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. EddM
    Jan 17, 2010
    9
    Brilliant. Pure and simple. The game is wacky, funny, clever and above all: fun. I'm on my fifth play through at the moment and it still makes me laugh. The only issue really is the frankly insane difficulty spike over the last level or two. The game goes from fun to mind numbing slog for a half hour or so. It's no where near enough to ruin it, but it does take the shine off it! Brilliant. Pure and simple. The game is wacky, funny, clever and above all: fun. I'm on my fifth play through at the moment and it still makes me laugh. The only issue really is the frankly insane difficulty spike over the last level or two. The game goes from fun to mind numbing slog for a half hour or so. It's no where near enough to ruin it, but it does take the shine off it! Fully recommended though!… Expand
  2. KimP.
    Jun 15, 2005
    9
    Aside from Full Throttle, I wasn't a Tim Shafer junky like many. However, I *loved* this game. I thought the gameplay was original, the theme and story VERY original, and the level design was BRILLIANTLY original. The writing and voice acting was far above the quality of most game titles. There were jokes kids would find funny, and jokes that adults will get and that will go over Aside from Full Throttle, I wasn't a Tim Shafer junky like many. However, I *loved* this game. I thought the gameplay was original, the theme and story VERY original, and the level design was BRILLIANTLY original. The writing and voice acting was far above the quality of most game titles. There were jokes kids would find funny, and jokes that adults will get and that will go over kids heads. The only thing barring this from getting a 10 was that some of the boss fights, especially the last few, revert to very classic button-mash style, poor AI-driven, ones. Don't let that stop you though. One of the must play games of 2005.… Expand
  3. JasonM.
    Jun 1, 2007
    9
    Pros: Great game that is nothing like anything I played before it. Good humor, and story. Cons: The interface was clearly not designed smartly for a pc game. If you pick up this game you may also want to snag a good joystick to go with it. Some minor quest bugs that required a save and restart to fix.
  4. BenB.
    Aug 12, 2007
    9
    Very original! Thanks to Double Fine Productions for making a great game !
  5. CharlotteF.
    Mar 15, 2009
    9
    Not the longest or most technologically advanced game there is, but Psychonauts makes such a creative take on the Action/Adventure layout that you'll barely notice, with hours of witty dialogue to discover along the way. Concentrates on what games are supposed to be about - fun. Which you WILL have.
  6. MarkG
    Jul 29, 2009
    9
    The worst aspect of this game is that fact that when it was first released back in 2005 it got overlooked by the gaming public which lead the studio who created it getting closed down. For some reason people prefer to stick to what they know and play the countless Halo, Call of Duty and Tomb Raider squeals instead whereas Psychonauts is wholly originally and a great deal of fun. The in The worst aspect of this game is that fact that when it was first released back in 2005 it got overlooked by the gaming public which lead the studio who created it getting closed down. For some reason people prefer to stick to what they know and play the countless Halo, Call of Duty and Tomb Raider squeals instead whereas Psychonauts is wholly originally and a great deal of fun. The in game graphics, box art and concept do paint this game as some what 'quirky' which I guess is one of the reasons why people where initially put off this game but if you can put your first impressions aside and at least play the free demo you will find just how fun this game is. What makes this game stand out for (as has been pointed out by other reviews) is the level design, the scripting and the humour. Now whilst the gameplay isn't ground breaking it works well although I would highly recommend you use a control pad to play this game. Now I don't want to give to much away but in all my years of gaming I've never played a game like this, the ideas behind some of the levels are just fantastic with one level basically being a parody of Godzilla. Although the game is from 2005 the graphics still hold up in my opinion after all this is a platform game in the vein of Mario but unlike most games of that period it does support wide screen monitors and resolutions up to 1920x1200 within the in game options! I've even come across games this year that don't fully support wide screens yet, so, so much for the argument Psychonauts isn't a technical. The only negative aspects of this game are only minor, the camera positioning doesn't always end up where you want it and even with a control pad the controls takes a bit of getting used to. My only other gripe is the the wasn't long enough, I played it for a week but I had so much fun playing it I wanted more. If I had played this game from new I would have given this an 8/10 (due to it's length) but since it can be bought for next nothing now it gets a well deserved 9/10.… Expand
  7. JohnG.
    May 21, 2005
    9
    This game is, as some of the other user-reviews fail to note, fantastic. It's kid-friendly - no blood and guts here - but that's hardly a negative. Some of the best writing in games is on display here, along with ideas and level design that would make David Lynch and Frank Oz jealous. Buy this game; you will be happy you did.
  8. 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
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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
