Original itch.io Review

PAGAN: Autogeny is undoubtedly my favourite game of 2019. Many one-developer games fail as they are either too ambitious, or too safe. Autogeny, as well as the two other PAGAN games, are exceptions to this. These games are the result of genuine passion and artistry; Oleander Garden utilises every aspect of the games - audio, gameplay, narrative, graphics etc. - to create a wonderfully focussed and thought-provoking experience.

I didn't expect much going into Autogeny - there had been no significant publicity for it and the description was quite vague - and I am so glad that this was the case. Unravelling the story and meaning of the series has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I've had in my two decades of gaming. On top of this, it exposed me to a world view that I had not really considered before. I won't say what that is - I fully recommend that whoever reads this buys and plays the game for themselves. It may be confusing at times, and you may have to look for help online, but that's all part of this game's charm.

"Games as art" is not as much of a controversial subject as it once was, but people still misuse the idea. Many think that pure aesthetic, narrative, or tactile quality is what makes games art - but that doesn't cover the most important elements: meaning, structure, and intent.

PAGAN isn't the best looking series out there, but it's not meant to be. It doesn't have the most dramatic or emotional story - hell, at times it feels like there is no story - but its one that will stick with you once you understand it. It certainly doesn't have the most satisfying gameplay, but that works in its favour. PAGAN is everything PAGAN needs to be, and I'd never have it any other way.

Do yourself a favour - buy this game. Play Technopolis and Emporium. Write your own theories. Realise what games can be.

Extra Notes

I originally played this game on itchio, which hopefully explains my low playtime. I was part of the first wave of people to search for the game's secret ending, and I was also part of the community that sought to find meaning in the esoteric madness that this game provides. We found meaning, but you will definitely find your own.

I'd recommend you not to watch or read anything else about the game before playing it. If you enjoy retro themed horror, PSX style horror, or even any kind of cyber-horror then jump straight into it. It'll be confusing, it'll be clunky, it'll be unusual, and it'll be great.

There are two other PAGAN games, Technopolis and Emporium, which are not as substantial as Autogeny but they are still definitely worth playing. And they're free on itchio!

"A thousand worlds surround our own, composed of bits and bytes. When they die, where do they go; what secrets do they hide?

Stumble ye, wayfarer, through the wreckage of a dead MMO."

PAGAN: Autogeny is a beautiful blend of artgame, classic RPG and subtle creeping horror. It's a game that has you thinking about everything within it, from the effects of your equipment to the metaphors in the world around you.

This isn't a game concerned by giving you straight answers. It's a game where beyond the act of playing, there is another element of entertainment in taking in the symbolism and sifting through it to find your own meaning within it. It's definitely a good quick game if you're not concerned with that side of things, but it makes it a goldmine for those who are.

Definitely recommended. Give it a look.

I liked it. It's very surreal and unsettling. Don't think I would call it a horror game, but I got nearly an hour's enjoyment and unlocked one of apparently multiple endings. In that time I explored a fallen temple, massacred weird shapes in a desert, defeated a boss that looked like a floating torso with an eye on top, shotgunned a demon to death that had crawled out of a TV, drove a car through an eerie cityscape, pumped my caffeine and estrogen skill stats, explored a near pitch-black tavern, jumped all over a sunken ship, and collected and arranged a whole series of body parts together onto a weird human wall diagram ( this triggered my ending, where basically what is shown in the trailer happened, where a giant floating idol blazed a cross in light across a stormy sky ).
It wasn't remotely clear what I was supposed to be doing or what was going on, and I feel I had got my 3 euros worth of enjoyment out of my single run, and didn't feel enticed enough to seek out of the advertised secret endings. But if the above sounds interesting then definitely pick it up on sale.

PS - note there's no run ability, so I highly recommend equipping 2x chariot tarot cards to up your speed and flit around the sizable world.

Yeah bro, idk, if I had the creative ability to make this game I would most likely have sectioned or killed myself.

Incredible experience however I do not believe a man should ever have to go through what I and my pals went through while playing this, healthy people do not make things like this.

10/10 Never touching this ever again for the safety of my mental state and family respectively, highly recommend this ♥♥♥♥ was absolutely awesome and has no business causing me severe psychological and emotional distress. Quality game ong

Don't know what to say really. Not for the vanilla of brains, but more for people who're looking for something different and might be tired of the stuff you usually get tossed down your throat.

I liked it and shivered several times.

I played for 2 hours, and I think I did it all because my save got wiped after a specific runthrough. One pointer is that if you're stuck, make sure you go into the steam store page and read the manual for hints, if it wasn't for that one I'm pretty sure I'd be beating my head against a wall forever then shutting the game down and never play again.

Creepy cool game. Quite confusing but that's the point

None of my time in this was recorded for some reason - but one of oleander's best works (especially when situated within the larger trilogy)

Captures the jagged pain of becoming and dysphoria in the trans experience in a way that no game has ever come close to.

This game is a shining gem in the vast sea of digital media. Beautiful in its own way.

I don't really know how to describe my experience with Pagan: Autogeny. It's either a very well-crafted analogy for something I'm not quite sure of, or just pure dadaism. In any case, it's a great piece of digital art. Check it out if you are into PSX atmospheric horror games.

Ok. Hear Me OUT! Since i was 5, I've been having this reoccuring dream where i am being chased by TAROT CARDS and Triangles with relationship issues. Sometimes i get locked in an empty mall and start eating Poetry and Hormone Pills. Sometimes i sip coffee. Sometimes I find a leg. Sometimes i am roaming the empty halls of a Windows 95' screensaver. But the Tarot Cards. The Tarot Cards are always there. always watching. always trying to give me a love reading. I was deeply disturbed playing this game and i can never finish it because everytime i try and exit i wake up. You will probably never read this because i'm probably the only one left in this reality at this point, but on the off chance that someone is here in this one, can you pls send me The Hierophant? That card be elusive AF.