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Psychonauts pc Game Reviews
Psychonauts
Critic Score
Metascore: 87 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.5 out of 10
based on 29 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 108 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Psychonauts is a wildly surreal action adventure game where personal paranormal powers are unlocked in order to plunge into the minds of bizarre characters. Journey deep into these crazy worlds of infinite possibility to thwart the secret plan of an evil madman and realize the ultimate dream of joining an elite force of psychic superheroes, the Psychonauts. Delve into people's minds as Raz, a powerful young cadet at psychic summer camp. While working on his levitation merit badge, Raz discovers that someone is kidnapping psychic children and stealing their brains. In order to foil this evil plot and earn the title of Psychonaut, Raz must project himself into the minds of one bizarre character after another to battle their nightmares and mental demons. He does all this while continuing to earn his psychic merit badges in Telekinesis, Clairvoyance, Pyrokinesis and more.

PUBLISHER: Majesco Sales Inc.
DEVELOPER: Double Fine Productions
GENRE(S): Action, Adventure, Platform
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: RP (Rating Pending)
RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2005

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
GameBiz
It’s one of the most original, creative and inspired titles out there and even better—-it’s one of those rare videogames that can actually make you laugh out loud.
Read Full Review
96
Xequted
If you’re a fan of sharp humor, great stories, stellar gameplay, or Invader Zim, you simply can’t go wrong with this gem.
Read Full Review
95
Play Magazine
Arguably the best epic platformer since the Rare/Miyamoto days of N64. [May 2005, p.65]
94
Inside Gamer Online
No title is likely to exhibit this much magnetic appeal for some time to come, and as an outspoken resident of Lungfishopolis once remarked, if you don't buy Psychonauts, you "are against children—and against love.”
Read Full Review
94
eToychest
Psychonauts may not be particularly innovative in any of its undertakings, but it breathes new life into a stale genre by virtue of its humor and creativity alone.
Read Full Review
92
Jolt Online Gaming UK
The fact that Psychonauts isn’t on the radar as one of this year’s big releases is a major shame, as it is, quite simply, superb.
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92
Game Chronicles
The production values are top notch in every department. If you're the kind of gamer who craves the weird and unusual, look no further; this is your game.
Read Full Review
91
PC Format
Utterly mental, but quite, quite brilliant. One of the best experiences of the year. [July 2005, p.92]
91
ActionTrip
What truly makes this game so enjoyable is the fact that it is incredibly clever and witty, with a gallery of fantastic (as well as bizarre) characters and some intelligently conceived details.
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90
Yahoo! Games
Weird, funny, immensely playable, and has that nigh-unclassifiable thing we can only call charm.
Read Full Review
90
PC Gamer
It's so goofilfy hilarious, you may just find yourself a wisecrack away from peeing in your Jockeys. [June 2005, p.76]
90
1UP
It's a brilliant debut for Double Fine, and here's hoping it's just the start of what we can expect to see from them.
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90
Computer Gaming World
A triumph of art direction, a prime example of exquisite aesthetics and of how well an imaginary world can be beautifully conceived.
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90
GameSpy
In a world where one of the most common gamer laments is there's no originality in gaming anymore, Psychonauts is an incredibly enjoyable breath of fresh air.
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90
GamerFeed
A breath of fresh air that has restored faith in platforming adventure titles. Within the first three minutes of gameplay, one realizes just how funnily bizarre this title is.
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89
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Inspired, delightful and at times bordering on the insane. Psychonauts is mind-blowing, however it's tricky at times and definitely not for kids. [PC Gamer UK]
Read Full Review
87
Pelit (Finland)
A wildly imaginative platform adventure. Framerate and visibility issues are a bit of a letdown, though. [Mar 2006]
87
IGN
The first half of this game is easily one of the most enjoyable I've had in the past year. But as is the case with many humorous games, the laughs begin to fade in the home stretch and in the end Psychonauts started to wear on me.
Read Full Review
84
GameSpot
Psychonauts doesn't reinvent the platformer, but it still delivers an experience that feels wholly original in every aspect of its execution.
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83
Just Adventure
Creative mayhem, and is at times crazy fun to play.
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82
Game Over Online
I’d rather spend my nights playing Psychonauts than a "Myst" or "Resident Evil" title, barring perhaps "Resident Evil 4." It’s livelier, funnier, and more original, in an age when sequels are the only safe bets for publishers.
Read Full Review
80
Edge Magazine
It isn’t any kind of reinvention, but a revitalisation, with a style so rich that it becomes an integral part of the game’s substance; Psychonauts breathes imagination and individuality as effortlessly as most games steal from one another. [July 2005, p.84]
80
The New York Times
Insanity is what makes Psychonauts entertaining and unusual, so it is a shame you have to spend several hours in the mildly eccentric minds of instructors before getting to the cool part of the game.
Read Full Review
80
G4 TV
The levels are fun, the gameplay is solid, and the puzzles and bosses require more than a bit of brain matter to figure out, resulting in a nice sense of accomplishment every time you reach a new milestone in Raz's adventure.
Read Full Review
80
Computer Games Magazine
As it gets progressively weirder, it also gets significantly better, making it one head-trip definitely worth taking. [July 2005, p.56]
80
Eurogamer
What's unavoidable is the fact that almost all of the problems that weigh Psychonauts down are borne out of the legacy that the platform genre itself has, and Double Fine - like so many other developers - has largely been unable to avoid falling into the same pitfalls of inconsistent level design and unwise difficulty spikes. Dammit.
Read Full Review
80
AceGamez
The uniquely quirky presentation, brilliantly conceived storyline, excellent cut scenes and tremendously varied gameplay all combine for a totally refreshing and fun game experience.
Read Full Review
72
2404.org
Psychonauts may be an excellent concept and creatively realized, but it is translated into an average game.
Read Full Review
70
games(TM)
It’s not revolutionary by any means, nor is it particularly long, but thanks to some clever creative control the game delivers a funny, engrossing and downright weird experience unlike most other platform adventures. [July 2005, p.104]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 108 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jason M. gave it a10:
Very original and fun game. I know some complained about the controls, but I used a standard keyboard+mouse setup and it played great, so I'm not really sure what the issue was. The design came off with a nice balance between weird and realism, and has a maturity to it that most games I've played, especially more recent ones, simply lack. This game has now got me interested in the other things the designer (Tim Schafer) has made as well, and I'm impressed.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Extremely unique and entertaining, this game will make you laugh over and over. It's only short comings are bellow average 3D graphics (for this day and age) and a relatively short story. However, it's hard to make a long game when your ideas are this original.

