Aeterna Noctis Reviews

Aeterna Noctis is ranked in the 48th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
75 / 100
Jun 12, 2023

Pit of the Damned adds a good amount of content and fixes some of the main issues found in Aeterna Noctis, making it a great choice for new and returning players.

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5 / 10
Feb 20, 2023

A beautifully dark throwback to the classics, Aeterna Noctis revels in its classic charm. The difficulty also apes that of its forebears, which for some they might enjoy, others it might be too much. For those impartial, it’s another in a massive catalogue of Metroidvania titles.

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6 / 10
Jan 3, 2023

Aeterna Noctis brings a metroidvania experience influenced by several of the main games of the genre, with a complex level design, a long lifespan, and a well implemented visual environment. If experienced players will feel right at home, those with less time and fewer hours on their back around metroidvania games will find the high difficulty level off putting, and while the game's gentle pacing works great for the exploration it also risks making some players lose their momentum as they move around Aeterna Noctis' long lifespan and maze-like levels.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 15, 2022

Although Aeternum Noctis is a solid production, some design decisions prevented the game from reaching its potential.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2022

Aeterna Noctis has surprised me at all times thanks to its careful design, its demanding difficulty and its gigantic scale. A must for lovers of this type of experience.

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76 / 100
Nov 4, 2022

If the only console you own is a Switch, then Aeterna Noctis is a very good Metroidvania. I’d put it a tier lower than the best of the best in the genre, but still better than most, because of its excellent gameplay. If you own a PS5, Xbox, or PC, then the Switch should be the last version you play. The camera is too zoomed-out for handheld mode, and the framerate is very choppy compared to the other smooth versions. I wish I could also report on how the PS4 and Xbox One versions compared to the next gen versions. They were all planned for the same release day, and ended up taking another year to become available, so I would assume they are all downgrades that had to be quality compromised.

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5 / 10.0
Nov 4, 2022

If you've played any other Metroidvania, just think about hitting a load screen for every single screen transition and you can quickly realize why that can be a real downer. The visuals also feel like they have too much motion blur on them or some kind of video compression effect that just leads to a muddy look. Maybe someone out there can find some enjoyment here and have fun with its edgelord protagonist and odd design choices, but this was just not a game for me.

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5 / 10
Nov 4, 2022

Aeterna Noctis has a lot of potential; however, it feels like the developer got a bit too ambitious. A game that was shorter and had more focus has the potential to be something fantastic. but it ends up being a bit of a slog for a lot of its runtime due to its sometimes-tedious difficulty, despite some great platforming segments. Long loads and some frustrating design choices mean Aeterna Noctis is a derivative but sporadically satisfying game that some players may absolutely fall in love with. It has clearly had a lot of love put into it, but we didn't quite vibe with it.

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80 / 100
Nov 4, 2022

Although it drags some defects and the port is not as perfect as we would like, we have enjoyed Aeterna Noctis on Nintendo Switch. In fact, it has hooked us more than the original, thanks to fantastic additions such as the Aeternal mode. If you have not played it or abandoned it because of its difficulty, now is the best time.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

6 / 10.0
Sep 14, 2022

The simple things here are just okay, though they’re fairly standard. On the whole, and whilst I can’t quite put my finger on it, something feels stale with Aeterna Noctis — “Limp” even. What makes metroidvania’s so fun is not merely the challenge but the pace, reward, and sense of impact your upgrades give you. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, Aeterna Noctis tipped the scales heavily in favor of repetitive challenge that rarely feels rewarding to overcome.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 8, 2022

Undoubtedly, Aeterna Noctis is one of the best metroidvanias today. Its biggest highlight is due to the rich mythology that was created for the game, along with a gameplay that is both challenging and rewarding. A sure recommendation only for long-time veterans of the genre.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Feb 7, 2022

Aeterna Noctis does deliver a satisfying metroidvania experience, but that is all it does. It won’t stay with you or leave a lasting impression other than fatigue. It might have been a better game if it were 25 hours instead of 60; that way it could condense its best aspects into a reasonable package.

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85 / 100
Jan 7, 2022

Aeterna Noctis is brilliant. It has an excellent design and it shows that the team knew what it was doing. It remains at the gates of the outstanding because I consider that there are some points where a bit of braking is passed when it comes to demanding the player, which will cause many players to find themselves with insurmountable barriers.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jan 6, 2022

If a challenge is what you’re after, you’ll find it within Aeterna Noctis. There’s still plenty to appreciate and enjoy if that’s up your alley, but it doesn’t do enough to allow its concept to stand out from the competition.

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60 / 100
Jan 6, 2022

If you've played all the "Metroidvanias" under the Sun, Aeterna Noctis might be a good recommendation. The game has a solid foundation, but its individual elements don't provide a concise experience as a whole. There is always something unnecessary that tests the player's patience and perseverance beyond what is necessary. In the end, it is a title that will remain in memory not for what it is, but for what it could have been.

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NoesPaisparaFrikis
Jorge Cuadri
9.3 / 10.0
Dec 24, 2021

It exudes ambition, quality and good ideas, and it is an absolutely huge video game in every way.

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6.7 / 10.0
Dec 23, 2021

Aeterna Noctis is a clone of the biggest games in the genre, with few good gameplay mechanics and too many issues caused by an imperfect polishing.

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5 / 10.0
Dec 21, 2021

A metroidvania mixed with a bit of soulsvania that doesn't know what it wants to be and tries a bit of everything, without really succeeding in any particular aspect.

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8 / 10
Dec 16, 2021

Aeterna Noctis is an amazing example of how a developer can mix together gameplay elements from many popular platformers of the past few years to construct something greater than the sum of its parts. While it owes a gameplay debt to games like Hollow Knight, Dark Souls, and Castlevania, Aeterna Noctis’ fascinating setting and enjoyable gameplay make it easy to appreciate on its own. Its beautiful world and gorgeous soundtrack make exploring Aeterna is a joy, even when its high difficulty is knocking you down over and over. If you’ve been seeking your next Metroidvania fix, Aeterna Noctis is definitely worth diving into.

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Hey Poor Player
Mark Everglade
4 / 5.0
Dec 16, 2021

The phrase Metroidvania should not be applied casually, for those two games expanded what was possible, tossing gamers down cryptic corridors instead of cute green pipes. Aeterna Noctis may not innovate much, but it’s a worthy addition to this sub-genre that any fan of Hollow Knight will be pleased to play, if they can overlook the redundancy of gameplay elements. The frequency of the jumping puzzles will push many casual gamers away, but those looking for a classic, hardcore challenge will find it welcomes you with its skeletal hands.

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