat outside the boss fights is kind of meh. The difficulty curve is a little bit messed up, there were sequences near the end that almost made break my keyboard. However I never stopped playing it, because I really wanted to see the ending, and I haven’t left disappointed.
    The ending promised a sequel and I really hope to see the day when Psychonauts 2 will be released!    … Expand
  64. gamerscritique
    Nov 23, 2013
    10
    Just started a metacritic account so thought I'd jot a quick word about one of my all time favourites games: Psychonauts. Funny, artistic and lovable. The fact that this games makes use of innovative platform mechanics can help but come second to the fact that the characters and comedic writing is so captivating. We love it.
  65. putnamehere
    Aug 11, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. probably the most original game ever, psychonauts was one of my favorites growing up. i got it on steam and all i can say is, i understand why i liked it so much. you play as a kid named raz, short for razputin, a kid who has phychic abilities. so you naturally run away from your home (the circus) and sneak in the camp. after a funny intro sequence, you can explore the overworld. there's not much in it yet, but it's fun to collect arrowheads, the games currency, in between levels. you soon discover where the levels take place, in peoples minds. after you beat the first level named "basic braining" you can explore the whole camp. you soon get invited to special training by psychonaut sasha nein. so after you go to his training facility you get in his mind and unlock psi blasts. the next levels have you going in your own mind, having to leave the the level twice to unlock powerups to progress. eventually your love interest lilli gets abducted by a lake monster called a lungfish. after a meh boss you go in it's mind where you are a godzilla monster named goggalor with one objective, destroy everything. you soon befriend the lungfish (her name's linda) and she takes you to an insane asylum conveniently placed near the camp where all you have to collect your fellow camper's brains. the minds you go through consist of a level where you try to solve a mystery and find out who the milkman is, a theater, a risk style board game featuring fred and napolean bonaparte, and my favorite, black velvetopia, a place that has you joining wrestling matches to build a tower of cards and fight a bull. once you climb up to the end of the asylum, you meet sheegor, who is voiced by tara strong also, raz is voiced by the person who was invader zim). you soon fight your corrupted camp leader's brain in a "brain tank". but once you win, the tank pours out sneezing powder that causes you to sneeze your brain out. you then launch your brain in the tank and your minds collide, causing the next and final level to be a mix between both your minds. this level is also notoriously hard and honestly, i don't see why. even as a kid i beat it without dieing once. after that you fight the last boss, but not before you unlock your super form. while this boss is easy, it's epic. then the game is over.… Expand
  66. TacoTM
    Aug 1, 2013
    10
    Easily my favorite game. The story and characters are awesome. The gameplay and voice-acting are top notch. The soundtrack is AMAZING. Wish I could rate it higher Still waiting on that sequel Double Fine; will pre-order it, hands down.
  67. Palfrei
    Jul 28, 2013
    9
    The gameplay involves the usual 3D platforming and we can resort to several psychic powers to ease our journey through the minds of several unstable people; unstable people with hilarious personalities and dialogues [yes, personalities for one person, I'm talking about crazy people here]. Besides jumping, moving and shooting there's the usual item and money fetching and we can level up ourThe gameplay involves the usual 3D platforming and we can resort to several psychic powers to ease our journey through the minds of several unstable people; unstable people with hilarious personalities and dialogues [yes, personalities for one person, I'm talking about crazy people here]. Besides jumping, moving and shooting there's the usual item and money fetching and we can level up our character by using psycards and mental cowebbs in weird machines.

    What makes this game shine above others, besides the sense of humour, is its level design. Each level is a crazy world on its own and they range from a Godzilla-sentai level to a meat-filled circus and, my favourite, a Waterloo-battle game board. In this level, we go from the traditional board perspective requiring to move pieces [with our psychic powers] to actually being inside the board world as if it were a regular a level and we keep going between these two "dimensions" of gameplay.

    There are some issues with the default controls, especially if you are using the keyboard-and-mouse combination but, fortunately, we can customize almost everything and even the camera pitch, which is extremely important for me since I prefer the inverted vertical control.

    Graphically, the game looks vibrant and the engine handles things well. It is a pleasure to look at the characters and levels because they have been cleverly designed with a lot of "personality".

