MARS 2120
MARS 2120
Game
Game2023
Ebenezer and the Invisible World
Developer Orbit Studio, Play on Worlds
Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a Metroidvania video game developed by Play on Worlds and Orbit Studio, and published by Play on Worlds. It was released on 3 November 2023. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
102 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Sep 22, 2026 · last updated Oct 17, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
83
LovedLoved
65 positive · 13 negative
95% range 74–90%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 65 | 13 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
66 of 80 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
83% recommend · 65 yes, 13 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 78 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (101 of 132 positive).
Players praise the game's charming Christmas theme and gorgeous art style. [1][2][3] Many reviewers note the game has glitches and jank that detract from the experience. [4][5][6] Some players find the movement unresponsive and the map lacking fast travel points. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [7]
I really, really want to like this game, because there aren't a lot of good Christmas games, but the way the game currently is, it's borderline unplayable. All of the rooms are huge, and there aren't even close to enough fast travel points, so it takes forever to get from one point to another. The dodge is always a back step, even when you're moving, and years of playing other games like Hollow Knight have so …
- [10]
Ebenezer and the Invisible World invites a bit of scorn merely for having such a bizarre premise, but impressively, such scorn is entirely misplaced. While it's impossible to imagine Dickens would've intended Ebenezer himself to be swinging about his cane to beat down guards and ghosts, the core is actually surprisingly fitting of A Christmas Carol: Ebenezer Scrooge, repentant after his own run-in with the Spirits …
- [2]
Tight controls, varied combat options, excellent animations, a gorgeous art direction, a great map layout and fun bosses. Only minor gripes I have with the game so far are; the save points are pretty parse but it only looks like you miss out on the money you collected when you die. You still hold on to equipment and some of your progress. Also encountered two visual bugs so far. One NPC's sprite was blinking and …
- [13]
Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a promising yule-theme metroidvania that falls frustratingly short in so many areas. It is clear that the developer wanted to harken back to the day's of classic metroid/castlevania games, but doesn't quite deliver on the qualities that made those games-- and the games that followed-- great. In more detail: Pros- Art style:- there is no argument that this game does not look …
- [1]
---see where this game landed on my Metroidvania tier list beneath this review!--- The game looks quite charming and even feels a tiny bit like Bloodstained: ROTN but with less depth to the combat. The visuals are more reminiscent of something like Afterimage. I just love the Christmas theme. The game has spells, healing items and charms which you can equip, though so far these options have been limited and are a …
Summarised from 34 of the 106 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 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Ebenezer and the Invisible World sits at 83% positive across 78 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Ebenezer and the Invisible World received mixed reviews on Metacritic. Shacknews said its "execution falls short on nearly all fronts". Although they liked the art, they said it made the hitboxes difficult to detect, and they felt the generous amount of power-ups meant that combat was too easy. They also felt the gameplay was too derivative and the story lacked characterization for Scrooge. Nintendo World enjoyed the combat and platform elements, but they encountered many bugs on the Switch, which they said ruined their experience. Push Square likewise recommended against the game based on bugs, though they praised the story and art.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 102 · most liked first---see where this game landed on my Metroidvania tier list beneath this review!--- The game looks quite charming and even feels a tiny bit like Bloodstained: ROTN but with less depth to the combat. The visuals are more reminiscent of something like Afterimage. I just love the Christmas theme. The game has spells, healing items and charms which you can equip, though so far these options have been limited and are a far cry from the plethora of options presented in those other games that I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really, really want to like this game, because there aren't a lot of good Christmas games, but the way the game currently is, it's borderline unplayable. All of the rooms are huge, and there aren't even close to enough fast travel points, so it takes forever to get from one point to another. The dodge is always a back step, even when you're moving, and years of playing other games like Hollow Knight have so accustomed me to directional dodging that I cannot get used to it. The enemies also…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ebenezer and the Invisible World - Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch.
neutral · AI labelView post →Maui the Shapeshifter, a Polynesian-inspired metroidvania, is announced for PC. >Play as Maui the demigod in an adventure to save his island home from a darkness that threatens to consume it. Transform into majestic animals, meet spirit Aumakua, explore unique biomes, face epic bosses, and defeat nefarious enemies in this epic hand-painted 2D open world Metroidvania. 🌐 [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3144750/Maui_the_Shapeshifter/) This is from the makers of [Ebenezer and the…
neutral · AI labelView post →Ebenezer and the Invisible World invites a bit of scorn merely for having such a bizarre premise, but impressively, such scorn is entirely misplaced. While it's impossible to imagine Dickens would've intended Ebenezer himself to be swinging about his cane to beat down guards and ghosts, the core is actually surprisingly fitting of A Christmas Carol: Ebenezer Scrooge, repentant after his own run-in with the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, is sought out by a ghost who wishes to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The art and concept for this game are fantastic. However, unfortunately the execution on the idea is rather lacking. For as good as the environments look, they feel empty and full of pointless platforms that lead to nothing. There is so much waste in the level design, so many places where I thought "This would have been a good place to hide an item." The emptiness is further compounded by everything being just a bit too zoomed out, so Ebenezer feels small on the screen. Movement is clunky…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Full Walkthrough: https://youtu.be/KhOZIjJ-ft4 ★★★☆☆ Gameplay: Good Graphics: Good Music: Decent Voice Lines: No Story: Decent PC Requirements: Fast Game Time: 2 - 4 hrs
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ebenezer and the Invisible World - Official Reveal Trailer. A Metroidvania. Demo is available on Steam.
