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Game
Game2023
Girl Genius: Adventures In Castle Heterodyne
Developer Rain Games
A fabulous Action Adventure game based on the wonderful graphic novel series, Girl Genius™, by authors Phil & Kaja Foglio. From the Steam store page
177 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 28, 2026 · last updated Oct 29, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
90
LovedLoved
95 positive · 11 negative
95% range 82–94%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 95 | 11 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 6 | 1 | 61 |
| 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
98 of 109 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
90% recommend · 95 yes, 11 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 106 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (101 of 114 positive).
Fans of the comic praise the game as a faithful and charming adaptation. [1][2][3] Some players find the controls clunky and the combat frustrating. [4][5][6] The price of $30 is considered high for the game's length by some reviewers. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [9]
This is really more of a neutral review than a negative one, or at least that's how I mean it. I've been entertained by my time with this game, which has taken me probably 90% of the way through a 100% playthrough, and I wouldn't be surprised to find myself circling back to it at some point. What tipped me over into a negative review is a combination of two things: first, it's likely to get a lot of positive affect …
- [10]
Fun action/puzzle game, some decent combat challenges and puzzles as well (has 4 levels of difficulty including story mode). Plus, a native Linux port that works really well on the Steam Deck. I've played all the way through (was beta testing) with no problems. I never read the comics before, but they are readable in-game
- [8]
$30.00 for a (what was for me at least) 10-hour game is, perhaps, not a price a lot of people are willing to pay. I myself might not have if I wasn't a fan of the comic - I mighta instead waited until (inevitably) it went on sale. BUT, wanting to support the creators as I did, I sprang for it as soon as I could, and ended up with a very charming puzzle/action game with a delightful old school feel, bringing me back …
- [1]
Great for fans of the Girl Genius series! Keeps up the humor and feel perfectly. Fun puzzles and exploration.
- [2]
Exceedingly charming, the game very easily captures the magic of the comic with a condensed retelling of Agatha's exploration of Castle Heterodyne, and creates a detailed 3D layout of many of the parts of Castle Heterodyne we've been allowed to see thus far, which in and of itself is worth the price of admission. It's not without flaws and extreme clunkiness (Various quality of life issues, but nothing …
Summarised from 34 of the 177 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
Players who liked Girl Genius: Adventures In Castle Heterodyne talk about faithful adaptation of the comic's story and humor; those who didn't talk about clunky controls and awkward movement. Which matters more to you?
Reactions
60 of 177 · most liked firstFun action/puzzle game, some decent combat challenges and puzzles as well (has 4 levels of difficulty including story mode). Plus, a native Linux port that works really well on the Steam Deck. I've played all the way through (was beta testing) with no problems. I never read the comics before, but they are readable in-game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is really more of a neutral review than a negative one, or at least that's how I mean it. I've been entertained by my time with this game, which has taken me probably 90% of the way through a 100% playthrough, and I wouldn't be surprised to find myself circling back to it at some point. What tipped me over into a negative review is a combination of two things: first, it's likely to get a lot of positive affect from the kickstarter backers and comic fans coming to give it love, and second,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#girlgenius #webcomics #magicthegathering Hey there, Steampunkareenos, Tonight (2/25) Our beloved proffesoressa will be streaming on Twitch (www.twitch.tv/professoress...) at 6PM PST! She will happily answer any and all questions about those future novels as well as any number of other projects!
neutral · AI labelView post →#girlgenius Hey there, Girl Genius aficionados– Professoressa Kaja Foglio will be streaming tonight (12/17) on Twitch (6PM PST) where she will be playing a NEW game, answering questions, and talking about any number of things, and one of those things could be YOU (www.twitch.tv/professoress...)
neutral · AI labelView post →Rain Games’ Kickstarter for the Girl Genius AiCH game is now mostly fulfilled! They’re reportedly now sending out queries about addresses that are showing as having missing apartment numbers and such. If you’re one of those folks, please check the email address you backed their campaign with!
neutral · AI labelView post →I'll start this by sayin' I have not read the Girl Genius graphic novels but have enjoyed this game. The gameplay is solid and smooth. Didn't encounter any bugs. The major downside is that there is no voice acting. I think that would brings these characters to life more. Despite that it reminds me of the old days when we had a lot of platformers. Good stuff. The price may be a bit much for some but still a welcomed addition to steam. Gameplay here: https://youtu.be/h0a2t55KndE
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#girlgenius #webcomics #twitch Hey there Steampunkarinos! Our beloved Professoressa Foglio will be streaming tonight on Twitch (www.twitch.tv/professoress...)! 6PM PST. Where she promises to talk about nothing very consequential, which I, for one, am rather looking forward to. Hopefully, you are too
neutral · AI labelView post →I want to like this game, I really do. I've been reading the comics for many years and enjoy them immensely. This game however: - The controls are clunky - I find it awkward to move around the world a lot of the time. - Default gamepad controls are weird - the menu button is more easily accessible than the basic attack - Difficulty settings seem to have very little effect on the actual difficulty (it seems to just give you more or fewer hearts, but it doesn't change the amount of healing your…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#webcomics #girlgenius #twitch Girl Genius for 9/11 (links in comments) Tonight Kaja will again be game streaming on Twitch. I'm not sure what she'll be playing, but hey. it's free entertainment, amiright? 6 PM PST
neutral · AI labelView post →#girlgenius #webcomics #twitch Hey there Steampunkaphiles! Once again our beloved Professoressa will be holding forth while simultaneously demonstrating her mastery of Hyrulian philosophy– tonight at 6PM PST on The Twitch™ (www.twitch.tv/professoress...) Check it out!
