A Psychic Odyssey Through the Minds of Misfits, Monsters, and Madmen. This classic action/adventure platformer from acclaimed developers Double Fine Productions follows the story of a young psychic named Razputin.
User reviews:
Recent:
Very Positive (68 reviews) - 95% of the 68 user reviews in the last 30 days are positive.
Overall:
Overwhelmingly Positive (5,067 reviews) - 95% of the 5,067 user reviews for this game are positive.
Release Date: 19 Apr, 2005

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About This Game

A Psychic Odyssey Through the Minds of Misfits, Monsters, and Madmen.

This classic action/adventure platformer from acclaimed developers Double Fine Productions follows the story of a young psychic named Razputin. In his quest to join the Psychonauts--an elite group of international psychic secret agents--he breaks into their secret training facility: Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp. But this is no average psychic summer camp! A mysterious villain has kidnapped Raz’s fellow campers and stolen their brains. Now he must use his psychic powers of Telekinesis, Levitation, and most of all his ability to project himself into the minds of others--to find the loose noodles and keep them from falling into the wrong hands. Fight mental demons! Uncover hidden memories! Sort emotional baggage! Explore the fantastic realm of the inner mind! Join the Psychonauts!

System Requirements

Windows
Mac OS X
    • OS: Windows 98 SE/2000/XP
    • Processor: 1.0 GHz Pentium(R) III and AMD Athlon(tm)
    • Memory: 256 MB of RAM
    • Graphics: 64 MB GeForce (tm) 3 or higher or ATI(R) Radeon 8500 or higher (except GeForce 4 MX and Go series)
    • DirectX®: version 9.0 or higher (included with game)
    • Hard Drive: 3.75 GB minimum hard drive space
    • Sound: DirectX&reg 9.0 or higher compatible sound card
    • Controls: Windows-compatible keyboard and mouse
    • OS: Windows 2000/XP
    • Processor: 2.0 GHz Pentium(R) IV and AMD Athlon(tm)
    • Memory: 512 MB of RAM
    • Graphics: , 128 MB GeForce FX 5600 or higher or ATI(R) Radeon 9600 or higher
    • DirectX®: version 9.0 or higher (included with game)
    • Hard Drive: 6.0 GB minimum hard drive space
    • Sound: DirectX&reg 9.0 or higher and Sound Blaster Audigy 2 series sound card
    • Controls: Game Pad (optional)
    • OS: Snow Leopard 10.6.8, or later.
    • Processor: Intel Core Duo Processor
    • Memory: 2 GB of RAM
    • Graphics: ATI X1600 / NVIDIA 8600GT / Intel HD3000 or better card with at least 128 MB VRAM
    • Hard Drive: 4GB minimum hard drive space
    • Controls: Keyboard and Mouse
    • Leopard is not supported
    • OS: Snow Leopard 10.6.8, or later.
    • Processor: Intel Core i Series Processor
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: ATI HD 3870 / Nvidia 8800GT or better with at least 512 MB VRAM
    • Hard Drive: 4GB minimum hard drive space
    • Controls: Game Pad (optional)
    • Leopard is not supported
Customer reviews
Customer Review system updated! Learn more
Recent:
Very Positive (68 reviews)
Overall:
Overwhelmingly Positive (5,067 reviews)
Recently Posted
Lol: No Mans Sky FAIL
( 0.2 hrs on record )
Posted: 12 August
Lol. This game runs better than No Mans Sky.
Meh, I was just looking around. Saw the No Mans Sky Total FAIL, and a multi-multi-million dollar game (that took many years to develop) and that runs worse than this title.

At least this game did not Permaban me for suggesting another month would improve NMS (where No Mans Sky permabanned me for saying that about ir [Even though the DESTRUCTIVE REVIEWS PROVE ME COMPLETELY RIGHT YET AGAIN]).
Damn Chimps.

No disapointments with Psychonauts.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
MD-Nerd
( 17.7 hrs on record )
Posted: 12 August
This game is spectacular. This was the whole reason I got a steam account in the first place. PC master race at its finest.

I will say that I did have loading screen crashes occasionally. Setting the game to emulate on an XP or older OS gets you through the crash screens.

10/10!
Helpful? Yes No Funny
VOTE Cave Johnson for President!
( 24.5 hrs on record )
Posted: 12 August
I wasn't so sure about the game based on its weird graphics, but once I got over them I loved the game! The story is cool, and nothing is too hard. There is some stuff you can do after you beat the story, mainly getting achievements.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
Δtlas
( 26.9 hrs on record )
Posted: 12 August
TL;DR
BUY THIS GAME! If you have a controller, I'd recommend it over the keyboard and mouse as I've found it to be much easier to control Raz with a controller instead of the keyboard.

