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Ariana and the Elder Codex
Developer Idea Factory, Compile Heart, HYDE, Inc.
Ariana and the Elder Codex is an action role-playing game developed by Hyde and published by Compile Heart and Idea Factory International. It was released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on 21 August 2025. In the game, Ariana must repair the Seven Hero Codices and restore magic to the world. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
100 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Oct 24, 2026 · last updated Oct 24, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
78
LovedLoved
36 positive · 10 negative
95% range 64–88%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 36 | 10 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 12 | 2 | 28 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 5 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Positive
38 of 47 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
79% recommend · 37 yes, 10 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 47 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (111 of 140 positive).
Players praise the game's unique spell-combat system and beautiful art style. [1][2][3] Some reviewers note the game is a solid metroidvania with smooth gameplay. [4][5][6] A few players criticize technical issues and the game's linearity. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [7]
For a TL;DR on Port Issues I found here Steam Input is broken, Actions are binded as Buttons rather than Actions with menus not being separate either. (See Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for how this should work.) Opening the Controller Menu in game also doesn't invoke the Steam Input Menu which should be done with games using the Native API. Steam Input Cont - When changing buttons (which should be actions as …
- [1]
[後半に日本語レビューあり] Where Spell-Build and Storybook Art Shine: A Librarian Stage-Select ARPG A 2D side-scrolling action RPG in which a royal librarian infiltrates the "Seven Codices" to repair corrupted hero tales. Built around the distinctive premise of "entering a spellbook," the page-turn transition on each stage change reinforces immersion in the spellbook-journey setting. Each of the seven Codices carries an …
- [3]
Ariana and the Elder Codex is a really charming game that stands out thanks to its unique style. The character design is lovely, the art is beautiful, and overall it feels quite different from most 2D platformers and action games. The characters are genuinely cute, and the magic-based combat is where the game really shines. Mixing and swapping spells to create combos feels intuitive and engaging. It takes a bit of …
- [5]
✅ Would recommend for metroidvania enjoyer that has played everything popular and is looking for more ✅ Would recommend for younger, beginner, or casual players Thoughts and Impressions: 👍 Good metroidvania game, enjoyable and fun throughout 👍 Movement feels tight, stages are good, enemy variety as well, modern qol features present, decent voice works (jp), overall flawless 👍 Great art and illustrations, Ariana …
- [2]
Ariana and the Elder Codex? Pages of Magic! TL;DR: A visually stunning 2D Metroidvania with an engaging, customizable spell-combat system and beautifully designed environments. Intro : There is something inherently captivating about diving into a well-crafted 2D action platformer. This title immediately grabs your attention with its gorgeous art style and fluid movement, inviting you to explore a series of magical …
Summarised from 34 of the 100 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 11, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Ariana and the Elder Codex talk about engaging and customizable spell-combat system; those who didn't talk about technical issues with controller and cloud saving. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
According to review aggregator Metacritic, Ariana and the Elder Codex received "mixed or average" reviews for the PlayStation 5 version, and "generally favorable" reviews for the Nintendo Switch version. 56% of the critics recommended the game according to OpenCritic. The Famitsu reviewers rated the game 31 out of 40. Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 100 · most liked firstFor a TL;DR on Port Issues I found here Steam Input is broken, Actions are binded as Buttons rather than Actions with menus not being separate either. (See Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for how this should work.) Opening the Controller Menu in game also doesn't invoke the Steam Input Menu which should be done with games using the Native API. Steam Input Cont - When changing buttons (which should be actions as mentioned above), glyphs don't match in game. On Deck when I map the Map to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[後半に日本語レビューあり] Where Spell-Build and Storybook Art Shine: A Librarian Stage-Select ARPG A 2D side-scrolling action RPG in which a royal librarian infiltrates the "Seven Codices" to repair corrupted hero tales. Built around the distinctive premise of "entering a spellbook," the page-turn transition on each stage change reinforces immersion in the spellbook-journey setting. Each of the seven Codices carries an independent world — water temples, sky islands, desert sanctuaries — and scenery and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was pretty excited for an Idea Factory metroidvania, but, honestly, it's just kind of unimpressive and uninspiring. Very bland.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex? Pages of Magic! TL;DR: A visually stunning 2D Metroidvania with an engaging, customizable spell-combat system and beautifully designed environments. Intro : There is something inherently captivating about diving into a well-crafted 2D action platformer. This title immediately grabs your attention with its gorgeous art style and fluid movement, inviting you to explore a series of magical books while mastering a deeply customizable combat system. It shapes up to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played post-patch so i had no controller or cloud issue. It's a very good-looking Metroidvania with good and flashy combat. It all falls apart very quick though with the way gameplay is structured. You're being introduced by repetitive gameplay within the first 20 minutes with those rifts that you enter and clear. The writing is a disaster as well. It's either written by AI or a 5-year old. Then there is the price. This game offers nothing more than other great MVs like Mio. Still…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It should not be tagged metroidvania; it is a linear action platformer so know what to expect. The combat is kinda fun but it is not very good either, the art and music are nice and story is decent. I would recommend it if it were cheaper, but in no way does it offer nearly enough quality and quantity to be worth this price. Get it only if it has a big discount.