  19. 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.
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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!
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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.
  29. 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.
  30. 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
  31. 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
  32. 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 ).
  33. 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.
  34. 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.
  35. 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.
  36. AndrewR.
    May 6, 2005
    8
    The game brings nothing new to the table when it comes to gameplay. It is, however, very solid and gorgeous in its own way. In the end, it is absolutely charming. The characters, story, and humor are Psychonaut's strong points. It will brighten your saddest days and leave you smiling.
  37. JoshR
    Dec 16, 2007
    8
    I originally played this game way back when it was released so felt compelled to write a small review here. I've played many platform games, and while alot of the franchises out still today can be quite enjoyable I feel this game encapsulated ideas that still need to be fleshed out more to make a great platforming experience. Just as an example I really enjoy how the camp you play in I originally played this game way back when it was released so felt compelled to write a small review here. I've played many platform games, and while alot of the franchises out still today can be quite enjoyable I feel this game encapsulated ideas that still need to be fleshed out more to make a great platforming experience. Just as an example I really enjoy how the camp you play in (when not doing missions) is fairly free roaming and feels very alive with the ability to find other kids around to talk to and just have pointless (but very funny) conversations with as well as just listen to them talk to each other. There is hours of this stuff and it's very funny to listen to so you shouldnt pass that up. It's really a shame it took as long as it did to be released, which is what most say is why it didnt get the inception it deserved, and may feel a tiny bit old hat by now as it doesnt push any boundries in gameplay or really innovate anything worth noting, but it's one game I totally recommend to anyone who is a gamer but hasn't tried it. If nothing else you will enjoy the experience.… Expand
  38. 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.
  39. 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
  40. 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
  41. 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.
  42. 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
  43. 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.
  44. 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
  45. 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
  46. 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
  47. 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.
  48. 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
  49. CharlesDuchemin
    Feb 24, 2022
    8
    A very special game, even 17 years later. Platforming lovers, don't miss it.
  50. 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
  51. Shimmeywill
    Oct 17, 2021
    8
    A solid charming platformer with good music, characters and writing in an interesting world.
  52. 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.
  53. 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
  54. 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.
  55. 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.
  56. 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
  57. 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
  58. EricE.
    Jan 14, 2008
    7
    Fun little game if you enjoy old school adventure games. However I found the controls to be VERY annoying. I fought the controls of the game a lot. Definately was a conversion of a console game and it didn't convert that well.
  59. TheYeIIowDucK
    Nov 11, 2011
    7
    A below-average 3D platformer with great atmosphere, art style, plot, characters and right about everything else. There is literally no reason for anyone not to buy this game, especially for the low price it's being sold for these days. Don't be afraid of paying the required 10$, for I can assure you it'll be worth it.
  60. ChoicestGames
    Jul 4, 2022
    7
    Psychonauts is a weird, wacky platformer with a zany, but appealing art style. It's a game that was ahead of its time and yet its clunky interface reminds you that this is a game from 2005 that's basically a Tim Schafer point 'n' click adventure in platformer clothing. If the game weren't a platformer Psychonauts would have been a much more enjoyable experience for me, but the infuriatingPsychonauts is a weird, wacky platformer with a zany, but appealing art style. It's a game that was ahead of its time and yet its clunky interface reminds you that this is a game from 2005 that's basically a Tim Schafer point 'n' click adventure in platformer clothing. If the game weren't a platformer Psychonauts would have been a much more enjoyable experience for me, but the infuriating jumping puzzles and the huge difficulty spike on the last level prevents it from receiving a higher score.… Expand
  61. jim109109
    Jun 26, 2012
    7
