Chants of Sennaar

I have very specific tastes in games - I don't enjoy combat or time pressure. Normal life is stressful, I don't need that in my games too! This is the kind of game I love, exploring and solving puzzles, but not puzzles just for the sake of it, ones that are integrated into the lore of the world with a pretty unique premise. There are a few little bits where timing matters but they are mild enough that even I can do it without getting stressed or frustrated. Absolutely brilliant. I actually got goosebumps near the end.

absolutely stunning little game. brilliant overarching puzzle in transcribing the various languages throughout the tower. each script is unique and interesting in its own way. beautiful and simple art style. chants of sennaar is an instant recommendation for anyone who is a fan of investigation and deduction games like obra dinn or outer wilds.

This game is such a gem. Every frame is mesmerizingly beautiful. And the idea of translating the glyphs is so original and entertaining! I wish it lasted 40 hours more, lol. This is one of my fav games of all time. If you are the designer and you are reading this: THANK YOU, when are we getting your next game? :D

It was a really unique game experience for me. I really loved the way they blended puzzles into the story and game play. The music, the graphics, the puzzles were all things I enjoyed greatly. I think I lost a lot of time navigating myself through places because I have the worst memory and forget where I came from and where I was going, but even for someone like me, I was able to solve 98% of the puzzles without any help. (There was one page I had to look up for help to trigger but I saw other people had a similar problem so I don't feel so bad about having to look it up hehe.) I usually get bored of games before I even finish them, but this game I kept going back for to play more. Would definitely recommend it.

Had high expectations going in given the crazy high reviews and focus on language but in the end the game was not as compelling as I expected. In this game, you play as a mysterious robed figure and ascend a tower populated by separate, castes I guess?, deciphering their languages and solving puzzles and other challenges as you go. The strength of the game is in its linguistic puzzles where you decipher symbols that you find in each level of the tower - the implementation of these puzzles is unfortunately greatly lacking in both depth and challenge. On top of that the game piles on a lot of other aspects that detract from its core language puzzles and leave the game feeling unfocused and hampered. The way the language puzzles tend to go is that you'll enter a level for the first time, be presented with a lot of unknown symbols in NPC dialogues, inscribed on walls or in objects, or wherever else. Through contextual clues and exploration, you figure out what each symbol means. And I feel like this aspect of the game was handled really well - the experience of appearing somewhere new and having no idea what's going on, and gradually making guesses at what particular symbols mean, revising those guesses as you experience new things, and going back to earlier places and understanding what previously made no sense to you feels great. There is also variance in the syntax of the languages you find which makes the process of translation feel fresh, though I felt the bard language was the only real standout unique language. Unfortunately I think the single mechanic that sets this game back the most is the journal. Every so often as you play, you are shown a page in a journal with images on it and some of the symbols you've found that can be paired with the images - if you make the right pairings, the game will confirm them and you'll be granted with the "correct" english word that corresponds with the symbols you've discovered. Just like that, the process of discovering things for yourself, the feeling of uncertainty, the process of working through and revising the conclusions you've come to, are wiped out?! It would be a lot like if after solving one puzzle with a new mechanic in The Witness, you got a sticker and unlocked a dictionary entry that told you the ins and outs of how it worked. It also imposes on the player's own self-made definitions and kind of ignores the flexibility and ambiguity of language by giving you a correct way of seeing things. There are also a lot of gameplay mechanics and sections unrelated to the game's main language puzzles that take momentum away from the game's main thrust and end up feeling like filler. The game's stealth mechanics are a lot like this. Really, why does a puzzle game need pointless stealth sections? They don't integrate in any way with the language puzzles, are mechanically crude and unengaging, and fail to progress the game thematically or narratively, so basically they feel very out of place. At the very least they could have been made easy, buuut they aren't. Most of the game's other non-language puzzle sections are okay but require a lot of backtracking and wandering through the same large areas and long hallways over and over to find the one thing you missed to solve the puzzle or reread some clue, which takes forever at the protagonist's snail's pace. Also, for some reason, for the final level's language, the game throws away the entire process of exploration and deciphering the language gradually and instead gives you a bunch of weird circle-spinning puzzles to solve? which just, translate the language for you? Yeah, okay. The game does have impressive visuals, and every area of the tower feels visually distinct and reflective of its inhabitants. The protagonists running animation looks pretty awkward though. The game narratively has a sense of vagueness like in a fable - people are caricatures, the storyline is mythic and vague. There is a charm to that but you will be disappointed if you're looking for an in-depth storyline or strong characters. Chants of Sennaar has a good foundation but I feel like it plays it way too safe and tries to play down its linguistic aspects to conform more to the conventions of a typical adventure game. However, it doesn't execute that well either and ends up feeling like a half-baked infusion of a puzzle game afraid to let the players feel uncertainty and the familiar stealth and puzzle mechanics that you see in non-stealth and non-puzzle games to pad out the playtime. At the risk of sounding like I want to impose something on this game that it wasn't ever meant to be, I still feel like if the game looked towards The Witness and left its players alone with its languages and its world and the theories and speculations that they could come up with on their own from these it could be something unique among puzzle games.