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I Found the same Bug as Shio: (Cloud) Saving is completely broken. When changing to a different PC with a different Windows User Name the game will lock up when trying to enter the save menu. If one PC has a Windows username of "User1" then if you try to play on a PC with the Windows username of "User2" the game will softlock and you'll be unable to play. This is particularly troublesome if someone has a Steam Deck as the Windows username for Proton prefixes is "steamuser"
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pros: The combat in this game feels similar to Ender Lilies/Magnolia. And the protagonist is also accompanied by her floating tomes just like Lily and her spirits. It feels thematic with Ariana. The game has respites too. I think You will like this game if You like the Ender series. The magic spells in this game are well designed. The slow casting spells may seem impractical at first but they have tactical values. They can be combined with other spells to create devastating combo effects,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Review] Ariana and the Elder Codex is a strong action-adventure platformer that plays great, though its presentation can't quite keep pace with battles.
positive · AI labelView post →Game's got nice art. The story is horrible, the flow of movement and controls is horrible (hopefully for future players they will fix some of the issues with double jumping not working and other movement behavior not working correctly) some achievements can be missed simply by not talking to an NPC which is later un-replayable, so even for completionists this game is horrible. the combat system is very boring and the entire game's fights are a joke from start to end. the only challenging…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wrapping up one game and getting going in another. Ariana and the Elder Codex finale, and Wild Hearts! twitch.tv/alterbuster
neutral · AI labelView post →Very fun metroidvania with a fairly straightforward story. You set out to repair all the codices to restore magic to the world. Music is pretty good, though I can't say any song in this game will be on my playlist. Definitely recommend playing on hard difficulty if you have experience with the genre, as normal difficulty is very easy. No performance issues in my time playing.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gameplay : https://youtu.be/dTL-iGizb8w Ariana and the Elder Codex is a delightful surprise that blends action, exploration, and storytelling into a truly enjoyable experience. From the moment you step into the mysterious library, the game captures your attention with its unique premise and charming atmosphere. The gameplay feels smooth and satisfying, especially with the wide variety of magic abilities available. Experimenting with different spell combinations keeps combat fresh and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Ariana and the Elder Codex game will debut on Steam on April 29, about a month after its console launch in North America and Europe:
neutral · AI labelView post →a 3d-2.5d metroidvania anime style visuals and epic storytelling. A once console exclusive now on steam! I will rate this game a 9/10. framerate can be adjusted I just set mine to 60fps 300 fps cap the soundtrack and artbook are released! having this game on my pc makes me extremely happy. ALSO if the game launches in JP go through the menu until you find the english setting its 2 then 4 bar in selection. JP and EN voices and game text langauge settings. (EDIT)since artbook and soundtrack…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Finished [Stray](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/stray-switch/)! "Play as a cat doing cat things" is a genre I'd like to see more, both this and [Little Kitty, Big City](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/little-kitty-big-city-switch/) were very fun to play. I also enjoyed the worldbuilding, it managed to create a memorable world despite the short 5h-ish playtime, yet was very disappointed with the main collectables - I loved the idea of them being memories of the old…
neutral · AI labelView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex is a really charming game that stands out thanks to its unique style. The character design is lovely, the art is beautiful, and overall it feels quite different from most 2D platformers and action games. The characters are genuinely cute, and the magic-based combat is where the game really shines. Mixing and swapping spells to create combos feels intuitive and engaging. It takes a bit of practice, but once it clicks, it becomes very satisfying to adapt your magic to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex | Story Trailer (NA) | PS4®, PS5®, and Nintendo Switch™. - **Release Date**: March 24th - **Price**: TBA - **Link**: TBA - **Description**: The fate of the Seven Hero Codices and magic itself depends on one Librarian. Learn more about Ariana's mission to return magic to the world with the Story Trailer! Ariana and the Elder Codex is set to launch physically and digitally for the PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on March 24, 2026 and on Steam in 2026! 【About Ariana…
neutral · AI labelView post →Feels undercooked. Coming from Kotama and Academy Citadel this one is rough. Can't bring myself to play it much.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Okay, Ariana and the Elder Codex is a beautiful game, amazing music, first level has grabbed me in the story and the heavy, traditional penwork style illustrations and background texturing is incredible. BUT EXCUSE ME SIR?
