Vholume initially appears to be a collection of familiar influences, with the free-running moves of Mirror’s Edge, terminology borrowed from Philip K Dick’s “conapt,” and environments that combine the dystopian feel of Half-Life 2’s City 17 with the muted arches of de Chirico’s surreal paintings. Despite these references, the game quickly establishes an identity of its own.
At its core, Vholume is an on-foot racing game. Players traverse bizarre environments by chaining wall-runs and power-slides, bridging gaps between structures, and hunting for routes that lead to each level’s exit and global leaderboards. After finishing a run, players can tackle another course or replay to shave fractions of a second off their time, and multiplayer lets them race against other players’ recorded “ghosts.”
The game is surprisingly welcoming across skill levels. Using trigger presses to hop or duck, players perform wall-kicks and mantle movements with a sense of ease. Vholume also tolerates missed landings and even allows players to exploit height-gaining shortcuts, which gives less experienced players room to stumble through while top-tier speedrunners refine their techniques.
As the game progresses, straightforward courses give way to more complex, puzzle-like levels. Each stage offers multiple possible routes depending on speed, reflexes, and timing. The review compares this to the idea behind Couch to 5K, where time and distance feel equivalent when running, suggesting that Vholume constantly expands the possibilities ahead based on how fast the player moves.
Later levels become busier with jump pads, maze-like special stages, and moving environment elements. While these intricate layouts are fascinating, the reviewer suggests the game’s early stages offer a purer thrill, with a more even balance between the developer’s ambitions and the player’s enjoyment.
One of the game’s creators previously made Babbdi and Straftat, titles that carry a demoscene appearance but focus on polished, satisfying mechanics. Vholume’s world may be bleak, but navigating it is meant to feel joyous and exhilarating. The game is designed to keep the thinking mind at bay, as a single moment of hesitation could unravel the entire flow.