Seven Doors
Gameplay 8
Graphics 8
Sound 8

Seven Doors is a puzzle game that challenges players to navigate their way through several unique challenges. Each room challenges players in a different way and the developers have come up with plenty of unique scenarios. There isn’t really an over-arching story to tie everything together and the game is also quite short, but it’s an enjoyable experience while it lasts.

Gameplay: Seven Doors will challenge your problem-solving skills in several unique ways.

Graphics: Not cutting-edge, but impressive enough for a small studio.

Sound: Very good

Summary 8.0 Great
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

Seven Doors

Developer: Indigo Studios | Publisher: Indigo Studios | Release Date: 2020 | Genre: Puzzle / Adventure / Indie | Website: Official Website | Purchase: itch.io

Puzzles and challenges are a natural part of most games, but Seven Doors by Indigo Studios dares to be a little different. It is not a game where you are chosen to save the world or even unravel some great mystery. Instead, you are presented with a door and a message stating that seven challenges lie beyond. These challenges are specifically designed to test your skills and by stepping through the last door you will succeed in your quest.

From there you are free to step through the first door and face your first puzzle. Things start easy enough, but as the game progresses the puzzle not only become more convoluted, but also more dangerous. In fact, one of the rooms is a test of your ability to avoid deadly traps while another requires you to use your perception to navigate a spooky gauntlet. Indigo Studios even managed to cleverly incorporate artwork into one puzzle as well as combine an Egyptian maze with a decryption challenge. All in all, Seven Doors offers a very enjoyable experience that fans of puzzle games will relish completing. Unfortunately, with only seven “rooms” to conquer it is a game that can be completed in one or two sittings, depending on how good your problem-solving skills are. The other issue is that not everyone enjoys it when games mix puzzle solving with reflex-based sections, so “The Hall of Tragic Fate” might annoy some players.

The version of Seven Doors reviewed here is version 1.0.3 from itch.io, and unfortunately, it did not feature any type of “Options” menu to adjust any settings. We did get in touch with Indigo Studios and they stated that this feature, as well as some small revisions, will be made for the Steam version of the game that will be out soon. However, even without being able to tweak any settings, Seven Doors is still a very decent looking game. It was made with Unreal Engine 4 and behind each door, you will find very different rooms. From the tranquility of “The Gallery of Framed Dreams” to the eeriness of “The Museum of Soulless Men” the game manages to fit in a lot of variety. Those looking for rough edges will still find some if they examine everything up close, but overall the visuals are impressive for a small indie team.

Seven Doors also managed to impress us with some really good music. The atmosphere for each room in the game differs wildly and the soundtrack plays an equally important role. There were even a few times where we lingered a little longer in a room where we managed to solve a puzzle quickly just so that we could soak in more of the soundtrack. The sound effects are pretty solid too and even the little bit of voice acting found in the game doesn’t sound too bad.

Since Seven Doors is viewed in the first person it features the usual tried and tested control scheme for navigating the environments. In addition to looking around with the mouse and moving with the WASD keys, players can pick up and drop items with a click. There are also books or notes that can be read while jumping with the spacebar is required for one of the rooms. The game autosaves between rooms, but there’s no way to manually save. This isn’t really an issue as once you figure out the solution to a puzzle it can be completed very quickly. It is possible to get killed in the game, and the first time it happened to us was quite a surprise, but this just places players back at the start of the room. We did have to take notes for a few of the puzzles and it helped that someone on our team is chess expert, but all in all, there’s nothing in this game that is too obscure or hard to figure out.

The best thing about Seven Doors is that we never knew what to expect next and it was genuinely interesting to see what lies beyond each new door. We would have loved to see a few more rooms added to the mix, but all things considered, the reasonable price makes up for the short length of the game. A lot of puzzle games offer a compelling storyline or unique narrative to keep perplexed players invested, but in Seven Doors it’s just you and the challenges. Don’t expect any replay value either as once you have completed the game you will have seen everything it had to offer.

