Neon Abyss

 Switch
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. GamingTrend
    Jul 27, 2020
    90
    Neon Abyss plays like a panic-stricken, action, rouge game that knows exactly what it wants to be from beginning to the end. The guns are big, the options are plentiful, and randomness is the name of the game. The boss battles left me a bit empty, but this game is definitely more than a glass half full.
  2. God is a Geek
    Jul 14, 2020
    90
    Neon Abyss' pixel art graphics and superb soundtrack round off a perfect addition to the Switch's formidable catalogue of indie treasures.
  3. GameCrate
    Jul 14, 2020
    88
    Neon Abyss is one of the best roguelite action games to come along in recent memory. Given how many great roguelites we’ve seen the past few years, that’s definitely a tall order. But thanks to its smooth gameplay and compelling upgrade systems, there’s no denying just how entertaining and exhilarating Neon Abyss is.
  5. TheGamer
    Jul 21, 2020
    80
    Ultimately, Neon Abyss is a game that caters to any kind of player. Hardened veterans of the roguelike genre can put a ton of time and effort into making their way through each level, while casual players can pick up and play Neon Abyss whenever they have a few spare minutes to kill.
  6. Starbit
    Jul 20, 2020
    80
    Neon Abyss is not a game to underestimate. With a gameplay that puts it on the same level of some of the finest roguelikes out there, this work features intense and varied combats, a large amount of content to discover and an intuitive gameplay experience, not to mention a visual environment that follows what its title suggests. All in all, a successful piece for anyone who enjoys action-based roguelikes.
  7. Nintenderos
    Nov 29, 2020
    70
    A game with a fun playable essence, a sensation of successful shooting and constant challenge, but with some unbalanced design decisions, especially those that aimed at better and greater content compared to its progression system.
  8. Cubed3
    Aug 28, 2020
    70
    Those who love The Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon will find an awful lot to like here. The gameplay is fast and fluid, the presentation striking, and there is a huge amount to keep coming back for. There are tons of things to unlock that change up subsequent runs, unique seeds to master the most enjoyable versions of levels, and even an insanely challenging difficulty mode to unlock. The biggest issue is the small amount of rooms to pull from when generating a stage. It's not too noticeable for a few play-throughs, but for the players who will run this over and over, it really detracts from the experience.
  9. Noisy Pixel
    Jul 14, 2020
    70
    Neon Abyss is a mixed bag. While power-ups and synergies offer a fantastic variety, the same cannot be said of the Abyss and its design. There’s fun to be found here, but it ultimately doesn’t supply the addicting gameloop that other genre greats provide, making it tough to continue after an untimely death.
  10. Nintendo Life
    Jul 14, 2020
    70
    Neon Abyss is a game that offers a lot, but we have the feeling it's going to be a bit of an also-ran in the roguelite genre. If so, that's a shame, because it's an enormous amount of fun, with a good challenge, lovely controls and plenty of scope for craziness: which is all a roguelite really needs to be compelling. As long as you don't expect to be blown away, we can give Neon Abyss a strong recommendation. It's up there with the best roguelites on the Switch: it's just a shame it wasn't there first.

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Best Switch Game of 2020
64
#64 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 27
  3. Negative: 8 out of 27
  1. whataruckus
    Jul 17, 2020
    7
    I picked this game up after playing the demo on the e-shop. I love punishing, rouge-like games and Neon Abyss certainly scratches that itch.I picked this game up after playing the demo on the e-shop. I love punishing, rouge-like games and Neon Abyss certainly scratches that itch. It reminds me a lot of Enter the Gungeon in that you are exploring the same few random floors over and over, collecting loot and crazy power-ups along the way. Also like ETG, it’s got a sense of humor. I also get some vibes that remind me of the Starz adaptation of “American Gods,” in that you are battling “new” gods like TV, fast food, etc. The visuals of the game a simple, but eye catching. The music blends in well, picking up when you are in battle and fading out when you are just exploring.

    All of this seems like it would be a recipe for an excellent review. And it is… except for the frame rate issues. Primarily in the later game boss battles, the frame rate takes a nosedive into a chug and a skip. This can be frustrating if you have managed to doge all the enemy fire on a floor only to have your perfect run ruined.

    Frame rate issues aside, I am still having a blast with this game and cannot wait to keep exploring what it has to offer. I give it a 7/10 for the frame rate issues. If they fix the issue I would bump the score up to an 8.    … Full Review »
  2. Qbon1802
    Aug 15, 2020
    0
    Nice rouglike with many similarities to Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon. Would recommend but after they fix the framerate. CurrentlyNice rouglike with many similarities to Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon. Would recommend but after they fix the framerate. Currently it's unplayable on switch due to frames dropping even to only 5-10 per second.… Full Review »
  3. Lordfate
    Jul 30, 2020
    0
    This game straight up hates you. Pets that are 100% detrimental like the blue doctor. Explosive weapons and perks are a death sentenceThis game straight up hates you. Pets that are 100% detrimental like the blue doctor. Explosive weapons and perks are a death sentence especially with the shield orb pet.

    The devs clearly hate the game too as they clearly never finished a single game on Switch. So many crashes I lost count. Black screen hang killed an epic run 1 level before the Manager.

    Massive framerate drops throughout every aspect of the game. Drops are especially bad in piano room where precision is required. Insanely cluttered visuals where dangers are impossible to see. Cheap enemy design where they appear instantly on top of you

    This game clearly needs about another year of balancing, bug fixing and optimizing.

    Absolutely mind boggling to think these devs have actually created a game before. Did they learn nothing?    … Full Review »
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