ActionAdventureIndie
La-Mulana
Give it 20 hours
Gets good by 20h then rated almost like by veterans
Fully opens up by 35h rated like by long-time players
Reach the ending 10% of players who started
Started playing 60% of owners
Steam reviews 80% positive of 2,650
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 2 reviews are negative (49%); after 35h it's 1 in 14 (7%).
- Fully opens up by hour 35.
- The opening is criticised more than in 76% of games we track.
- 10% of players who start reach the ending.
- Most players drop off before “Twin-Headed Snake” (Obliterated Amphisbaena): only 38% of starters get there.
- Only 60% of owners have even the first achievement — the rest barely played.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 2,661 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 298 reviews: 48.1h for positive, 13.7h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (60.2% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Twin-Headed Snake Obliterated Amphisbaena. Most players quit here 38% −62
- Giant's Rage Obliterated Sakito. 29% −9
- High Speed Beast Obliterated Elmac. 27% −2
- Dangerous Raid Obliterated Bahamut. 23% −4
- At the bottom Obliterated Viy. 18% −5
- Ancient Machine Obliterated Palenque. 13% −5
- Black Misa Obliterated Baphomet. 15% +2
- Slippery Serpent Obliterated Tiamat. 13% −2
- You are the strongest archaeologist! Completed the adventure. 10% −2
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (64)
story milestone ending side
- Welcome to La-Mulana Opened the entrance to La-Mulana. 100%
- Watch Where You're Whipping Received damnation. 92%
- Once you read it, you can never go back I warned you. 46%
- Twin-Headed Snake Obliterated Amphisbaena. 38%
- Dear Foolish Adventurer Started HARD MODE. 30%
- Giant's Rage Obliterated Sakito. 29%
- The girl awakens Mulbruk awakens. 28%
- High Speed Beast Obliterated Elmac. 27%
- Lights of the fairies Got the cooperation of a fairy. 26%
- Dangerous Raid Obliterated Bahamut. 23%
- Seek a higher place. Obtained the Wing 22%
- Dive Deep Down Dived into a pot. 21%
- Take a walk on the dark side. Obtained Future Development Company 20%
- Eden, here was. Revealed Eden. 20%
- The Penitent Man Took a knee. 19%
- This is La-Mulana: Part I Flattened by a falling giant. 19%
- This is La-Mulana: Part II Squashed by a falling sun. 19%
- You are a small one Proved that you are indeed small. 19%
- At the bottom Obliterated Viy. 18%
- The Sadness of the Twins has vanished. The Twin Labyrinth has opened. 17%
- Stop him without stopping time! Obliterated Zu without using the Lamp of Time. 17%
- The Four Philosophers were awakened. Obtained the Ocarina of The Philosophers. 15%
- A one time challenge. Challenge the balance of the spirits 15%
- The world of 8-bit Opened the entrance to The Gate of Time. 15%
- Black Misa Obliterated Baphomet. 15%
- Read all of the paleographies. Learned ancient La-Mulana words. 14%
- La-Mulana Mania Obtained La-Mulana. 13%
- Ancient Machine Obliterated Palenque. 13%
- I love hot springs! Bathed in the hot springs 100 times. 13%
- The Beginning of Hell and Awakening Obliterated all guardians. 13%
- Slippery Serpent Obliterated Tiamat. 13%
- Map Collector Obtained all maps. 13%
- Master key Unlocked all fairy locks. 11%
- This is La-Mulana: Part III Surprised Shunderia. 11%
- Sound Track Mania Obtained Beo La-Mulana. 11%
- You are the strongest archaeologist! Completed the adventure. 10%
- Indomitable spirit Completed the entire adventure within 40 hours. 9.8%
- Maximum Power Obtained all Life Gems. 9.5%
- Item Collector Filled every item slot. 7.8%
- Software Collector Obtained all M-SX software. 7.6%
- The gate to hell has opened. Unlocked the HELL TEMPLE. 6.6%
- Fairy Light Completionist Called a fairy from every fairy point. 6.5%
- Skilled adventurer Completed the entire adventure within 20 hours. 6.3%
- The Run To Ruin Survived the 3rd infinite corridor under your own power. 4.5%
- NIGORO MANIA Found every NIGORO staff member. 4.2%
- This is La-Mulana: Part IV Smooshed by a Super Punch. 4.2%
- A fishy item... Bought something other than "Rose & Camellia" from the reformed merman. 4.0%
- Xelpud's Pen Pal Got all emails. 3.7%
- The Hidden Road Opened the backdoor to the Tower of the Goddess. 3.7%
- This was not for human eyes. Completed the HELL TEMPLE. 3.2%
- Speed Runner Completed the entire adventure within 10 hours. 2.7%
- All I need is one arm. Obliterated all guardians without using secondary weapons. 2.2%
- Great 8th child Obliterated all guardians in HARD MODE 2.0%
- Curry Addict Ate curry in a variety of situations. 1.8%
- Treasure Hunter Opened all small treasure boxes. 1.7%
- The Masochist King Completed the HELL TEMPLE in HARD MODE. 1.7%
- All I need is one finger! Obliterated all guardians without using secondary weapons in HARD MODE. 1.7%
- This isn't even my final form! Completed the HELL TEMPLE without the Fairy's Vest. 1.5%
- Mulbruk Can Be Yours Listened to everything Mulbruk has to say. 1.2%
- Archaeological authority Scanned all suspicious spots. 1.2%
- Let's go together! Watched the ending with the entire cast present. 1.2%
- Running out in the open! Everyone in the ending has that summer feeling. 1.2%
- Xelpud's Best Friend Listened to everything Xelpud has to say. 1.2%
- Playful but Lonely Everyone's here, but only you feel like it's summer. 1.2%
Steam page Updated: 2026-10-19.