Mosaic Reviews
A game about breaking free from monotony that gets, perhaps inevitably, a little monotonous.
From both philosophical and pure gameplay perspectives, I loved playing Mosaic
Like a lot of middling and so-so titles in years past, the "so-close" conclusion that something greater, more impactful — or at least enjoyable — has gone horribly amiss is always far more regrettable than an otherwise rotten-to-its-core excuse for a game.
A barbed look at today's society that lacks an end-product of sorts, Mosaic is a short experience that seems content with telling us what's wrong with our lives without really going any further than that. There's a vital message trapped within the game somewhere, but it never quite gets out, and the experience ends up being depressing rather than entertaining. That might have been what the developer was going for, but ultimately, it doesn't make for a particularly interesting video game.
While Mosaic is a good game, it's hard to describe it as enjoyable due to its subject matter. It has the possibility to hit a bit too close home for some, but the overall message once you hit the end might be worth it. It is by no means a bad game, just very heavy handed when it comes to its subject matter.
Depression, isolation, and burnout is the name of the game in Killbrite Studio's latest title, Mosaic, but as you start to see things for what they really are, will you be able to escape the grasping hands of control once and for all?
Mosaic might only last a few hours, but within that time it has moments that can stick with you, bring you joy amidst the monotony of everyday life. There's a message here to say that there is always a glimmer of hope even if it isn't always obvious, which is a good message to send. Plus, there's a talking goldfish.
Krillbite should be commended for what the achieve with Mosaic, crafting an experience that wholly commits to its themes, atmosphere, and narrative. Each moving part of the game contributes to the whole journey and creates an exceptional replication of the bleak, hostile, and depressing lifestyle that is modern capitalist-fueled city-life. It isn't a particularly enjoyable game to play, but that lack of gratification is just another part of the magnificent mosaic that is, Mosaic.
Ultimately, the biggest problem is the technical hitches. During the game's two hours, we experienced two hard crashes, and the framerate was almost never stable. Despite such a short run time, this made the experience feel much longer than it should have.
I enjoyed Mosaic. It isn’t reinventing the wheel, and we’ve seen this sort of story many times before, but there’s something about this game that just works.
Mosaic is an excellent illustration of a modern corporate society where individuality is suppressed and numerous applications try to standardize the life of an individual. Meaningless work with fines and restrictions and the same colorless life turn people into limp boxes of garbage that are thrown out in the backyard. With all this melancholy and gloom around the main character, you can compare the work of Krillbite even with the recent "Joker", which is very consonant with the creation of the Norwegians, but does not suggest, unlike the history of the northerners, a happy ending.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Mosaic is a bleak and surrealist game that, though brief, tells a captivating story about human connection.
Mosaic is a remarkable narrative game, suggestive in its small length, telling of a silent revolution in an oppressive dystopian society.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Through this game, not only is Krillbite telling us to pursue meaningfulness, they’re leading by example. I happily recommend Mosaic to anyone in search of poetic storytelling experience that’s only possible through video games.
Mosaic, a game about loneliness, redundancy and the tormenting bleakness of everyday life that makes us akin to robots repeating pre-programmed tasks to keep society working. This is not meant to be too harsh (or too kind) but Mosaic on the Nintendo Switch does manage to capture that void which seems to affect so many millions of humans in nearly every society on the face of the Earth. Pity that the way it behaves could not keep several errors and performance issues away, as the game often freezes and doesn't respond the way it would be expected to.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Criticism without nuance of the consumer society and the deadly routine of the employee, Mosaic develops a style, a subject but remains an extremely harsh experience. Difficult to recommend it as a video game, its final form seems more suited to that of a short film, the interaction is already extremely limited.
Review in French | Read full review
Did you know that corporations are bad? That the drudgeries of adult life are soul-crushing?
Mosaic is a wonderful title that does an impressive job of showing the downsides of modern society. While light on gameplay, there is a lot going on in the narrative through repetitive segments, dreary scenery, and a magical fish. This is a game for the person who does not know how to cope with the bland nature of the modern world.
While Mosaic is full of puzzles, mini-games, and a tiny bit of exploration, it is mostly about experiencing the game. This gorgeous, low-poly title does an amazing job of confronting depression and burnout, through whimsy, moody colors, and amazing sound. While the Switch version suffers from framerate drops, it tells a surprisingly touching and relatable story, and I only wish gave the player more chances to fail.
Mosaic isn't always great, but it's a fun and lovely game that manages to hold attention easily enough. Also it has Blip Blop.