Smilemo
Smilemo
Game
Game2021
Genesis Noir
Developer Feral Cat Den
Genesis Noir is an adventure game developed by Feral Cat Den and published by Fellow Traveller Games. The game follows the main character, No Man, as he visits different parts of the universe while trying to save his love. The game was released on Windows, macOS, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on March 26, 2021. A sequel, titled Nirvana Noir, is currently under development. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
272 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
73
Fresh
139 positive · 52 negative
95% range 66–79%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 139 | 52 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 28 | 3 | 40 |
| Lemmy * | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
761 of 994 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
73% recommend · 132 yes, 50 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 182 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (1,805 of 2,291 positive).
Players describe Genesis Noir as a unique, artistic experience that is more about atmosphere than traditional gameplay. [1][2][3] Many praise its stunning visuals and creative storytelling, but note the puzzles are simple or frustrating. [3][4][5] Some reviewers find the game pretentious or tedious, with a lack of engaging gameplay. [6][7][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [6]
Oof, no. This game is like a beautiful meal that is served, intentionally, on a bed of sawdust. You give it the benefit of the doubt - you think, maybe it's some kind of cleverly disguised breadcrumb? You think, maybe it was a deeply considered choice and the sawdust actually works with the food, elevates it to achieve a fuller experience of the meal? You take a bite, and regret your optimism. But the rest of the …
- [1]
If someone tries to explain Genesis Noir to you, forget about it. There's no way one can convey the experience in a review, including myself. The short version of it is that this is an unique, haunting, profound artistic experience better experienced than described. It's not much in the sense of a traditional game, but that doesn't mean you should avoid it at all. As a game, Genesis Noir is a straightforward …
- [3]
Genesis Noir stands out with its incredible art direction and creative visual storytelling. The point-and-click puzzles are fairly simple, but they serve as a vehicle for an imaginative journey through space, time, and creation. It's a unique experience that leaves a lasting impression even after its brief runtime.
- [2]
Genesis Noir is a very unique experience!!! An indie work of art. A visual masterpiece! The trailers don't do the game justice, it is hard to perceive. One must play the game to truly understand the visual storytelling. There is little to no voice acting and the few lines of text usually only serve to preface a chapter and don't really explain anything. The story is highly experimental. It is a typical Noir …
- [4]
Very good art direction, If you want to have the best time playing this game you have to be high on weed and dont forget to read everything. The only bad thing is that in some puzzles you may not know what to do just because you may not know you can do it
Summarised from 34 of the 259 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
Players who liked Genesis Noir talk about stunning visuals and art direction; those who didn't talk about simple or frustrating puzzles. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Genesis Noir received "generally favorable reviews" on Metacritic, ending up with a score of 77 based on 18 reviews for the PC version and a score of 81 for both the Nintendo Switch as well as the Xbox One version. Malindy Hetfeld of Eurogamer praised the game's visuals, writing that "The art style itself may not look like much in still images, but brilliant whites, beautifully smooth animations and occasional yellow accents combine into something overall quite memorable. There is simply no other game that looks like Genesis Noir right now." Hetfeld also enjoyed how the game taught the player using visual cues instead of tutorials. "It never tells you what to do... You're completely left…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 272 · most liked firstSteam Deck / Gaming News #9. This week’s interesting bits and pieces in Steam Deck / Linux and general gaming that I have found is a *lighter* version. Just a small handful of things I found and wanted to share here. So don't judge me too harshly! As is now tradition (signed in blood) each time I swear this will become a weekly event, it is only a handful of days between it and the next! So as always, this is just the bits and pieces of news I’ve spotted that made me smile, or made me…
neutral · AI labelView post →Our new title, Indie Game Works, explores 50 visionary independent titles including Cairn, Tunic, GRIS, Valheim, DREDGE, 1000xRESIST, Genesis Noir, Abzû and A Short Hike, among many others, bringing together in-game imagery, development artwork, and early sketch material.