A refreshing new concept of using language deciphering as the base for most puzzles. If you like puzzles and languages this game is for you. It comes with a wholesome story too. :)

It's not a terrible game, but it honestly feels more like a generic click and point puzzle game rather than a good language puzzle game. Too much of the game is just walking around and finding the right place to go. There are a few language puzzles along the way, but they are not that interesting or difficult, and much of it is just walking around. The artwork is pretty, and there is a somewhat interesting story under the game of people communicating, and maybe how people control each other. But it just isn't enough to hang the game on.

Absolutely amazing game, it was super fun to play and figure out the languages and puzzles. Definitely recommending it to everyone I know lol

great game, fresh and new idea and stunning graphics

Pretty good and unique game. I loved trying to figure out the languages and their connections. Wish the puzzles had a bit more depth and the awful stealth sections didn't exist.

I was a little confused at first being a stranger in a culture I didn't understand. But as I experienced more I began to understand the people's values and their similarities. It was very rewarding piecing together language and connecting the tower. Such a cool concept and important message about making an effort to communicate with each other.

Very engaging language puzzle game that isn't just translating words one to one (different languages have different grammar rules). It also is really uplifting and stunningly beautiful. The only gripe I have is that it could honestly be longer!

Let's just say that for me Chants of Sennaar is successfully filling the void that Heaven's Vault wasn't quite able to deal with. An absolutely delightful ride.

Still right at the start of the game, but I'm enjoying it so far. The language puzzles are really interesting, and it really does not hold your hand. It tells you about the mechanics as they come up, and then you get to do what you want with them. Fun game.

This game is incredible and I cannot recommend it enough for anyone remotely interested in languages. Puzzles are at a great difficulty level, world design is gorgeous. I thoroughly enjoyed figuring out my mistakes and reworking it to come to the solution. Every couple of months I miss playing it for the first time, and search to see if there are any new similar releases. Every time I am disappointed as I'm yet to find another well-executed game with a similar concept.

Fantastic puzzler with a fun story to uncover and some wrongs to right.

Lovingly crafted puzzle game with well tuned challenges. Decoding experience makes use of clever clues like [spoiler]grammatical structure, context, body language, and Rosetta Stone like tablets[/spoiler]. Beautifully rendered flat art style that relies heavily on clean outlines and shadows. Reminds me of Manifold Garden in that respect. Not overly long, can complete in about 10 hours.