neutral · AI labelView post →Definitely an "I wish Steam had a 'maybe' review option" situation. As a lover of metroidvanias, I enjoyed this well enough. It has all the things you'd expect: Alternate weapons and equipment, powers that increase movement options, secret alcoves, etc. It's all plenty satisfying when you gain a new ability, or piece of equipment that suits your play style. However, this game is FULL of jank and glitches that show either a lack of testing or care, which is a shame, because it clearly had…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Overall a really solid game, and I love the Christmas theme with the metroidvania elements. There are some little glitches here and there, but a really nice game in the end.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Tight controls, varied combat options, excellent animations, a gorgeous art direction, a great map layout and fun bosses. Only minor gripes I have with the game so far are; the save points are pretty parse but it only looks like you miss out on the money you collected when you die. You still hold on to equipment and some of your progress. Also encountered two visual bugs so far. One NPC's sprite was blinking and once Ebenezer got stuck in his ledge grab animation after exiting water, but you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Making a metroidvania staring the reformed Ebenezer Scrooge that use the powers of his ghost friends to fight a capitalist conspiracy threatening the working class is one hell of a premise for a game. Colorful cartoony graphics that reminded me a lot of Forgotten Anne. It's not groundbreaking in any way, not that difficult and doesn't seams like it's especially long if my achievement and collectable progress is anything to go by at the time of writing this review. But it's a solid, enjoyable…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ebenezer and the invisible world is a unique concept for a metroidvania that is flawed in so many ways that the charm it does have melts away like snow before the sun. It falls into all the metroidvania pitfalls that make the game feel clunky to play. The biggest offender here is the movement with tons of issues regarding input lag. I don't think there's input buffering at all, so many times ebenezer won't do what you ask of him. Paired with a lack of coyote jumping, which is an absolute must…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am a huge sucker for games that play on public domain media, and this game doesn't disappoint in the least. The plot is well thought out, and the levels are fun to traverse. Thematically the game is really cool, the idea is a fun twist on the classic Christmas Carol. The game is a Metroidvania through and through that asks you to revisit old areas as you can new abilities and weapons, and the difficulty gradually increases as you progress. The art style works really well for the game and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is good, don't get me wrong, but the map ruins everything and lacks essential features. The death system is pretty frustrating too.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really, really, REALLY enjoyed playing this game to the fullest!!! Yes, it has/had some bugs that affected the game, but the devs really do ensure that this game is the BEST POSSIBLE GAME it can be with quality of life updates!! I love the idea of a Metroidvania version of 'A Christmas Carol' and all the unique characters that came with it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Played until after the first boss, really fun Christmas metroidvania so far. Reminds me of a much less gloomy Ender Lilies, with the various combat ghosts and the map work in a similar way too. Not many movement options yet, but for now it controls well with the d-pad and according to the menu there seem to be plenty of items and heirlooms to find. Art is gorgeous and I appreciate the worldbuilding with the detailled lexicon about enemies, ghosts and heirlooms, love it when games do that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a promising yule-theme metroidvania that falls frustratingly short in so many areas. It is clear that the developer wanted to harken back to the day's of classic metroid/castlevania games, but doesn't quite deliver on the qualities that made those games-- and the games that followed-- great. In more detail: Pros- Art style:- there is no argument that this game does not look beautiful. Each area looks like a moving christmas card, and the character…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The art carries this game hard. I wish there were more markers on the map that showed where to go for quests. I also wish when you got a power that can break walls it would actually tell you it can break walls. Definitely worth 10 bucks but some QoL changes could make this game go from good to great.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the best Metroidvania style game out there. i love it has the Christmas theme and story around it. Now, I'm gonna start replaying it soon!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gorgeous art and atmosphere. From negatives there are few travel points so you end up cycling through map a lot
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →+ Gorgeous backgrounds, fun platforming, satisfying combat - A few glitches, boring music, terrible writing just the right length so it doesn't overstay its welcome. Flawed, but entertaining.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a beautiful metroidvania. I love the art style and it is such a unique and cozy setting. Post update the game is wonderful. Highly recommend