    Psychonauts is a platformer like many others but its heart does not lie in its platforming roots but in its "psychoticness".

    Funny story, crazy characters and witty level designs make it a must-play

    Give it a try!

    ---o---o---o---

    Graphics: 8.5

    Music: 9

    Story: 8.5

    Control: 7

    Gameplay: 9

    Art: 10

    ///------TOTAL: 9 [rounded]------///    … Expand
  68. starise
    Jul 19, 2013
    10
    One of the best games of all time. The plot is unusual and original. Dialogues and situations are full of old style adventure's characteristic humor. The gameplay is fun, never boring, gives the ability to use many kinds of gadgets and mental power, exploring various and colorful places through the "mind" levels of the characters, dreamlike, insane and brilliant at the same time. AnOne of the best games of all time. The plot is unusual and original. Dialogues and situations are full of old style adventure's characteristic humor. The gameplay is fun, never boring, gives the ability to use many kinds of gadgets and mental power, exploring various and colorful places through the "mind" levels of the characters, dreamlike, insane and brilliant at the same time. An absolute masterpiece of its genre.… Expand
  69. HolyShiits
    Jun 24, 2013
    10
    I like this game. Get tired of 2D platformers and found out this is good, 3D platformers still wins in many ways to me. In the 2D platformers all i got is just, walk left, right, jump up jump down, which kind of boring to me. I'm using a joystick to play this game, excellent gaming experience. The graphic are nice, I like the way the game developer do the things in this game. Great and aI like this game. Get tired of 2D platformers and found out this is good, 3D platformers still wins in many ways to me. In the 2D platformers all i got is just, walk left, right, jump up jump down, which kind of boring to me. I'm using a joystick to play this game, excellent gaming experience. The graphic are nice, I like the way the game developer do the things in this game. Great and a must play game.… Expand
  70. Lomax
    Jun 3, 2013
    10
    I love Psychonauts it is the best game I have ever played. The funniest level was the Milkman Conspiracy. And my favourite level was Lungfishopolis. It is so amazing and imaginative.

    You should check it out too.
    (Louisa Sweeney London, Aged, 7).
  71. wnbowen
    Mar 8, 2013
    10
    The most unappreciated game of our generation. This game is a perfect example of what makes games fun. This game made me feel the way I did as a kid first discovering games. Genius humor and level creation. I have never laughed harder or been more surprised by plot twists. I cannot recommend this game enough. I have set this game as a benchmark for every game I play from then on andThe most unappreciated game of our generation. This game is a perfect example of what makes games fun. This game made me feel the way I did as a kid first discovering games. Genius humor and level creation. I have never laughed harder or been more surprised by plot twists. I cannot recommend this game enough. I have set this game as a benchmark for every game I play from then on and they all fall short. Long live the Milk Man.… Expand
  72. Pie4Pigs
    Dec 26, 2012
    10
    Psychonauts is an unforgettable experience. Its humor and art style is superb, and when everyone who plays it says that it's amazing and underrated, they're telling the truth. It feels like a cartoon/movie that you want to watch over and over again. The characters are likable, especially the main character, Rasputin. In fact, every character has voice acting, which was very impressive forPsychonauts is an unforgettable experience. Its humor and art style is superb, and when everyone who plays it says that it's amazing and underrated, they're telling the truth. It feels like a cartoon/movie that you want to watch over and over again. The characters are likable, especially the main character, Rasputin. In fact, every character has voice acting, which was very impressive for a platformer like Psychonauts. The gameplay is entertaining, the only downfall being some odd controls. You can move around just fine, and fighting is quite fun, but switching between psychic powers can feel a bit odd. The graphics are very stylized and look quite nice, even if they are currently outdated. You'll come across glitches every once and a while, but all the problems Psychonauts have are forgivable. The charm it has is borderline excessive, and even though I only really finished the game a year or so ago, I feel overwhelming nostalgia for it. The game really dos a good job of entertaining and bringing back that childhood wonder you may have once had for games. The MAIN drawback is that this game will, most likely, have no sequel. But it's cheap, so buy it for yourself, and any friends who may want it too.… Expand
  73. fedak
    Nov 23, 2012
    9
    I originally played this back on the original Xbox and it remains one of my favorite games of all time. The storyline and art style of Psychonauts just oozes with originality and the characters are some of the most memorable ever to appear in a game title.

