Anodyne
Anodyne
Game
Game2019
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust
Developer Melos Han-Tani, Marina Kittaka
Anodyne is an action-adventure video game developed by Analgesic Productions. After a nearly year-long development through developers Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittaka's last years in college, the game was released on February 4, 2013, for Windows PC, Mac OS X and Linux. An Android version was released as part of a Humble Bundle on October 15, 2013. The PlayStation 4 version of the game was released on September 9,… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
269 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Oct 24, 2026 · last updated Oct 25, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
93
LovedLoved
170 positive · 13 negative
95% range 88–96%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 170 | 13 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 52 | 0 | 31 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
713 of 755 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
93% recommend · 173 yes, 14 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 187 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (774 of 823 positive).
Players describe Anodyne 2 as a weird, emotional, and surreal experience that blends 2D and 3D gameplay. [1][2][3] Many praise its unique art style, music, and storytelling, calling it a personal and thought-provoking game. [4][5][6] Some reviewers criticize the slow pace, clunky controls, and excessive dialogue. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [7]
Honestly, just read the other negative reviews. I have no idea how this game is rated so highly. Seems interesting at first, but quickly loses its nostalgic charm. Controls are clunky. Progress is slow. Movement is slow and in fairly large maps. Way, way, WAY too much dialog; and poorly written at that. No character is relatable and all the conversations seem to be verbose monologuing about "woke" and contemporary, …
- [2]
Weird little game, and I mean that as a compliment. The gameplay has 2D- and 3D elements (layered, not at the same time) and is pretty easy in a nice way, I can explore + backtrack all I want. The characters range from cute, quirky, sad, odd, to serene. The OST is a gem, too. Anodyne 2 takes place in the same universe as Anodyne (1), but has a completely different cast and storyline. You do not need to have played …
- [12]
I don’t usually write reviews, but Anodyne 2 isn’t “just a game.” It’s a mirror. A strange, dreamlike mirror that shows you bits of yourself you didn’t expect to see—quiet fears, moments of guilt, unresolved questions, half-buried memories. It speaks in riddles, visuals, textures, and tones. And if you let it, it answers in a language you understand only with your gut. At first glance, it’s a blend of lo-fi 3D …
- [18]
2D Zelda fans might be disappointed, since the gameplay is essentially 2D Zelda but with no items, simple dungeons, and no real progression. This was my problem with Anodyne 1. On the other hand, Anodyne 2 has an amazing and gorgeous 3D world, wonderful music, great sound FX, and character writing that's surprisingly good and occasionally emotional. If this had gameplay on par with Link to the Past, this would be a …
- [1]
Kind of weird and quirky action adventure game and it's definitely worth taking a shot if you can get it in the current fanatical bundle. Just not feeling it right now but I'll leave it in the backlog to return some day maybe.
Summarised from 34 of the 258 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
93% of the 187 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Anodyne 2: Return to Dust. The complaint that keeps coming up: too much verbose dialogue. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Anodyne was met with mixed – though overall positive – reviews, in general comparing Anodyne's gameplay to that of Zelda games such as Link's Awakening and A Link to the Past, and praising the game's pixel art and music style. Critics often praised the game's unsettling and surreal nature. Polygon's Danielle Riendeau stated that, regarding Anodyne's world: "Fantasy and reality exist adjacent to one another, highlighting the central theme of disconnection nicely." Criticism of the game often centered around frustrating platforming sections, and the reception to Anodyne's narrative was very mixed. Regarding the story, Tom Sykes of PC Gamer stated "I doubt I’ll ever get to the root of its…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 269 · most liked firstAngeline Era received Grand Prize and Design nominations in the 2026 Independent Games Festival!! (This was our 2nd IGF Grand Prize nom after Anodyne 2!) To celebrate this, the game is on sale. Come explore (and perish in) the world of Era!! store.steampowered.com/app/2393920/...
neutral · AI labelView post →If anyone's played Anodyne 2...you have played a panzer dragoon saga inspired game!!