neutral · AI labelView post →#webcomics #girlgenius Girl Genius for 9/6 (links in comments) Myself and a few other authors get together once a week to game. It's very nostalgic. The game is Modern Gods and you play as assorted deities, myths, and such. As always, the fun lies in seeing how much you can get away with.
neutral · AI labelView post →#girlgenius #webcomics #twitch Heads up, Steampunkrockers! Your Professoressa will be streaming tonight (4/2) on Twitch (www.twitch.tv/professoress...) at 6 PM (PST). It will be a head-banging-device good time!
neutral · AI labelView post →Well... surprise Maxim 14 in the Girl Genius game. @howardtayler.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →$30.00 for a (what was for me at least) 10-hour game is, perhaps, not a price a lot of people are willing to pay. I myself might not have if I wasn't a fan of the comic - I mighta instead waited until (inevitably) it went on sale. BUT, wanting to support the creators as I did, I sprang for it as soon as I could, and ended up with a very charming puzzle/action game with a delightful old school feel, bringing me back to the days of playing the original tomb raider. There's no obnoxious glut of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →To get my bias out of the way, my friend played a major role in developing this game, so there was no way I wasn't going to recommend it, do what you will with that information. However, that being said the game has pleasantly surprised me in more ways than one. Girl Genius: Adventures In Castle Heterodyne is a puzzle action adventure game with a fair share of platforming and that "dungeon crawling" feeling. The game definitely has a bit of a niche style to it, which doesn't really resonate…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#girlgenius Hey there, you steamy steampunks. Professoressa Kaja Foglio will be streaming fluff & nonsense tonight on Twitch (www.twitch.tv/professoress...). 6 PM PST. Come and keep her company!
neutral · AI labelView post →This is not meant as a slant toward the game, but as others have said on here, there'll be a lot of positive reviews from the fans and kickstarter, and I do want to lvl the field a little, so other people know what they're getting at. I love the comic, have for years, and was more than happy to fund the kickstarter. I was looking forward to this game. Unfortunately, it's a sensory nightmare for me. NOTE that I said ''for me'', for this is just the way my eyes and ears and mind messes things…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Quick self promo: The Switch port of our Girl Genius game, based on the Hugo Award winning comic by Phil & Kaja Foglio, is out now! youtu.be/MP0Fbb7dcm4?... US eshop: www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro... UK eshop: www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Ninten...
neutral · AI labelView post →#Webcomics The gaming podcast "The Worst Actual-Play Podcast Ever" (That's really their name) played a campaign based on Girl Genius GURPS (scormey.com/2024/01/that...) It's pretty funny. And of course, you can run your own campaign thanks to Steve Jackson Games! (www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/...
neutral · AI labelView post →Back in 2022, Kenneth showed off Girl Genius on Tokyo Game Show. We even made a special poster with translated text that hangs in our office to this day. Here he is with his Kimono and his Girl Genius pin: #RainGames #GirlGenius
neutral · AI labelView post →While I very much enjoy the webcomic, I bought this mostly to support the creators rather than because I expected a good game. I was correct; instead of a fun romp through the world of Gaslamp Fantasy, we get to drive 'Baby's First Soulslike' through a lifeless hinterland littered with the wreckage of better ideas. I just hope the Foglio's got some of my dollar. In the future, I'll support them more directly.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#Webcomics Girl Genius for Friday, 12/22 (www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php) Did you know there is a Girl Genius video game? It still surprises us. Well it's on sale over at Steam (store.steampowered.com/app/1789370/...) It's something you can get on time for Xmas without leaving your house!