    As a platformer, this is a pretty standard Mario style
  74. elhive
    Oct 1, 2012
    10
    Imaginative, creative, hilarious, charming, beautiful, and fun! These are the traits Psychonauts has to offer. But would you expect anything else from Tim shafer? It baffles me how well Double Fine have made this game. Not just from a technical view point, Psychonauts is a genius game. The humor and dialog are some of the best I have seen in videogames, and the characters and story blendImaginative, creative, hilarious, charming, beautiful, and fun! These are the traits Psychonauts has to offer. But would you expect anything else from Tim shafer? It baffles me how well Double Fine have made this game. Not just from a technical view point, Psychonauts is a genius game. The humor and dialog are some of the best I have seen in videogames, and the characters and story blend together in a most fitting way. There are so many lovable characters in this game, and each has something unique of their own. You get to get into the minds of various folks during the game, and each has a special vision in their brains. The story is fantastic, and geniuanly forces you to keep going. So much creativity and originality is here, I can't recommend it enough. If you like games that aren't conventional, or games that break the mold, this one is like no other. It aged very well, graphically, so you won't have a problem playing it today. A videogame masterpiece.… Expand
  75. SirDrake
    Sep 26, 2012
    10
    Best game I ever played! The characters are fantastic, the plot is crazy as the level disegn... A strange and funny travel in the maze of our minds. Is Tim Schafer a genius? Maybe... but this game is really perfect in every aspect. Congratulations to all the team that worked in this beautiful piece of art.
    Please, don't miss this masterpiece of irony and level design!
  76. CannibalBob
    Aug 8, 2012
    9
    Pleasantly satisfying gameplay is combined with beautiful environments, outstanding humor and an interesting and developed story to make Psychonauts a must have for gamepad owners! The memorable adventure at 30 hours completion with 100% achievements on Steam makes Psychonauts quite the bang for your buck.
  77. NerdHero
    Jul 22, 2012
    10
    Bestes Jumpn Run Game das ich kenne !!! :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
  78. oda_krell
    Jul 21, 2012
    10
    Psychonauts is one of the best games ever made. In the same league with, say, Bioshock and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. It is incredibly funny, brilliantly written and designed, and was a huge amount of fun. That said, the jump&run game play is not always perfect, and sometimes frustrating, so it's not perfect. But the brilliance of the story, the visuals, and the writing make up forPsychonauts is one of the best games ever made. In the same league with, say, Bioshock and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. It is incredibly funny, brilliantly written and designed, and was a huge amount of fun. That said, the jump&run game play is not always perfect, and sometimes frustrating, so it's not perfect. But the brilliance of the story, the visuals, and the writing make up for small-ish game play problems, at least for me. If you've never played it, do it now!… Expand
  79. Wherewolf
    Jul 17, 2012
    9
    Just purchased this game for next to nothing on Steam and played through the first 'mission.' I almost wish I'd paid more! It's such good fun, the creators really do deserve credit for this. It looks so sharp and fresh even though it's 7 years old, voice acting is very good and the script is funny too. A lighthearted and enjoyable game, just what you need when you have to have a break fromJust purchased this game for next to nothing on Steam and played through the first 'mission.' I almost wish I'd paid more! It's such good fun, the creators really do deserve credit for this. It looks so sharp and fresh even though it's 7 years old, voice acting is very good and the script is funny too. A lighthearted and enjoyable game, just what you need when you have to have a break from killing orcs or bringing down the combine :) It's a 10/10 for it's genre, but rating it 9 because I think that only games like Bioshock and Half Life 2 really deserve full marks... Nonetheless, a happy game that I know I'll keep coming back to.… Expand
  80. GameDragon
    Jul 11, 2012
    9