P G gave it a3:
Many feel this game is revolutionary and shatters rigid industry boundaries and proves that games are art. I am not one of those people. I find it to be a below average platformer with wonky controls and excessive amount of item collection to keep the player playing. The mental powers add an interesting dynamic, but the controls make them usually too difficult to use properly. Since it was realized the game would not be revolutionary in regards to actually playing it, the publisher decided to make a wacky story with odd characters and making each level inside people's minds which somewhat changes the gameplay from level to level, but it still comes down to hopping on platforms, collecting this, that, and the other thing, and mashing buttons to beat up bad guys. The story can be a tad hard to follow and is not spectacular either, though the voice acting and some of the wacky humour can be mildly entertaining. The too long, didn't read version: Overhyped by bandwagoners. Just go play a Mario game or something...there may not be story but at least you'll have fun.

Ben C. gave it a10:
The most original platform game I have ever come across. The art direction is superb and the writing is simply amazing. This is the first game in a long time that has made me both laugh out loud in places and almost cry in others. It displays an emotional maturity rarely seen in games. I have only one word of advice... if you don't have a gamepad to play this with: buy one. You won't be sorry.

Tim C. gave it a10:
I recently brought this game, Ive played a couple of levels and have very much enjoyed the experience so far, however i cant say ive played it enough to have a rounded opinion but anything designed by Tim Schafer is going to end up deserving a 10 anyway.

Brian M. gave it a10:
Amazing game with hilarious storyline and slapstick comedy.

Emil A. gave it a10:
It's a really fun and entertaining platform game. Excellent controls and feeling. The story is thrilling and well put on the table. Great game!

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