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm a long time fan of the comic-books, and I also enjoyed playing Teslagrad, so I was very happy when this game was announced. Backing it was a no brainer. Alas, right now I can't recommend it, it seems to be in a beta state. The controls are really rough, the hitting boxes are sometimes pretty unfair, there's no jump, and that makes the game somehow frustrating. The worse is that after ten hours of play I've bumped into two softlocks. Right now I can only start a new game or wait until the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Why do puzzle games believe that there must be bosses that require "twitch" skills. 8-P Otherwise the game is ok... Buy it on Sale.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i love the comics enough to back game kickstarter. sadly the game doesnt capture the sassy wit or my attention. i dont regret giving my support, just doesnt engage. needs voice overs i think
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a rudimentary 3D adventure puzzle game that feels a little too easy / basic to me. I only played 30 minutes before pulling up a full play through and skimming it. From what I saw, things don't get all that much more advanced that what I played. This means you'll have to really enjoy slider and lever puzzles that would feel at home on the N64 or PS2. The screenshots and trailers may make you think this is a 3D platformer, but there is no jump button and the closest you get are jump pads…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So far, so fun. The humor and atmosphere is on point for the Girl Genius brand. On first login, I received the following quote: "If hitting it once does nothing, keep hitting it! Those people calling you crazy simply lack your tenacity!". Which is both funny and actual in-game advise! The lack of jumping and the clunky stamina/run mechanic is slightly off-putting, but beyond that, I'm having fun so far.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well made Gamecube/Playstation era game, saturated with fanservice for people who've read the comic -- you can even unlock the comics books for use in the reading balcony.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →We would be honored and grateful if folks would nominate our Girl Genius AiCH game for the Steam Awards! store.steampowered.com/steamawards/...
neutral · AI labelView post →Enormous thanks to everyone who gave me such great advice about press releases! The game releases on Steam TOMORROW! We'll be streaming a special Twitch event on my channel (ProfessoressaFoglio)Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 4 PM PDT. #GirlGenius #GirlGeniusVideoGame #VideoGames #GirlGeniusComics
neutral · AI labelView post →Can folks please suggest some comics/SF flavored places I should send a press release for the upcoming Girl Genius game release? Rain Games has the gaming side of things covered, but I want to do my part!
neutral · AI labelView post →Playing on my steam deck. Game is fun, and really brings to life in another media the comic story. Quite enjoying it. But there are control issues I'm experiencing. (I figured this one out! Changed the control bindings to B for Evade and R4 to Shift for Running and now things work better!) Dodge (B on deck) doesn't always dodge. At first I thought dodge needed Agatha to be moving, but it doesn't. It just doesn't work on the first button press. So I spam it and it kinda works. Also jumping…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Its awesome and I only really have one issue, i feel like the characters feel a little clunky, other than that the story, the lore, the hidden spaces, the detail, its awesome, go play it, get lost in the story, discover the comic its based on, just squee
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have been sitting on this game for a while, which is a shame, because it really was quite fun! Difficulty wise, I found most of the combat to be fairly easy, with the difficulty resting in the puzzles. Most of this was the fun sort of difficulty of trying to solve, but the platforming did suffer from a fair bit of how narrow the selection was for the grapple-gun or trying to knock explosives the correct angle. The trap mechanics did make for some genuinely innovative puzzles, that I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm ProfessoressaFoglio on Twitch, and I'm doing an impulsive story playthrough of the Girl Genius game tonight! twitch.tv/professoress...
neutral · AI labelView post →Clunky controls, weird bugs.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great for fans of the Girl Genius series! Keeps up the humor and feel perfectly. Fun puzzles and exploration.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun hack and slash with legitimately difficult bosses, and a TON of lore from the "Girl Genius" comic series. Includes unlockable copies of those comics as a bonus!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →FWIW, I was a Kickstarter backer of this game and a long-time reader of the comic, so that may color my review a bit. The game is clearly created for fans of the comic. It adapts one of the major plot arcs fairly faithfully, but people unfamiliar with the story would likely be confused by being thrown right into the middle of it. The setting and characters are not really introduced, although you can find various lore objects that help explain things. Also, the entire series, from the very…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been reading the Girl Genius comics for years. When I learned they were going to partner with the developers of "Teslagrad" to make a game based on one of the signature story arcs of the comic, I knew I had to back the Kickstarter campaign. The game itself was worth the wait. A combination of platforming, puzzles, combat, and comedy. As a bonus, you can unlock a digital library of the comics that inspired the tale!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You might have thought that I would cool it with the Girl Genius posts now that the game is out, but you were wrong! Because the erudite and delightful @jasondhenderson.bsky.social interviews @thephilfoglio.bsky.social and Rain Games' Kenny Engelson on his podcast! www.iheart.com/podcast/966-...
neutral · AI labelView post →Amazing to see there's a Girl Genius game. On the Switch even. With a physical release. And decent reviews.
positive · AI labelView post →I bought this game primarily to throw some money in the general direction of the Foglios, whose web comic I've enjoyed for like 20 years now. The game retells the part of the story where Agatha retakes Castle Heterodyne, lovingly rendered in 3D. The gameplay is at best, perfectly adequate, as long as you don't make the mistake of playing on the Hard difficulty.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As somebody who loved the comics... this game is an incredible adaptation. Very faithful to the story, while also being a legitimately fun and well designed experience. Didn't know what to expect, was pleasantly surprised!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Girl Genius: The Works is available now. Get it here: tinyurl.com/yc776tt2 The Works is a unique puzzle-style card game for 2 or more players, designed by James Ernest, and based on the Girl Genius comic by Phil and Kaja Foglio. #comics #cardgame #comicbooks
neutral · AI labelView post →parallel to t2, we had a second team working on Girl Genius, a third person 3d adventure game in the zelda vein, based on the very critiacally acclaimed web comic, which we made mostly because Peter met the creators at a con and it felt like a good match.
