I considered starting a "Syberia Remastered" thread, but maybe one thread about the whole series is also fine, to discuss and compare.

Have you played the Syberia Series?

I haven't played the games when they were released. The covers didn't really catch my curiosity back then, maybe I didn't really like that winter setting shown on the cover. But when the 4th game was released in 2022, I wanted to play that. And before playing it, I wanted to play the original games (1 and 2) to get to know the character and background story. 

I liked both games, the characters, the story, the pacing and the setting. I felt sad that I didn't give them a chance earlier. But the games worked for me, after all the time since their release, without any nostalgia effect.

I skipped the third one (just watching a let's play) because of bad reviews about controls etc. And while watching the videos, I didn't feel like I missed anything by not playing it myself. 

Syberia: The World before was really impressive. The story felt very emotional, personal and serious somehow. Grown. For me it was a very good development of the existing story. I definitely have seen worse in other game series. It was a worthy (open) conclusion of the whole story for me.


Now the remaster of the first one has been released. Are you planning to play it? 

I am interested in it and I think I'll give it a try. But I am a bit worried about the mixed quality of the remaster. The videos are still the original ones as far as I've read, and while they were totally fine for me in the original game, they might break the immersion while playing and switching between the modern graphics and the old videos? Not sure if the players mentioning it are more critical than me about it.

I played the first two Syberias when they were released. Syberia 1, at the time, was a magnificent game, beautiful visuals, great story, nice puzzles, but I’ve always wondered how it would hold up if I took off my nostalgia goggles. It sounds like pretty well, judging by your experience. I never played Syberia the third due to having lost interest in PC gaming, but I am very interested in Syberia the fourth (or is it zeroth? since it’s a prequel) because of the good reception from fellow AGers and because I loved the first one way back when. I will not play the remaster, though, only because I’m generally not a replayer of anything.

Have you played the Syberia Series?

I haven't played any of the Syberia games in the series. I dislike winter settings in games. This viewpoint might be partially influenced by me being Australian as we don't have much exposure to the real equivalent. After all, some of the best video games replicate things found in nature.

But when the 4th game was released in 2022, I wanted to play that.

Syberia: The World Before. Described concisely in just two words; delightfully atmospheric. This is easily the game that I most want to play of the series. I've seen the screenshots several times before on GOG and always end up marvelling at the trams, alleyways, building architecture and various subtle elements like the red autumn leaves lining the street. The visual fidelity alone tempts me to buy the game, especially with the radiant warmth of the sunlight imagery.

I felt sad that I didn't give them a chance earlier. But the games worked for me, after all the time since their release, without any nostalgia effect.

There is no need to be sad, as you got to eventually experience them. Plus, the stories aged gracefully enough for you to still enjoy them years later.

Here's my question for you; how approachable do you consider the tonality of the games to be? Are they 100% hard-hitting dramas? Or do they weave in humour to keep things easy-going? I personally always like comedic relief peppered throughout dramas to make them more approachable.

Does it make sense to play “The World Before” before the other parts?

This is an interesting question, since the game takes place in different times - some parts of it happening before the events in Syberia 1, others continuing the story of what happens in Syberia 3.

Personally I would recommend playing the games in the order they were released.

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Here's my question for you; how approachable do you consider the tonality of the games to be? Are they 100% hard-hitting dramas? Or do they weave in humour to keep things easy-going? I personally always like comedic relief peppered throughout dramas to make them more approachable.

I would not say they are hard-hitting dramas.There is an element (character) adding a certain humor - and warmth - to them, it's not like it's dark and makes you cry all the time. The World Before felt much more heavy then the previous titles though to me, because of real history it refers to, and you know that such events have actually happened - and are still happening - and are not fictional (what humans do to other humans).

I would say there is a really nice balance between the dark and bright parts. But I wouldn't say it's the most family friendly game (not for young children maybe), especially the new one.

I liked both games, the characters, the story, the pacing and the setting.

If only the difficulty of the puzzles was on the same level as everything else in the game.

I always thought that if Syberia had (much) better puzzles it would have been a modern masterpiece, but then it wouldn't be so well known outside of adventure game community.

Seeing that I played the original more that 20 years ago, I certainly would like to play this remaster if only I had time (sigh).

Ah, puzzles ... I am fine with not too difficult puzzles in adventure games, since I am always more focused on the narrative and exploration, even in point & click adventures.
Of course it is wonderful when solving a puzzle feels actually rewarding. And I am totally fine with complex puzzles when their design is fair and makes sense.

But I think I never played a game that annoyed me with its too simple puzzles. It's like a "popcorn movie" I just watch for entertainment, not really intellectually deep. So I can even enjoy walking simulators (like What remains of Edith Finch).

I am more annoyed when a game's puzzles have moon logic and don't really have a solution that makes sense.

Simply a matter of taste, I guess. Just like musical/sound puzzles, which I like and others hate.

But having played all games a few years ago and just once (and having played lots of other games meanwhile), I have to admit that my memories aren't too fresh either. But I definitely never had the need of looking at a walkthrough for part 4. Don't remember if there was anything in the first or second game where I had problems with a puzzle.

Ah, puzzles ... I am fine with not too difficult puzzles in adventure games, since I am always more focused on the narrative and exploration, even in point & click adventures.
Of course it is wonderful when solving a puzzle feels actually rewarding. And I am totally fine with complex puzzles when their design is fair and makes sense.

I am not exactly pushing for difficult puzzles in every adventure game, but in my opinion the setting of Syberia calls for it - we are tracking down the inventor who leaves behind a trace of intricate mechanisms and contraptions, so some good puzzles involving said mechanisms are due.

Just like musical/sound puzzles, which I like and others hate.

I am not musical, if not to say tone-deaf, so musical puzzles are a nightmare for me.

Have you played the Syberia Series?

I haven't played any of the Syberia games in the series. I dislike winter settings in games. This viewpoint might be partially influenced by me being Australian as we don't have much exposure to the real equivalent. After all, some of the best video games replicate things found in nature.

Legerdemancy, those are my feelings as well! I'm from the U.S. but have lived in Canada for years now. I miss my warmer weather. I have to decided though that I'm finally going to give the games a try, despite having all of them for years now My husband has played all of them

Legerdemancy, those are my feelings as well! I'm from the U.S. but have lived in Canada for years now. I miss my warmer weather. I have to decided though that I'm finally going to give the games a try, despite having all of them for years now My husband has played all of them

That's great to hear how you're willing to give them a fair chance, I hope you have fun playing the Syberia series! 

Hexenwerk earlier in the thread has already given them a ringing endorsement, so I'm inclined to believe they are very high quality.

Not derailing the thread, just a quick side-conversation, I think it brings up an interesting point about 'theme' versus 'quality' in adventure games. Amongst Nancy Drew games, the general consensus of fans in the broader community is that the horror-themed "Curse of Blackmoor Manor" is the highest quality game overall.

Whereas, one of my personal favourites is the nature-themed "Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake", which is also considered very good by various fans, but not to the same echelon. I love Ghost Dogs for Its peaceful and beautiful woodland imagery of Pennsylvania. The Summer daylight enhances the setting even further. Fundamentally, I feel it's important to choose an aesthetic that truly resonates with you in a game, rather than choosing something that is objectively better quality.

Bringing things back on topic to Syberia, does anyone on the forums have opinions about Amerzone? It's considered part of the same series because of the connected universe. It first got released in 1999, then got remade in 2025.