neutral · AI labelView post →Steam Deck / Gaming News #9. This week’s interesting bits and pieces in Steam Deck / Linux and general gaming that I have found is a *lighter* version. Just a small handful of things I found and wanted to share here. So don't judge me too harshly! As is now tradition (signed in blood) each time I swear this will become a weekly event, it is only a handful of days between it and the next! So as always, this is just the bits and pieces of news I’ve spotted that made me smile, or made me…
neutral · AI labelView post →Oof, no. This game is like a beautiful meal that is served, intentionally, on a bed of sawdust. You give it the benefit of the doubt - you think, maybe it's some kind of cleverly disguised breadcrumb? You think, maybe it was a deeply considered choice and the sawdust actually works with the food, elevates it to achieve a fuller experience of the meal? You take a bite, and regret your optimism. But the rest of the meal is delicious, so you try to eat around it. This isn't really possible, it's…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If someone tries to explain Genesis Noir to you, forget about it. There's no way one can convey the experience in a review, including myself. The short version of it is that this is an unique, haunting, profound artistic experience better experienced than described. It's not much in the sense of a traditional game, but that doesn't mean you should avoid it at all. As a game, Genesis Noir is a straightforward point&click puzzle game. You mostly click on stuff, and hold the mouse button to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Let’s be clear: Genesis Noir isn’t a game—it’s a TED Talk disguised as an interactive screensaver, crafted by someone who unironically quotes Carl Sagan at cocktail parties while sipping lukewarm kombucha. This cosmic snoozefest masquerading as "art" is what happens when a physics undergrad with a thesaurus tries to solve the universe while jazz saxophones moan in the background like a tortured algorithm. The game’s obsession with quantum babble and noir aesthetics feels less like a creative…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really, really wanted to love this game, unfortunately, I'm just not sure that I could recommend it to anyone - at least not without a few warnings/caveats. In brief, if you are buying the game on sale, then I think it is probably very 'worth it' for you. Genesis Noir is ambitious in its art direction and less-than straightforward storytelling. It's an interesting game if you are willing to give it some patience, you don't have light sensitive epilepsy (or sound sensitivities), and you don't…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sit down for this one. Kind of a point n click adventure where you play as an extra-dimensional watch salesman (maybe a manifestation of time?) who has to save his wondrously-thighed club singer girlfriend Miss Mass (maybe a manifestation of the entire mass of the universe?) from a bullet (the big bang?) fired at her by a jealous saxophonist Golden Boy (maybe a manifestation of the energy in the universe?). He does this by freezing the bullet in its tracks and traveling down it's trajectory…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Visually stunning, and I wanted to like it because I could see how much effort has gone into making it. I just couldn't get past the gameplay. Overall a stunning piece of art that I didn't want to play.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a Shame I Wish I Could Forget This Game What a shame. I beat this game (both of its endings) and refunded it. I've always held a personal code: even when I complete a game and could refund it I don't. I almost never refund games because I believe in supporting the developers who pour their heart and soul into their creations even if I don't align their creations. But with Genesis Noir, it was different. Despite having finished it, the experience was so utterly disappointing that I…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Streaming tonight at 7PM EST! Today we're on something completely different because we can! It'll be awesome! Behold with me...Genesis Noir! See you there! #twitchtv #Vtuber #gamedev #indiedev www.twitch.tv/officerdamic...
