Camera Obscura on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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An ancient tower in a forgotten land. A lone photographer on a desperate search. Facing dangerous animals, crumbling architecture, and perilous pitfalls, can you reach the summit of the Tower, and perhaps, redemption?
Camera Obscura is a pixel graphics, platformer and indie game
developed by Anteater Games
and published by Anteater Games and BindleBot.
Released on February 19th 2015 is available in English only on Windows.
It has received 1,531 reviews of which 1,110 were positive and 421 were negative resulting in a rating of 7 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 1.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Camera Obscura into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Camera Obscura through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows XP or later
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: Shader Model 2.0 or greater
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 550 MB available space
- Additional Notes: Windows Media Player is suggested for music
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Camera Obscura is an indie puzzle-platformer created by Anteater Games and published by BindleBot together with the developer on Steam. The game blends classic side-scrolling platforming with a distinctive environmental manipulation mechanic built around photography. Rather than simply relying on jumping and reflexes, the game encourages players to think creatively about how the environment can be reshaped using a mysterious camera device, turning each stage into a puzzle where observation and experimentation are just as important as platforming skill. The adventure takes place within a massive tower that stretches high into the sky, constructed long ago by a strange order whose ambition was to ascend toward the sun itself. The player controls a lone photographer who ventures into the ruins of this towering structure, gradually climbing through its many floors while uncovering hints about its forgotten builders. The story is presented subtly through environmental details and collectible photographs scattered throughout the levels. These fragments of lore help build a sense of mystery surrounding the tower’s purpose and the fate of those who once inhabited it, adding narrative flavor to what is primarily a gameplay-focused experience. At the center of the game’s design is the camera mechanic that gives the title its identity. The protagonist carries a special camera capable of capturing a temporary “afterimage” of the surrounding environment. When activated, the camera creates a ghostly duplicate of platforms, walls, and other structures, allowing players to reposition or use these images to reshape the level. This mechanic turns ordinary obstacles into creative puzzle opportunities. Players can create new footholds over gaps, extend platforms, freeze moving surfaces, or even trap enemies within temporary barriers created from the captured image of the environment. This system is simple to understand but offers surprising depth as the game progresses. Early levels introduce the concept in straightforward scenarios where players learn how to create bridges or climb higher using the duplicated terrain. As the player ascends deeper into the tower, however, the puzzles become more intricate. Stages begin to combine environmental hazards, enemy placement, and vertical traversal challenges that require careful planning and precise timing. In later sections, success often depends on experimenting with the placement of the afterimage to manipulate the level in unconventional ways. The structure of the game is built around a series of increasingly challenging stages spread across dozens of floors within the tower. Each floor functions as a self-contained puzzle platforming level with its own layout and hazards. Players must carefully navigate traps, avoid hostile creatures, and find creative ways to use the camera’s power to reach the exit. As new obstacles are introduced, players gradually develop a deeper understanding of how the camera mechanic can be used in combination with traditional platforming techniques. Visually, Camera Obscura embraces a retro pixel-art style that evokes classic platformers while still maintaining a distinctive atmosphere. The tower’s interiors are filled with detailed stone architecture, mechanical elements, and ancient relics that hint at the building’s mysterious origins. The use of lighting and shadow helps emphasize the eerie silence of the abandoned structure, reinforcing the feeling that the player is exploring a forgotten monument filled with secrets. The soundtrack complements the experience with soft, ambient compositions that emphasize mood rather than intensity. Instead of driving the action forward with dramatic music, the audio design creates a reflective atmosphere that fits the quiet exploration of the tower. Gentle melodies and subtle environmental sounds reinforce the sense of isolation as players climb higher into the unknown. One of the features that extends the game’s longevity is the inclusion of a built-in level editor. Players can create their own puzzle stages by placing platforms, enemies, switches, and other objects, then share these creations through the community workshop. This allows the core mechanics of the game to be expanded beyond the developer-designed levels, encouraging creative experimentation and giving players access to an evolving library of user-made challenges. Despite its inventive mechanics, the game is not without some minor shortcomings. Because the camera mechanic serves as the central gameplay feature, many puzzles revolve around variations of the same idea. While the level design does a good job of introducing new combinations of hazards, extended play sessions can occasionally reveal the limits of the concept. Additionally, some platforming sections require