Item: 1666: Amsterdam
Rating: 2
Author: Gamohol

1666: Amsterdam pulled me in from the moment I stepped into its version of Amsterdam. Playing as Noa, a Collector hunting demonic Originals hiding behind human faces, gave the whole premise an immediate hook, and the setting sells it.

Narrow canal-side streets, dim interiors, and a grim, lived-in period atmosphere carry real personality, and the contrast between the grounded historical world and Noa’s supernatural abilities gives the game a distinct identity right away.

1666: Amsterdam Gameplay Review: Investigation, Exploration, and the Cat Companion Mechanic

Splitting play between Noa and Aaron, a man trapped in a cat’s body, turned out to be one of the strongest ideas here. Aaron’s sections open up rooftops and tight spaces Noa can’t reach, and switching between the two during an investigation, gathering leads, sneaking into a restricted space, then confronting a target, gave me some of the best moments in my time with it.

The mystery itself kept pulling me forward, and I liked that most targets can be approached more than one way. The investigation loop gives 1666: Amsterdam a unique identity compared to more straightforward action games, with the supernatural setting supporting the detective-style gameplay.

1666: Amsterdam Combat Review: An Interesting System That Needs More Depth

This is where the game struggles.

Melee comes down to swinging a staff and dodging, with no block or parry to mix things up, and once I realized potions could just outpace the damage I was taking, fights lost most of their tension. Magic attacks felt more interesting in concept, but the lack of proper target-locking made them harder to land than they should be.

Boss encounters made these problems worse rather than better. The camera struggles when multiple enemies close in, and what should have been the game’s most dramatic moments often turned into drawn-out wars of attrition instead.

1666: Amsterdam Early Access Performance: Bugs and Technical Issues

Performance dips during heavier fights, animations can feel stiff, and I ran into enough bugs and glitches to notice a pattern rather than isolated incidents.

None of that surprised me for an Early Access release, but it’s worth being upfront about going in. The game’s foundation is interesting, but it still needs additional polish before the experience feels as refined as its setting deserves.

1666: Amsterdam Final Verdict: A Promising Historical Adventure With Potential

There’s a genuinely original idea at the center of 1666: Amsterdam, and the atmosphere, investigation loop, and Noa-Aaron dynamic all point toward something special.

Combat needs real work before it matches the ambition around it, and the technical issues need real time to settle. I came away optimistic about where this could go, but I’d temper expectations for where it stands right now.

STREAMER SCORE

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Summary

1666: Amsterdam delivers a memorable historical setting, supernatural investigation mechanics, and a unique partnership between Noa and Aaron. While its combat system and Early Access technical issues hold it back, the game’s atmosphere and core ideas show strong potential.