neutral · AI labelView post →As many others have said. I really wanted to like this game. The subjects fascinate me.. the storyline was mysterious.. the soundtrack was unique.. All of my necessary game boxes were checked. so why didn't I like this? In the simplest terms.. EVERYTHING felt like a chore.. And "extra hard" effort, at that. I'm not talking about the puzzles specifically. To be clear, the game itself is not disgustingly difficult, though the subjects ARE complicated. Things just FELT like extra effort to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Had a possible detective story and abstract storytelling before massively pivoting towards... not even sure what story. Visuals were nice though and if you just want to have an experience then you could play it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is practically an interactive movie, remind me to play this game again when I have a better PC
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →“Genesis Noir” can hardly be called a full-fledged game - it's more like an animated comic book with minimal interaction. Gameplay is reduced to the simplest actions, and the rest of the time you just watch what's going on. At the same time, the story is full of complex and confusing scientific inserts, which makes the game quite hard to grasp and definitely not suitable for everyone. On the plus side, there are nice, stylish graphics and a great jazz soundtrack that create the atmosphere.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Genesis Noir stands out with its incredible art direction and creative visual storytelling. The point-and-click puzzles are fairly simple, but they serve as a vehicle for an imaginative journey through space, time, and creation. It's a unique experience that leaves a lasting impression even after its brief runtime.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The gameplay is not fun at all but it has so much sauce that I cannot in good conscience give a negative review. It's kino.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very good art direction, If you want to have the best time playing this game you have to be high on weed and dont forget to read everything. The only bad thing is that in some puzzles you may not know what to do just because you may not know you can do it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Genesis Noir is a very unique experience!!! An indie work of art. A visual masterpiece! The trailers don't do the game justice, it is hard to perceive. One must play the game to truly understand the visual storytelling. There is little to no voice acting and the few lines of text usually only serve to preface a chapter and don't really explain anything. The story is highly experimental. It is a typical Noir detective story but told through the process of the universe's creation. Yes, it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Stream tonight! Game for tonight is a toss up between Reka or Genesis Noir 🤔 Either way I'll see yall at 7!
neutral · AI labelView post →✨ We're in the latest Humble Bundle! ✨ Not every game can fit in a graphic asset, but we gave it a shot! Grab Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between + a BUNCH of other great indie narrative games (Norco! Disco! Genesis Noir! and more!) while you can. www.humblebundle.com/games/cosmic...
neutral · AI labelView post →Trying out a new game on stream today. Join me, won't you? Genesis Noir - youtube.com/live/WEeIS3C...
neutral · AI labelView post →I received this game as part of a game bundle and the dazzling art style caught my eye so much that I decided to download it. Unfortunately the art direction is the only thing this game has going for it. I've seen more innovative gameplay in a Newgrounds flash game from 2004 than whatever this is. Every bit of it felt like a chore. The story feels like it was written by some pompous college grad who insists everyone calls them doctor while using big words, gobbledygook, and fancy quotes to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →4/10 visually appealing game, just not any fun + music + artwork - story - gameplay is mostly clicking on everything until it does something. wish it was more of a puzzle + works just fine on windows 7
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bluesky, share you favorite indie game(s) Outer Wilds The Pale Beyond The Case of the Golden Idol The Wreck Stray Gods Killer Frequency Genesis Noir Before Your Eyes I‘m an interactive fiction lover and proudly so!
neutral · AI labelView post →Went in expecting a celestial noir thriller, wound up with Isaac Asimov’s the Last Question if it was a psychedelic love story with a dash of Sister Alice added in for good measure. You’ll understand when you play it. Or not; I’m not entirely certain I did. 10/10, would fall in love with eternity again.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've played just about every game in this bundle and can wholeheartedly say it's an absolute steal! So much quality in here! Disco Elysium, Hob's Barrow, Chicken Police, Strangeland, Norco, Genesis Noir 'chefskiss.jpeg' #Blutoid www.humblebundle.com/games/cosmic...
