REVIEW
Written byMizuni
Void Stranger is the perfect example of how a game can make you think and feel so many things while using incredibly simple graphics.
First off, I'll say that this game isn't for everyone. But this is the kind of game where, if at any point while reading this review you think, "That sounds interesting," stop reading immediately and buy the game.
Let's start with a brief overview of what the game is about.
Void Stranger is a Sokoban-style puzzle game, meaning you have to push blocks around to progress through each level. The main mechanic involves picking up a floor tile and storing it, allowing you to place it back down in an empty space.
As you progress through a certain number of floors, you'll eventually reach a room that essentially serves as a cutscene, often turning into a completely different minigame to tell part of the game's story.
What really sets this game apart is the sheer number of secrets hidden throughout both its story and gameplay, constantly making you want to dig deeper and discover more.
This is the kind of game that has countless hours-long videos about it on YouTube, and I strongly recommend ignoring all of them, at least until you've played and experienced it for yourself. After all, this is the kind of game that stays on your mind even after you've closed it, and probably months or even years later, if it really clicks with you.
In my opinion, the best way to experience Void Stranger is to go in knowing only that this isn't a normal game and that there are secrets waiting to be discovered. Nothing more than that.
One tip: if this game caught your interest and you know a friend who might also enjoy it, try playing it together and sharing information with each other. It'll probably be an incredibly unique experience.
Let the SPOILERS begin!
In Void Stranger, knowledge is the true power, and curiosity will lead you to discover unexpected things, much like in games such as Outer Wilds.
Little by little, as you realize that the game doesn't explain all of its systems and start experimenting on your own, you'll uncover secrets that completely change the way you see the story, the gameplay, and even the genre of the game itself.
My recommendation is to use a notepad, like Steam's built-in notes feature, to write down anything you find suspicious or important. Something you discover on the very first floors might become relevant dozens of floors later. And as you start trying to unravel the game's true story, the more information you have written down, the better.
Because of the way this game's secrets are designed, it's very likely that everyone will progress differently, whether in terms of how quickly they solve puzzles or how long it takes them to uncover the truth behind the game.
However, one thing is almost certain: if you don't give up and avoid looking up spoilers, your first ending will be "Voided."
And the SPOILERS get bigger...
Voided is technically a Bad Ending, but it's a Bad Ending that catches you off guard in an unforgettable way.
Instead of simply showing you a cutscene, it blends gameplay with scripted sequences, and most of these scenes contain tons of information and Easter eggs that you'll probably only notice many hours later, after discovering several more secrets.
What really catches you by surprise is the music, which plays perfectly in sync with the scene transitions. Especially because, up until that point, the soundtrack has mostly consisted of relatively simple tracks, and then, out of nowhere, you hear the first song with vocals.
This Bad Ending alone is already more than worth the price of the game. After all, it's not easy to find a game in this genre that manages to deliver such a powerful emotional experience. It's the kind of moment that, even years later, just remembering the scene or hearing the song can still give you goosebumps.
Once you finish this ending, you're given a hint that, if you don't overlook it, will completely change the way you play the game. That is, assuming you haven't already figured out how to "break the game" by that point.
MAJOR SPOILERS!
There are two secrets that completely change the way you look at the game. Once you discover them, Void Stranger stops being just a simple Sokoban and basically turns into a Metroidvania absolutely packed with secrets.
And the moment you discover these two secrets is one of those genuine "Eureka!" moments.
The first secret involves certain floors, more specifically, ones where you find a mural displaying a 6x6 pattern of squares. This pattern represents the arrangement of floor tiles you need to leave on the ground when you find a 6x6 room.
Each of these combinations unlocks an item that completely changes the way you solve puzzles. A puzzle that would've taken you three minutes to figure out can suddenly be solved in ten seconds.
The second secret is the one that truly "breaks the game": discovering that you can actually walk on the UI at the bottom of the screen and modify it using your staff. To the point where, if you change the floor number, you're instantly teleported to that floor. You can also modify the number of lives you have, among other... peculiarities...
From this point on, you start hunting for the other endings and trying to uncover the game's true story.
And this is the kind of game where, for all I know, there might still be secrets that haven't been discovered or fully understood to this day.
At this stage, if understanding the story starts getting too complicated or you're having trouble progressing for whatever reason, I'd recommend checking out some YouTube videos. There's a good chance something will catch your attention and make you want to discover even more, or simply give you that little push you need to keep going.
Personally, I initially stopped about halfway through the path to the True Ending. I only came back after discovering the kind of things that were still hidden in this game, which motivated me to return and finally reach the True Ending.
However, this isn't the kind of game that simply ends when you reach a particular ending. The experience probably won't truly be over until you've spent countless more hours playing, filled pages and pages of notes, or watched tons of YouTube videos, all in pursuit of uncovering every last secret.
Oh, and one last thing: this developer's other game is just as good as this one. I can't wait for their next game!
— Mizuni / Noobsnoplay