Syberia – Remastered Xbox Series X Review
Summary: Travel across the world looking for a missing toy maker in this cult classic remake.
3
Train Ride
Despite what its title might suggest, Syberia – Remastered doesn’t actually take you to Syberia—at least, not yet. Instead, this remake of the 2002 classic adventure game takes players on a slow, dreamlike journey across Europe as American lawyer Kate Walker. Sent to a small, remote town to finalize the sale of a toy factory, Kate quickly discovers that the company’s elderly owner has passed away, leaving her business empire to a long-lost brother believed to be dead. What begins as a simple legal transaction soon unravels into a larger, more personal journey filled with mechanical wonders, eccentric townsfolk, and haunting memories from the past.
Story and Setting
The story’s premise remains one of the game’s greatest strengths. As Kate, you find yourself boarding a magnificent clockwork train—designed by the mysterious missing brother—and traveling across Europe to track him down. The train is driven by a meticulous clockwork automaton who insists on following every rule in the book, often forcing you to stop at strange, forgotten locations to rewind the train’s mechanism. Each stop reveals more about the late heiress and her brother, slowly piecing together the tragedy that shaped their lives.
Meanwhile, Kate’s own personal life unravels back home, leaving her helpless to do nothing other than listen to their phone calls, adding a deeper layer into her character. Driving her to prove him wrong, Kate’s demanding boss pressures her to close the deal, her fiance grows impatient, and her best friend seems a little too close for comfort. These phone calls from New York provide a steady reminder that Kate’s professional detour is also a personal awakening, as she begins to question her career, her relationships, and what she truly wants out of life.
Gameplay and Puzzles
From a gameplay standpoint, Syberia – Remastered is a traditional point-and-click adventure, with puzzles that rely heavily on observation and item collection. Most can be solved using nearby clues or objects found along the way, though a few are less intuitive. One puzzle that had me stumped involved making a phone call to unlock a gate. The number was right there on a sign beside the controls, but what wasn’t obvious was that the call had to be made from Kate’s mobile phone—a feature tucked away in a barely noticeable interface. It’s moments like these that remind you this is still a product of early-2000s design sensibilities, where logic sometimes takes a backseat to obscurity.
While these quirks are part of the charm for some, others will find them frustrating, especially compared to genre-defining classics like Myst or Grim Fandango. Those games managed to combine clever puzzle design with smoother pacing and clearer direction—something Syberia still struggles with, even in remastered form.
Visuals and Presentation
Visually, the remaster does an impressive job of updating Benoit Sokal’s original art direction. The European backdrops are beautifully realized in 3D, with improved lighting and textures that breathe new life into each location. The mechanical designs—particularly the train and the automaton driver—retain their unique steampunk charm. However, the shift to fully 3D environments also introduces some drawbacks. Navigation feels slower, and certain key areas are too easy to overlook. In one early section, I spent far too long wandering a single street before realizing the factory entrance I needed was hidden through a gate on the opposite side of the road.
Performance and Sound
On Xbox Series X, performance is smooth, with quick load times and stable frame rates throughout. The remastered soundtrack preserves the original’s melancholic atmosphere, and the voice acting—while occasionally stiff—adds a layer of charm to the otherwise quiet, introspective tone of the game. However, there are many times within the game where unless you’re very precise with where you’re standing or have clicked, you won’t be able to interact with the desired object. This can be quite frustrating, especially when dealing with small objects such as keys or gears.
Overall Impression
Syberia – Remastered is a faithful modernization of a cult classic that will likely appeal most to returning fans or players who enjoy slow, meditative adventure games. While the updated visuals and performance enhancements are welcome, the core gameplay and puzzle design still feel trapped in the early 2000s, often prioritizing nostalgia over modernization. There’s an undeniable beauty in its melancholy story and atmosphere, but the journey itself can feel more mechanical than magical.
If you’re willing to overlook its clunky moments and old-fashioned design, Syberia – Remastered offers a heartfelt adventure through a world where clockwork dreams still tick—just a little slower than they used to.
About the Author
John Werner Web Designer by day, Gamer by every other hour. No game is too big or too indie for this gamer. I review from the heart and an open mind. Every game is worth giving a go!
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