    In my latest obsession with indie games, this is the best one I've played so far. The concept of going into people's minds and gaining clues, sorting their emotional baggage, and just looking around in the "world as they see it" is fun and interesting (as well as creative). One of the levels is the mind of a mutated lungfish; it doesn't get much more creative than that! It's much easierIn my latest obsession with indie games, this is the best one I've played so far. The concept of going into people's minds and gaining clues, sorting their emotional baggage, and just looking around in the "world as they see it" is fun and interesting (as well as creative). One of the levels is the mind of a mutated lungfish; it doesn't get much more creative than that! It's much easier to play with a controller than the keyboard, but there really aren't any problems with the keyboard, either. The camera angles are a little strange and takes some getting used to (especially in the last level), but there are more positives than negatives with this game. The cut-scenes range from curious to hilarious, and though it feels short before the main plot is revealed, you still get to know a good amount of the characters. Some parts require thinking, and the last level really takes patience, but it's just the sort of game that you can play over and over again.… Expand
  81. R-Q
    Jun 12, 2012
    10
    Up to date, this is the best platform game I ever played. Maybe not in terms of gameplay - there are some performing as well - for example Rayman 3, Kao the Kangaroo or various console platformers. But visual aspect of Psychonauts, themes and motifs make this game a piece of modern art. I highly recommend this inspiration for "Inception" movie.
  82. zalzane
    Jun 1, 2012
    10
    Extremely impressive game, was amazed at how well the graphics look considering it's essentially a ps2 port. Biggest issue with the game is the menu navigation, which are pretty much on par with skinning a bear with a carrot. 9.6 rounds to 10.
  83. megamormonman
    May 29, 2012
    9
    Psychonauts was one of the best games of the new millenium decade. It makes it right up there on my top 5 games of all time list. In the way of Art Design, the game is incredibly stylized with no two NPC's looking alike. The writing that went into these NPC's is also fantastic, making each character memorable and unique. Voice acting was great, but a few more lines were needed, as I foundPsychonauts was one of the best games of the new millenium decade. It makes it right up there on my top 5 games of all time list. In the way of Art Design, the game is incredibly stylized with no two NPC's looking alike. The writing that went into these NPC's is also fantastic, making each character memorable and unique. Voice acting was great, but a few more lines were needed, as I found characters repeating lines too often. Controls are smooth, but the terrain can trap you into a slide move when you landed there by accident. The game is largely a 3rd Person Platformer with puzzles and combat done through the various psychic powers you get during the game. On my first playthrough, I had trouble with something that should never happen in a video game. When you go to a store, the merchandise should be an optional item you buy, not required to progress. It turns out you NEED to buy an item, and it just so happens to be the most expensive item in the shop. You have to KNOW to save up your currency. The setting for the game is a summer camp for psychics as an overworld, and the main levels of the game are inside people's minds. For example, there is a mind that looks like a war zone, a mind that looks like a theater, and a mind that looks like a board game. The difficulty curve of the puzzles dramatically increases at one point of the game to where it becomes a 90 degree angle. Some of the platforming gets difficult later on in the game as well, and if you aren't experienced, you will die. A LOT. But these faults are dramatically overshadowed buy the good, which is the writing which is legitimately funny, the voice acting, the art, and something that is rarely seen. The gameplay is actually FUN. So many games out there just aren't FUN anymore. They try to convince you otherwise with multiplayer or a good story, but if the gameplay is bad, then we're only fooling ourselves. I know I focussed more on the bad than the good in this review, but in a review, I need to say what went wrong so if a sequel is ever made, it will be done right. I do want a sequel, seeing as the story ends on a cliffhanger, and I would love to see what other ideas there are for the inside of minds. I want to see the mind of a gamer, the mind of a professor, the mind of a computer technician, or heck, the mind of an Amish person could be hilarious and imaginative. But like I said, this game makes it on my top 5 list easily, and it's definitely worth your money and with a campaign that is about 4 hours for a $10 game, it surely worth your time.… Expand
  84. joltmans
    May 3, 2012
    10
    Great game. Lots of fun moments, humor and challenges. You have to be careful not to blaze through the main challenges in the game and take some time in between each person's mind/level to explore the camp and interact with all the characters. The achievements for this game are a lot of fun but can be very frustrating when tracking down those last few figments.