positive · AI labelView post →🔴LIVE ON TWITCH⚡️ www.twitch.tv/julianvector_ Tonight, I will be trying out Ariana and the Elder Codex! I was given a free copy of the game by the developers, and I thought it looked cool so let's give it a shot! #NOGLIVE #vtuber #smallstreamer
neutral · AI labelView post →I would make a monologue acting like the genre is in a dark age and Ariana is the game that will save the genre to grab your attention, but I feel that saying that feels dishonest, and maybe even a bit manipulative. So perhaps I'll just cut to the gist and say that my impressions of the game so far is alright for what it is. The gameplay is bare-bones mechanically speaking, with barely anything to distinguish itself from other, more popular titles in the genre... but the execution is solid,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh yea I found out about and tried the demo for Ariana and the Elder Codex, real cute and nice looking game and its funny how my immediate reaction upon booting it up was thinking "oh my god, a video game made to actually run on computers" Love her cute head ribbon
positive · AI labelView post →Congrats on finishing Star Fox! I've decided to finally get a Switch 2 (probably this month or the next one) and it'll be one of the first games I'll purchase. This was another busy week with limited time for gaming, so I've been focusing on action games I can play in short sessions. --- Finished [Ariana and the Elder Codex](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/ariana-and-the-elder-codex-switch/)! This game joins the small list of "Compile Hearts/Idea Factory games that are actually…
neutral · AI labelView post →Ariana is a good game. Not exactly a Metroidvania, more of an action-platformer. I quite enjoyed my time with this game and do recommend buying it. Really hoping that the next entry in this series can use this foundation to make a great sequel!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Controllers don't work
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex | System Trailer (NA) | Steam®, PS4®, PS5®, and Nintendo Switch™. Get a closer look at the mechanics of combat and exploration necessary to help Ariana's fulfill her mission and return magic to the world in the System Trailer! Ariana and the Elder Codex out now on Steam, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch! 【About Ariana and the Elder Codex】 The Librarian Ariana's mission is to repair the Seven Hero Codices, which have been altered. Due to the terrible damages, magic has…
neutral · AI labelView post →#Twitch schedule for next week. Excited to get to new #videogames and revisiting old ones to take me through to 007 First Light and AC: Black Flag. Tue: Mixtape Wed: Ariana and the Elder Codex Thu: #Marvel tier ranking Fri / Sat: Tomb Raider Hope to see you there. www.twitch.tv/henryhiggins...
