Chants of Sennaar on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
Quick menu
In this award-winning puzzle adventure game, play as the Traveler on a quest to reunite the Peoples of the Tower. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the Myth of Babel.
Chants of Sennaar is a puzzle, adventure and singleplayer game
developed by Rundisc
and published by Focus Entertainment.
Released on September 05th 2023 is available only on Windows
in 14 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Czech, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish - Latin America and Traditional Chinese.
It has received 22,453 reviews of which 22,075 were positive and 378 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. 😍
The game is currently priced at 19.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.
The Steam community has classified Chants of Sennaar into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Chants of Sennaar through various videos and screenshots.
Load More
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: AMD FX-6300/Intel Core i3-6100
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: 1GB VRAM, Intel HD Graphics 530
- Storage: 601 MB available space
- Additional Notes: 30 FPS average, 1920x1080 with High preset
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
I love this game, but I'm devastated that there's not much else like it or not to this standard. I wish I could play this for the first time all over again.
Expand the review
Chants of Sennaar is an entry in the "mystery game" genre; it's a game entirely about figuring something out, and the only gate to your progression is what you do and don't know (as such, I'll be deliberately vague here to avoid spoilers). In this case, the mystery is (predominantly) the languages spoken by the inhabitants of the mysterious tower you're tasked with ascending. To understand any of the instructions for navigating the tower, you must first decipher these languages. The gameplay loop mostly consists of looking for words you can be relatively sure of (that symbol over the door to the church probably means "church"), then using them to guess your way through whole sentences and piece more of the language together. Once you have a solid grasp of the language, there are some puzzles to solve, but these typically amount to extremely simple instructions like "put the key in the third lock", and are more so checks you've decoded the language rather than actual puzzle gameplay. This is all great. There kind of isn't much more to say in the game's favour, because its strengths are so straightforward: it has a cool, original concept, and its execution of that concept is fun and compelling. There is one other minor component to the gameplay: the occasional stealth section. These are not very good, but infrequent and quick enough that they're not much of a detriment to the game as a whole. To assist you with your decoding, you have a notebook where you can record all the symbols you've seen and your current guesses as to their meanings. Every so often, you'll encounter enough symbols to fill out a page of the notebook, and that page appears, with pictures of various things for you to match symbols to (eg. put the symbol you think means "person" next to the picture of the person). Get the whole page right, and those words are confirmed for you. The system is very reminiscent of Obra Dinn, though I don't think it works quite as well as in that game. For one, Obra Dinn's log entries each had several input fields, so the degree of specificity required meant it was largely immune to brute-forcing; you'd still have to be 90% right about someone before you could start trial-and-error-ing one aspect of their fate. That's not the case in Chants of Sennaar - each input is just a singular meaning. This means if you're pretty confident in all but one of a page's words, you can just spam every unknown symbol in the last slot until you get a confirmation. That said, the confirmation system is definitely a helpful part of the game - I think it'd be a much more frustrating experience if you were just allowed to wander away down a completely wrong path. The second point is that upon a confirmation, the game permanently assigns the correct meaning to a symbol, regardless of whatever you had written for it before, which can mean getting the right answer via the wrong working makes the confirmation fall a little flat. Again, this is probably a net positive - "confirming" an incorrect meaning could lead to confusion later on - but there were a couple of occasions where I had a sort of "oh, OK I guess" response to guesses marked correct but updated to a completely different meaning than I had written down. My only other complaint is that some pages of the book seemingly don't unlock even when you have all their symbols, and instead require interaction with specific things in the world. Of these three complaints about the notebook, this