neutral · AI labelView post →Oh wow, this pick n' mix bundle is absurdly good. Almost every game in here is a recommendation from me or something I've been wanting to play. £3.33-£2.85 (likely direct conversion to dollars) per game, depending on how many you grab. FOUR Steamworld games count as just one & Anodyne 2 is magic.
positive · AI labelView post →If you want to play and discuss Anodyne 2 with others (potentially even locally!) then The Game Club could be for you!!
neutral · AI labelView post →It gives the games a very friendly, cozy aftertaste. This sense that the artist is overjoyed that you liked the experience enough to want to talk to them (or, at least, their videogame facsimile) about it afterwards. I wrote a bit about Anodyne 2 and that vibe over on PC Gamer a while back.
positive · AI labelView post →Kind of weird and quirky action adventure game and it's definitely worth taking a shot if you can get it in the current fanatical bundle. Just not feeling it right now but I'll leave it in the backlog to return some day maybe.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Putting my own suggestion in here, please try out any game by Analgesic Productions. Anodyne 2 is one of my favorite games ever, and they just released a new game called Angeline Era! store.steampowered.com/publisher/an...
positive · AI labelView post →made me feel the entire range of human emotions. i still can't believe this game exists. i dont know how i'm supposed to believe i had a life before playing anodyne
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Weird little game, and I mean that as a compliment. The gameplay has 2D- and 3D elements (layered, not at the same time) and is pretty easy in a nice way, I can explore + backtrack all I want. The characters range from cute, quirky, sad, odd, to serene. The OST is a gem, too. Anodyne 2 takes place in the same universe as Anodyne (1), but has a completely different cast and storyline. You do not need to have played Anodyne to play Anodyne 2.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly, just read the other negative reviews. I have no idea how this game is rated so highly. Seems interesting at first, but quickly loses its nostalgic charm. Controls are clunky. Progress is slow. Movement is slow and in fairly large maps. Way, way, WAY too much dialog; and poorly written at that. No character is relatable and all the conversations seem to be verbose monologuing about "woke" and contemporary, naive idealisms. Want to know where to go next in your quest? Talk to these…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →if you have ever enjoyed a video game you should drop everything and play this right now
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →not very interesting or challenging mechanically. i appreciate what they were trying to do with the story but 2 hours in, it just wasn't landing for me. certain kinds of people will really enjoy this though!
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Can't find the right words to describe this game. I'll keep it short because, no matter how many words I write, it'll feel like they're falling short. The platforming is satisfactory and the 2d sections are clever, but it's the art and the soundtrack that really made me want to just hang around and contemplate them, which made exploration veeeery very very enjoyable. The environmental storytelling is the cherry on top. When you think the story can't get any weirder, it does. As…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →198.) Anodyne 2: Return to Dust There really is not a game out there like this. Liminal, lonely, esoteric... and that makes the intimate moments of connection all the stronger 9.5/10
positive · AI labelView post →𝕀𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕠 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕝 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕀 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕟'𝕥 𝕡𝕦𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕥. Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is the kind of game that doesn’t really care if you “get it” right away; and honestly, that’s part of its appeal. It drops you into a strange, low-poly world with vague instructions, odd characters, and a job description that sounds simple (clean dust out of people), but quickly turns into something far more abstract. At its…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is one of those rare indie games that immediately distinguishes itself through personality, atmosphere, and creative ambition. Rather than following familiar formulas, it weaves together an unusual hybrid of 3D adventure exploration and 2D dungeon-style gameplay while grounding everything in an emotionally rich narrative about healing, identity, and transformation. From the moment you take control of Nova, a newly created “Nano Cleaner,” the world of New Theland…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm interested in game-dev :> if you're interested in that kind of thing! Here's an environment I helped make for an LSD:Dream Emulator and Anodyne 2 inspired project I've been working on.