    Works wonderfully with an    Great game. Lots of fun moments, humor and challenges. You have to be careful not to blaze through the main challenges in the game and take some time in between each person's mind/level to explore the camp and interact with all the characters. The achievements for this game are a lot of fun but can be very frustrating when tracking down those last few figments.

    Works wonderfully with an XBox360 game pad.    … Expand
  85. Helmore
    Apr 5, 2012
    8
    Certainly doesn't have amazing graphics but it does have a good art style. The gameplay is... a bit bland and clunky. I can't give this more than a 8, it's just not that well. Fun.
  86. flamedance58
    Mar 12, 2012
    8
    A great game with a fun graphic style and great sound to go with it not to mention the gameplay that is interesting and unique. The UI is also in the cartoon style and it sometimes is a bit awkward to use but why would the game have the UI any different from it's art style? Lotsa collectibles and fun storyline.
  87. conboydude
    Feb 21, 2012
    10
    As a nostalgic thrill I decided to play this game again, not remembering the great humor fun combat and creative story I loved this game. The incredible mind of Tim Shaefer is yet to disappoint me.
  88. Eekle
    Feb 10, 2012
    10
    One of the best platformers out there, if not the best. No review is needed, just take my hearty recommendation and buy this game. Anyone that tells you otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about.
  89. themacmeister
    Feb 10, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In my 3D gaming life, I only have three 10/10 games. Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, and Psychonauts. Apart from being one of the most humorous games you will ever play, it is the sheer joy of the surroundings, music and dialogue, that will keep you coming back again and again.

    The art style is perfect for the action adventure genre, and it has the settings for higher end graphics cards that will turn the game into a visual masterpiece. I remember playing this with a medium strength Radeon 9800SE, and then trying again with a GeForce 9800GT at Full-HD with all eye-candy enabled... It was incredible to behold.

    Not to give too much away, but the final stage of the story was not thoroughly play-tested, and has some issues with camera positioning, visibility and difficulty level. In fact, the Meat Circus level is so much harder than all levels that came before it, you may well consider it impossible to complete.

    Be patient, and keep trying, as the reward of completing this game, is well worth the effort (and multiple deaths incurred). Once completed, you can play this game many more times, and just walk around listening to interesting and humorous chatter among the other characters.

    This game is a true classic, and was shamefully overlooked on original release. This game is still available for original XBOX, Playstation 2 and PC (via GOG.COM or Steam), so do yourself a favour and reserve a good few weeks to fully appreciate (what I consider to be) a milestone in adventure gaming.

    10 out of 10    … Expand
  90. NeTw0rK
    Feb 9, 2012
    10
    How many times have I passed this game? Million! And every time I passed this game with pleasure! A wonderful game... Suitable for gameplay characters, original graphics, great story... Excellent, just excellent!
  91. jcdoll
    Feb 8, 2012
    9
    I was pleasantly surprised by this game. It starts off slowly but by the third 'stage' the game is just incredibly fun and creative. There are more than few annoying, whining kids in the very beginning of the game but they quickly vanish. Most of the later stages are extremely fun and memorable.
  92. Howrus
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    Craziest game I ever played. At first it looked like Metroid in 3d, with exploration, collecting powers and more exploration in newly available areas. But game is much more, for example undersea pursuit - I didn't see such race in games at all. So if you don't afraid to play in non standard game with very non standard graphics - when you will enjoy this game.
  93. SigneGT
    Dec 20, 2011
    10
    This game is my favourite game in the whole universe. It is so good, filled with humor and exciting stuff to do. I swear the money spent on this game will not be a waste, it's a Tim Schafer classic and it's gorgeous from beginning to end.
  94. Xman490
    Dec 13, 2011
    8
    This 3D platforming game is superb from its creative and colorful levels to its complex and conflicted characters. As the boy Raz, you learn eight different psychic abilities for combat and exploration that range from floating around to burning things. However, the troublesome controls due to many buttons being used, the annoying camera setup, and the relentlessly difficult final levelThis 3D platforming game is superb from its creative and colorful levels to its complex and conflicted characters. As the boy Raz, you learn eight different psychic abilities for combat and exploration that range from floating around to burning things. However, the troublesome controls due to many buttons being used, the annoying camera setup, and the relentlessly difficult final level kept me from absolutely loving it.… Expand
  95. Locras
    Dec 7, 2011
    8
    This is one of those games that people either love or hate. Where you fall depends on whether you care more about somewhat lacking controls or about a creative, unique story and quirky characters. Psychonauts may have below average gameplay, but they are never game-breaking and, at least for me, the story and environments keep me immersed and laughing throughout the entire game. The storyThis is one of those games that people either love or hate. Where you fall depends on whether you care more about somewhat lacking controls or about a creative, unique story and quirky characters. Psychonauts may have below average gameplay, but they are never game-breaking and, at least for me, the story and environments keep me immersed and laughing throughout the entire game. The story is also genuinely funny. The music is nothing special in most cases and at time, some of them can get annoying. The bottom line is: if you want an adventure that will stay with you, long after you stopped playing and you can get over the less-then-perfect controls, $10 is a steal for Psychonauts.… Expand
  96. Rewe
    Oct 14, 2011
    10
    Brilliant. Simply brilliant. This is what a platformer should be. It is one of the most original and fun games I have ever played. If you're a fan of platformers, you should buy psychonauts right now. My only real complaint is that the camera angle can sometimes screw you up at ONE point in the game, but that's it. When that's the only discernable flaw that a game has, it deserves a 10.
  97. wewantsthering
    Oct 10, 2011
    10
    One of the most creative and fun games ever created! Everyone owes it to themselves to play this game. The character dialogue is compelling and humorous and the storyline is epically strange.
  98. Trashware
    Oct 1, 2011
    10
    First of all: Get this game. Really. If you're even remotely interested in either adventure or platform genre, get this game. Here's why Psychonauts gets a (almost) perfect 10 from my account.

