Aeterna Noctis

 PlayStation 5
Aeterna Noctis Image
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

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  • Summary: Aeterna Noctis is a challenging 2D Metroidvania drawn by hand, with intense combats and skill-based platform sections. Taking the role of the 'King of Darkness' you must help him regain his power across 16 different and connected areas in an epic journey with environmental storytelling.
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Aeterna Noctis - Gameplay Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Digital Chumps
    Feb 3, 2022
    90
    Aeterna Noctis is a delightfully difficult Metroidvania that pushes the boundaries of difficult platforming and combat in a way that keeps the game fun and exhilarating. This hand-drawn action platformer is perfect for those who wanted just a bit more from similar games in the Metroidvania genre, albeit less charming. If you’re looking for a solid indie GOTY that effectively utilizes your PS5, look no further than Aeterna Noctis. Good luck, you’ll most definitely need it.
  2. COGconnected
    Dec 14, 2021
    88
    Aeterna Noctis is a stunning Metroidvania that incorporates the many assets of the genre into one magnificent experience. Combining systematic combat and accurate platforming, the game is varied and challenging. The beautiful artwork makes each area unique helping to make this a truly memorable experience.
  3. Movies Games and Tech
    Jan 29, 2022
    75
    Aeterna Noctis is great. A game that’s sure to impress and delight its audience, the people who are looking for a very hard, huge metroidvania. It needed more polish to truly shine, but even as it stands it’s quite surprising, incredibly big, hauntingly beautiful, atmospheric and fun in a specific, agonizing way. If that’s what you want, you can’t get wrong with Aeterna Noctis.
  4. Push Square
    Dec 14, 2021
    70
    Ultimately, although there’s a distinct feeling of déjà vu when playing Aeterna Noctis thanks to its unmistakable similarities to Hollow Knight, it thankfully manages to nail the most important elements in a Metroidvania: exploration and combat.
  5. PlayStation Country
    Dec 23, 2021
    70
    Aeterna Noctis is a very tough metroidvania with incredibly intricate platforming sections. The fair checkpoints even out the challenge a little but plenty of design decisions work against the player in ways that are harder to overcome than the difficulty.
  6. GameCritics
    Feb 25, 2022
    60
    It’s a shame that Aeterna Noctis stumbles in both difficulty and design because it feels like it comes so close to greatness. Unfortunately, the demanding challenge and an obnoxious amount of backtracking overshadow what it gets right.
  7. IGN Italia
    Dec 21, 2021
    50
    A metroidvania mixed with a bit of soulsvania that doesn't know what it wants to be and tries a bit of everything, without really succeeding in any particular aspect.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 23
  3. Negative: 3 out of 23
  1. josetefernandez
    Feb 9, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. With the latest updates the game has improved a lot. It used to be good, but now the controls are better and there are no more issues with saving games. Great game.… Expand
  2. MrEBE
    Sep 5, 2023
    10
    Thank you devs !!

    You just produced my 47y old best metroidvania/platformer game ever !! It's really rare that I am really sad    Thank you devs !!

    You just produced my 47y old best metroidvania/platformer game ever !!

    It's really rare that I am really sad finishing/platinuming a game..

    I did it on Noctis Difficulty and, of course, without using the DLC cheating gems you had to create for the whining players..

    This game should be GOTY and in every mouths.. but today the hype is for games like starfield from bugthesda..

    I just wish all good gamers to discover your gem once a time..

    Concerning the Crashes : yes the game can crash. The solution : DELETE and REINSTALL the game. Otherwise the game will become totally unstable. Also, don't use any additional SSD ! use the ps5 built-in SSD. No more crashes since I did that.

    Thank you Devs !

    I would add :

    Dear devs,

    You should make the DLC Gems, which remove 2/3 of the difficulties, an optional option, so to preserve the game how you mean it to be..

    It really ruin the whole point ..    … Expand
  4. Chebastian25
    Feb 9, 2022
    10
    I read reviews that have nothing to do with the game, like this one that puts a 0 because it says you don't save progress. It is completelyI read reviews that have nothing to do with the game, like this one that puts a 0 because it says you don't save progress. It is completely false. The game is saved every time you touch a lamppost and there are hundreds or thousands in the game. It is saved every very short time. The game is great. Play it because you are missing out on one of the best metroidvania ever created.… Expand
  5. Jimmypro
    Apr 22, 2022
    10
    Omg!!! What a masterfully made game. Pls buy it it's worth every single one of the cents it charges you for. Incredible!!
  6. mitcher78
    Apr 19, 2023
    10
    Extremely unfair media rating, typical of a game developed by a minor studio. The reality is that Aeterna Noctis is an outstandingExtremely unfair media rating, typical of a game developed by a minor studio. The reality is that Aeterna Noctis is an outstanding metroidvania in every way, one of the best I've ever played.… Expand
  7. thorus82
    Jan 15, 2022
    9
    Great game. This is the first game in long time which I can't stop play. Yes, it's difficult, but has checkpoints everywere and thanks to thatGreat game. This is the first game in long time which I can't stop play. Yes, it's difficult, but has checkpoints everywere and thanks to that game can forgive a lot ;-) There are no 5 minutes walks to boss or after death during platforming. I am casual player (work, kids), but game is perfect for me. Really love the visuals, music and exploration of the world. It's not game which you want to finish fast. Game is huge, has a lot of secrets and side jobs to do. I think this game is one of the best metroidvania so far.
    Some players complain becaise of problems with cotrolls. Devs release patch few days ago which improves controls(enabling is optional). They also added easier difficulty mode. There are still some small bugs, and some players report problems with saves od PS5, but these issues should be adressed by devs in short time. This is the only thing that prevents me from giving this game a full score. .    … Expand
  8. Ughhh
    Dec 28, 2021
    0
    Could be great at some point, but if you make a pretty challenging game, it realllly sucks if it crashes and somehow you lose over an hour ofCould be great at some point, but if you make a pretty challenging game, it realllly sucks if it crashes and somehow you lose over an hour of progress (even though you passed multiple auto save points).… Expand

See all 23 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
69
#69 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

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