neutral · AI labelView post →I initially got this game for the incredible looking 3d graphics but i gotta say i really despise this game for the same reason i didnt like nier automata because sure you have this beautiful 3d world and then you just spend 90% of the game in a 2d minigame instead..... Why? Pick a lane and then advertise that lane instead of this bait and switch. Make a 2d game and then i wont buy it but people who like 2d games like these will be drawn to it. OR Make a 3d game that will appeal to the 3d…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Last week, we were all introduced to the wonderful word "organscape." which is like a landscape, but made of organs. We learned it because we were vored by a person made of tongues. Let's play more Anodyne 2, a very normal game with a normal setting and number of mothers. www.twitch.tv/glottal
neutral · AI labelView post →9) Anodyne 2: Return to Dust With a 3D overworld and a more explicit story, I think Anodyne 2 is my favorite game that the studio put out (that I've played, anyway).
positive · AI labelView post →I don’t usually write reviews, but Anodyne 2 isn’t “just a game.” It’s a mirror. A strange, dreamlike mirror that shows you bits of yourself you didn’t expect to see—quiet fears, moments of guilt, unresolved questions, half-buried memories. It speaks in riddles, visuals, textures, and tones. And if you let it, it answers in a language you understand only with your gut. At first glance, it’s a blend of lo-fi 3D exploration and 2D SNES-style puzzle/action gameplay. The 3D graphics are minimal,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →just finished Anodyne 2 by @hantani.bsky.social sky.social and @even-kei.bsky.social so now i'm having fun breaking the game going out of bounds and finding very sneaky secrets
positive · AI labelView post →It's a unique game that gets in its own way a bit too much. It leans hard into explaining rather than showing, and the initial area just lasts a bit too long for my taste. Otherwise, it isn't bad game, and there is something here to enjoy, if you can get past it's shortcomings.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game was such a trip. Anodyne (1) had it's strange and beautiful moments, but Anodyne 2 is something else entirely. A lot of Psychonauts-style gameplay here of "jumping into people" so to speak, with each person/creature having their own tone/story/struggles. Generally speaking, this transitions the gameplay from open-world style 3D to 2D top-down Zelda-esque "dungeons". There's...a lot more to it than that, but going into further details would be spoilers (let's just say if you like games…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →NOW PLAYING THE DEMO FOR ANGELINE ERA!!! The new game by the devs of Anodyne 2!! Very excited to try it out! TUNE IN! www.twitch.tv/padabana
neutral · AI labelView post →Analgesic productions has succeeded in adapting 2012-era tumblr into a videogame. Whether this is good or bad is a matter of scholarly debate.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →some more basic recs: Kentucky Route Zero, Outer Wilds, Thief Gold, Prey 2017, Immortality. Liz specific recs: The Northern Journey, Ib, Anodyne 2, Funi Raccoon Game, Disillusion ST, Mosa Lina, Decarnation
neutral · AI labelView post →Anodyne 2 is the first video game ive ever played where the player character openly has a mommy kink
neutral · AI labelView post →Anodyne 2 is a fascinating, very meta story with a lot to say, resisting easy summation. This sequel takes a lot of the interesting ideas the first game, expands its horizons, and leaves behind some of the frustrations which tempered the success of the first game. Even if you bounced off Anodyne 1, 2 stands fully on its own and leaves you with a lot to think about.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →1.) Anodyne 2: Return to Dust You really won’t find a game as strikingly unique and inventive as this one and it’s probably my pick for favorite indie game of all time. It’s impossible to describe what I love about it properly so just trust that if you play it you will not be dissapointed.