precise positioning of the camera afterimage, which can feel slightly unforgiving in later stages. Even with these limitations, Camera Obscura stands out as a clever and imaginative indie platformer built around a single creative concept. The photographic manipulation mechanic gives the game a unique identity within the genre, encouraging players to rethink how platforming environments can be interacted with. Combined with its atmospheric setting, retro visual style, and large collection of puzzle stages, the climb through the mysterious tower remains engaging from beginning to end. Overall, Camera Obscura is a thoughtful and inventive puzzle platformer that successfully transforms a simple idea into a compelling gameplay experience. Its combination of environmental puzzles, nostalgic presentation, and creative level design makes it a memorable entry in the indie platforming scene. Players who enjoy experimentation, problem solving, and unconventional mechanics will likely find the journey through the tower both challenging and rewarding. Rating: 7/10
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Getting 100% started enjoyable then got hellish and un-fun towards the end. approximate amount of time to 100%: 10-25 hours Estimated achievement difficulty: 9/10 ( or 1/10 see spoilers below*) Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 1 (stage select available) Multiplayer achievements: Working Steam Workshop Required!!!. Missable achievements: No. Grinding Achievements: Yes!!!. (gold in each level on flashes), others like kills/photos taken etc, DLC-Only achievements: No. Time-gated achievements: No. Speed-run achievements: Yes!!!. (gold in each level on speed) RNG-achievements: No. Does difficulty affect achievements: No choice. Unobtainable/glitched achievements: Maybe *. Point of no return: No. First achievement unlock: Launch the game !!!! Instantly. Is there a good guide: The steam guides by Ansiando and DeRockProject are excellent. Youtube guides by DeRockProject are great for following along. Notes: * Launching the game awards an achievement messing up your ratio. * Requires you to upload a level you made in the included level editor. * One achievement requires playing 5 levels from steam workshop to completion. * there are many other maps on the workshop to help grind achievements. * Some users are reporting achievements being broken but I'm 99% convinced these were patched out. The fact that I didn't run into any issues strengthens by belief. * part of the difficulty of this game is the developers requiring you to do the "3 block trick" as well as the 7 block one. These are pixel timed at 60fps. They are possible but expect 25% success rate. * If you have grown sick of this game's uber-hardcore ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ then there's a trick to complete it easy.. but beware you can't un-learn this trick. You have been warned, Keep reading: ... : * before you do this I recommend enjoying the game as much as you want until you feel like you can't take it anymore. then you can cheat the game as such: * open the level editor and navigate to the "levels" folder you can OPEN the game's levels (check by name). You can do stuff like adding paths, removing enemies, even moving the letter pages and both entry and exit gat near each other. Allowing you to quickly finish most stages with 0 flashes. * There's also an Xcel file with the required number of flashes and times for gold.. you can edit that file and set whatever you want. In the end it's a fun puzzle game that kept me entertained and satisfied getting the gold medals until I couldn't anymore. Having options beyond that point that weren't patched out is good for achievement hunters, canceling out any % lock. Yeah, recommended.
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Ok holy crap this game is very underrated for the level design. I was not expecting much when I played this game but it's a fantasic game although a little glitchy at times. This game is great, It's a very simple game with the only mechanic using your camera. The levels start out pretty easy then they just skyrocket near the end. I enjoyed this game thoroughly and I will be 100%ing this game. The graphics are a little basic and the I like the darkness of the game early on, it adds to the atmosphere. Also screw the bats. 6.5/10
Expand the review
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Frequently Asked Questions
Camera Obscura is currently priced at 1.99€ on Steam.
Camera Obscura is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 1.99€ on Steam.
Camera Obscura received 1,110 positive votes out of a total of 1,531 achieving a rating of 7.00.
😊
Camera Obscura was developed by Anteater Games and published by Anteater Games and BindleBot.
Camera Obscura is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Camera Obscura is not playable on MacOS.
Camera Obscura is not playable on Linux.
Camera Obscura is a single-player game.
There is a DLC available for Camera Obscura. Explore additional content available for Camera Obscura on Steam.
Camera Obscura is fully integrated with Steam Workshop. Visit Steam Workshop.
Camera Obscura does not support Steam Remote Play.
Camera Obscura is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Camera Obscura.
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 14 March 2026 15:34 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 11 March 2026 17:45 |
| Steam price | 15 March 2026 20:46 |
| Steam reviews | 14 March 2026 13:56 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Camera Obscura, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Camera Obscura
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Camera Obscura concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Camera Obscura compatibility
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Developer
Anteater Games
Publisher
Anteater Games,
BindleBot
Release
19 Feb 2015
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