Over a decade and the game still holds up.
Psychonauts is truly a testament to great game design — released over a decade ago and still holds up well. The game features one of the most original stories this side of Spec Ops: The Line, and the humor is on-point though subtle. The characters are unique, and most importantly, human. Each one has their own problems, motivations and quirks. As the story progresses, you'll get to see characters' lives unfold, each one a different arc. I think the true achievement of Psychonaut's storytelling is that you, the protaganist, is never the main character of the story, but simply a conduit. Your actions move the story forward, but it's the lives of others that draw your attention and empathy.

And my god, the level design. Instead of filling the game with gimmicky tricks that are used once (and never again, I'm looking at you Assassin's Creed, Bioshock, Dishonored, etc.), the levels in Psychonauts is designed in such a way that each ability will undoubtedly be used over and over again (except for Clairvoyence). The levels also do not feel repetitive. Even though the core mechanics never change from the first mission to the last, every mission has it's own little gimmick that makes that one particular level feel different than every other level.

The soundtrack is on point, and even though the graphics undoubtedly feel a bit dated, when a game is this good, it doesn't really matter.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
SlipBoi
( 3.3 hrs on record )
Posted: 11 August
This game gives me what I've wanted, Banjo Threeie
Helpful? Yes No Funny
Pimp Juice
( 5.2 hrs on record )
Posted: 9 August
best platformer on steam 10/10
Helpful? Yes No Funny
ijarvis540
( 101.7 hrs on record )
Posted: 8 August
This is an awesome game. The platforming clearly wasn't the focus, as the placement of platforms doesn't always match the movement of the main character (and it isn't always very fun), but the story and animation more than make up for it. And no, don't think watching a playthrough is a good way to experience this game. You'd be losing out on the magic of exploration and more engaged discovery by doing that.
Helpful? Yes No Funny
Arques
( 33.9 hrs on record )
Posted: 7 August
Psychonauts represents the answer to question "what if Monkey Island was a platform". Take a classic platform elements, mix well with a nice story, magistral characters and spectacular levels and then you got Psychonauts! If you like to platform games AND visit over and over all the locations just to see how everybody reacted after your last progress in the plot, then this is your game! Overall, a must for all the nostalgic of Lucasfilm Games!
However, if the story is not catchy for you and your interest is just to rush without exploring some of the best game levels ever created, Psychonauts does not offer more than others platform games.

Pro(s)
- Story and locations
- Characters
- Game levels (the most of...)

Con(s)
- Game levels (a few, with some boss fights)
- Game balance (if you run for 100% achievements, you become quickly overpowered)
Helpful? Yes No Funny
RoberTime
( 25.1 hrs on record )
Posted: 6 August
Psychonauts is a game developed by Double Fine, who also went to making Costume Quest and of course Brutal Legend, and is known to be a "Cult Classic" to many. It takes place in an outdoor training facility run by teachers known as "Psychonauts" who venture into the minds of others. The protagonist is a circus kid named Razputin, or more commonly known as Raz, who ran away from home to the place and try to become a Psychonaut. Only to discover the brains of students go missing and he and a few partners need to find whoever is stealing and planning to do with them.

Gameplay-wise, part of this game is a collect-a-thon and I love games that do that. You explore a series of places, like the campground and even inside the brains of others. You can collect all kinds of things in the game, many of which can help you "Rank up". You also get to learn different types of mental abilities as you progress through the game, like shooting, levitating, and even seeing through the eyes of NPC's. Some abilities require you to reach a specific rank and at one point is crucial to proceed through the game with such abilities.

The levels, if you will, are the brains of main characters which you go into and solve problems in. Each brain is set in an abstract world based on the thoughts of the character whose brain you are in, and they are all quite creative. Many of these levels are regular in length, and most consist of a boss battle or two, or even more. Each level has things like "Figments" which you can collect to rank up, as well as other things like Vaults, Mental Cobwebs, and Emotional Baggage to manage for level 100%. Another thing I like about each level is the post-level events that occur once you revisit the brain after finishing it. You may revisit these brains in a place found early in the game called "The Collective Unconcious".

Now I kind of want to nitpick about some negative things with the game. For example, the level that I had the most struggle with was The Milkman Conspiracy, where you must help the character Boyd figure out who the Milkman is inside his neighbourhood of a brain. There were many things I didn't know I could do in the level. I didn't even know I had to be the required rank to get the Invisibility power to finish up the level. And I hate how games don't tell you these things. Other things include irritating bugs. Fortunately, there are not much, but sometimes I clip through some things and it's stupid. Also sometimes riding rails, especially in the final level "Meat Circus", would sometimes throw me off and into my demise.

