Ebenezer and The Invisible World is an action adventure platforming metroidvania. It's based on the themes of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, created by Orbit Studio and Play on Worlds.
Ebenezer and The Invisible World is set in Victorian London. The game's protagonist is Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly protagonist of A Christmas Carol, now the city's last hope. London was attacked by the Dark Spirit and his army, while a wealthy, sinister industrialist Caspar Malthus tries to take it over. Ebenezer must stop both threats before it is too late. Fortunately, he's not alone on his quest, as he's accompanied by helpful ghosts.
Ebenezer and The Invisible World is a side-scroller. As befitting a metroidvania, the game's numerous locations are all interconnected, forming a labyrinth of sorts. We need specific abilities to reach specific locations.
Speaking of abilities - though Scrooge is rather agile for his age and handy with a cane, he can't do much on his own. He's helped by various spirits, such as the artists Rose and Flossie Reed, mountaineer Victoria Peak and professor Haley Hall, who provide him with their supernatural abilities. We'll make use of them while exploring to reach London's deepest nooks and crannies or speed down the city streets, and in combat. Battles against Caspar Malthus' goons are dynamic, requiring constant movement, dodging and counterattacking. In addition to regular foes we'll also face powerful bosses.
Aside from story objectives, we'll also encounter ghosts with side quests to complete. Progressing through the game rewards us with rare materials used to unlock new gear and previously unavailable skills.
Ebenezer and The Invisible World makes use of a colorful, cartoonish artstyle. The visuals and animations are all hand-drawn.
Platforms:
PC Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Play on Worlds (XSX)
Publisher: Play on Worlds
Age restrictions: 12+
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System Requirements for Ebenezer and The Invisible World Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i3-4170 3.7 GHz / AMD X4 860K 3.7 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD or better, 15 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.
Recommanded System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-4210H 3.5 GHz / AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 3.6 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 1050 / 4 GB Radeon RX 560 or better, 15 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.
Game Ratings for Ebenezer and The Invisible World Video Game.
Digital Chumps: 7 / 10 by Will Silberman
Ebenezer and the Invisible World has its moments of fun and rewarding exploration through completing optional sidequests and finding secrets. It looks great, too. However, its big swings in the form of ghost management and stiff traversal/combat lends to a less than stellar experience. May this experience become better in the future with more time and polish? Absolutely, but it's worth waiting to see what happens.
LadiesGamers.com: by James Luff
Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a surprisingly good adventure game that really captures the joy and spirit of its source material. Though it takes on the familiar exploration formula, its unique approach to combat and beautiful art style make this something quite special. However, while I do recommend it, you may want to hold this on your wishlist on Switch until all its issues are ironed out. In a way, the game needs to go through its own redemption story, hopefully before Christmas arrives. Once that happens, which I like to believe it will, this will be a wonderful adventure that’s not just for Christmas but any time of the year.
Garage Band Gamers: 8 / 10 by Jason Bolla
For players looking to enjoy a Christmas themed Metroidvania, Ebenezer and the Invisible World is tailor made for them. Aside from some evil spirits plaguing the experience and making me put the game down here and there, it was never enough to say bah humbug and not come back to it again. I’d be interested to see the team give this treatment to other stories from the past.