Relicta

 Xbox One
Relicta Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 12 Ratings

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  • Summary: Relicta is a first-person puzzle game whose main mechanics combine magnetism and gravity. The player is equipped with a pair of special gloves that allow them to change the magnetic and gravitational properties of experimental cubes scattered around each level. These cubes can be moved byRelicta is a first-person puzzle game whose main mechanics combine magnetism and gravity. The player is equipped with a pair of special gloves that allow them to change the magnetic and gravitational properties of experimental cubes scattered around each level. These cubes can be moved by the player, either carrying them bodily or using magnetism or gravity. They can also be placed on teleporting machines to warp them to another teleporter and help solve puzzles. Mechanics really come alive when combined in ingenious ways. For instance, magnetism can be used to repel or attract cubes, but repelling a cube that has previously “anti-gravitated” gives you a frictionless device that will retain inertia until it collides against something solid, like a wall (or your skull). It can even be used as a means of transport for the player to reach new places. Cubes can also be used to power up some devices, in order to operate doors and force fields. As the player progresses towards more complex puzzles, they will encounter other devices - magnetic plates, elevators, buttons or even drones capable of nullifying magnetic and gravitational fields as well as stealing cubes.… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Xbox Tavern
    Aug 7, 2020
    90
    Relicta offers up some clever, challenging puzzle scenarios that use physics in a way that feels natural while also embracing the sci-fi elements of its presentation. The difficulty can occasionally spike, and the story elements, while entertaining, definitely take a back seat to the actual puzzle solving gameplay. But when that gameplay is so good and rewarding, that’s no bad thing.
  2. IGN Spain
    Aug 4, 2020
    82
    The Spanish studio Mighty Polygon has given us a pleasant surprise with its puzzle game. Despite having a very small number of developers, they have achieved a game that can compete from one to the other with other greats of the genre such as The Turing Test or QUBE 2.
  3. TheXboxHub
    Aug 12, 2020
    80
    The price is perfect - in fact, perhaps it is a little cheap for the number of hours you will put into it - and in terms of the story Relicta on Xbox One is all very intriguing; the ideas behind it are fantastic. The script doesn't quite work all the time and the physics might annoy some, but if you’re looking for a test of the mind, this is certainly worth looking at.
  4. GameGrin
    Oct 28, 2020
    80
    Beautiful, challenging and frustrating in equal measure, Relicta is a game you should pick up if you want an exercise for your brain.
  5. SomosXbox
    Aug 27, 2020
    75
    Relicta is a remarkable puzzle game that offers a demanding proposal, as well as a good playability, although sometimes it does not work properly. Its artistic section and its level design are very successful, and they are only tarnished by a small blurring effect.
  6. XboxAddict
    Oct 2, 2020
    72
    The idea and gameplay behind Relicta is interesting, as is the story, but the puzzles become quite challenging in certain sections, sure to frustrate some. While it’s quite a lengthy game for its genre, it does feel like it wears out its welcome near the end, as I just really wanted to finish it and be done. While there’s no reason to replay once you’ve completed the story aside from any missed collectables, I’m still glad I got to experience Relicta and Doctor Patel’s journey across the moon.
  7. GameSpew
    Aug 3, 2020
    70
    If you’ve got the patience for it, Relicta is undoubtedly a neat puzzle game. It’s quite lengthy for a game of its type, which is perhaps why it eventually begins to feel overly repetitive, but you are spurred on when you encounter an a-ha! moment and go on to solve a puzzle that’s been perplexing you for the last 15 minutes or so. If you’ve made your way through the likes of the The Talos Principle and QUBE 2 and are eager to get stuck into yet another brain-teasing adventure, you’ll get a lot out of Relicta, even if it won’t have quite the same impact on you.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. aintry
    Sep 25, 2020
    8
    Even though Relicta felt like somewhat of a mashup between The Talos Principle and The Witness, there's enough variety in the puzzle dynamics,Even though Relicta felt like somewhat of a mashup between The Talos Principle and The Witness, there's enough variety in the puzzle dynamics, difficulty, length, and environments to make this an enjoyable game worth playing. There are some inconsistencies with game physics that get frustrating, but what stood out more than that was the slew of curious decisions made by the development team. Like why did this game need to be rated M? The storyline itself feels forced and disjointed as it is, so instead of making the dialogue edgy, the few dozen F bombs throughout the game just feel strangely out of place and unentertaining. Kind of like hearing your piano teacher swear. Another curious decision that actually seemed to work is how the levels progress. There are defined environments in the game that have different characteristics, but instead of progressing completely through each one, you are introduced to each level and it's unique characteristics and then after the game takes a turn, you revisit each one but with more challenging puzzles. This made the game feel much longer than it really is (in a good way). One thing that did not work was the tedious (almost torturous) time spent between levels. This made the game feel much longer than it was (in a bad way).… Expand
  2. Xbox_Alive
    Aug 29, 2020
    8
    Relicta is a first-person puzzle game that is heavily based around physics and using the attract and repel aspects of magnetism to overcomeRelicta is a first-person puzzle game that is heavily based around physics and using the attract and repel aspects of magnetism to overcome obstacles. The game has a lot of terrific puzzles and an intriguing story that keeps the player pushing forward, but it's let down by some janky physics that occasionally turns what should be a fun experience into one of frustration. Creating a puzzle game might be one of the most difficult challenges in game development. Not only are you crafting a world, but you’re filling it with puzzles that must have a clear solution and you have to create it from the ground up. In spite of the fact that puzzle game is enjoyable unfortunately replay value is at a loss. Relicta is an enjoyable puzzle game, but some of the stages can more frustrating than fun, thanks to a mixture of unreliable mechanics and the developers forcing the player to abide by a strict set of boundaries at all times.
    Relicta still offers an enjoyable puzzle-solving experience despite its issues and the mystery of what is happening on the base is enough of an incentive to keep pushing through the annoying parts of the otherwise great game mechanics.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Best Xbox One Game of 2020

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