positive · AI labelView post →In terms of mechanics, Genesis Noir is an atypical point-and-click adventure game in which the puzzles have a loose, experimental feel. Instead of classic puzzles, the player immerses himself in surreal spaces, manipulating time and sound in a way that is more intuitive than logical. The pace of the game is slow and contemplative, building an atmosphere of melancholy and reflection. This is not a title for fans of dynamic action - it's all about the emotional experience, creating a cosmic…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If I told you that Genesis Noire is both a cosmology exhibition and an interactive experience that tells a story, and that sounds appealing to you, then go for it you'll love it. The animations are stunning; the game narrates the history of the universe from the Big Bang to its end, covering the formation of stars and the solar system along the way. It’s not just scientific, it’s a true work of art to explain cosmology through simple images and symbols. The game also explores how we find…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very stylistic game that unfortunately lacks substance and depth in its narrative and themes. It is very nice to look at and has a very promising and intriguing start that ultimately fails to deliver. In my opinion, the narrative punches above its weigh class and does not really know where to go or what to say, and instead feels like a collection of ideas the developers liked.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This hits a very specific niche: noir love story for those who appreciate quantum mechanics and also jazz. A beautiful marriage of music and visual storytelling.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It looks great (until it becomes tiresome), the music is great (except for a few bits), but man, is it boring. On the plus side it's short, and if you like jazzy artsy things that are loosely based on the origin of the universe, abiogenesis, and the rise of humans, sure, get it for cheap. But be ready for puzzles that are not puzzles, repetition, and boredom.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Come watch me play Genesis Noir by Feral Cat Den. It has certainly stuck with me and will stay with me, forever. No wonder it won a butt ton of awards. #indiegame #pointandclick #videogame #letsplay youtu.be/Odc85m2IQYo
positive · AI labelView post →I'm confused. I'm either not high enough to appreciate this or it's a failed attempt to be artsy and clever. Regardless, it feels obtuse. Might try again later.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought the game due to the art style but it is not a game. I like point and click games but this is not a point and click game. This is not a game at all. Edit: The worst game I have ever played. Extremely boring.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Genesis Noir from Feral Cat Den and @fellowtraveller.games is one of 50 brilliant titles in my book Indie Game Works. You can buy it now in the UK and from May 12 in the US. It includes exclusive behind-the-scenes artwork and developer interviews. Get it here amzn.eu/d/0gmcEegV
neutral · AI labelView post →1 winner • pick from 150+ Steam keys. Game sampler: Zombie Army Trilogy + Legion TD 2 (plus Genesis Noir + Border Pioneer). Ends May 4 @ 10PM ET. Enter: thealabaster.one/giveaways?ut... Reply with your pick. #GameGiveaway #IndieGames #StrategyGames
neutral · AI labelView post →Visual masterpiece, trippy one, used more clicks on screenshots than using the mouse for actual gameplay. The music, atmosphere and symbolism pull you into a surreal.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I can't recommend it. It's beautiful and utterly unique, props to the developers for taking a chance on it but.... at the same though it's overly cerebral and utterly tedious.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pro: REALLY GOOD graphic design Con: Really good GRAPHIC DESIGN
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly, just not very interesting. The worst thing an abstract piece of art can be is boring, because your audience will have no desire to engage with the abstractions. A lot of the gameplay is just painfully slow and the narrative is fairly barebones. The visuals and audio are fantastic, the concept is good, but it's just boring.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game has great music and visuals. I really enjoyed the story as well, it's a unique journey through different possibilities with an interesting blend of characters and nice foreshadowing. Although, if you come into the game expecting a puzzle platformer or player agency, you'll be disappointed. It's more of an experience type game. A movie with game elements if you will. The only real choice is how much you see, in what order and what ending you decide to pick. Having said that, I enjoyed…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ok, there's so many wonderful things about this game, but ultimately it is unplayable because of bugs. I can't count the number of restarts I've had to do to get through each and every level (and without video walkthroughs would not have been able to do many of them because the game mechanics don't work/freeze). It's a real shame, because it is an intriguing beautiful game but after 4 hours of game play (?) most of it spent restarting I just can't invest any more time or energy into finishing…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Tonight's impromptu Marvel collab was actually so much fun <3 I can't wait to play through Genesis Noir with you all on Saturday for my Birrhday Stream, and to play a game with a little slower pace so we can chat and catch up a little too <3
neutral · AI labelView post →Unfortunately I wasn't a big fan of this. I really thought I would like this simply due to art style. And while the art style is absolutely phenomenal, the gameplay is not. There isn't really any gameplay. You walk, you click/spin things to advance the story, rinse and repeat.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A lovely psychedelic adventure that needs a bigger flash bang warning It was a surreal game with fantastic music. The simplistic art wasn't as simple as it seemed. The story was more profound that I was expecting, after reading what the game was about. That was a pleasant surprise. Some of the puzzles were a bit complex and frustrating, but satisfying to solve. The controls were rather simple but not that smooth if you had to perform complex actions. The flashing lights were a bit much, I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Still thinking about Genesis Noir, quickly entering one of my favorite game experiences, rather than just a game. In the spirit of the Steam sale, I wanna point out it currently costs no money I recommend setting aside a day to one-shot it 🙏 store.steampowered.com/app/735290/G...