If you are looking for a game that will provide a couple of hours of challenging and engrossing puzzle solving, then Seven Doors is definitely worth your while. There’s nothing earth-shattering about its concept, but it’s enjoyable, and solving the various puzzles is quite gratifying. Players looking for a big-budget AAA extravaganza can steer clear, but indie fans who love puzzle games should definitely take a look.

System Requirements

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: AMD Quad Core A12-9720P, up to 3.6GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon R7 2GB
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 3 GB available space
  • Additional Notes: 32-bit operating systems will not be supported
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

Related posts

Aces Wild: Manic Brawling Action!

Aces Wild: Manic Brawling Action!

Aces Wild is a game that will test your skills and reflexes but keep you coming back for more. The Wild meter adds an interesting dynamic to fights, and the over-the-top action provides a rush like no other. If you want a brawler that tests your ability to react to attacks instead of memorizing combos, then Aces Wild is the game for you. Gameplay: Beat up everyone and everything in your way with stylish moves and combos. Graphics: Brilliant character designs and vibrant 2D visuals. Sound: Some fitting tunes to get the adrenaline pumping.

Pulstar

Pulstar

Pulstar is a very straightforward arcade shooter so depending on your taste you will either find it a refreshing blast from the past or become frustrated after only a few minutes. It definitely packs quite a challenge and the difficulty ramps up very quickly, so quick reflexes and a bit of luck is required to make the most of it. If you enjoyed games like Geometry Wars and Beat Hazard you will have fun with Pulstar. Gameplay: Straightforward and challenging arcade shooter. Graphics: Nice, but it can be hard to distinguish the enemies from the background at times. Sound: The sound effects lack punch, but the music is very catchy.

Pale Cachexia

Pale Cachexia

Pale Cachexia is a kinetic novel with Gothic undertones featuring two young women who meet under strange circumstances. One suffers from a life-leeching plague called the Pale Cachexia, while the other lives on her own in the middle of a forgotten forest. Despite the differences in their backgrounds and personalities, the two girls become friends, but there are outside forces that will put their bond to the test. The unique story, setting, and characters make Pale Cachexia an interesting read, and the gorgeous visuals, as well as the haunting soundtrack, certainly don't hurt either. Gameplay: This is a kinetic novel, but the lack of choices doesn't hamper the compelling story. Graphics: The game features beautiful character sprites and CGs, as well as detailed backgrounds. Sound: While there is no voice acting, the soundtrack is excellent.

Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher’s Stone

Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher's Stone

Join Emma as she searches for her missing uncle in a couple of elemental based realms while outwitting the guardian that is intent on stopping her. Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher’s Stone features great visuals and entertaining puzzles as well as decent hidden object scenes that make up for the rather generic storyline. Thanks to the robust customization options it is also an adventure that can be enjoyed no matter what your skill level is. Gameplay: The puzzles are enjoyable and the hidden object scenes well done. Graphics: Beautiful hand drawn visuals that show a lot of imagination. Sound: The soundtrack is quite enjoyable, but the voice acting is average at best.

Reverse Crawl

Reverse Crawl

Nerdook once again impresses with a title that delivers turn-based strategy in an engaging, humorous and very accessible manner. The visuals are charming, the gameplay addictive and although short, there are enough reasons to replay the game a couple of times. Anyone looking for a turn-based strategy title that can be enjoyed without a degree in military tactics should definitely add Reverse Crawl to their library. Gameplay: Easy to play, but with enough depth to keep it interesting right to the end. Graphics: Features the typical charming Nerdook visual style. Sound: No voice acting, but the music is pleasant enough.

Clash Force

Clash Force

Clash Force is a retro-style platformer with three playable characters and gameplay that feels like a mix of Mega Man and Contra. Unfortunately, it is a very short and shallow experience with nothing new to offer fans of the genre. There is still some fun to be had with the game, but with so many better games available, it's best to grab this one at a steep discount. Gameplay: Clash Force is all about running and gunning while traversing a few platforms. Graphics: The visuals look a little better than actual 8-bit titles but lack the charm of similar games. Sound: The soundtrack is decent but unremarkable, and the audio options are a little lacking.

Leave a comment

sixteen + four =