neutral · AI labelView post →✅ Would recommend for metroidvania enjoyer that has played everything popular and is looking for more ✅ Would recommend for younger, beginner, or casual players Thoughts and Impressions: 👍 Good metroidvania game, enjoyable and fun throughout 👍 Movement feels tight, stages are good, enemy variety as well, modern qol features present, decent voice works (jp), overall flawless 👍 Great art and illustrations, Ariana very pretty! 👍 Quite high level of polish and care overall (interface, assets,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Thanks to Keymailer and Idea Factory, I have the chance to play If's new game, Ariana and the Elder Codex I'll be playing it on stream, it's going to be loads of fun Twitch.tv/ramathal Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from www.keymailer.co #Ariana #keymailer
neutral · AI labelView post →Metroidvania + Slasher-Platformer + Action-Adventure. Play as the Librarian Ariana, restore the books and bring back their magic. Gameplay: https://youtu.be/ltGPoGF18Yo A beautiful, dynamic metroidvania with anime-style characters. Explore seven zones, destroy enemies, and repair holes to restore magical books - the Seven Hero Codices. This is a pleasant, relaxing experience for fans of the genre. + Beautiful graphics and pleasant music. + English and Japanese voice acting. + Simple, dynamic…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Going live *NOW* over on Twitch, as we take a look at #Ariana and the Elder Codex! The devs graciously gave me a key to this game, and now that the embargo is up. Let's take a look at it together, shall we? | #VTuber #PunBrigade | www.twitch.tv/AdventurerAlm
neutral · AI labelView post →Busy days, only managed to play some hours of Ariana during last weekend. --- Playing [Ariana and the Elder Codex](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/ariana-and-the-elder-codex-switch/)! Went back and got 100% completion in the first three books (Wind, Earth, Water), though I still need to go back and see if I can get A Ranks in a few challenges for those nice stat boosts. As for overall progress, I'm currently at the first checkpoint in the Fire book. With three more books to go…
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a pretty decent game, and I love Ariana's voice. However, the controls are rather unoptimized, as I get 0.5ms delay after clicking a button; and that simple slowness could kill me... but the self-heal is cool. Nonetheless I'm using a 8bitUltimate controller---which is supposed to be good still has that delay, which was weird. The story has potential to be great, but playing a 3D model for a 2D Platformer is rather cool, but at the same time, it's dull... Imagine sucking up enough…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex Complete. Gameplay: Start (8/10), Overall (6/10) Story: Start (8/10), Mid (4/10), End (8/10) Difficulty: 6/10 Overall: 7/10 I'm a bit mixed on this game. It started strong but fell off hard in the middle. Recovered at the very end.
neutral · AI labelView post →She's swapped to Ariana and the Elder Codex! OvO (a really good game I'm hyped to expose another bean to)
positive · AI labelView post →Going live on #Twitch at 8pm UK time (i.e. in 35mins) with a first-time playthrough of a game I only heard about last week; Ariana and the Elder Codex. Magic librarian saving knowledge from within the books? Sign me up. #gaming #videogames #gamingsky www.twitch.tv/henryhiggins...
neutral · AI labelView post →In Lady Furina, uh I mean Lady Vester we trust.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game’s world is steeped in magic, carefully controlled through enchanted pens and books known as Codices. Each Codex governs its own type of magic. These books are kept in a grand Library and overseen by specially trained individuals called librarians. One day, someone tampers with the books, and magic begins to fade from the world. That’s where you step in as Ariana, a young librarian with the rare ability to enter these magical books and set things right. Ariana can jump and dash, though…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Loved my time with Ariana and the Elder Codex! Thank you @ifi.games for the game! I would highly recommend this game!
positive · AI labelView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex. Doesn't feel like an IF or Compile Heart game (good). Hard mode was tricky but the demo didn't teach all the mechanics outright. The level-based structure is quirky, it's a not-quite-vania. Not sure how it'd hold up for 10+ hours. Might devolve into spamfest. Is okay.
neutral · AI labelView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex | Announcement Trailer (NA) | Nintendo Switch. - **Release Date**: 2026 - **Description**: Side-scrolling action adventure made by Idea Factory
neutral · AI labelView post →Decent game clearly inspired by modern 2d soulslikes, but thankfully without being one, the rpg mechanics are more on the light side. The combat is thanks to the skill/magic system very satisfying (especially thanks to the elemental burst explosions). And there is quite some variety and different combinations that are possible. When exploring the maps some platforming is mixed in, but nothing too challenging. The presentation is where the game falls off though and is very barebones. While the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I also have Ariana and the Elder Codex in my wishlist, as well as some of the other Compile Hearts games, but as you said they are very inconsistent. The channel looks interesting though, will check out some of their videos.
neutral · AI labelView post →Starting Ariana and the Elder Codex today, proper, for a quick fun game. So far the combat is favorably reminiscent of Actraiser Renaissance (especially the timed repairs are familiar to those timed demon gate closures).
