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Cathedral

Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac, PlayStation 4 • 2019

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Quick resume

Make your way through more than 600 rooms, and unravel the secrets of your past by finding the five elemental orbs. Cathedral features a vast world, meant for exploring!

Global score

73/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Platform

Pros

  • Vast and well-designed exploration
  • Challenging and satisfying boss fights
  • Tight and responsive controls
  • Rewarding upgrades and abilities
  • Engaging pixel art and soundtrack

Cons

  • Steep difficulty spikes especially late game
  • Some obtuse puzzles and backtracking
  • Limited story and character customization
  • Slow base movement speed early on
  • Few quality of life features like teleportation

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    4

    "Players freely explore a vast interconnected world with non-linear progression and multiple abilities to choose and master."

  • Competence
    4

    "The game offers challenging combat and boss fights requiring skill, pattern recognition, and mastery of abilities."

  • Competition
    -4

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration without mention of PvP or leaderboards."

  • Continuation
    4

    "Players report long playtimes (20+ hours), habitual exploration, and repeated attempts at difficult bosses."

  • Cooperation
    -5

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements described."

  • Creativity
    3

    "Players engage in exploration, puzzle solving, and ability usage, though within a structured metroidvania framework."

  • Domination
    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is individual and skill-based."

  • Escapism
    4

    "Players immerse in a large fantasy world with challenging gameplay, providing distraction and engagement."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting
    3

    "Exploration and puzzle solving encourage trying new paths and strategies, though some ability swapping is constrained."

  • Exploration
    5

    "Core gameplay involves discovering secrets, backtracking with new abilities, and uncovering a large map."

  • Expression
    -3

    "Limited character customization; focus is on ability upgrades and exploration rather than avatar personalization."

  • Fantasy
    5

    "Set in a fictional fantasy world with knights, magic, and mythical bosses."

  • Fellowship
    -5

    "No social or community gameplay elements; experience is solitary."

  • Growth
    4

    "Players develop skills, learn boss patterns, and acquire new abilities and upgrades."

  • Health
    -5

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or rehab elements."

  • Idle
    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement, especially during challenging combat and platforming."

  • Intimacy
    -5

    "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interaction."

  • Leadership
    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player experience."

  • Progression
    5

    "Strong emphasis on collecting upgrades, items, and unlocking new abilities to progress."

  • Relaxation
    -2

    "Challenging difficulty and boss fights create tension; some players find it frustrating rather than relaxing."

  • Sensation
    3

    "Enjoyable pixel art and chiptune soundtrack provide sensory stimulation and nostalgic appeal."

  • Status
    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems described."

  • Story
    1

    "Light story presence; focus is on gameplay and exploration rather than narrative immersion."

  • Strategy
    4

    "Boss fights and puzzles require pattern recognition, planning, and tactical use of abilities."

  • Thrill
    3

    "Difficulty spikes and challenging bosses provide suspense and excitement."

  • Value
    4

    "Players report high content volume and replayability for the price paid."

  • Violence
    3

    "Combat and defeating enemies and bosses are core gameplay elements."

  • Survival
    3

    "Players must avoid damage and manage health to survive challenging enemies and bosses."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026