    Psychonauts is a good game, and like many good things, it is extremely overrated. This is not a revolutionary game, nor is it a must have. It's not even "great". There are some great elements in it, like the story, the atmosphere, the dialogue, the level ideas, the humor, which are all clearly brilliant and inspired. In fact, it's amazing and better than most games. Where the game fallsPsychonauts is a good game, and like many good things, it is extremely overrated. This is not a revolutionary game, nor is it a must have. It's not even "great". There are some great elements in it, like the story, the atmosphere, the dialogue, the level ideas, the humor, which are all clearly brilliant and inspired. In fact, it's amazing and better than most games. Where the game falls short is the actual gameplay. For a 3D platformer, the game is far from fun to play. The levels are sometimes long, and not very exciting, and the main excitement is walking around trying to figure out what to do next, without much in the way of action. It's great but not really made by someone who understands video games, but still an intelligent game.… Expand
  62. UsernameIThink
    Mar 10, 2018
    7
    Psychonauts is a great game, and I only give it a mixed review because I'm reviewing it by 2018 standards. The gameplay is quite varied with platforming, fighting, solving puzzles, and looking for secrets and collectibles. The platforming by itself is nothing special, but once you unlock a telekinesis ability (which feels incredibly satisfying to use), you have the movement options toPsychonauts is a great game, and I only give it a mixed review because I'm reviewing it by 2018 standards. The gameplay is quite varied with platforming, fighting, solving puzzles, and looking for secrets and collectibles. The platforming by itself is nothing special, but once you unlock a telekinesis ability (which feels incredibly satisfying to use), you have the movement options to quickly bypass a lot of it. As many people have said but also exaggerated, the camera is a bit clunky sometimes. What's actually worse is a clunky menu that you have to navigate a lot. The story is about a psychic who runs away from home to a psychic summer camp in the hope of becoming a psychic secret agent, or a Psychonaut. It's a kids' game and follows a very cartoonish logic while also managing to be surprisingly captivating, funny, and even somewhat mature at times. The first third of the games actually turns out to be a glorified tutorial for the last two, as the main character is suddenly forced to go into the minds of a monster and insane asylum patients. Most of the games' levels are based around going into peoples' heads and, in the second two thirds, fixing their problems. Each of the minds has its own unique art design, quirks, and story to tell that reflects the person's psyche. The game never feels dull, and its interesting aspects expertly disguise what is actually some pretty mediocre gameplay. It's a bit difficult to talk about the game without seeing it in parts. The first third of the game is fairly linear and mostly involves platforming and simple combat, as well as unlocking most of your psychic abilities. This leads to what I found to be the game's main problem. Once you reach a level known as The Milkman Conspiracy, you're unexpectedly forced into puzzles without knowing about it and into a progression wall. There is an ability you need to unlock by finding collectibles, as well as an expensive item that the game doesn't tell you that you'll need to progress. Once you start to understand how the game works after this point and overcome this wall, it becomes dramatically more fun and easy to figure out what to do and use your psychic powers in interesting contexts, such as using telekinesis to move pieces on a board game or using clairvoyance to see yourself through a character that can see in the dark. Even around the end, the game is not very difficult, but it's at least not brainlessly easy. The game lasts 13-14 hours, and for its current $10 price, it's easily worth a buy.… Expand
  63. Steide56
    Aug 28, 2017
    7
    uhhhh boy this game didnt age well... I played this game on recommendation as it is supposed to be one of the most funny and creative games ever made, and it is! BUT! The gameplay is very lackluster. The platforming is floaty and imprecise, all the side-missions are basically just collect a bunch of stuff with barely any use and there are loading screens every 5 f-ing feet. Bogging theuhhhh boy this game didnt age well... I played this game on recommendation as it is supposed to be one of the most funny and creative games ever made, and it is! BUT! The gameplay is very lackluster. The platforming is floaty and imprecise, all the side-missions are basically just collect a bunch of stuff with barely any use and there are loading screens every 5 f-ing feet. Bogging the whole experience down and culminating in one of the worst final levels I have ever had to force myself through in a game. Which really is a shame because its creativity is desplayed virtually every second of the game. All of its characters are unique and likeable the dialogue is fresh and funny the settings are original but actually PLAYING the game just feels like a chore after a while. While the game is a steal for 99 cents on steam summer sale i would almost rather suggest watching a lets play of it on youtube to get up to date for the second game which will hopefully have vastly improved controls. Lets stay optimistic!… Expand
  64. Thejodjeremie
    Sep 4, 2021
    7
    I enjoyed the game very much even though I dont usually play games like this. The story was weird but enjoyable and gameplay was solid.
  65. churros
    Jul 3, 2021
    7
    Pros:
    + great humor
    + memorable characters
    + funny jokes

