Chants of Sennaar

 Switch
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. TouchArcade
    Oct 18, 2023
    90
    What a game. This year has been superb almost non stop for great games, but Chants of Sennaar, like Cocoon, is mindblowing. While the stealth elements in Chants of Sennaar are annoying, everything else is amazing. If you have even the remotest interest in unique puzzle games, I urge you to at least try the demo. Chants of Sennaar is a work of art in its design, aesthetic, and experience.
  2. Edge Magazine
    Oct 5, 2023
    90
    Its thesis - that a multiplicity of cultures leaves a society profoundly enriched - has never seemed more urgent and vital. [Issue#390, p.130]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Siliconera
    Sep 13, 2023
    90
    Chants of Sennaar feels like more than a video game sometimes. Aside from some stealth sections and moments that involved evading hostile opponents that occasionally took me out of the moment, I found myself completely immersed in its world. Every new area accessed was a triumph. Every new word I learned felt like an accomplishment. It’s lovely.
  5. Pure Nintendo
    Sep 7, 2023
    90
    A strikingly beautiful game, Chants of Sennaar takes you on a journey through a number of finely crafted cultures that challenge your puzzle skills and absorb you fully into the looming secrets of the labyrinth.
  6. SECTOR.sk
    Sep 20, 2023
    85
    Chants of Sennaar also has the advantage that there hasn't really been another game like this one. There may be a few indie deciphering adventure games, but they lack the rich narrative and well-crafted aesthetics of Chants of Sennaar.
  7. COGconnected
    Sep 6, 2023
    85
    Chants of Sennaar is both unique and brilliant. The puzzles are perfectly pitched to offer enough challenge to allow you to progress and make you feel like a linguistic genius. Although the stealth sections are a little rigid, fans of puzzlers will fall in love with this beautiful title.
  8. Vandal
    Oct 10, 2023
    82
    Chants of Sennaar shines when focusing on translating unknown languages, but its puzzles and stealth sequences are not as good and make the game worse.
  9. Eurogamer
    Sep 12, 2023
    80
    Crack a handful of languages and then wield them in this mesmering adventure game.
  10. GLHF on Sports Illustrated
    Nov 2, 2023
    70
    The part that felt they didn’t fit in with the rest of the game was the reliance on stealth. There are numerous stealth sections throughout, and I felt they were put there to make it feel more ‘gamey’. There should have been more faith in the words as the gameplay, as they are the strongest aspect, and the stealth is just a distraction. Clearer maps to work your way around also would have done a lot for the exploration and prevented some frustrating backtracking.
  11. Nintendo Life
    Sep 6, 2023
    70
    Chants of Sennaar is as defined by its peaks as its valleys. For every moment of mind-blowing, brilliant puzzle design comes an inversely frustrating moment stymied by '90s adventure game logic. The game's ability to teach a player aspects of a language is awe-inspiring, and its way of guiding players along with as little information as possible is intensely rewarding—when it works. Even though it isn't for everyone (or consistently excellent), it's constantly impressive. If you're interested, we recommend checking out the free demo for the game that's available on the eShop, which will help let you know whether or not this game might be up your alley.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

?
  1. Polygon
    Sep 11, 2023
    Chants of Sennaar folds every one of its puzzle-solving bricks into a Rubik’s Cube of a concept, and yet it revels most of all in pan-linguistic understanding. The figure taking their break on a roof, or the grunted “no” from a security guard, or the laughter of a child playing hide-and-seek all serve to remind you of your place in a community. Learning a language stands in for observing and appreciating a culture that’s unfamiliar to you. It’s a lofty goal for a game, and it’s one that Chants of Sennaar achieves. [Polygon Recommends]