Everdeep Aurora

“Everdeep Aurora, a pixel art platformer from Ysbryd Games, has its faults. It also has enough charm and personality to overcome them. Striking visuals, fun gameplay, and an absolutely adorable cat make this a game that arcade adventure fans should definitely check out.”

“Its easygoing nature suggests a straightforward tale, but has plenty to dig into if you’re willing to follow its many threads.”

“Everdeep Aurora offers a retro-styled game world that's fun to immerse yourself in and a story that, while it could have done with fewer text boxes, still works well with its various endings and lovable characters. The different endings make it worth listening carefully and exploring everything attentively and the 7-8 hours you spend underground with Shell will fly by quickly.”

“Everdeep Aurora is a good idea that stands out for its visual presentation and charming characters, but it’s rarely fun or engaging as we explore its underground world.”

“I love the concept behind Everdeep Aurora, as the design direction is flawless, but it can also be quite a cumbersome game.”

“Do I think it’s a fun game? Not entirely. The gameplay angered me at times with how slow it was at the start and figuring out where to go was a pain. But gameplay was never really the focus for me. This is a slow burn game that relies on characters, story, and occasional puzzle solving. Those were the main draws for me, and it’s more than enough to keep people invested.”

“Everdeep Aurora is a 2D exploration game set during a devastating meteor shower that is forcing the entire world to evacuate into the safety of the depths below. Its charming graphics gave me a nostalgic feeling as I, Shell the kitten, drilled my way through the rocks on my own personal quest for protection. Through text based dialogue, each enchanting character I encountered told me their stories and uncovered the secrets of Everdeep and the location of Shell’s mother. If you’re looking for your next indie adventure, look no further than this delightful gem from Nautilus Games!”

“The nostalgic visuals, carefully crafted exploration, and thought-provoking themes keep me digging for more, despite the game’s narrative haze.”

“There's a lot to learn about the world of Everdeep Aurora. Each new road we explore in these underground tunnels have discoveries that may even influence the various endings of the game. The good side is that it's not necessary to play the whole campaign again to see what every ending holds. It's a pacific metroidvania that does its job well in presenting captivating characters in 16 bits and a mystery as deep as Everdeep itself.”

“Everdeep Aurora is a thoughtful and unusual game that rewards patience and curiosity. It’s not an adrenaline rush or a test of skill, but rather a slow descent into a world full of strange characters, gentle storytelling, and hidden truths. It’s a game I wasn’t sure about at first, but by the end, I was glad I took the trip. It’s not for everyone, but if it clicks, it really clicks.”

“While it has some retro-styled visual appeal, and some unexpected story beats to discover, it mostly feels like a pretty ordinary metroidvania”

“Everdeep Aurora is a niche, atmospheric gem that trades gameplay intensity for mood, narrative, and artistic charm. While its loose structure and lack of conventional progression may alienate some players looking for more mechanical depth or direction, it succeeds as a relaxing exploration experience. If you’re in the mood for a gentle, thoughtful journey through a beautifully drawn underground world, this game might just be for you.”

“Everdeep Aurora is more than a cozy digging metroidvania. It's a glimpse of what simplistic platforming can and should be, thoughtfully interwoven into a gameplay loop where discovery is the win condition. Its presentation might lack directness, but I would prefer a world where I can enjoy what I've dug up rather than being pointed to the next objective where I can surmise the outcome.”

“I enjoyed my time with Everdeep Aurora, although it could have been better. Nautilus Games very deliberately nails the feel of an old Game Boy game from the mid-1990s, although it may turn off players looking for something more complex or challenging. With its charming art style and gameplay, it's hard not to have a smile on your face as you drill down into the Everdeep. That said, the lack of clear guidance regarding exactly what the game is asking you to do a lot of the time left me longing for a quest log or objective marker. If you're looking for a chill platformer with retro stylings and don't mind a lack of clear direction, Everdeep Aurora is worth checking out.”

“Everdeep Aurora is a chill game full of exploration and puzzles. It has a fun cast of animals to interact with, but the map is very vague and hard to follow.”

“If you're looking for a chill indie game to enjoy at your leisure then diving deep through Everdeep Aurora will certainly make you smile. 🐱”

“My experience with Everdeep Aurora was a mixed bag, filled with lovely highs and uncomfortable lows. The beautiful visual presentation and impeccable music are certainly the highlights, as are some intuitive objectives that made for some great exploration here and there. However, the superficiality of mechanics, the complete lack of directions and tutorial, the poorly articulated narrative, and the questionable layout of the game screen and menus marred my adventure.”

“It told me a story made up of stories, restored my belief in the idea that the things we do, even when we are directionless and alone and afraid and all seems lost, can have profound impacts on other people.”