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not ready for prime time. Bugs and clunkiness everywhere. There's a key remap option, but if you remap the keys, several game functions WILL NOT WORK at all. This also happens in a way where it just seems like you need to acquire another ability first... but you don't. Instead you'll wander around the map for ages wondering why you seem to be gated everywhere by the same stupid block puzzles that you can't interact with. Other than that, metroidvania style progression is OK, but the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Johnny Depp confirmed to be reprising "Ebenezer Scrooge" in the just now confirmed video game sequel adaptation to Ebenezer, EBENEZER AND THE INVISIBLE WORLD
neutral · AI labelView post →That's a Christmas time here, I'm playing the game for one hour and little bit bored. I think I'll better do something else.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm not good at these games, but from I have played, it was nice beating the spirit of Christmas into everyone in town.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Good idea, very poor execution
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Good morning, everyone. Hope to see y'all at www.twitch.tv/snazzyazzy83 around 3pm CST for the final meeting of the Kamen Gamer Club for the week. We'll commence with Game #3 of the 4 in February Challenge, Ebenezer and the Invisible World! (More in replies)
neutral · AI labelView post →Ohabien everybun~ How are you all today? I have decided to give Ebenezer and the Invisible World another try and just skip the glitch for now. It's overall a decent game outside of that, so I figure I should at least give it another try. We will see how it goes later on.
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a solid metroidvania, which is unexpected for a christmas tie in. It follows the original plot from Christmas Carol and makes it into a sequel. Many references and you feel that you're still part of the same story Charles Dickens put forward. There's a few glitches and awkward moments here and there, but it delivers good on weapons, lore, exploration, bosses, items and lots of enemies with unique design. Recommended!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't know why this Christmas themed Metroidvania goes so hard but is great in many ways, great if you enjoy a thematically appropriate game for the Christmas season but compelling enough in its game play mechanics that it can hold its own outside of the season.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Good afternoon, it's new schedule time!Now we done with Pokemon Shield, time for a Christmas game, Ebenezer and the Invisible World! This game came suggested to me by @brakkaquilltusk.bsky.social so I'm looking forward to it. Cya over at www.twitch.tv/snazzyazzy83 later this week! (Check reply)
neutral · AI labelView post →Changing my review to a recommend. In my original review I highlighted a bug I came across and went about my day. Soon the devs responded and went to work fixing the issue. The fact the developer responded quickly and not just leave the game as is, at least speaking for myself, shows a lot of character. Now as for the game itself. I don't think it's a bad game. I think I can best describe this as the video game equivalent of siting on the couch on a winter's day while wrapped in a blanket and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you were to tell me that The Christmas Carol would be getting a direct sequel in the form of a Metroidvania video game featuring an action-hero Ebenezer Scrooge as he fought against steampunk goons, I wouldn't know what to say. I'd stare at you blankly, blink, and ask you to repeat that. Now, I took a course on Charles Dickens in college and read a lot of his books, so I think its an expert-opinion when I say this is not historically accurate. But by the time the first boss of the game took…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ebenezer and the Invisible World 7/10 Steam Ebenezer reminds me of a retro MV that also wants to be modern and straddles the line between both worlds. Sometimes, this works for it, and other times, to its detriment, as it never commits to either style entirely. We have an about average-sized Ender Lillies style map & similar secondary ghost attacks (magic), Castlevania style food healing items, Timespinner Familiars, and HK charms (heirlooms), (ghost) abilities, and “fast” travel system…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The new Christmas-themed Metroidvania game Ebenezer and The Invisible World is a lot of fun, but it opens up a whole host of questions about the Charles Dickens lore that might have some really uncomfortable answers.
positive · AI labelView post →I want to like this game but there are a number of issues. I can't exit the game without having to task kill it on my PC. There is a spirit kid I have with nothing whatsoever telling me how to use it. It supposedly shoots arrows. There have been a couple of times when the game glitches and won't respond to me pressing the attack button. Until I pause and unpause the game. Visually it has potentially but the glitches need to be worked out ASAP.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Beautiful Game, Amazing Art!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ebenezer and the Invisible World - Release Date Announcement Trailer. Coming November 3. Game looks great. Adding it to my wishlist.
neutral · AI labelView post →I definitely want to try the Christmas Carol Metroidvania. I believe it is called EBENEZER AND THE INVISIBLE WORLD. Anyone play it yet? I am always down for Christmas carol stuff for some reason.
