Syberia Remastered Review – THIS IS NOT GOOD…

There’s no denying Syberia’s charm on the surface. The steampunk-meets-Art-Nouveau world, its moody soundtrack and that “journey to the edge of the world” premise all sound like the makings of a hidden gem. But sadly, playing Syberia in 2025 feels like unearthing a relic that should’ve stayed buried. Maybe even burned.

Can I Have My Money Back?

To give it some credit, the spiffy remastered visuals, more dynamic camera work and new analogue stick controls help it feel less stiff and awkward to play. Though what usually ends up happening is that the story and puzzles make things way too vague, often having you gallivant around like a headless chook while protag, Kate Walker tries her best to fumble along the plot.

I swear, this lady is even more lost than we are, not even knowing why she’s riding trains or running around much to begin with. We know she’s attempting to hunt down the heir of a big toy company and get his signature for a sale, but she probably should’ve just gone home like her partner suggests, as the stakes here are practically non-existent.

The pacing is also egregiously bad. I can’t count how many sections have you slowly jogging back and forth for minutes on end just so you can pick up an item or new piece of info. Did anyone actually QA test this? Far out! Then down the road, you gotta sit through a 10-minute university lecture on mammoths, as the game machine-guns lore at you. And the whole time, the nearby students are all fast asleep! I can’t make this stuff up.

So, This is a Remaster?

Honestly, having reviewed a bunch of games over the last few years, this has gotta be some of, nay the most blatantly padded out fluff I’ve seen in a long time. That being said, I am glad a few of the more infuriating puzzles have been enhanced or remixed a bit, like that one the OG fans despise in the factory. Because if the devs didn’t, I would’ve hated this game even more.

The puzzles themselves are fine, nothing too memorable or too dull. Though you’d better make sure you’ve searched every area in full, otherwise it’s gonna be even more painful than it already is. Speaking of, the voice acting in this game can be… stilted, to say the least. I know the original came out in 2002. But, man! The main character legitimately sounds like those annoying AI voiceovers on TikTok.

What’s even worse is that the original FMVs weren’t remastered, resulting in enlarged scenes that have really yuck-looking textures. There are also a few moments that have a weird lack of sound design, making things seem like something’s missing entirely.

Decision

Syberia Remastered has a soul: a moody, melancholic one, but it’s buried under layers of frustrating gameplay, awkward pacing and outdated design that even its new quality of life features can’t save. What should’ve been a journey of fun adventure and discovery instead feels like a museum tour where the guide forgot the script. Quite literally, in this case.

By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PS5

Bad

Syberia Remastered can be nice to look at, yet painful to play. Best appreciated as a piece of gaming history, not as something you’d actually want to experience today.

This game was reviewed using a download code provided by Home Run PR. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.