neutral · AI labelView post →I have enjoyed my time with this game so far. The gameplay, the spells and music have been lots of fun.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →⚫️STREAM IS OVER⚡️ Ariana and the Elder Codex was pretty cool! I really liked the art and presentation! The game felt really smooth to play for me too! I'll have to beat it sometime! Thank you KarmaBBabbyVT for the raid! 🧡 We sent love over to @rosmo4.bsky.social! #vtuber #smallstreamer
positive · AI labelView post →🖥️Weekly Schedule⚡️ I got access to a new game! We're back to variety this week with a special COLLAB! Mon: Ariana and the Elder Codex 📔 Tues: B.A.S.E.D Demo w/ Friends 🌑 Thurs: Mouse P.I. For Hire FINALE FOR REAL 🧀 Fri: Short Horror Games + MORE? 👻 #vtuber | #smallstreamer | #NOGLIVE
neutral · AI labelView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex is a charming Metroidvania that perfectly blends fluid combat, creative spellcasting, and a heartfelt story about restoring magic through books. Playing as Ariana the librarian, feels incredibly amazing. Jumping between Codex books, unlocking new unique abilities, and piecing together the world's lore is really fun. The art style is gorgeous and the map design using flipping pages of a book to go between areas is really creative. Every new spell opens up fresh…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A pretty good game Story: It is broken up into seven books, which each covers a pretty solid story each. With them pretty much all being tragedies, with the core of it linking to the disappearance of Ariana's parents. System: Neutral element plus four other elements. The skill tree is small, but it is wide enough to get some combination plays out of it. As for the power ups, it is mostly the normal ones you get in these sorta games. There are also timed challenges, getting an A rank gets…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nice story and art for what it is with a pretty solid soundtrack. It's always nice to hear a performance from Kira Buckland as well.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Finished Ariana and the Elder Codex. It was a very adequate 6 or 7/10 video game. If they make a sequel I will play it
neutral · AI labelView post →Hey, I'm in this trailer! Ariana and the Elder Codex is such a great game, chums - definitely play it! 📚 www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeMX... Here's my review, too! 🦸♀️🏆 videochums.com/review/arian...
positive · AI labelView post →New Piece is LIVE! #Ariana and the Elder Codex for #NintendoSwitch, an action adventure set in a magical library of mystical Codices from @ifi.games, #IdeaFactory @compileheartweb.bsky.social and #HYDE Thank you to IFI for providing the game via #Keymailer wkohakumedia.com/2026/04/21/a...
neutral · AI labelView post →New First Impressions vid, trying out the upcoming Steam release of "Ariana and the Elder Codex" by HYDE, Compile Heart & @ifi.games! Clip to follow this afternoon! 🤩 NOTE: This game is a review key gifted via @keymailer.bsky.social. #Ariana #Keymailer #Gifted #ANZCreators youtu.be/Y0ij080gOXA
neutral · AI labelView post →Ariana and the Elder Codex (Demo) (2026): 2/5 A game of this quality from an indie dev would be passable but probably not worth your time, but the fact that the developer is almost 31 and a half years old and is still releasing dull shit like this is insane (Played Mar. 14th)
negative · AI labelView post →25) Ariana and the Elder Codex Search-action game that feels very PS2 in how it wants you to work around its systems. It isn't all flash and shmovement, it's more deliberate, kinda of feels almost like a Vanillaware title of the era. More Monster Hunter than DMC. Great aesthetic, tricky but fun.
positive · AI labelView post →their raid, it was awesome hanging out with you and your community, I hope you guys had a great time meeting mine. I can't wait to catch your next stream. We raided out to kasesyzrus.ttv www.twitch.tv/kaseszyrus who is playing Ariana and the Elder Codex which is a very interesting metroidvania game.
neutral · AI labelView post →sorry i haven't been around for a week or two! but i'm LIVE checking out Ariana and the Elder Codex! thnx to Keymailer & Idea Factory for the game code. come hang out!
neutral · AI labelView post →Ariana is a character brimming with personality while carrying the heavy burden of being the only one who can repair the Seven Hero Codices. While the story is a little too predictable sometimes, the NPC interactions can lead to some really fun - and 4th-wall breaking - moments. The gameplay mechanics are really interesting, as you can equip which magic spells you want to use while restoring a specific Codex. You can also choose which spells you want to level up using drops you get from both…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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