Ayasa: Shadows of Silence is a dark and artistic 2.5D platformer that tries to deliver a silent, emotional, dreamlike journey through a strange and broken world. The game follows Ayasa, a young girl who carries a small piece of light from an ancient being called Tas. This light is the last hope for saving a world that has fallen into shadow. The story takes place across several symbolic lands, each tied to a human trait such as Faith, Hope, Love, Greed, Indifference, and Betrayal. Every location is meant to reflect its name through the environment, the puzzles, and the mood.
In all fairness, the concept on paper looks interesting and clearly draws inspiration from Little Nightmares. However, it’s a very rough game. I genuinely gave up after playing just two and a half hours due to the constant glitches, bugs, and very poor performance. It simply doesn’t justify the 25 € price tag, especially when the original, much more polished and unique Little Nightmares is available for 20 €.
I do have to admit that the artistic vision is very beautiful and uses hand-crafted scenes, dramatic lighting, and surreal shapes to create a world that feels like a living painting. There are moments where the game simply lets you stand still and absorb the atmosphere. The developers clearly wanted the player to feel unease, sadness, and wonder at the same time, and in many scenes this effect is very strong.
I am also a big fan of games that brilliantly and uniquely forgo voice acting, and Ayasa adheres to this design. It features no voiced lines, text boxes, or lengthy cutscenes. Instead, the narrative is delivered almost entirely through visuals, body language, and sound design. The game requires the player to watch, think, and create their own meaning rather than offering clear explanations. However, this lack of a clear story structure can be confusing, or even frustrating, as the game ultimately expects you to accept its dreamlike logic without question.
The main gameplay uses a mixture of platforming, puzzles, stealth, and light-based abilities. Ayasa can interact with light in several ways, such as revealing hidden paths or pushing back darkness. She can slow or rewind time in specific areas to solve puzzles or avoid danger. She can also become invisible or use energy skills to slip past enemies. These powers make Ayasa feel fragile but capable, and they give the player several ways to approach obstacles. Some puzzles are simple, while others require careful timing or good observation.
However, the game has clear problems. Even during the demo version, it was evident that the controls and movement would be a major issue. The character’s movement is not smooth: it feels clunky, unresponsive, and generally uncomfortable to control. Jumps can feel stiff, landings may not register correctly and sometimes you press a button, but the action happens a moment too late. There are also collision problems, where Ayasa hits invisible edges, slips off platforms, or gets stuck on corners. None of this breaks the game completely, but it takes away from the mood and can lead to real frustration.
Another frequent issue comes from the game world itself. While the environments look beautiful, the level design does not always guide you clearly. Sometimes you walk into areas that look important but lead nowhere. Other times, the real path is hidden too well, leaving you confused about where to go next. Because the game gives no hints, getting lost can happen often.
Sound design is an area that should have been better too. The game uses long stretches of silence to build mood, but the silence does not always feel intentional. Certain areas feel empty rather than suspenseful and background noises also sometimes cut off too quickly or do not match the scene. Additionally, music appears in important moments but does not always fill the space enough to support the emotion.
You will also run into bugs and small technical problems, like enemies may reset their animations in strange ways. Falling into a gap or dying can sometimes send you back farther than expected, forcing you to repeat long parts again. These issues make the experience feel rough, as if the game needed more development time to polish the final touches.
Because of all these issues, Ayasa: Shadows of Silence feels like an indie game with strong passion but limited refinement. It is clear that the developers put a lot of heart into the story, the art, and the emotional tone. The world is unforgettable in many moments, but the rough controls, weak sound design, unclear level paths, and technical hiccups prevent it from reaching the full potential of its ideas.
Despite these problems, Ayasa can be a very special experience for the right kind of player. If you enjoy slow, quiet, symbolic games that focus on mood and emotion more than action, this game can stay in your mind for a long time. If you enjoy titles like Limbo, Inside, or Little Nightmares, you may appreciate the atmosphere and the hidden meanings. If you like to think about themes instead of being told them directly, Ayasa offers plenty to explore.
But those who expect smooth platforming, clear objectives, polished controls, or a straightforward story may find the experience frustrating. The game requires patience, curiosity, and a willingness to accept flaws in return for mood and creativity.
In the end, Ayasa: Shadows of Silence is an ambitious and emotional indie game that dares to be different. It offers a haunting world, powerful themes, and a unique style of storytelling. At the same time, it suffers from technical issues, uneven design choices, and moments where its silence and mystery work against If you approach it with the right expectations, Ayasa can be a beautiful and memorable journey. If you expect a smooth and polished adventure, it may feel too rough.
Review copy provided by the publisher
