Aphelion Reviews
Aphelion is very much a compelling, though mechanically nuts and bolts narrative adventure that embraces linearity and spectacle above all else. Though its embedded dynamic of interpersonal relationships is engaging, the technical flaws, occasional clunkiness and aged-like-milk stealth sections sadly do much to undercut its otherwise impressive qualities.
Apparently, Aphelion fell victim to the financial difficulties that DON'T NOD faced. Despite a fairly solid foundation, the authors failed to polish both the narrative elements and the gameplay.
Review in Russian | Read full review
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It's hard to hide our disappointment with Aphelion, which stands as the very definition of an average game. While there's nothing fundamentally bad or failed about Don't Nod's title, there's still plenty of room for improvement on many levels, which inevitably leaves us with a bitter aftertaste once the adventure is over. We're left with the feeling that we've missed out on what could have been a great adventure, one whose good ideas, though present, weren't properly developed by the studio.
Review in French | Read full review
Aphelion is a solid science fiction adventure with a large focus on emotional connection and narrative. Despite some tedious controls and obvious bugs, the journey is worth staying to the very end.
Recently, we've seen the Artemis II mission successfully blast off, have a quick look at the dark side of the Moon, then safely return to Earth. ...
Aphelion isn’t a particularly bad game, but its gameplay and story are a little too safe to create an experience that is memorable.
Aphelion may stumble in its mechanics, but when it places focus on the storytelling, atmosphere and spectacle, it’s exactly the kind of experience DON’T NOD excels at. It’s intriguing, mysterious and clever - we just wish it was tighter in terms of save points and how the gameplay is handled.
Aphelion may not impress all that much on the gameplay front, with its traversal and stealth sections sometimes marred by its clunky controls, but its story and presentation pick up the slack, making it an enjoyable trek across an alien planet on the whole.
An experience that I don’t think even DON’T NOD fans will enjoy, firmly in the “play it and forget it” category, and if it’s remembered at all, it’ll only be for its ending.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Aphelion delivers a visually striking world and excellent soundtrack, but ultimately fails where it matters most ' gameplay. The story never truly gains momentum and the characters feel generic, resulting in an experience that feels style-over-substance. Despite strong audiovisual presentation, the game serves as a reminder that presentation alone is not enough to carry a title.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Aphelion does well in both providing a good story with emotional pull, while also providing an experience that differs from the studio's previous works. The investigative portions may feel light, but they also provide a nice break from the stealth and climbing sections. The investigation, stealth, and climbing make the game feel more involved than what some may expect for a genre that can border on being walking simulators or Western versions of the visual novel. The presentation is great, and the runtime feels just right, making Aphelion an experience that's well worth checking out.
A worthwhile sci-fi story that is marred by questionable gameplay. One would expect more from Don't Nod.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There’s a quiet confidence to Aphelion that I didn’t expect, paired with a stubborn refusal to make things easy for the player. It takes story, platforming, and familiar sci-fi ideas and creates something that feels thoughtful, yet oddly punishing. It pulled me in, pushed me away, and then pulled me back again just when I thought I was done with it.
Aphelion is a fantastic Sci-Fi adventure that really delivers on atmosphere and visual scale. While the climbing mechanics and some wonky animations act as minor speed bumps, the dual-hero narrative and the stunning world-building kept me hooked. It’s a beautiful, slow-burning experience that feels like a proper journey across an alien world. If you’re a fan of atmospheric adventures, this is a trek worth taking.
Instead of wanting to soak in the world, I often found myself pushing forward just to see it through to the end. That’s probably the biggest disappointment. This is a game that feels like it should be better than it is. There’s enough here that some players will connect with it more than I did, but for me, it never fully lived up to its potential.
This is DON’T NOD at the top of their game. Tried and true game mechanics are elevated massively by fantastic art direction, sound and creature design. Most importantly, Aphelion weaves a gripping narrative with two incredible performances from the main voice cast. As a video game, it’s not doing anything new when it comes to game mechanics, but what it does do, it does very well indeed. Aphelion is a thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi adventure of loss, desperation, survival, and importantly, hope. Despite a few very late-game wobbles, this is one mission for humanity you should undertake.
Aphelion is hugely ambitious, but saddled with an unengaging narrative and dated mechanics that result in a rare misstep for Don't Nod.
Exciting and cinematic, Aphelion is a stunning space adventure that will surely stay in the hearts of players who enjoy this style of game.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Aphelion feels like watching a beautiful sci-fi film that stumbles on the small details. It leans heavily on an interesting story with two protagonists who deserved a bit more depth, while leaving the gameplay feeling too simple, even if the potential is there. The soundtrack and the visual design are stunning, with the planet Persephone being a real feast for the eyes, but the stealth sections fall short, the invisible walls pull you out of the experience, and the idea of having two playable characters is largely wasted. It could have been so much more.
Review in Spanish | Read full review