positive · AI labelView post →2 winners • pick from 180+ Steam games. Syberia + The Adventure Pals (plus Genesis Noir + Mind Diver). Ends May 25 @ 10PM ET. Enter: thealabaster.one/giveaways?ut... Reply with your pick. #GameGiveaway #IndieGames #PuzzleGames
neutral · AI labelView post →Gameplay is not that fun, but the artwork, story and music still made me enjoy this a lot.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Genesis Noir is, in my opinion, a really good game for a very specific kind of person. It is one of those games that will only reward you so far as you're willing to meaningfully engage with its themes and put in the effort to understand what it's conveying. Honestly, other than a few sparse occasions where clicking to move felt a little janky, I don't have any complaints with this game. It starts off a little confusing, sure, but it quickly became clear to me by around chapter 2. It is a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Utter trash; theres no actual "game" in this game - it all just a weird fever dream walking simulator without even the common decency to have a decent story.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This whole game IS Jazz. Surreal and weird. I hate Jazz.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I liked Genesis Noir for what it tried to do. It may have tried to do too much but I appreciated it for what it is. Don't expect tight plot or super cleaver puzzles, but play it for vibes and exploration of someones vision. For around five hours of game play, worth picking up on sale.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I enjoyed this game for what it was. Sometimes it frustrated me and I encountered a bug at the end where some code would display over the ending scene and credits which destroyed the atmosphere but other than that it was a good game. Although at times some of the ideas left me scratching my head thinking "what were they trying to say here?" and at other times it felt so "out there" I did enjoy playing it and I do recommend it to anyone looking for something cosmic. The narrative was more…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🔴LIVE NOW over at twitch.tv/caboosetheelf hopping into space for a noir puzzle game w/ GENESIS NOIR. Can we trade in Phil Collins for Katy Perry please?? Come say hi! #twitch #gaming #noir #elf #puzzle #springtime
neutral · AI labelView post →This episode, me and @leylses.bsky.social cover the 2021 intergalactic, interdimensional point and click game, "Genesis Noir!" We power through our respective illnesses to discuss the difficulty of preserving an ending's momentum, as well as how much we liked the kamehameha gun.
neutral · AI labelView post →Visuals are great with some game play here and there. There was nothing interesting to takeaway from this game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Got this game in one of the steam key packs. I just finished the game and getting the achievements. My thoughts: -Absolutely amazing visuals -Fun puzzles -Very captivating (if a little confusing) story All around a really good experience, very worth the time
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You like Jazz? Great! I have to admit, the first few hours of game-play I was semi-confused of the plot and story. Tho I don't think its the fault of the game for the most part. Pros: Visually the game is beautiful, Characters and backgrounds are very well designed despite the modernization style they are in. The music is also a very good plus Cons: It's a Point and clicker game. Tho I'm sure my super lack of investment really does stem from the fact I have a monkey brain. So tho the story…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Genesis Noir is a wonderful adventure game with an amazing story who talk about love, life and death. The designs are really beautiful and the ambiant is cozy. I highly recommend it!!! 🖤🤍🖤
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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