The sources of inspiration for the French studio Rundisc can be traced back to two adventure games, Heaven’s Vault and Return of the Obra Dinn. The former is based on choices and dialogue with deciphering ancient languages, while the latter involves piecing together murder details in reverse order. Chants of Sennaar adopts both ideas and presents them with an emphasis on linguistics.
The parable of the Tower of Babel from the Old Testament explains the origin of languages and the division of people into nations. The metaphorical nature of Chants of Sennaar is based on the famous myth and offers to unite the inhabitants of the mysterious Tower by deciphering words from different dialects and uncovering the secrets of a charming universe.
A nameless hooded traveler awakens in a tomb, surrounded by tall stone walls, pillars, and arches. After climbing the stairs, he discovers a lever and unfamiliar runes. The first puzzle is simple and explains the essence of the gameplay. The creators clearly hint that the first symbol means “open”, the second – “close”, and the third – “door”.
The player is presented with an intricate isometric world crafted in a trendy minimalist aesthetic. The surreal style with an emphasis on bright colors is so good that a screenshot from any part of the game could easily be printed out, framed, and hung on a wall. The palette, lighting, and shadows help reveal the distinctness of peoples and cultures. The differences are visible in the primary colors of settlements, character designs, and accompanying music.
At the same time, the game will remind you of a mobile title, partly thanks to its simple and intuitive control scheme.
Five isolated communities inhabit the labyrinthine Tower, and their languages must be deciphered using contextual clues, comparing symbols, and learning details about the residents’ lives. The nameless traveler’s goal is to show the peoples that they have far more in common than it seems, and that differences are merely different perspectives on the same concept. The world unfolds through visuals and simple dialogues. And why the races refuse to communicate with each other will be revealed in the finale.
The gameplay of Chants of Sennaar consists of solving increasingly complex linguistic puzzles or point-and-click style riddles within riddles (editor’s note — point & click). Discovered glyphs are automatically recorded in a notebook and represent entire words. Other notes and diagrams go there as well. Careful exploration of the environment and talking to residents lead to formulating hypotheses regarding the meanings of symbols. You will have to return to the same locations multiple times.
An explanation for a code, even an incorrect one, can be written down manually or you can wait for the game to offer it as a drawing. The meaning of a word can be deduced through deduction, elimination, intuition based on the glyph’s design, or through primitive trial and error. Once a translation is entered into the journal, the word will fill in the blanks in sentences, making it easier to understand what to do and where to go next.
Sentence structure has its own nuances – in one language, the plural is indicated by two identical glyphs (I + I = We), while in another by a separate symbol. Interestingly, the glyph shapes, syntax, and rules point to inspiration from real-world languages. For example, the Warriors have something resembling Norse runes, while the Bards have something reminiscent of Sanskrit.
There will be situations where the journal fills with unfamiliar terms, and to progress, you will need to delve deeper into the culture of a people, their preferences, fears, and troubles.
Besides exploration and puzzles, the developers include occasional reflex-based platforming elements and stealth involving moving between covers. However, they are implemented poorly and feel clearly redundant.
The decision to include Möbius strip-style labyrinths can also be called strange, deliberately disorienting players and forcing them to run through the same locations in an attempt to find an exit without a map. An outdated and controversial element.
Gentle music and sound effects are important parts of Chants of Sennaar, immersing the player in an ancient atmosphere and the role of a unifier of foolish peoples who have isolated themselves in their little worlds and refuse to interact with their neighbors.
The main thing in Chants of Sennaar is not to rush. It does not matter how much time it takes to unravel the next knot, five minutes or hours — the game is tailored for meditative gameplay. If you push for speed, you might burn out and abandon one of the best puzzle games the industry produced in 2023.
On average, a playthrough will take 9 to 12 hours. More prolonged moments of getting stuck cannot be ruled out, as the difficulty curve occasionally spikes sharply. But at the end, you shouldn’t turn off the game prematurely – it will deliver a pleasant surprise.
Diagnosis
Chants of Sennaar is a battle with your own mind and the creators’ design, which often leaves the player feeling foolish. Difficulty is part of the fun of the gameplay, where uncovering another meaning or mystery brings a pleasant sensation. But until that “Eureka” moment, it baffles, disorients, and makes you doubt your own mental abilities.
The game is worth trying for anyone who loves layered and diverse puzzles. Deciphering ancient languages inspired by real-world counterparts turns out to be far more engaging than it might initially seem. Chants of Sennaar is an opportunity to experience an aesthetic, captivating, and unusual game that has virtually no direct analogs.
Pro:
- Charming environment and atmosphere
- Huge variety of puzzles
- Convincing linguistic system
- Meaningful narrative depth
Contra:
- Many confusing areas
- Frequently used trial-and-error method