    I love games that delve into the psyche of one another, and Psychonauts does so in a very clear and fun way. Possibly inspired by Being John Malcovic you simply place a door on someones head and    First of all: Get this game. Really. If you're even remotely interested in either adventure or platform genre, get this game. Here's why Psychonauts gets a (almost) perfect 10 from my account.

    I love games that delve into the psyche of one another, and Psychonauts does so in a very clear and fun way. Possibly inspired by Being John Malcovic you simply place a door on someones head and then you can step right in. Each character you enter has his or own -mostly traumatic- issues you get to deal with, causing each level to be completely different in terms of style and goal. So instead of your typical "go and fetch me a shrubbery" type of quest it's more like "jump inside and put my mind straight"

    This game has what I think is the Tim Schafer signature in terms of dialogue, humor and originality. Meaning you get the same feeling when playing the first Monkey Island or Sam and Max games, or Day of The Tentacle. Yet it's not a point and click adventure game, since you're running around in a 3D environment playing all kinds of acrobatic stunts (after all, you were raised as an acrobat). Psychonauts combines my two favourite genres, adventure and (3D) platforming, adding a compelling and original storyline and interesting, divers characters. There's a big gaming world for you to explore, and you'll never guess (right) what's coming next. The voicecasting is awesome imho, and graphically this game does not let down in any way. I do have to admit one thing though: I have never finished it. The very last level was just too hard for me, and I got frustrated every time. I believe it also had to do with some weird camera angles at that point which didn't work out for me. Nevertheless I didn't find that reason enough to rate this game any lower than 10. It's just that much fun.

    So now that it's ont steam I'll be buying this gem again. Who knows, maybe I'll actually get to finish it this time..    … Expand
  99. ElPresidenteTim
    Sep 14, 2011
    10
    Outside of the tediousness of collecting the outlandish number of collectibles, Psychonauts is one of the most overlooked platforming gems to have ever been made. The art and general look of this game is very reminiscent of a Henry Selick film right down to the characters having exaggerated legs, arms and defining features. It's just a shame that there won't be a Psychonaut 2 in the future.
  100. Bigmageusa
    May 27, 2011
    10
    While the controls are in need of improvement on the PC, the game itself is a wonder to behold. With a very innovative world and combat system, the game continues to be a high point in the world of 3D platformers. With a few small adjustments to the camera, this game could be one of the best games of all time.
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best PC Game of 2005
9
#9 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
9
#9 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. GameSpot
    84
    Psychonauts doesn't reinvent the platformer, but it still delivers an experience that feels wholly original in every aspect of its execution.
    Read full review
  2. 1UP
    90
    It's a brilliant debut for Double Fine, and here's hoping it's just the start of what we can expect to see from them.
    Read full review
  3. Computer Gaming World
    90
    A triumph of art direction, a prime example of exquisite aesthetics and of how well an imaginary world can be beautifully conceived.
    Read full review
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