I have read some of the other negative reviews and am relieved to see that I am not alone in my dislike of the game. I had never heard of Chants of Sennaar until I saw it regularly being mentioned in the context of other deduction-based games like Outer Wilds or Return of the Obra Dinn - two of the best gaming experiences I ever had. That, paired with the general critical acclaim, led me to believe that I was in for another great ride. Unfortunately, my - admittedly rather high - expectations were not met. The game's premise is very intriguing and it works for the first hour or so. But it quickly loses its appeal as you keep progressing. I think all in all there COULD have been a great experience in here, but due to how it was executed it leaves a bitter taste. I wouldn't go so far as to say I regret having played it - it's up to me to stop playing of course - but I certainly didn't enjoy it. To not go on too long of a rant I will pick out 2 specific aspects that ruined the experience for me. 1. The world Super cool setting, climbing this monstrosity of a tower. In the beginning of the game, the wide shots of the architecture in the background really do fire up your imagination in terms of what's to come. Ironically, the higher you go, the more evident it becomes that this world is in fact extremely flat. All peoples you encounter are mere caricatures that are not believable. Every aspect of the world constantly screams at you "I WAS BUILT TO SERVE A PURPOSE", nothing seems as though it could have naturally sprung up (in the confines of this world). [spoiler] Warriors patrolling the innermost rooms of their fortress, performing drills non-stop, when all they ever need is 3 guards - who do not even engage in combat - at the gate to the lower realm simply saying "THE DOOR IS CLOSED". What are they preparing for? An invasion from another dimension? Bards and Alchemists split up at some point of their history to form two distinct societies, yet they both have an entirely different language system with no commonalities. This is a bit of a slap in the face in a "linguistic" game. And most of all, you would have me believe that I need to learn words for Pot, Instrument, Copper, Duty, etc. but in not one of those murals, texts or interactions there was ever a mention of Eat or Drink or Mother/Father/Family/Child or Friend? I could go on but I'll leave it at that. [/spoiler] 2. The puzzles I would argue that there really are only a handful of puzzles in the game. I do not recall a single instance where I had to come up with something on my own - other than [spoiler] the 4-digit numbers in the alchemist's area. But I only found out later that the whole purpose of the "number" machine is to teach you this specific thing. I hadn't used it. [/spoiler]. Matching the glyphs, even though you might not have a clue what they mean, can be done on an ongoing basis by brute-forcing the available options you have. The other "puzzles" that are part of the world always follow these two steps. 1) Find something that you don't know what to do with. 2) Find something that tells you the solution for the thing that you didn't know what to do with. This is not a puzzle. It tells you the answer! The difficulty in "solving" those is the tedium to go to any and all places to make sure you didn't miss any interactive spot. Speaking of tedium, this is also the basis for solving all the late-game puzzles. It's not that it's difficult, it's just tedious to navigate between the "This is what I know" and "This is what I need" states. There are other things that I disliked which other reviewers have already mentioned (sneaking, the whole ending sequence, the backtracking, ...). That said, I do see the general appeal of Chants of Sennaar, which drew me in at first as well. Apparently, the majority of players thoroughly enjoyed their time in the tower. I did not. And I would not recommend this game to anyone because of its execution that leaves so much to be desired.

If you like FEZ and you like difficult puzzles, this is the game for you. 9/10 didn't like ONE part :MGS2_Snake:

Excellent little puzzle solving game. From the art style, the sounds, the music, event he menus. Everything felt polished and clean. Loved it!

very interesting how u learn a language by studying letter shape, people gesture when using certain word/sentence, seeing how often some letter used, playing card game, making science formula, listening to theatre play to learn it all, the most fun part is translating 2 different language so 2 people with different culture understand one another

Erster Part war brilliant, ab dem zweiten dann etwas schwach geworden, Endgame Sprachen gameplay war richtig grausig, Story ende war eine coole idee aber schwache durchgesetzt

The language puzzle mechanics are fun and reminded me crosswords on newspapers. Story, art style, whole theme and message around communication is simply beautiful. Truly one of the most unique experience I've ever had in a video game.

This game has wonderful puzzles and a great story line to accompany them. I enjoyed my playthrough and wholeheartedly recommend this game.

Neat and simple experience for a game, I enjoyed the puzzles which were the right balance of challenge for me, it rewards exploration which I liked too. Easy to 100% in a single playthrough. Also you can pet a cat.

Awesome puzzle game that makes you really use your brain. You're basically thrown into the deep end right from the start, not understanding anyone, but if you take time to see the patterns and use your own hints for each glyph, it becomes surprisingly satisfying to learn multiple new languages by the power of deduction and taking clues from your environment and interaction with the characters in the game. Unique art style, and if you find the hatching a bit much (like I did), the game even lets you make it more subtle (or disable it altogether). Kudos to the devs for that option :) It's a mix of exploration, mini-puzzles and games, with an overarching theme of language, culture and connection. Smart concept, well executed. And the little animals in each level are wonderful flair to throw on top! [b]Solid recommendation[/b] if you want to put that grey matter to use in a charming, entertaining fashion. Important note: DO NOT look up walkthroughs, guides or hints. It's much more satisfying to use a little perseverance and discovery for yourself, and you're given plenty of opportunity to discover the languages and solve the meaning of the different glyphs. You can even just guess at random and find meanings. You'll ruin the game for yourself if you take shortcuts. Don't say I didn't warn you ;) P.S.: there are pettable cats ;)

Fun puzzle game. Very good. Could use a map or something for navigation, it is easy to get lost (looking at you sewers).

One of the best games to play completely blind. If you like Outer Wilds, you are going to like this.

A game that is fun to play and is definitely worth a recommendation. However, I feel the language design lacks depth. Out of the 4 languages that the player has chance to interact with, 3 are basically the same language (i.e. dialects) just in different writing systems. This is a little bit disappointing as by playing with S, V, and O there is already 6 different grammar paradigms can play with...

