| The Star Named EOS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay & Story | Release Date | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
The Star Named EOS is a story-driven puzzle game that takes you on a beautiful journey through the lens of your camera. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
The Star Named EOS Review Overview
What is The Star Named EOS?
The Star Named EOS follows Dei, a young photographer who is taking up his missing mother’s passions of photography and adventure. He set out to connect with his mother through the countless letters she sent him of her adventures while he was a child. However, as he continues in his travels, he begins to notice that his mother’s photos always have someone peculiar in them, and it’s enough to change everything he ever knew about his mom and their family.
With the guidance of his mother's letters and photos left behind, Dei sets out to uncover the truth, and perhaps discover much more of the love his mother had for him in between the pages of her letters.
The Star Named EOS features:
⚫︎ Story-Rich Narrative
⚫︎ Point and Click Puzzle Game
⚫︎ Photography Mechanics
⚫︎ Storybook Illustration Art-Style
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about The Star Named EOS's gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 Epic |
 GoG |
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 PlayStation |
 Xbox |
 Switch |
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| Price | $14.99 | ||||
The Star Named EOS Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 A Beautiful and Emotional Narrative Gorgeous Art-Style Thought-Provoking Puzzles |
Incredibly Short Story |
The Star Named EOS Overall Score - 90/100
The Star Named EOS captured my heart with its beautiful story, perfectly shot and complimented by its relaxing gameplay, soothing music, and picturesque art direction. The game evokes a sense of nostalgia and emotion, twinkling brightly like a star. However, unlike a star, its life cycle is very short. I’m casting my hopes on a wishing star, hoping this game takes off and leads to a sequel or another great Silver Lining game, just as captivating as this one and Behind the Frame.
The Star Named EOS Story - 10/10
The Star Named EOS is like a picture worth a thousand words: its beautifully framed narrative takes unexpected turns and twists, and, much like a photo being developed, it takes its time to reveal the beauty it has to offer.
The Star Named EOS Gameplay - 8/10
The Star Named EOS may be a simple point-and-click game, but it’s brimming with secrets and engaging puzzles that keep you intrigued and weave a story throughout its gameplay. While it doesn’t break new ground, it excels with its unique photography mechanic, detective solving, and creative puzzles.
The Star Named EOS Visuals - 10/10
The game’s art direction is truly stunning. It’s the kind of beauty that makes you want to snap screenshots constantly—each one looks like it could be used as your wallpaper or even hung in a museum. It’s a fantastic mix of anime style and the charm of children’s storybook illustrations.
The Star Named EOS Audio - 9/10
The music perfectly blends with the ambiance to set the tone and atmosphere, and it also enhances the more emotional moments, making them even more impactful.
The Star Named EOS Value for Money - 8/10
Value-wise, the game's main drawback is its brevity and lack of replay value once you’ve finished it. However, if you think of it more as a movie, you’re in for a beautiful narrative that genuinely moved me to tears several times.
The Star Named EOS Review: A Picture-Perfect Story
Silver Lining is back with another emotional journey that’s bound to stay with me for a long time. Much like their previous game, Behind the Frame, this one is similar in style but focuses on photography instead of painting. I’m torn on which story I prefer, but I can say that this game is packed with twists and turns that will keep you hooked.
It starts off a bit slow, with you exploring your room and solving puzzles, but the real goal is to recreate your mother’s photos to unravel the mysteries they hold. From there, you’re transported to different times and places related to each mystery.
The game progresses chapter by chapter, and while I don’t want to spoil too much, it’s incredibly engaging from start to finish. The emotional payoff is definitely worth it. I appreciate how the game eases you in and doesn’t hand over all the answers immediately.
Gameplay-wise, it’s nothing groundbreaking, but like the best point-and-click puzzle games, it balances difficulty well and makes you feel accomplished when you solve a puzzle. There’s no guide or help button, which could have been useful, but thankfully, the puzzles are challenging yet fair, each with its own unique flair.
The gorgeous art style makes it feel like you’re experiencing a living storybook, and it’s a touching family tale that’s suitable for kids too.
You’ll definitely be in tears by the end, and the game really hits you with valuable lessons that resonate deeply.
Pros of The Star Named EOS
| Things The Star Named EOS Got Right |
|---|
|
A Beautiful and Emotional Narrative Gorgeous Art-Style Thought-Provoking Puzzles |
A Beautiful and Emotional Narrative
I just noticed that the title The Star Named EOS is a clever play on words—EOS also stands for Electro-Optical System, like the ones used in Canon cameras. It’s clear how much thought the developers put into the game, with each detail packed with meaning and thought-provoking moments. I don’t want to reveal too much about the story because it’s best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. Trust me, it’s that good. Just be ready to have tissues on hand; the game is both beautiful and incredibly emotional.
Gorgeous Art-Style
The game makes you feel like you’re looking through a camera lens, with visuals presented in a panoramic view. It’s not just the stunning, storybook-like art style that makes it beautiful; the clever use of lighting and camera techniques like exposure and aperture with different elements also adds to the effect. It’s like a blend of a photograph and a painting, which is probably exactly what the developers were aiming for.
Thought-Provoking Puzzles
I have to admit, this game can be a real brain teaser at times, but it strikes a great balance between challenging you and making you think outside the box—or should I say, outside the photograph? Beyond just recreating your mom’s photos, the game features a variety of unique puzzles that offer a nice mix of difficulty and creativity. I love how these puzzles are woven into the world; for example, you’ll often find items that come into play later on. One of the early puzzles, where you need to align balls, really had me stumped for a moment, especially since there’s no help button. I appreciate that the game trusts you to figure things out on your own and doesn’t assume you can’t handle it.
Cons of The Star Named EOS
| Things That The Star Named EOS Can Improve |
|---|
|
Incredibly Short Story |
Incredibly Short Story
The game is like glimpsing a shooting star—brief and beautiful, leaving you wishing for just a bit more. The narrative is spot-on, but it could have benefited from extra elements like collectibles or photo challenges to add more depth to the gameplay.
Is The Star Named EOS Worth It?
Yes, Especially for Story-Lovers
This game is perfect for anyone seeking a moving story that will bring you to tears. It’s incredibly impactful, with unexpected twists and moments that I don’t want to spoil but are definitely worth experiencing for yourself. At $15, it’s a great value, and with around 6 hours of gameplay, every moment is well worth the time.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
Epic |
GoG |
|||
| PlayStation |
Xbox |
Switch |
|||
| Price | $14.99 | ||||
The Star Named EOS FAQ
Who is the Voice Actor of Dei’s Mother?
In English, Suzie Yeung voices the mother; she’s known for her roles as Yuffie in FF VII Rebirth and Piper Wheel in Zenless Zone Zero. In the Japanese version, Aoi Yuuki takes on the role, famous for voicing Lumine in Genshin Impact and Futaba Sakura in Persona 5. For the Chinese version, Shandy Ma, a prominent voice actress with over 20,000 commercials and TV programs to her name, brings the character to life.
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The Star Named EOS Product Information
 | |
| Title | THE STAR NAMED EOS |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 23, 2024 |
| Developer | Silver Lining Studio |
| Publisher | PLAYISM |
| Supported Platforms | PC(Steam, Epic Games Store, GoG), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Adventure, Puzzle |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Rating | ERSB E |
| Official Website | The Star Named EOS Official Website |