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm at a loss for words
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Underrated game. It's basically old-school Castlevania set in 19th century London with repentant Scrooge. Lots of variety in the types of attacks you can do once you befriend various "ghosts". Weapon variety and reach. So you can play with heavy blow, quicker light blow, or range. Lot of secret passages and hidden stuff. Slightly rough movement, but it really is a minor criticism as you won't notice it after you make some simple adjustments. Nothing to groundbreaking here but a fun game,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Simple, Elegantly done. Very nice graphics. Music is good and unobtrusive. Honestly, I really enjoyed this game and it scratched a similar enough itch to Symphony of the Night, or any of the DS Castlevania games. Well worth the time and money.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game needs work. I like the idea behind it and the artwork but man. It needs WORK. But it hasn't gotten an update in a year so I wouldn't put any money on it happening. Some animations feel frustratingly slow when you're exploring and backtracking. The dash and mirror travel in particular. Some enemies have weird hitboxes or move oddly. The dude that runs at you and slides across the floor slides way farther than you think he will. That one is something that's awkward but you can get…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I picked up returnal, auto rogue, Darksiders 3 and it's dlc, Maiden and Spell, Ebenezer and the Invisible World, and Anomalous Coffee Machine 1 and 2 :3 Also sent off all steam gifts except 2 and got the dead space 3 expansion on origin since I own the base game there
neutral · AI labelView post →Yeah I'm excited to play it! But I'm just not good enough at what it wants me to do right now, and that's fine Now I get to play a *third* game, maybe Ebenezer and the Invisible World, maybe Depths of Sanity, Peppered got an update two weeks ago, the world is an exciting and interesting place!
neutral · AI labelView post →Unfortunately the game has a lot of bugs. I gave up after twice being soft-locked. Once when a conversation stopped advancing and it was just stuck on the last dialogue, and the second time after unlocking Courage, the cutscene just never ended and I had to Alt+F4 to close the game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a game that naturally draws comparisons to Hollow Knight and works inspired by it, especially as many metroidvanias in its wake seem primarily focused on art direction. Ebenezer holds up well visually, but its mechanical depth and intrigue can often feel lacking.
neutral · AI labelView post →Heyo! Hope to cya over at www.twitch.tv/snazzyazzy83 at 11:30am cst as we convene for today's meeting of the Kamen Gamer Club! Playing more Ebenezer and the Invisible World as part of the #FourInFebruary challenge and we're 3 subs away from unlocking a Mario game tier list stream! Cya soon!
neutral · AI labelView post →Switching over to Ebenezer and the Invisible World! Christmas doesn't end until the game does!
neutral · AI labelView post →If you like Metroidvanias and are imbued with the holiday spirit. I am enjoying this game so far. I do not like that my old achievements from my previous playthrough still haven't been unlocked though.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm still going to finish the game, but it is great to play it during the holiday season. I think the writing of this game is really well done and each character has a little background story.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a Christmas Metroidvania. Odds are those two words alone will have you either excitedly slamming the buy button or closing the window never to return. I really enjoyed this. Some caveats. It seems to have been made by a small team, and it shows. You'll encounter bugs. The level design isn't the best. There's no voice acting, and the cut scenes are minimally animated. The art style is reminiscent of early XBLA Arcade, with super sharp 2D art that can occasionally make it difficult to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After his life-changing encounters with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, Scrooge decides to take up a new hobby—saving London from malevolent spirits and a villainous industrialist named Caspar Malthus. Because, why not? Gameplay: Think of it as “A Christmas Carol” meets “Castlevania.” Scrooge jumps around Victorian London, whacking ghosts and Malthus’s minions with his trusty cane. Along the way, he befriends other ghosts who grant him new abilities. It’s like Pokémon, but…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game feels like a slice of Christmas on the screen. If you like A Christmas Carol you owe it to yourself to check out, this uniquely created sequel to that beautiful novel.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I keep thinking of the Scrooge "I think you should leave" sketch. The concept of the game is soooo much fun! Actionhero Scrooge is just a funny thing. Yeah, here and there were some clunky moments and the cane that shoots projectiles is so overpowered that I didn't need something else, but I couldn't put the game aside until I finished it and that has to count for something. The controls on the Steamdeck are very smooth and the only thing I was missing was maybe voice acting. But I get it,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Dialog was a little desnse, and it was kinda cheesy, but not a bad time. It was a fun game to stream on twitch
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bottom line is I am enjoying playing this game. Visually the game is impressive, the animated film look is rich and vibrant and it achieves a great sense of depth making use of foreground and background elements. The Victorian setting and weather effects along with the music, make for some great festive ambiance. I found the controls intuitive and had no significant issues navigating the game world making for a rewarding platform experience. Combat with enemies can be challenging as just…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gloriously clever premise ruined by coarse controls, rickety game flow, poor level design, and rough combat that lacks any smoothness. All the touches of a Metroidvania like affair are absent. Potential? High Execution? Rough.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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