    Cons:
    - technical issues on PC
    - too many tutorials
    - easy to get lost
  66. zyllus
    Mar 16, 2022
    7
    An amazing game with good gameplay. Its a 17 year old game so most people won't like it and the characters and elements in the world are a bit weird but overall its a great game. You can skip this one if you don't like it, as the second game gives a basic idea of the game and the story but do play the sequel, its GOTY for me.
  67. meta_user
    Sep 25, 2022
    7
    I've got mixed feelings about this game. The art direction, Scott Campbell, and his visuals are simply gorgeous. The first hours of game play are a true delight, the created world is simply one you would like to return to and discover more. The quality of this game is mostly carried by the art department and fleshed out by some competent programmers.

    But the story collapses under it's    I've got mixed feelings about this game. The art direction, Scott Campbell, and his visuals are simply gorgeous. The first hours of game play are a true delight, the created world is simply one you would like to return to and discover more. The quality of this game is mostly carried by the art department and fleshed out by some competent programmers.

    But the story collapses under it's own weight. It was confusing. The "mad scientist" story line and safe the girl was good enough. But no.. The real villain is someone else! Because his dad killed a rabbit or something like that. In a truly punishing final level (Meat Circus) the fun was completely gone. The only reason I wanted to finish that level was so I could go back and find the last missing brain of "Dogen Boole". But no.. the game was done.

    If the game would end at the gorgeous designed "Asylum Tower" it would have been a true classic, a game with an amazing atmosphere and a great design. But now, I don't know, I the last level left me with bad taste in my mouth. It's hard to recommend this game. Being generous: 7/10 - Played on Xbox Series S    … Expand
  68. kingzardoz
    Aug 20, 2010
    6
    If you have played Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fadingo, or Full Throttle you will be overcome with feelings of nostalgia when playing Psychonauts. The story, how the characters are presented, and puzzles in the game all share similarities to these other games developed by Tim Schafer. I loved those games so I wanted to love Psychonauts but I just couldn't. There are so many creativeIf you have played Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fadingo, or Full Throttle you will be overcome with feelings of nostalgia when playing Psychonauts. The story, how the characters are presented, and puzzles in the game all share similarities to these other games developed by Tim Schafer. I loved those games so I wanted to love Psychonauts but I just couldn't. There are so many creative environments and interesting level ideas woven into the story but almost every chapter of the game overstays its welcome or leans on one gameplay mechanic too much. Take for example the awesome idea of the Milkman Conspiracy chapter where you have to find and free this mysterious Milkman under the surveillance of these lemming-like CIA characters. By wearing disguises you find in CIA cars you progress through the spooky and silly neighborhood that appears to be warping and folding in on itself. The disguise part is fun but it goes on for the whole chapter with no other gameplay mechanics introduced until you get to the boss battle, which has to be the most boring boss in the game. This chapter is just another example of one cool idea stretched too thin. The disguise thing just gets old quickly and there is nothing else to take its place except the usual collecting things and exploring the level.

    What this game really seems to be is a 2d game designer who is having trouble adapting to the requirements of 3d platforming. The platforming suffers at the hand of person who only cares about presenting weird ideas, levels, and characters. If you played Brutal Legend you will also recognize the stiff and awkward controls in this game. The challenge of Psychonauts doesn't rest in combating enemies but rather in combating the stiff controls. If I had to sum this game up in one broken sentence it would be, boring and stiff combat with creative level and character design.

    All negative things aside this game is creative and its impossible to not notice the unique vision the Pyschonauts universe provides. Sometimes the use of items in the game can be fun for example in the Matador level you use paintings you collect like ladders, vines, guitars, doors, and windows to more easily move around the level. The characters are fun and the writing is decent but the tedium that sets at some point in every chapter really kills this game.    … Expand
  69. GolovA
    Sep 19, 2016
    6
    First half of the game is pretty awesome - Engaging story, marvelous voice-acting, lovable characters, good spirited humor, some variation to the 3rd person jumpy in using puzzle solving, etc.

    But the entire second half of it is completely ruined by terrible camera angling (especially during second half of the game, where level design is too tight for this style of game), almost    First half of the game is pretty awesome - Engaging story, marvelous voice-acting, lovable characters, good spirited humor, some variation to the 3rd person jumpy in using puzzle solving, etc.

