Psychonauts Video Game Series

A series of 3D platformers with adventure elements, created and developed by the Double Fine Productions team - a development studio founded and led by Tim Schafer, who became famous for such projects as Grim Fandango, Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle.

First Psychonauts debuted in 2005. The title was an artistic success, but high ratings from players and reviewers were not matched by high sales bars. Although the game has gained a cult status over time, it wasn't until December 2015 that the Kickstarter fundraising site launched for the game Psychonauts 2. The project was in the making for nearly six years, as production did not debut until 2021. Fortunately, the effort paid off, as the game turned out to be the biggest hit in the studio's output. In the meantime, the series also received a spin-off - a first-person adventure titled Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin - intended for virtual reality sets.

The main character of the games under the banner of Psychonauts is Razputin (more widely known as Raz). In the first part of the series we accompany the protagonist on his way to becoming a psychonaut, or a spy endowed with parapsychic abilities. In it, the task of our protégé is to rescue the remaining cadets who have been kidnapped by a sinister madman. In the second installment of the series, Raz, already a full-fledged psychonaut, must discover the identity of a double agent among the ranks of the spies before he can bring about the resurrection of the powerful Maligula. A kind of plot bridge between the first and second parts of the series was a spin-off released in 2017. In it, Raz is tasked with rescuing the kidnapped leader of the Psychonauts - Truman Zanotto.

In the main parts of the series Psychonauts we watch the action from a third-person perspective (TPP). During the game we travel through a variety of locations; we are talking about both places located in the real world and worlds located in the minds of others, to which Raz goes to deal with the problems plaguing them. Raz has to face typical platformer challenges, solve ingenious puzzles and confront opponents. To do this, the hero uses his parapsychic abilities, such as telekinesis, slowing down time or destroying elements of the environment. Razputin's range of skills grows in the process as he progresses.

Games in the series Psychonauts boast colorful graphics, which are maintained in a characteristic cartoon style.

Psychonauts Series Evolution

2021

Psychonauts 2

2017

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin

2005

Psychonauts

Psychonauts 2

Arcade

August 25, 2021

A three-dimensional platform game and a continuation to the 2005's Psychonauts, a game by Double Fine Productions studio. The main protagonist of the game is our old acquaintance, a psychic named Raz, who specializes in trips to other people's minds. Invited to the headquarters of the eponymous secret organization, employing people with psychic talents from all around the world, he discovers that the group is in serious trouble and it is up to him to rescue them. In Psychonauts 2 we observe the action from a camera placed behind the hero, and the game consists primarily of exploring the world, avoiding traps and obstacles, and fighting enemies. The game is particularly focused on arcade elements, but there are also a great many of clever puzzles and a good deal of secrets to discover. During the game the protagonist learns and develops new psychic abilities, which allows him to deal with increasingly difficult challenges.

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin

Adventure

February 21, 2017

A spin-off entry in the popular platform game series, originally launched by Double Fine Productions in 2005, developed exclusively for Sony’s platform to make use of PlayStation VR sets. The game starts exactly where first Psychonauts has ended, acting is a bridge between it and the sequel. When the boss of Psychonauts, Truman Zanotto, gets kidnapped, a special team is sent to rescue him, including little Lili Zanotto and the protagonist of first game, ‘Raz’ Razputin, who is recognized as one of the most prominent PSI-cadets. In terms of gameplay, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is following in its predecessor’s footsteps, adapting the well-known formula to modern virtual reality sets.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin

Psychonauts

Arcade

April 19, 2005

An adventure game with strong action and platform game traits. It was developed by Double Fine Productions. The player assumes the role of a boy named Razputin, Raz in short. His dream is to become a member of the titular Psychonauts, a squad that is maintaining peace in the world. After sneaking up into one of the training camps, the protagonist discovers that the cadets are mysteriously disappearing. Raz, accompanied by his loyal friends, tries to discover this mystery. In Psychonauts the action is presented by using a third-person perspective. The game features more than a dozen of varied levels – most of them take place inside the human minds. During the game Raz must face various enemies, solve some more or less complicated traps, and avoid many dangers. Luckily, the boy is able to jump, swim, climb and sneak. He also has access to a set of paranormal skills, including telekinesis, levitation and invisibility. The game features nice looking graphics. Similarly to previous games of this developer, the title is filled with humor.

Psychonauts

Psychonauts Series News

Psychonauts 2 Coming Before the End of Summer Holidays