Amazing !!

I first downloaded this game in middle school and LOVED the art style and gameplay but wasn’t able to 100% it. revisiting it a few years later, the puzzles and exploration aspects are so much fun. Trying to find all of the secrets on the map is tedious, sure, but it feels super rewarding when you finally get everything. The puzzles are very forgiving if you mess something up and generally easy enough to figure out without a guide. There are a lot of different types of puzzles too, which is nice. I’m seeing a lot of people complaining in the reviews about the combat system in standard mode as well, but as someone who picked it up yesterday for the first time in 3+ years almost none of the battles gave me an issue. They are (at least a little bit) strategy based, but they're all easy enough, even without using the blind or rage attacks. You just gotta get the hang of the timing and pay attention to the attack indicators. The story is pretty good and the visuals are amazing. The art style isn't really one I've seen very often in games and the whole game really feels like a work of art. You can tell how much love went into making this game. All the monster designs are great, the way sasha's appearance changes as you progress is great, the room designs are amazing, i could go on and on about how much i love the art in this game. anyways its a 10/10 game i would highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a fun, beautiful, 4-5 hour game.

Clever, creepy, memorable

Thematically, Severed is a classic dungeon-crawling quest: you begin amid the ruins of your home except in a strange otherworld, your arm's been cut off and your family kidnapped by monsters, then a demon gives you a sword and you set off to find your family. It's a bit like Zelda for people who thought the visual designs of that series weren't unsettling *enough*, and also wished it had taken a more viscerally literal interpretation of the term "Heart Piece." Aesthetically, the game is striking, with Aztec-inspired designs rendered in bold strokes of color, and some poignant musical motifs (and judicious use of silence) that make for effective emotional interludes. Mechanically, this is a game meant for mobile (even if it was originally released for PS Vita). Swipe-based combat may sound simplistic, but it's really more about timing and managing the countdowns of multiple enemies' attacks -- you mostly gain upgrades through severing the body parts of your foes, but you can only do so after you build up enough focus, so it's often a matter of keeping enemies alive for that final stroke as much as it is about killing them. My one complaint is that the combat can get a bit repetitive toward the end (some more variations in attack patterns would have been welcome), but it stays a challenge throughout. I'm pretty thoroughly impressed by this game. Well worth the money.

Must play game!!

I’ve been playing this game on and off since 2016. I now own it on my switch and I’ve been playing on there more then my phone since the screen is bigger. But if your looking for a game to play with no internet, don’t mind exploring areas to fight monsters, upgrade yourself/weapon, and moving along with a nice storyline that makes you want more from this game. Then definitely download it!! It’s worth the money! I love this game because I get so much easily immersed even if I haven’t played it in a while. Gameplay is very easy to play and remember. Love the graphics of the game, definitely makes you feel like you’re in another world with the different colors they’ve chosen for each section. Love this game and storyline. I wish they would make a second game with a different character or maybe with the main one trying to find their way back home to their original planet.

Fun at first but combat turns annoying

I love the story, art style, characters, and combat system of Severed. My only complaint whatsoever is that around midgame the combat takes a turn for the worse in that it expects you to rapidly take on new concepts and use them against many enemies before you’ve gotten the hang of using it against even one. Perhaps this is different if you pick to play the casual difficulty instead of standard, but I’d think it speaks for itself when someone can play through the first third ~ half of the game relying on timing and strategy, but within a brief 30 minute window find they can no longer continue because they haven’t been given a chance to even attempt a certain type of parry before being thrown into a 3+ monster battle where they’re expected to use it flawlessly or die trying. It’s repetetive and annoying, and it just discourages the idea of opening the app back up. You get to this point and stop entirely because the thought of opening the app fills you with boredom and grief knowing what you’ll be thrown back to. This absurd learning curve ruins the player’s ability to enjoy the game, and basically begs you to delete it.

Good, not great

For the first half the inspired severing mechanic and great atmosphere made this seem like an all-timer, but towards the end the game unfortunately substitutes bleakness for depth in the story and tedium for challenge in the gameplay. Exploration is largely a chore, with very few puzzles to speak of, more just endless trudging from corridor to corridor looking for keys and switches. Others have commented on the combat relying too heavily on buffs and quantity of enemies - you’ll be rolling your eyes when you hit your tenth consecutive battle with four otherwise weak enemies holding magic defense. These overlong encounters kill any sense of momentum going into the final battle. As for the story, after a shocking twist around the midpoint there’s nowhere really left to go, probably could have been better paced. Despite the gripes this is still very much worth picking up, it’s important to support indie developers bringing high quality premium games to the App Store and the game contains several memorable moments and plenty of fun. Just adjust your expectations a bit if you’re planning to trudge through to the end.