    But the entire second half of it is completely ruined by terrible camera angling (especially during second half of the game, where level design is too tight for this style of game), almost non-existent surface snapping (sticking to ropes, or especially jumping onto and grabbing poles), and oh-such a torturous level design - it's like this game was made by a sadist as a gift for a masochist!

    Frustrating beyond the tolerance of my nerves.
    Nice try but Stay on Consoles, Psychonauts.    … Expand
  70. iAMsoBEAST1
    Aug 25, 2012
    6
    Very fun game and story with a great story all up to the point where you need to get the item to clean up spider webs from peoples minds. The fact that you had to get such a ridiculous amount of arrow heads just killed the game for me and that's where I stopped playing.
  71. mrnice
    Nov 7, 2012
    6
    Everyone's right about this game. Yes, the concept and art is outstanding and exciting. Yes, the game has a lot of funny gameplay balanced between adventure-like exploration, puzzles and platforming action. I'd say the game is 23% exploration, 15% logical problems (how to beat boss, how to solve a situation and progress), 32% platforming, and 30% action. Personally I'd like more focus onEveryone's right about this game. Yes, the concept and art is outstanding and exciting. Yes, the game has a lot of funny gameplay balanced between adventure-like exploration, puzzles and platforming action. I'd say the game is 23% exploration, 15% logical problems (how to beat boss, how to solve a situation and progress), 32% platforming, and 30% action. Personally I'd like more focus on adventure and puzzle parts less on action, and a more forgiving approach to the platforming. I'd also expect more of the fun writing spread into the actual gameplay sections rather than cutscenes. Most of the time, you'll play it like any other 3d platformer and the cutscenes are where all the dialogue and writing have been put. It's a good game, and six out of ten is above average. It's just not a brilliant GAME as such, more like an above average action platformer presented and packaged in a brilliant concept and design. I highly recommend you to check it out, but more for the concept ideas than for the actual gameplay. Plus, only a small amount of people make it through the last level, so if you want to get the full experience, you might be disappointed and might have to watch the ending on Youtube (like I did). The current User Score is 9.2/10, which means something like "close to perfect masterpiece". I think it's a 8/10 at most, and a 6/10 if you want to really just see it for what it is rather than what it looks like.… Expand
  72. Greenball10
    Jul 23, 2012
    6
    It's a good game! I personally wouldn't play it for hours upon hours every day, but it's got a GREAT Story. You go into other people's minds, trying to become a Psychonaut. You are basically at a camp, and there are also bullies who do appear quite often in the story, and you also befriend a few people! I'd recommend it if you're up for a good story, but if you're one of those people whoIt's a good game! I personally wouldn't play it for hours upon hours every day, but it's got a GREAT Story. You go into other people's minds, trying to become a Psychonaut. You are basically at a camp, and there are also bullies who do appear quite often in the story, and you also befriend a few people! I'd recommend it if you're up for a good story, but if you're one of those people who only likes shooters...don't get it.… Expand
  73. d3uzZ
    May 28, 2022
    6
    Отличный концепт, приятный визуальный ряд, геймплейные задумки крутые для своего года, но в то же время абсолютно бездарный геймдизайн. Игра не водит тебя за ручку, но в тоже время и не пытается быть дружелюбной с игроком, если начнешь тупить, есть большая вероятность, что тут твоя игра и закончится. Сложность головоломок балансирует от "совсем детская" до "гений квестов". Если бы я былОтличный концепт, приятный визуальный ряд, геймплейные задумки крутые для своего года, но в то же время абсолютно бездарный геймдизайн. Игра не водит тебя за ручку, но в тоже время и не пытается быть дружелюбной с игроком, если начнешь тупить, есть большая вероятность, что тут твоя игра и закончится. Сложность головоломок балансирует от "совсем детская" до "гений квестов". Если бы я был ребенком, это был бы дроп 100%. Хотя игра вроде рассчитана для всех возрастов, но разберутся в ней не все далеко.… Expand
  74. bertorellas
    Jun 21, 2021
    6
    Psychonauts es un juego con una premisa realmente interesante y que hace descansar la mayoría de su peso en su original idea y diseño artístico. Es una pena que su "plataformeo" no esté ni muchísimo menos a la altura de los grandes juegos del género. Además sus inumerables y poco atractivos coleccionables son a menudo más una molestia que un aliciente para explorar los imaginativosPsychonauts es un juego con una premisa realmente interesante y que hace descansar la mayoría de su peso en su original idea y diseño artístico. Es una pena que su "plataformeo" no esté ni muchísimo menos a la altura de los grandes juegos del género. Además sus inumerables y poco atractivos coleccionables son a menudo más una molestia que un aliciente para explorar los imaginativos escenarios que nos plantean desde Double Fine. En resumidas cuentas, considero que el tratamiento como "juego de culto" a esta obra, responde mucho más a su idea y profundidad narrativa, muy poco explotada en la mayoría de títulos del género pero que su "gameplay" no está ni mucho menos a la altura de los grandes juegos de plataformas. Esperemos que con la secuela se puedan corregir errores como el aburrido sistema de combate, los bosses repetitivos, el, a veces, tosco control y sobre todo que se calibre mejor todo lo relacionado con los coleccionables, que como mencioné anteriormente no invita para nada a la exploración y no tienen a penas ningún peso en el gameplay.