positive · AI labelView post →I didn't quite understand why I finished, but I didn't like it at all. Maybe the way is written, i couldn't get involved with the story, or the characters. The feeling of being lost most of the time is ok I guess??? I really like the music. And the 2D parts too.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Heya folks, here's a videograph featuring Anodyne 2: Return to Dust by Melos Han-Tani, Marina Kittaka, and Analgesic Productions This game is actually set in a 3D and a 2D world. You explore in 3D but when you shrink to microscopic level, it turns 2D. #anodyne2 #indiegames #videography
neutral · AI labelView post →First game I finished in 2025… and man I can’t think of it getting any better than that. You don’t have to play the first Anodyne to jump into this masterpiece, I didn’t. But I definitely want to play Anodyne 1 so I can then replay Anodyne 2. This is a very story driven game and I feel like you need to follow the story as best you can with your own interpretations in order to really appreciate what this game is. Great OST is always a plus too! 100/10 -- oh and go buy a Nova Plush when…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →2D Zelda fans might be disappointed, since the gameplay is essentially 2D Zelda but with no items, simple dungeons, and no real progression. This was my problem with Anodyne 1. On the other hand, Anodyne 2 has an amazing and gorgeous 3D world, wonderful music, great sound FX, and character writing that's surprisingly good and occasionally emotional. If this had gameplay on par with Link to the Past, this would be a 5-stars GOAT hidden gem. Instead it's a great game held back by unambitious…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A game about life
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wowee, a perfect game? This is a hyper-personalized game that, I suspect, will either resonate deeply with the player or miss the boat entirely. It hit hard for me though. Navigating topics like mortality, religion, existentialism, and identity, Anodyne 2 was a beautifully philosophical experience that I treasured from start to finish. I will admit though, I think Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittaka might make a type of game perfect for me. After playing the Angeline Era demo 1?/2? years ago,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played through and beat Anodyne 2....man....what a weird but great game. It gave me a strange, indescribable feeling like Hylics 2 did lol Highly recommend; it IS a walkthrough game, kinda- which is cool imo bc it has the feeling of an old cryptic N64 game
positive · AI labelView post →ANODYNE 2: RETURN TO DUST - That game was great, really fantastic storytelling between the overall story and the little vignettes. Also the fucking 'metacoin' shit was so fucking funny and I cannot believe this predates Facebook rebranding to Meta. I'll def be thinking about this one.
positive · AI labelView post →how many of you guys are familiar with Anodyne 2: Return to Dust? i love that game sooo much but i literally never see like, ANYONE talk about it haha
positive · AI labelView post →Anodyne 2 is a beautiful game. It is at the same time cozy and warm, but thought provoking and bizarre. The writing, as with most of the Analgesic games is incredibly rich and familiar, in a way that these characters are real and having genuine conversations. Exploring the world is so exciting, because you will stumble on worlds within worlds where you least expect them. You really don't know what's going to happen next. It's hard to describe, but I feel like this game just sees you. It knows…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Judero update: After a few more hours, I think I can keep my high recommendation. It's jank as fuck but incredibly absorbing. Gives me similar vibes (in a different frequency) to Anodyne 2. This is a game that is a testament to why the indie space is so special. #Blutoid #VideoGames
neutral · AI labelView post →Unlike the first game, this one is less about dodging enemies all over the screen, and more about solving simple puzzles. Your new weapon is a vacuum instead of the dust broom. It can suck up enemies, and shoot them back out, along with health pickups and dust. Interestingly, dust is kept as a resource and no longer an element to puzzles. A welcome change-up to the formula. Anodyne 2 also aims to be a more warm and cozy experience. It has the look of a serene limited-polygon, texture-stretched…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh hey Anodyne 2 which is one of the strangest, most pleasant indie games of the last decade is now open source (on the VVVVVV noncommercial-use license) store.steampowered.com/news/app/877... You don't need to play the first game first, the series might even work a little better in reverse order
neutral · AI labelView post →So this was an absolutely gorgeous game, start to finish. When people make the “games are art” argument, this is a clear and beautiful example of just how uniquely a voice can be expressed in this form of media. Basically, you start as Nova, a being born of an egg yolk world (first 15 min of the game), then as you hatch your destiny is revealed to you: malignant dust is infecting the citizens, so you (in a PlayStation-1 Era graphics 3d world) can shrink down into nano size to enter the minds…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Anodyne 2 was the game that first got me interested in this dev team. The visuals and the music just really caught me right away. I played Anodyne first, and while i know its not necessary to play the games in order, i think its a good idea to, because a lot of the ideas that were presented in Anodyne are really well fleshed out in Anodyne 2, gameplay wise. I almost wish there were less time spent in 3d, and maybe a few more 2d levels to really