You know a game is incredible when you bought it on sale and after playing it you wish you paid full price for it cause of how well done and fun it was. Such a unique puzzle game, interesting premise, incredible themes and world, soundtrack is excellent, the list goes on. Almost makes me want to learn a foreign language myself. Almost. I can't recommend this game enough if you want a unique puzzle adventure game, 10/10.

I support this game's anti-god and anti-gamer agenda. It also makes my brain hurt in a good way.

This game was so much fun, finished it in just 12 hours. Love a really good puzzle game!! The system of figuring out the languages is really fun.

Blending a mysterious combination of linguistics and puzzle-solving, this game has lots of fun content for you to explore. Lots of fun interactions and head scratching conversations, the slow burn of understanding how the game works leaves you wanting more. Played this with my partner over a week of fun evenings, definitely recommend this to anyone who has an appreciation for language and syntax, or just anyone who likes solving puzzles.

This game is amazing! It is that satisfying level of challenging where it is kind of difficult at times but not impossible. This is a must-have for indie-goers, puzzlers, and narratives where it is not explicitly told.

controls feel a bit rough, but otherwise the game is beautiful and fun, and the ending is absolutely amazing!

This was such a great game and I wish I could find a game that scratches the linguistic itch it left behind!! Well worth the time of anyone who finds languages interesting or who likes puzzles in general and personally I'll be keeping this experience in my mind for a while :))

i really enjoyed this game! it's not very hard, so newbies like me can have plenty of fun too. you can get all achievements from only one playtrough, which i find very rewarding as i am not a fan of playing with something x times just to unlock everything. i recommend for everyone who likes a good puzzle game:)

awesome Game. translating stuff for the different people felt rewarding especially as the different people opened up to each other and started helping each other solve their problems. by that extant the Game talks about how not being able to communicate with one another creates cliffs and conflicts, and only when we open up and really try to understand d one another can we close them and move forward.

Amazing game. Challenging, beautiful, and captivating. Tons of fun.

loved this game! its great for anyone who loves languages and good puzzles. the gameplay is excellent and the game respects you as a player. Well done Rundisc!

Truly remarkable puzzle game, which has encompassed history-inspired storyline; challenging, but not restrictive puzzles, and unexpected minigames to keep you on toes. It was a delightful experience, and I wish to see more games like this in the future!

A very cute and relaxing game, and for a puzzle game it is neither so hard that you want to give up nor is it so easy that you are breezing through it craving more challenges. Highly recommend for anyone who wants a short and sweet puzzle game. Didn't expect the "horror" at the end tho (not that it was scary in any shape or form, just stressful)

Loved every second of it, loved the music, loved the story and loved the cozy atmosphere. Puzzles were really logical, not too hard, not too easy, the only thing I can complain about is that (I blame my lack of direction) I had to walk around a lot. If you like puzzles and like deciphering, you'll love it

Learning languages through puzzles, comparing an interpreting was a fun experience. Took me about 13 hours to finish.

Game is great! Puzzles are challenging without ever feeling impossible. Every solution gave me that 'Eureka!' feeling I haven't felt in a long time. The story is also great, and the visuals are a feast for the eyes! It's quite short in playtime, though, but it's worth every penny—especially when it goes on sale. Really recommended if you love puzzle games!

Interesting gameplay, difficult puzzles, makes you think. I really enjoyed this game. It's a puzzle game that gets you to decode cyphers. If you like escape rooms, you will really enjoy this game! Some really cool mechanics. The last section of the game is a little weird and I did end up using a bit of online help, but I like that you get invested in the characters even though none of them have a name or a face. Recommend playing this game in a few sessions close together so you don't lose the flow, as it all links together.

Really unique puzzle game with a linguistic flavour. Full of charm and incredibly satisfying to complete.

If you like puzzles and/or languages, this is a must play. A wonderful little game with a lot of soul and character.

Freaking awesome game. Puzzles were fantastic, a bit difficult and unintuitive at times but definitely worth the time and money spent. Ending and visual style are amazing as well.

Edit: finished it and i enjoyed so much 10/10. loved the end This game is about solving language systems from out of this world. It's a slow paced game and I enjoyed mostly everything apart from the long walking. It is fun to decode and understand each langauge system. For me the most fun part is to decipher the translations between the civilizations. Each level feels refreshing with unique mini games. The aestethics and the colour of each mazes are wonderful and the music is great. I am very proud of myself that I could solve everything so far without any help. I really enjoyed this game, thank you!