    Con todo, Psychonauts es un juego interesante, sobre todo por el tema que trata y esperemos que su secuela consiga colocarse como el enorme juego de plataformas que este juego podría haber sido con unos cuantos cambios.

    Psychonauts is a game with a really interesting premise that relies most of its weight on its original idea and artistic design. It is a pity that the platform stages are not at all at the level of the great games of the genre. In addition, its countless and unattractive collectibles are often more of a nuisance than an incentive to explore the imaginative scenarios that Double Fine presents us. In short, I consider that the treatment as a "cult game" to this game, responds much more to the idea and narrative depth, very little exploited in most titles of the genre but the "gameplay" is not far from it. the height of the great platformer games. Hopefully the sequel can correct errors such as the boring combat system, repetitive bosses, the, sometimes, rough control and above all that everything related to collectibles is calibrated better, which as I mentioned earlier does not invite at all to exploration and hardly have any weight in the gameplay.

    All in all, Psychonauts is an interesting game, especially because of the topic it deals with and we hope that its sequel manages to position itself as the huge platform game that this game could have been with a few changes    … Expand
  75. MarcG.
    May 9, 2005
    5
    Not really much more than eye candy movement/camera stinks. As for looks this game is great but I am tired of these games that do not allow proper control with keyboard and mouse. If you are going to put it out for PC then get the controls right.
  76. AWG
    Jun 29, 2013
    5
    What is this game supposed to be? A platformer, an adventure, what? I couldn't tell. Psychonauts tries way too much to be funny and clever but it's just chaotic. Gameplay could be good but the number of useless, interrupting, irritating cutscenes is over 9000. Never again.
  77. diwolf
    Aug 12, 2013
    5
    I did not finish the game due to the bad controls playing via PC. I think the programmer were overextended with the 3D settings Besides that, the graphics were mediocre, Story and sound were ok.
  78. StarkAgentos
    May 10, 2022
    5
    Катсцены красивые, весёлые. Выглядят очень интересно. Много юмора. Ели бы из игры сделали мультик, то минусов не было бы. Геймплейно это 3D платформер, при чём раннего 3D. Не понятно, когда и до куда ты допрыгнешь. Есть баги, за столько лет могли бы их по большей части убрать. Некоторые катсцены почему-то нельзя поставить на паузу и они пропускаются на esc. Очень тупое решение. В нашеКатсцены красивые, весёлые. Выглядят очень интересно. Много юмора. Ели бы из игры сделали мультик, то минусов не было бы. Геймплейно это 3D платформер, при чём раннего 3D. Не понятно, когда и до куда ты допрыгнешь. Есть баги, за столько лет могли бы их по большей части убрать. Некоторые катсцены почему-то нельзя поставить на паузу и они пропускаются на esc. Очень тупое решение. В наше время эта игра такая себе, на любителя.… Expand
  79. PG
    Jul 21, 2008
    3
    Many feel this game is revolutionary and shatters rigid industry boundaries and proves that games are art. I am not one of those people. I find it to be a below average platformer with wonky controls and excessive amount of item collection to keep the player playing. The mental powers add an interesting dynamic, but the controls make them usually too difficult to use properly. Since it Many feel this game is revolutionary and shatters rigid industry boundaries and proves that games are art. I am not one of those people. I find it to be a below average platformer with wonky controls and excessive amount of item collection to keep the player playing. The mental powers add an interesting dynamic, but the controls make them usually too difficult to use properly. Since it was realized the game would not be revolutionary in regards to actually playing it, the publisher decided to make a wacky story with odd characters and making each level inside people's minds which somewhat changes the gameplay from level to level, but it still comes down to hopping on platforms, collecting this, that, and the other thing, and mashing buttons to beat up bad guys. The story can be a tad hard to follow and is not spectacular either, though the voice acting and some of the wacky humour can be mildly entertaining. The too long, didn't read version: Overhyped by bandwagoners. Just go play a Mario game or something...there may not be story but at least you'll have fun.… Expand
  80. vova22379
    Feb 10, 2023
    3
    ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  81. lolzernator
    Mar 6, 2012
    2
    Positives: It's certainly original, which is nice to see these days (+3)
    It runs fine on my PC with no noticeable defects (+1)
    It's good to see more titles from independent developers (+1) As far as I can tell, the game is quite expensive, and power-ups are awarded in due course (+2) POSITIVE TOTAL: +7 Neutral: The Art style isn't to my liking, but it isn't bad. It's kind of cheesy, but    Positives: It's certainly original, which is nice to see these days (+3)
    It runs fine on my PC with no noticeable defects (+1)
    It's good to see more titles from independent developers (+1)
    As far as I can tell, the game is quite expensive, and power-ups are awarded in due course (+2)
    POSITIVE TOTAL: +7