Other than that, the game is brilliant. I got this game for a dollar during the 2015 Holiday sale, and this summer, not only have I beaten the game, I have 100% it as well (All collectibles, excluding achievements) The vast majority of the game, story and gameplay, is a must-have. The presentation, including visuals and level design, are really well-done. You can get this game for $10, but I'm pretty sure it will be a dollar again during the next major sale.

STORY 9/10
PRESENTATION 10/10
GAMEPLAY 8/10
VALUE 8/10
OVERALL 8/10
Helpful? Yes No Funny
Most Helpful Reviews  In the past 30 days
2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
24.7 hrs on record
Posted: 28 July
This game is one hell of a trip.

Like, it starts off decently normal, where you're in a strange world, at a camp. And you think to yourself, "Huh, well this is an interesting game, sort of weird but oddly addicting too." You expect it to be like other games that you have played. Then all of a sudden, as you continue playing, it just gets weirder and weirder, until you finally except that either you, the game, or both are insane somehow.
You delve into the mind of multiple characters, learning about them, and conquering their fears or "inner demons", freeing them from a bigger problem.

And along the way, you grow pretty attached to the main character of the story. And at the end you just sit back, staring at the main menu of the game, silently saying to yourself, "What the hell just happened?"

11/10 would play again.
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
21.5 hrs on record
Posted: 15 July
The night time camp music made me cry. 10/10

(Don't listen to the track ahead of time, or it won't hit you correctly. Actually play the game until night time rolls around. Trust me.)
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
49.4 hrs on record
Posted: 20 July
Super duper happy with this game.

The voice acting and animation alone are worth the playthrough. The humor and intuitive gameplay feels fun, and satisfyingly difficult in rare cases. This game took millions of dollars to make, and you're getting it for $9.99 (used to be more). Great deal.
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
24.9 hrs on record
Posted: 22 July
As a fan of 3D platformers with a spare dollar to spend during a Steam sale, I decided to give Double Fine Productions' cult classic Psychonauts a try. After hearing about the alleged creativity and uniqueness the game offered, I wondered if the reviews were to be believed.

Psychonauts follows the adventure of an eager young psychic named Razputin as he uncovers the secrets behind Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp, along with the minds of various characters around the area. When things take a turn for the worst, it becomes up to him to put an end to it and save his fellow campers.

Though the distinct graphical style may initially scare some players off, its fits the tone of the game to a 'T'. Psychonauts seems to take much of its inspiration from Western animation in terms of its character tropes and setting, and it definitely works. Combined with the superb voice acting, interesting plot and remarkable concept, the atmosphere is definitely an enjoyable one.

Along with the characters and overall mood the game gives off, the level design and gameplay is superb. The hub area is a nice concept, allowing the player to see what their favorite campers are up to while they take a break from the story. Along with housing numerous secret items, it also allows them to quickly transmit to and fro each section at will.

Being a game called "Psychonauts", it certainly shines during the levels taking place in the minds Razputin enters. Each of these possesses a unique feeling and theme to reflect the personality of the character in question. Each level also hosts their own set of challenges, and will make the player eager to progress and see what awaits them. Unfortunately, there is not much left to be explored of each world once it is cleared for the first time – the player only needs to return unless they are aiming to gather all the collectable items.

On an entirely different note, the player is given an item early in the game that allows them to ask for advice if they are stuck. The advice offered is simple, yet effective and allows the player to work around most obstacles without the game flat-out doing it for them. The game does not push or force the player to use this feature, allowing this to appeal to both those who are easily frustrated and those who want to work things out for themselves.

Of course no game is perfect, and Psychonauts is no exception to this rule. While I do not intend to sound like a certain critic featured within the game, Psychonauts possesses a few flaws which prevent it from becoming my absolute favorite. The keyboard controls feel very confusing and complicated, making a controller almost necessary to play this game; although once this is done it handles rather nicely.

A certain level in the game titled "The Milkman Conspiracy" prevents you from progressing unless you purchase an expensive item which removes the object blocking the path, which have previously only appeared in locations that would indicate this would be an optional side quest. Though the game warns the player of this obstacle beforehand, this still forces them to tediously grind for currency.