was the only one that really bothered me at any point in my playthrough. I had every symbol of the fourth language, but was missing the last page to validate it. I looked around for half an hour before finally giving in and looking it up, and it turned out to be a specific things you had to look at in the back of a room that I'd missed previously. The interaction in question gave no further insight to the symbols you couldn't get elsewhere, and was just arbitrarily set as the requirement to unlock the page, for some reason. It was an annoying experience and I see no reason pages couldn't just unlock automatically as soon as you have all their symbols. There are five total languages in the game, all logographic (one symbol = one word), and while they're not particularly complex linguistically (none of the languages even have any concept of tense), they're deep enough to allow the process of deciphering them to be satisfying. For the most part, each language has its own unique quirks and words that don't exist in other languages, and so finishing one and moving onto another still presents fresh challenge. This is by far Chants of Sennaar's biggest strength: the language-based mystery is a novel and engaging spin on the genre, and the gameplay built around it is compelling from start to finish. The above complaints are relatively minor nitpicks which don't detract much from the fundamentally fun, well-executed idea at the core of the game. Even the first language - probably the one the game makes easiest for you - still has some very satisfying moments; it's the most pictorial of the languages, so insight can be gained from noticing shared elements of various glyphs. There are only two small letdowns. The first is the fourth language, which feels a bit of a step backwards from the increasing grammatical complexity of the previous three. It does still introduce a new concept, but its execution is relatively shallow and doesn't factor into the language as much as it could, and as such, the fourth language feels fairly similar to the first and second ones, due to their shared structural similarities. The fifth and final language is the other letdown. The fifth section of the game is more focused on the overall story, and seemingly to expedite your progress through the plot at this stage, much of the language is just outright automatically entered and instantly confirmed in your book upon solving some puzzles. These puzzles are something of a check that you didn't guess your way through the previous languages, so might prove tricky if you did, but if you were diligent about validation in the prior sections, a lot of the fifth language might feel a bit unearned. This is especially disappointing considering that in one puzzle, the fifth language is revealed to use one of the most interesting linguistic ideas in the whole game, which makes for really engaging deciphering gameplay. Unfortunately, that idea isn't used anywhere else outside of that one puzzle, which definitely feels like a missed opportunity. All of that said, Chants of Sennaar is a great game. Deciphering these languages is a fresh and compelling take on the mystery game format, and the gameplay is fantastically well-tuned to give you a challenge that feels satisfying to overcome without ever being frustrating. What complaints I have are minor and don't mar the gameplay experience as a whole. If the mystery presented by Chants of Sennaar - and the idea of solving it by deciphering languages - sounds interesting to you, you'll almost certainly have a fun with the game. 8.5/10 - Some minor frustrations and missed opportunities notwithstanding, Chants of Sennaar is a fun and compelling spin on the mystery genre that executes its concept brilliantly.
Expand the review
What a phenomenal game. I found myself wishing it would go on forever. Being a translator myself, I was really impressed with its linguistic design; not only because the languages often had different words to describe essentially the same concepts, reflecting differing ideologies of the peoples of the tower - which is very realistic - but also because they differed in syntax, and all those differences had to be taken into account when translating one language into another. I give this game a gold star for capturing the "fun puzzle" aspect of translation extremely well! I really hope the creators will consider making a similar game in the future!
Expand the review
I have very specific tastes in games - I don't enjoy combat or time pressure. Normal life is stressful, I don't need that in my games too! This is the kind of game I love, exploring and solving puzzles, but not puzzles just for the sake of it, ones that are integrated into the lore of the world with a pretty unique premise. There are a few little bits where timing matters but they are mild enough that even I can do it without getting stressed or frustrated. Absolutely brilliant. I actually got goosebumps near the end.
Expand the review
Chants of Sennaar might be one of the most important games of our time. At a time where protectionism and nationalism are on the rise again, this game reminds us of the value of human connection. It is a marvelous game about people and language. It gives us insight in how language is conceived as a means for self-expression but also how, in turn, language shapes our thinking as well. It’s a game I’ll be thinking about for a long time. But I’m getting ahead of myself. What is Chants of Sennaar? At its core, this is a puzzle game. You take the role of a foreigner, a visitor who embarks on a journey to climb The Tower , an enormous structure heavily inspired by the tower of Babel . Why do we do this? It remains unclear. All we know is that our purpose is to climb and reach the top. There’s a catch though. The tower is inhabited by various peoples whose languages we don’t speak. Yes, that was not a typo, it’s peopleS and each has their own language, culture and values. It is now your task to infer the meaning of symbols and words from environmental clues. Slowly, you fill your dictionary with terms. At first, you can guess wildly what something may mean. When the game has determined that you have gathered enough hints to deduce the meaning of a word, it presents you a new page with a bunch of illustrations. It is now up to you to input the correct word for each illustration and if you’re correct, the game will lock your choice and another translation will be added to your dictionary. This way, you slowly fill up the pages and eventually gain an understanding of the entire language. I love how, for each language you learn, and there are five in total, you not only learn words but also learn a lot about the civilization these words stem from. Let me give you an early-game example. The first group of people you meet are the Devotees a god-fearing people who are all about worship, prayer and devotion. Their language reflects that. Many terms are about exactly that – the church, god, lots of religious terms in general. On the next level, you encounter the caste of Warriors . Their language is completely different. Not only do their symbols look edgy, hard and abstract, their communication revolves around terms of battle and warfare, about duty, strife and the fight against the impure ones . As you ascend the tower, you will come across a whole variety of people and it’s fascinating to see how their language reflects their culture, societal hierarchies and religious beliefs. These differences are also illustrated by the visual design of each level. I haven’t mentioned this yet but let me tell you that Chants of Sennaar is mesmerizingly gorgeous. I’m sure this comparison has been drawn a lot in other reviews, but the style of this game strongly reminded me of the works of Jean Giraud aka Moebius . Seriously though, if you haven’t checked out his stuff, you absolutely should since this guy has created some of the most influential art for other contemporary media. Works like Dune , Panzer Dragoon , Sable and now, this game, are all heavily inspired by this man’s style. It’s one of my favorites and it is beautifully conveyed here. What stuck with me was how each level of the tower differs significantly from the others by its visual design alone. The plane of the Devotees is engulfed in warm orange and yellow colors. The architecture consists of large cathedrals, round arches, comfy banks and intricate balconies. On the next floor where the Warriors reside, the game draws a very different picture. Warm colors are replaced by a cold cyan and a contrasting magenta. Buildings are simple, no winding streets, no art or any kind of decoration, a truly “form follows function” approach to architecture. These are just early-game examples but the game keeps doing this as you make your way towards the top. You always feel like stepping into another world by leaving an area and entering another and in a way, you are. One aspect I didn’t appreciate at all is the occasional backtracking the game is requiring you to do. These areas tend to be huge and there is neither a map nor a quickly accessible fast travel option. You do unlock a teleportation system at one point taking you from one plane to the next but the levels themselves remain exorbitant in size and sometimes impossible to navigate. I’m not gonna give anything away but let me just say that there’s a sewer system and yeah, it’s just as bad as you are imagining it right now. Well ok, it’s actually not too bad but still, there are sections in the game that had me completely and utterly lost. Another mechanic I didn’t care for too much is the stealth. Yes, there are a couple of stealth passages and they’re just not interesting at all, not on a gameplay level, nor as some kind of narrative commentary or some such, it’s just annoying. Thankfully, there really are only a few but the game could do without them and not lose anything of value, it just feels bloated. Same goes for the replay-function this game offers at key moments. Sometimes, a conversation or an action of a character in the world can tell you a lot about a certain symbol’s meaning or give you context information about the world. Since you can miss those, the game lets you replay scenes at will. The thing is, whenever you do that, the entire thing starts from the beginning and you have to sit through everything at normal speed. These scenes can take foreeever and you have no way to fast-forward the dialogue. These are just some minor issues that, in no way, spoil the overall experience at all. I enjoyed pretty much every minute of this game despite the occasional backtracking or slow-down. This is a game close to my heart. The final stretch is nothing short of amazing and remains a testament to humanity and the merits of collaboration and communication. During your playtime, you will constantly be confronted with notions of isolationism, social hierarchies, supremacy and even truly grim topics like slavery. In a way, the true antagonist of Chants of Sennaar is segregation based on fear and I feel like there isn’t a timelier subject for us as humans right now. We have to do better.
Expand the review
Similar games
View all
1954 Alcatraz
1954: Alcatraz – The cash is out there. But who will get it?Joe's doing 40 years on Alcatraz for a heist on an armored truck. The loot is still hidden out there, but only Joe knows where it is. In the streets of San Francisco, Joe's ex-accomplices and his wife are eager to find the stolen money. Who will get their hands on the dough?
LEAVES - The Journey
Travel to the mystic lands of Mononino and help the Treefruities to recover the lost leaves of their home tree. Search for clues to master the many puzzles and challenges on your journey.
The Whispered World Special Edition
When the fate of a world hangs in the balance, an unusual hero arises! The visually impressive adventure-epic The Whispered World is now available as a Special Edition for the first time. Let the Whispered World enchant you with its many animated details and fantastic characters.
Through Abandoned: The Underground City
It’s the first game of Through Abandoned series, classical point and click game. You try to find your twin-brother who disappeared in a huge and mysterious place called Abandoned.
The White Door
Enter The White Door and discover Rusty Lake’s universe in a new game with a unique style! Explore Robert Hill’s dreams and help him to find his lost memories. Can you survive the strict daily routine and bring back color to Robert's life?
The Office Quest
Every day in the office is the same, clicking the same keys, attending the same boring meetings, wearing the same fluffy monster onesies, until something strange and magical happens. Now you need to sneak away, no matter how!
The House of Da Vinci
Enter The House of Da Vinci, a new must-try 3D puzzle adventure game. Solve mechanical puzzles, discover hidden objects, escape from rooms and dive into the authentic atmosphere of the Renaissance. Use all your wits to find out what's behind your master's disappearance.
LEAVES - The Return
Mononino and the Treefruities fared well without you - until another disaster scattered the leaves of their home tree. Once more, take on the journey and challenging puzzles along the way.
Gomo
How far would you go to save your best friend?For Gomo, the answer to this question is clear: To the end of the world and further, if necessary.Join him on his journey through the bizarre 2D landscapes of this dreamlike Point & Click Adventure!
Nobodies: Murder Cleaner
Nobodies is a puzzle-filled point-and-click adventure in which you must cover up government-sanctioned assassinations. Hide the bodies, destroy the evidence, and leave no trace you were ever there. They do the dirty work. You clean it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chants of Sennaar is currently priced at 19.99€ on Steam.
Chants of Sennaar is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 19.99€ on Steam.
Chants of Sennaar received 22,075 positive votes out of a total of 22,453 achieving an impressive rating of 9.59.
😍
Chants of Sennaar was developed by Rundisc and published by Focus Entertainment.
Chants of Sennaar is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Chants of Sennaar is not playable on MacOS.
Chants of Sennaar is not playable on Linux.
Chants of Sennaar is a single-player game.
There is a DLC available for Chants of Sennaar. Explore additional content available for Chants of Sennaar on Steam.
Chants of Sennaar does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Chants of Sennaar does not support Steam Remote Play.
Chants of Sennaar 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 Chants of Sennaar.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
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 | 18 January 2026 16:04 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 27 January 2026 22:03 |
| Steam price | 29 January 2026 04:49 |
| Steam reviews | 28 January 2026 08:01 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Chants of Sennaar, 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 Chants of Sennaar
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Chants of Sennaar concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Chants of Sennaar compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
101
Developer
Rundisc
Publisher
Focus Entertainment
Release
05 Sep 2023
Platforms
Clicking and buying through these links helps us earn a commission to maintain our services.