dig into more challenging/thought-provoking…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't quite know how to articulate how much this game means to me, but I will try to do so in this review. I first got introduced to Analgesic Productions through the game Anodyne which I got as part of a bundle on itch.io, which then led me to Anodyne 2. The graphics evoke such a powerful sense of nostalgia for an era of games I never played, and the music is simply so hypnotizing. The story always brings tears to my eyes whether that is the vignettes we as players experience when we dive…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Take a look at [Haunted PS1](https://hauntedps1.itch.io/), the games they published or that are in their compilations are usually close to that era of visuals. For individual games you have stuff like, [Anodyne 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/877810/Anodyne_2_Return_to_Dust/), [Cavern of Dreams](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2059660/Cavern_of_Dreams/), [Zortch](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2443360/Zortch/), [Worlds](https://store.steampowered.com/app/304850/Worlds/),…
neutral · AI labelView post →After playing Angeline Era I needed to play more from these devs and I was not disappointed at all. I love the mix of silly and heartfelt, plus it's simply a lot of fun You 2 make incredible games!! keep it up please
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Angeline Era I like the story/atmosphere of Anodyne 2 more but this is so far ahead in terms of gameplay that it's easily my favorite analgesic productions game now. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to recapture the spirit of falcom games like gurumin or nayuta no kiseki
positive · AI labelView post →Anodyne 2 is truly special: The music, the cryptic and expressive story-telling and the gorgous 3D-look in the style of the fifth generation of gaming consoles. Makes you think about video games and life itself. The Geof-Quest is beautiful. Curious about my next encounters... :D
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →GOTYs 2015 - Undertale 2016 - Even The Ocean 2017 - Sonic Mania 2018 - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 2019 - Anodyne 2: Return to Dust 2020 - Paper Mario: The Origami King 2021 - Eastward 2022 - Lil Gator Game 2023 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 2024 - The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
neutral · AI labelView post →I like this game, and this is a review.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Minimizing spoilers, being directly asked if we were uncomfortable and if we would like to skip a specific section really meant a lot to us. We did take the offer, and additionally being plainly told what "would've" happened was also a really nice way to make us still feel "included", instead of just being punished with Less Game and risk being tempted to look it up later anyways. Really made us rethink how much more accessible games can be, including maybe our own someday. Adding to this…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Thanks everyone that gave us feedback! We're pretty pleased with how well the pilot turned out. We'll start working on the first episode, with new games and more production, soon. Follow us if you want! Ape Escape 3: Me lol Anodyne 2: @towndarling.bsky.social Mirror's Edge: @menitta.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →This is so clearly an extraordinarily personal piece of artwork developed by very talented and passionate developers. I really recommend this game to anyone as this game deserves the recognition of being an astounding example of what indie games can be.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't think I've ever really played a game like this before. Its themes are really interesting, and the game uses its format as a game as part of the story in a really interesting way. The visuals and soundtrack are also very distinct, unique, and memorable, and I liked it a lot. I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of the writing. I like the story, but a LOT of characters speak in long-winded, poetic rambles that don't resonate with me. It kind of got tiring hearing every character go on a long…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Weird PS1 platformer meets 2D Zelda dungeons. Quirky writing, a wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack, and a story worth telling. I bought it on Switch when it first released there, and it became one of my GotY.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Only a few thoughts - • Why am I flying into depressed monster buttholes to cleanse them • Why is this weird for the sake of being weird • Why did this turn into WrestleQuest • Again, why am I flying into enemy buttholes? Couldn't finish this.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →one of my favorite games ever :) fantastic storytelling, both in its overarching narrative and its individual dungeon's stories, simple but ever expanding and deepening gameplay concept that continues to surprise as the game goes on, great music... please play this game, i don't think there's anything else out there like it !
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've played a lot of strange games in my time, but this takes the cake. Holy ^$%^! The weirdness of the characters, dialogue, style, gameplay, ..the creativity and versatility is impressive. The music helps cement this weird and dream-like world too. There's a minimalist 3D platformer world to explore and contained within that are mini 2D Zelda-style puzzle dungeons, though the game will mix things up more than that occasionally. The games desire to story-tell through dialogue can…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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