Ebenezer And The Invisible World: A Dickensian Christmas Metroidvania Adventure
Ebenezer and the Invisible World on PlayStation 4 is a hand‑drawn 2D Metroidvania that reimagines Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol as a gothic‑fantasy adventure. Players step into the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, now transformed from miser to unlikely hero, exploring a richly detailed Victorian London filled with ghosts, hidden paths, and challenging boss encounters. With its story‑driven gameplay, atmospheric art style, and unique spirit‑based combat system, Ebenezer and the Invisible World offers fans of Castlevania‑style platformers and Dickensian lore a distinctive twist on classic side‑scrolling action.
Ebenezer And The Invisible World Review Pros:
- Decent graphics.
- 2.78GB download size.
- Platinum trophy.
- Works on Playstation 5.
- Metroidvania platformer gameplay.
- Four save slots.
- In-game cutscenes with character portrait interactions.
- Tutorial pop-ups as you play.
- The map fills in as you explore.
- Save rooms can be found and act as a respawning point.
- Many hidden areas and routes are not always shown on the map.
- Signposts are littered around.
- Locations on the map are colour-coded.
- Fully animated background.
- All set in a wintry London, England.
- Befriend ghosts and have them join you by completing their side quest.
- Each ghost either grants a new ability or does a certain attack when equipped.
- You run around with a cane and have a spirit bar for using ghost attacks. (bar fills when fighting)
- Big boss encounters. many breakable objects like boxes, crates, lampposts, etc.
- Damage numbers pop as you attack.
- Many enemy types, with some needing timing and countering.
- Coins drop from enemies and breakables and are used for buying from travelling vendors.
- A colourful cast of characters.
- The game, on the whole, moves at a fast pace.
- Beautiful art.
- Breaking a light makes the level darker.
- Heirlooms can be found, and these do things like increase run speed or do more damage, etc.
- Find and equip many unique and quirky weapons that change your stats and how they work, so a spirit chain allows you to hit multiple enemies, but can’t hit the smaller floor-based enemies.
- many different biome types with unique monsters and enemies.
- I really love the art and design of all the characters.
- When the game is flowing and combat is good, then the game really shines.
- It could be argued that this is a Castlevania SOTN love letter with slight reskinning.
- A lot of fun to play, and it’s a solid entry into the genre and does enough to stand out from the rest.
- Not your typical Christmas-themed game, and I love it!
Ebenezer And The Invisible World Review Cons:
- Got stuck in menus, unable to back out and lost a load of progress.
- The Flow of the game is slow.
- You don’t get much help with guidance, and with so much open, you do spend the first hour just roaming around aimlessly.
- Hit detection feels a bit off at times.
- Finding health items is very rare.
- Save rooms and fast travel points are so far apart and hard to find that you end up repeating large chunks of the game.
- Having to pick up items is less than ideal.
- Buying from the shop isn’t just about money; it’s also about items that randomly drop.
- I lost faith in the saving system working, so I will sit at the saving door and do it 50 times.
- The map doesn’t fill in with useful information like vendors.
- Had so many crashes and shutdowns that I feared moving rooms, and still to this day, I haven’t spoken to a particular character, as the game crashes every time I initiate a chat.
- It could do with a lot more help with guidance.
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Ebenezer And The Invisible World:
Developer: Play On Worlds
Publisher: Orbit Studio
Store Links –
Ebenezer And The Invisible World Review
Summary
Ebenezer And The Invisible World – The Thrills and Highlights of Gameplay
Ebenezer And The Invisible World delivers a fast-paced 2D Metroidvania adventure set in a wintry Victorian London. Players explore a story-rich world filled with hidden areas, colour-coded maps, and signposts that guide progression. Combat shines when flowing smoothly, with big boss encounters, varied enemy types, and timing-based counters. Ghost companions add unique abilities and attacks, while heirlooms and quirky weapons change stats and playstyles. Coins from enemies and breakables fuel purchases from travelling vendors, and save rooms act as respawn points. The spirit bar powers ghost attacks, encouraging aggressive play. With multiple biomes, animated backgrounds, and a colourful cast of characters, Ebenezer And The Invisible World offers plenty of thrills for fans of Metroidvania gameplay.
Ebenezer And The Invisible World – Where It Falls Short: Key Negatives
Despite its strengths, Ebenezer And The Invisible World struggles with guidance and pacing. The flow of the game often feels slow, leaving players roaming aimlessly in the early hours. Save rooms and fast travel points are spread too far apart, forcing repetition of large sections. Hit detection can feel off, health items are rare, and shops require both coins and random drops, making progression uneven. Technical issues like crashes, shutdowns, and unreliable saving systems undermine confidence. Menus can trap players, causing lost progress, and the map lacks useful details such as vendor locations. These frustrations hold back the overall experience.
Ebenezer And The Invisible World – Immersive Story and Narrative Elements
The narrative reimagines Ebenezer Scrooge as a hero, enlisting the help of ghosts to save London. Each ghost offers a side quest that unlocks new abilities or attacks, weaving story and gameplay together. In-game cutscenes with character portraits and dialogue interactions add personality, while the Dickens-inspired setting provides a distinctive twist on classic Metroidvania storytelling. The blend of familiar literary themes with supernatural elements makes Ebenezer And The Invisible World stand out in its narrative approach.
Ebenezer And The Invisible World – Visual and Performance Aspects
Visually, Ebenezer And The Invisible World impresses with hand-drawn art, fully animated backgrounds, and atmospheric design that captures the essence of Victorian London. Breaking lights dynamically alters the environment, adding immersion. The game runs at a fast pace when stable, but frequent crashes and shutdowns disrupt performance. While the art and character designs shine, technical instability and unreliable saving systems detract from the overall polish.
Ebenezer And The Invisible World – Overall Verdict: Is It Worth Playing?
Ebenezer And The Invisible World offers a unique blend of Dickensian storytelling, ghost-powered combat, and Metroidvania exploration. Its art style and character design are standout features, and when combat flows, the game truly shines. However, technical issues, uneven pacing, and unreliable systems make the experience inconsistent. For players seeking a distinctive twist on the genre, Ebenezer And The Invisible World has plenty to offer, but patience is required to overcome its flaws.
Back of the Box Quotes:
“A Dickensian Metroidvania where ghosts and gameplay collide in Ebenezer And The Invisible World.”