Most amazing thing I have ever played...ever.

Severed is hands down the best game I have ever played on any gaming platform, BY A LONG SHOT! I feel like anything I say about it won't even begin to describe how awesome and entertaining it was... it was graphically and artistically BEAUTIFUL, dramatic, PLENTY of game time, exciting, really sad surprisingly, INCREDIBLY challenging but not frustratingly maddening to the point of wanting to give up (the struggles throughout the game actually made me want more!) This is probably the one and only game I will actually keep on my device after finishing to play over and over. I absolutely loved it. Not one thing I didn't like, except maybe that my fingers are sore from swiping my screen like a crazy person haha BRAVO DEVS!!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 bravo, seriously, I could kiss you! Finally, a game that left me totally fulfilled at the end. Now I'm crossing my fingers for a sequel!!!

A pretty cool game.

I wouldn’t call this game a revolutionary work of art, but it’s environment, story, and monster design provide a fascinating experience difficult to replicate. The environment leaves you wondering where on earth you are, and what on earth happened here. And to top if off, there’s the mystery of where your family has gotten off to; the combines mystery should be enough to keep you playing. The combat isn’t complicated, but it’s not easy, either. Combat in this game is about time management; you’ll face a number of monsters at once, and you’ll have to do as much damage as you can while blocking their attacks. However, you’ll have to be careful not to kill any of them until your focus meter fills up, or you’ll loose out on valuable parts. It’s not expensive, and I suggest you pick it up when you have the chance. You won’t regret it; even if you decide you don’t like the game, you won’t have lost a great deal of money.

Me

Despite largely positive critical reviews, I have avoided this game for a couple of years now, but now that I have played it through, I am glad I changed my mind. Despite detractors suggesting it was overly simplistic and monotonous, I found it refreshing and rich throughout. Despite necessary backtracking I never felt bored, and despite at times it being unevenly challenging, it never felt punishing. There did seem to be an even-handedness in the developers game architecture, in which they sought a balance between difficulty and accomplishment, never spoon feeding but also not sending you naked into a burning obstacle course either! My only complaint is that replay-ability seems low, based on the fact that in order to defeat the final boss, I already acquired all of the upgrades and items. Maybe again in a year or so. Kudos!

Which game from this talented indie developer comes out on top? Drinkbox Studios Guacamelee, Nobody Saves The World, Severed. Bold colours...

TheGamer Mon Sep 08 2025

Toronto-based Drinkbox Studios-developed PlayStation Vita swan song Severed, has finally made its way to iOS.

MobileSyrup Sun Jul 29 2018

Titled Severed, the upcoming game lets players hack away at enemies in first person, grab the cut-off body parts and use them against the beasts. It captures...

SideQuesting Sat Aug 29 2020

DrinkBox Studios' Severed, originally released on the PlayStation Vita, is debuting on the Nintendo Switch this week.

IGN Mon Jul 29 2019

Severed. Developer: DrinkBox Studios; Released: 2016. Severed hit the Wii U in 2016, delivering a game that really utilised the consoles GamePad...

VG247 Sun Jun 29 2025

“Severed” is a weird one. Developed by DrinkBox Studios and released exclusively on Vita, it's definitely a game that isn't afraid to take risks...

The Daily Nebraskan Sun Apr 29 2018

Drinkbox Studios has another masterpiece to add to its portfolio. With a fantastic atmosphere, a unique combat system that never gets tedious...

Nintendo Life Sat Sep 29 2018

DrinkBox Studios released the stylized first-person dungeon crawler Severed as a PS Vita exclusive back in April 2016, but the game moved on...

Engadget Tue Jun 29 2021

As wonderful as it was, I wish developer Drinkbox Studios would have answered more questions about the world to make it feel less random and...

IGN Thu Mar 29 2018

The Next Game From Drinkbox Studios: “Severed”. Severed is a gesture based action adventure game from the creators of Guacamelee and the...

MonsterVine Fri Mar 29 2024