    Neutral:
    The Art style isn't to my liking, but it isn't bad.
    It's kind of cheesy, but that's not a good or bad thing.

    Negatives:
    Bad Camera Control, which is a very bad thing for a 3D platformer (-3)
    Annoying amount of foreseeable backtracking, though I've only managed to play 94 minutes before giving up (-2)
    The powerups are given out too slowly (-1)
    The 'humor' is absolutely awful (-2)
    EXTREMELY REPETITIVE, which is another major flaw for a platformer (-3)
    Character voices are very grating (-1)
    I'd like to go on, but I fear I've generated enough infamy by now.
    NEGATIVE SCORE: -12

    TOTAL SCORE: < -5
    Having a total score of less than -5 puts it quite a bit below average, but it does have its good points, so it doesn't deserve a 0. Since I didn't pay full price (sales) i can deign to give it a lowly 2.

    How anyone can find this game entertaining is beyond me, and if anyone wishes to provide me with a counter-argument, be my guest. It is currently the only game in my steam library (of over 110 games) that I have uninstalled.    … Expand
  82. winj3r
    Dec 13, 2012
    2
    Terrible graphics and disgusting design, makes this one of the ugliest game I have ever played.
    The controls are bad and lack preciseness. The game-play is repetitive with too much focus on collecting random stuff.
    It's just a bad platformer, with little redeeming qualities.
  83. blastolo
    Dec 30, 2012
    2
    Psychonauts tries very hard to be wacky and funny, but I didn't find it engaging. The gameplay was mediocre, with control issues and lots of tedious collectibles, and I didn't care for any of the characters. I know others have raved about this game, but it's hit and miss, and it missed the mark for me.
  84. Broyax
    Jan 18, 2020
    0
    Encore l'une des daubes de "Double Fine" Déjections, grand fournisseur d'étrons indés pas frais et d'une suprême débilité !

    Ici, comme d'habitude le mauvais goût omniprésent côtoie l'absurdité d'un pseudo-jeu aussi bête qu'affligeant mais également aussi crétin que mongolien ; une telle daube en vérité que même chez Nintendaube, ils n'en ont pas voulu ! c'est dire si le sous-niveau est    Encore l'une des daubes de "Double Fine" Déjections, grand fournisseur d'étrons indés pas frais et d'une suprême débilité !

    Ici, comme d'habitude le mauvais goût omniprésent côtoie l'absurdité d'un pseudo-jeu aussi bête qu'affligeant mais également aussi crétin que mongolien ; une telle daube en vérité que même chez Nintendaube, ils n'en ont pas voulu ! c'est dire si le sous-niveau est ici très bas dans cette sous-espèce d'ersatz de jeu de plate-formes gogoloïde à gogols !

    C'est donc affreux et d'un pseudo-humour de fond de caniveau qui ne déridera personne et ennuiera tout le monde... une misérable connerie, à la fois jeu de merde et étron indé pathétique !    … Expand
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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
See all critic reviews »