Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Eversion begins as a delightfully simple side-scrolling jumper: you guide a small hero across platforms, leap over enemies and collect glittering gems in order to reach the princess waiting in the distant castle. The controls are tight and responsive, making the opening levels feel instantly familiar to anyone who’s played classic platformers. There’s an undeniable charm in the game’s initial presentation, with bright colours and harmless critters setting a lighthearted mood.

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At certain junctures, however, the scenery subtly shifts—façades warp, the melody takes on a haunting undertone and a new “everse” button appears on screen. Hitting this button transports you to a parallel layer of the world, where once-benign obstacles become deadly, block patterns rearrange themselves and the rules you’ve come to trust are abruptly abandoned. Puzzles emerge from these transformations: you might need to everse midair to create a safe landing spot, or warp back and forth to outwit patrolling foes.

Beyond the core loop of running, jumping and everting, the game rewards exploration. Gems are scattered in obscure corners that often require clever timing and a willingness to embrace the unsettling mechanics. Because levels can be revisited after you rescue the princess—or even before—the experience becomes a test of memory and observation, encouraging repeated runs to snag every gem and unlock hidden secrets.

Graphics

Visually, Eversion embraces a retro-inspired pixel art aesthetic that initially evokes the innocence of 8-bit platformers. The early worlds are awash in pastel greens and blues, and the hero’s sprite dances across the screen with charming simplicity. Background elements like trees, clouds and stone bridges are rendered with just enough detail to feel alive without drawing focus away from the platforming action.

These initial visuals undergo dramatic transformations once you press the everse button. The colour palette drifts toward sickly purples, deep reds and shadowy blacks, giving the landscapes an otherworldly, almost Lovecraftian edge. Innocent trees sprout spiky limbs, floating platforms warp into twisted shapes, and static blocks crack or bleed, amplifying the sense that you’ve crossed into a darker realm.

The minimalist approach serves the shifting tone exceptionally well. By leaning into stark contrasts—bright vs. dark, soft vs. jagged—Eversion creates an uncanny atmosphere without needing high-resolution textures or complex shaders. The result is a visual identity that feels both nostalgic and unsettling, reinforcing the game’s core twist every time you toggle between realities.

Story

On the surface, Eversion spins a classic damsel-in-distress tale: an intrepid hero sets out to rescue a princess held captive in a distant castle. This straightforward premise is the familiar backdrop that lulls you into expecting a standard platforming romp, complete with collectible gems as milestone markers toward your goal.

Yet the real story unfolds through environmental cues and the gradual escalation of unease. As you delve deeper into each world, the silent horror lurking beneath the cheerful facade begins to reveal itself. Looping audio layers slip in discordant notes, backgrounds fracture with sinister shapes and the very ground you walk on seems to conspire against you. Eversion’s narrative is never spelled out in text; instead, it’s whispered between the lines of pixel art and ambient sound design.

The dual endings—unlocked by collecting all gems versus simply completing the levels—hint at deeper thematic undertones. One conclusion feels like a return to safety, the other a surrender to the unknown. This ambiguity invites players to ponder the price of curiosity, the nature of reality and the thin veil that separates worlds of light and shadow.

Overall Experience

In totality, Eversion stands out as a masterclass in subversion: it skillfully lures you in with familiar platforming trappings, then upends every expectation to deliver a creeping sense of dread. The shift from whimsical to macabre unfolds at a deliberate pace, ensuring that each new realm feels fresh and disconcerting.

Its concise playtime never overstays its welcome—most players can reach one ending in under an hour, yet the pursuit of every gem and the unlocking of the alternate finale can extend your journey for several more runs. This balance of brevity and replayability is one of Eversion’s greatest strengths, keeping the experience tight and thematically coherent.

For players who crave experimental design, puzzle-infused platforming and a haunting atmosphere, Eversion delivers an experience that’s equal parts charming and unsettling. While it may not satisfy those seeking sprawling worlds or heavy narrative exposition, it remains a must-play for anyone interested in how simplicity can give rise to profound unease.

Retro Replay Score

null/10