0 
0 Syberia, originally released in 2002, is a cult classic. The brainchild of the late Belgian comic artist Benoit Sokal, it combines steampunk and Art-Nouveau aesthetics with melancholic storytelling. 23 years later, Microids Paris and Virtuallyz Gaming present Syberia Remastered, launched on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on 6th November 2025.
This was my first time playing the series as a whole. However I’ve played a click and point game before so I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. The remaster promises updated visuals, modern controls, and a few reworked puzzles. Does it live up to the hype, or is it just a dusty classic with a fresh coat of paint?
A Journey of Rust and Snow
In Syberia Remastered, you control Kate Walker, an American lawyer sent to the fictional town of Valadilèn. She is there to oversee a simple sale of a mechanical toy factory. What begins as a mundane corporate errand quickly escalates into a whirlwind adventure when Kate discovers that the factory’s heir, Hans Voralberg, is alive. Kate must find now find Hans to conclude the sale, she isn’t alone but is accompanied by Oscar, a quirky automaton. You end up riding trains, exploring sleepy towns and taking to the skies in your search for Hans.
Gameplay
Movement is perhaps the biggest improvement in Syberia Remastered thanks to the addition of analogue stick support. It isn’t game changing but makes it much more playable, The revamped camera is a close second as it does makes exploration much easier. There is frequent backtracking and task repeating which are of course a staple of the genre. Some of the puzzles have been improved from the original but are often quite tedious requiring careful observation or once in my case, a guide. (looking at you factory!!)
The story starts off slow with it gradually unfolding but there seems to be a overlaying bit of jank to everything. Even simple tasks, like interacting with NPCs or using machinery, can require precise positioning to activate the prompt. Sometimes, the path forward is unclear, this is one game that could have benefitted from some yellow paint seen in modern games.
Graphics
Pre-rendered backgrounds are now fully 3D, giving each environment in Syberia Remastered more depth and realism. The inclusion of real-time reflections help to enhance every street and building while dynamic cutscenes use dramatic camera angles for key moments. This is key to increasing both immersion and the game’s visual appeal. However, some original elements remain untouched. FMV sequences keep their early-2000s textures, which appear blocky next to upgraded environments. In comparison, it feels like switching from Minecraft-style block graphics to Crysis-level high fidelity. These unchanged elements do not ruin the overall experience but do clarify in the blurred perception of remaster/remake that this is definitely the former.
On PS5, the game runs steadily at 30fps in Quality Mode. Nevertheless, Kate’s outline and minor texture pop-ins are noticeable. Overall, Syberia Remastered improves visual fidelity, maintains the game’s distinctive style and atmosphere but with a few small issues.
Audio
I won’t lie the sound design is rough. One particular gripe I had was when you receive a phone call you cannot move and there is no ringtone to alert you. Instead there is just a small visual symbol in the corner of the screen. You answer the phone and while Kate is voiced, the other person on the line isn’t which is a strange choice, either have no voice acting or all voice acting for this sort of interaction, Going by the performance of Kate’s voice acting, it may have been better as a text only job as the words “wooden” and “robotic” come to mind.
Fortunately, the actual robotic Oscar injects some dry humour, keeping scenes slightly entertaining. The soundtrack by Nicholas Varley and Dimitri Bodiansky remains intact. It is hauntingly beautiful and perfectly captures Syberia Remastered’s melancholic tone and helps to raise the audio’s performance. Some ambient noises feel inconsistent, I know high heels are supposed to be loud but not to the point of breaking immersion.
Longevity
Syberia Remastered lasts roughly six to eight hours from start to finish. Depending on your approach, Players may extend playtime closer to ten hours with less than five hours for those just wanting the story. The pacing remains slow throughout with and offers a compact adventure that fits comfortably within a weekend. Despite its length, the journey feels complete without unnecessary padding but just about avoids outstaying it’s welcome.
Final Thoughts
Syberia Remastered feels like someone bought a shack, added a new sign, and called it a renovation. The smoother controls are welcome, but leaving the CGI untouched and no new voice acting means it never escapes the early-2000s feel. It’s a shame as there’s a wonderful atmosphere buried beneath and with a bit more care, it could’ve been special. Instead it a decent effort that polishes the past but never fully revitalises it.
Even so, I still found a curious mix of old and new that’s easy to appreciate for it’s time but hard to love through modern eyes. For its half-baked execution, I’m just about awarding Syberia Remastered the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Discord | Podcast
About Author