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm not at all familiar with the source material this game is based on, never even heard of it. I just bought it on a whim bc the trailer was giving me traditional 3D Zelda vibes, and it has not disappointed one bit. I am familiar with the dev team Rain Games tho, bc I have Teslagrad and World to the West on my Switch, both great games with some great puzzles. I played about 4hrs of this game when I first bought it and then fell into an Elden Ring hole for like 200+ hrs, and I gotta say, this…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh, Eve also did the wonderful character art in the Girl Genius game, right? ❤️❤️❤️
neutral · AI labelView post →Exceedingly charming, the game very easily captures the magic of the comic with a condensed retelling of Agatha's exploration of Castle Heterodyne, and creates a detailed 3D layout of many of the parts of Castle Heterodyne we've been allowed to see thus far, which in and of itself is worth the price of admission. It's not without flaws and extreme clunkiness (Various quality of life issues, but nothing game-breaking, at least not that I've come across), but if you're a fan of the comic,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Decent puzzle game. Fighting mechanics were a bit frustrating; Zola has this thrust she does with a delayed and long lasting hitbox that is pretty tricky to dodge. Very steep difficulty curve on the fights right at the end. Remember, not all games need a final bossfight. I think this would've done better to have a really hard puzzle at the end.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →STREAM OVER! The game was Girl Genius: Adventures in Castle Heterodyne. It is certainly one of the games of all time - not bad, not great, and definitely for fans of the comic. But I like it enough to keep going~
neutral · AI labelView post →Pros: Great puzzles. Requires lateral thinking. Nice graphics Great story Fun Cons: Combat can be a bit frustrating to control Overall a great game I can definitely recommend. You might get stuck on some of the puzzles (particularly if you're a completionist like me), but they are all logical and fair (if difficult).
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am amused that @thephilfoglio.bsky.social 's game GIRL GENIUS Adventures In Castle Heterodyne includes the "Drink Digger" sign from the comics, referencing @tkingfisher.bsky.social 's most excellent webcomic...
neutral · AI labelView post →That's absolutely not how it went down, but you're giving me the opportunity to be a wacky goblin pilot in a steampunk game, I've read too much Girl Genius over the years not to go for the Jägermonster-adjacent character, sorry not sorry
neutral · AI labelView post →Developed and published by Rain Games, Girl Genius: Adventures In Castle Heterodyne is an action-adventure title that successfully transforms the beloved Girl Genius comic universe into an engaging interactive experience. Drawing inspiration from the award-winning graphic novel series, the game blends exploration, puzzle-solving, platforming, combat, and storytelling within a world overflowing with eccentric inventions, steampunk technology, and imaginative science-fiction concepts. Rather than…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Shelly gets all Steampunk with her game review this week as she checks out Girl Genius: Adventures in Castle Heterodyne. See what she thinks here: youtube.com/watch?v=JjLz... And if you aren't familiar with the Girl Genius story, check out @girlgenius.bsky.social for more 🙂 #gamereview
neutral · AI labelView post →For those who may not know, this is made by the same folks behind "Teslagrad", and "Girl Genius: Adventures In Castle Heterodyne". I've only put in about 20 minutes, and I'm already in love with this game. THERE'S EVEN AN ACCESSIBILTY OPTION AVAILABLE FOR PLATFORMING DINGUSES LIKE ME! <3
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a surprisingly enjoyable game. Got it because I love the webcomic, but its good on its own. This is an old style game though. Aside from old graphics you'll need sharp reflexed to win unforgiving boss battles (at least on Hard difficulty) and puzzles are sometimes maddening. Btw there are very few manuals with walkthroughs on the Internet so you will have to figure out most stuff on your own :).
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm well aware. The CCG came after the comics. The core mechanic became teh Girl Genius The Works card game.
neutral · AI labelView post →If you're a fan of the comic, it's a great (if buggy) puzzle platformer that drops you right into one of the most memorable stories in the series. The puzzles are challenging, while the combat isn't too difficult. Some portions can be maddeningly frustrating; don't get me started on the annoying "propeller clank flight" sequences. However, if you can get through those, it can be fun waste of a few hours. While the game is short, the collectables were fun to find and help flesh out the copious…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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