The very same level also possesses a more puzzle-based structure which requires a copious amount of backtracking as well as repeatedly searching the area for objects which can easily be missed. A miniboss is also fought here twice with no warning, variation, or possibility of skipping. While this is an understandable attempt to give the level some of the action offered by previous worlds, it becomes tedious and annoying when introduced in this fashion. Thankfully, this area is one of the game's most humor-rich areas which makes up for a good deal of its flaws, but it still is far from ideal.

Though the game has its imperfections here and there, Psychonauts is certainly an enjoyable and memorable experience for fans of the platformer genre.

On a final note - if you do purchase the game, be wary that much of the game's content is spoiled through achievements and trading cards.
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1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
16.9 hrs on record
Posted: 17 July
Totally hilarious game with original gameplay, which adds some elements from adventure games to a classic 3D platformer, and amazing and unbelievably inventive level design.
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
13.9 hrs on record
Posted: 29 July
Bow down to our lord Tim Schafer!

....oh, and something about the milkman.
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
16.3 hrs on record
Posted: 6 August
This game brought something back that i thought i lost in myself . It brought back my love for videogames. The story was great and very good to see unfold. The characters were interesting to: the protangist raz, to his girlfriend lili, to the psychonauts themselves. Even the villians were a interesting change from being evil to just be evil. Overall this game is a cult-classic and a great hidden gem to play i rate this game 9/10 because the mechanics seemed like they could have been a little more refined and I didnt like the point of no return stuff but maybe thats just me. Well what are you waiting for get it and play it.
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
2 people found this review funny
Recommended
11.5 hrs on record
Posted: 17 July
WHERE DA ♥♥♥♥ IS 2
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
8.5 hrs on record
Posted: 30 July
Its a game by Tim Schafer game. If that doesn't sell you, then I guess I'll have to talk about the game.

Psychonauts is a platformer that has collectathon elements, powers, and a ranking system, as well as a large hub world. The main chunk of the game and gameplay takes place inside the minds of individuals around the psychics' camp,calling Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp.

The characters are the best part of this game. This game is amazing in every aspect, but the characters are easily the best part of it. They're quirky, they have their own permanent personalities, they have backstories told through slideshows within that person's level, they are full of life and are portrayed so well by their respective voice actors that you never get the sense that they're people in a room recording lines of dialogue, you get immersed into the world of the psychonauts and the characters slowly have their affect on you. They also teach you valuable life lessons (for instance, control over emotions and saying that you cannot lock it completely away, or you'll explode inside Sasha Nein's marksman training).

Honestly, the rest of the game works as well as any other decent 3D paltformer/collectathon, and I can't help but comparing it to Conker's Bad Fur Day, but with fewer curse words. It functions well and would otherwise not stand out, but because of its writing and its characters (and in Psychonaut's case, its art style too. CBFD looked a lot like Banjo & Kazooie). Its powers are neat and the premise is certaintly unique, but the characters really bring this game to life.

Double Fine Productions are similar to Vigil games, as many of their games are huge cult classics, that weren't huge at their release, but have over time garnered a huge following. I just hope Double Fine doesn't go the way of Vigil.

Overall, I highly recommend it to any 3D platforming fan. Its quirky, it pokes fun and its overall a blast to play. 10/10 from me, Double Fine. I cannot wait for Psychonauts 2 to come out in...2018, supposedly...I just hope its worth the wait and meets expectations
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful
Recommended
26.9 hrs on record
Posted: 12 August
TL;DR
BUY THIS GAME! If you have a controller, I'd recommend it over the keyboard and mouse as I've found it to be much easier to control Raz with a controller instead of the keyboard.

Over a decade and the game still holds up.
Psychonauts is truly a testament to great game design — released over a decade ago and still holds up well. The game features one of the most original stories this side of Spec Ops: The Line, and the humor is on-point though subtle. The characters are unique, and most importantly, human. Each one has their own problems, motivations and quirks. As the story progresses, you'll get to see characters' lives unfold, each one a different arc. I think the true achievement of Psychonaut's storytelling is that you, the protaganist, is never the main character of the story, but simply a conduit. Your actions move the story forward, but it's the lives of others that draw your attention and empathy.

And my god, the level design. Instead of filling the game with gimmicky tricks that are used once (and never again, I'm looking at you Assassin's Creed, Bioshock, Dishonored, etc.), the levels in Psychonauts is designed in such a way that each ability will undoubtedly be used over and over again (except for Clairvoyence). The levels also do not feel repetitive. Even though the core mechanics never change from the first mission to the last, every mission has it's own little gimmick that makes that one particular level feel different than every other level.

The soundtrack is on point, and even though the graphics undoubtedly feel a bit dated, when a game is this good, it doesn't really matter.
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny