Alright, who's the joker trying to charge $100 on Steam for an almost entirely AI-generated game?

Alright, who's the joker trying to charge $100 on Steam for an almost entirely AI-generated game?

Thanks to the Steam Release Bot on Bluesky, I stumbled upon Kryonull, a game that really grinds my gears. Not only are most of its assets AI-generated, but the visual novel is being sold on Steam for a staggering $100 US, or £90 in the UK. Kryonull is especially frustrating because its core concept is actually pretty intriguing. The one thing that isn’t AI-generated — assuming the developer’s disclosure is accurate — is the script. The plot sounds like a solid piece of hard sci-fi: a small, manned mission to Europa must make snap decisions with major consequences as it makes first contact with something under the ice. That’s cool. Unfortunately, everything else falls flat.

Under the AI-Generated Content Disclosure section of the store page, developer NovelkaGames throws a curveball with this line: “All images and voices in the game, as well as on the store page, were generated using AI.” AI-generated content and wasted potential aren’t exactly new on Steam, but Kryonull stands out due to its price tag. The game is translated into English and Russian, which might hint at its country of origin. However, according to SteamDB, its price in rubles still converts to around $53 US. Even at that price, I’d be hesitant to spend money on an AI-generated game, but $53 is already in the realm of “I’m insulted by the suggestion.” There’s no way to make Kryonull seem reasonable.

As it stands, Kryonull serves as an unfortunate example of the growing trend of low-quality content flooding the Steam platform. The price of an open platform where anyone can share their game has become increasingly clear, especially with Valve’s compromises on payment processors and occasional overzealous censorship. It’s a reminder of how the platform can become a dumping ground for projects that lack genuine effort or innovation.

Better alternatives to Kryonull

Kryonull did remind me of two far superior games that you should definitely check out: South Scrimshaw Part One and Water Womb World. Both are experimental, short, sci-fi games similar to what Kryonull promises, but they actually show real effort and craftsmanship. South Scrimshaw is a Planet Earth-style nature documentary about whales on an alien planet. Despite its AI-generated voiceovers, I’ve always overlooked that aspect due to its brilliant writing, hand-drawn visuals, and the fact that its solo developer created it while working a day job as a dishwasher.

Water Womb World, on the other hand, is a surreal horror game about a religious fanatic searching for proof of God at the bottom of the ocean. I haven’t played it yet, but MandaloreGaming’s review on YouTube convinced me to buy it. The former game is completely free, while the latter is just two bucks. If you're looking for genuine sci-fi experiences with real creativity and effort, these are far better choices than Kryonull.