Sonata Theory
If you enjoy narrative experiences, you’ll enjoy this game. What I like best about it is how it expands on its visual novel core. There is some environment exploration, some light puzzle-solving, and branching endings based on how you play. Game scenarios tend to have multiple solutions, and it is fun to try to find them all. Visually it is bright and colorful with good audio. Plus, it is essentially a one-hour experience (and less with each subsequent play-through), so you don’t have to commit a lot of time to enjoy this (free) game. Note: I was the faculty advisor for this project.
– Real player with 4.3 hrs in game
Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure Interactive Fiction Games.
The music was great, the level was beautiful, the character design was unique, and the story was fairly good. Menus had a few issues, quest items didn’t disappear which made it a bit confusing, the relationship portion didn’t seem effect gameplay, and the dialog boxes could use a redesign. Overall I actually enjoyed the game music and level design were major Pluses.
– Real player with 1.1 hrs in game
Deadlands Noir - That Old Time Religion
Sam Spade [Humphrey Bogart ~ Maltese Falcon (1941)] has nothing on Harvey Jenkins when it comes to being a hard boiled private detective. This is ‘Film Noir’ without the film.
Stories are set in 1935 New Orleans, Harvey Jenkins is a man about town who has unlikely friends and makes powerful enemies. But that is what happens when one is a private detective that takes on unusual cases, those of the supernatural kind. He and John Constantine (Vertigo comics Hellblazer/2005 movie) are much alike, one foot in Hell and the other in Heaven.
– Real player with 4.9 hrs in game
Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure Indie Games.
While I briefly played the Deadlands tabletop RPG back in the 90s - yup, I’m THAT old! - I’ll confess to having never so much as HEARD of this Deadlands Noir phenomenon. Now, considering that Deadlands was more-or-less a transposing of Call of Cthulhu-style antics into a Western (read: cowboy) setting, I’m not quite sure what the purpose of transposing Call of Cthulhu-style antics into a 1930s setting is, considering that that’s precisely when the original Call of Cthulhu RPG was set anyway! BUT…I’m not here to query the existence of a tabletop RPG, I’m here to review a video game/“visual novel” set in that universe. So get awn wit' it, already!
– Real player with 4.3 hrs in game
Remember When
This game was wholesome, sweet, and kind of surprised me. I was looking for a quick game to waste my time, and this was a good way to spend said time, I may come back and play it again sometime if I remember. Its worth your time, so ye, play it!
– Real player with 1.4 hrs in game
Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure Visual Novel Games.
After a while, the Developer updated the Game and now it don’t stuck again. I played the Game and i am absolutly suprised. It is a short little story about a man and his memories. The ending hit me hard and remebered me to say “I love you” to my wife everytime we talk or spend time together…
Game is free… give it a try. You play though story in about 1 hour. :)
– Real player with 1.2 hrs in game
Growing Up
Interesting spin on the “visual novel” genre that is lovingly crafted, but has its issues and is not quite as expansive as the store page makes it out to be. Still, considering the price, it is worth it, and given the casual nature and the topic, also suitable for people just interested in trying out this kind of games, or for those who would be turned off by weeb stuff.
Rating: 7/10
As is obvious, the game revolves around growing up and going through all of the early stages of life, and it does a remarkably good job at it too, at times at least. The characters, although in some regards laden with cliches, are fairly well written and I am not ashamed to admit, objectively looking at how I behaved and what I thought as a teenager especially, and what I remember of my friends, this is pretty spot on, lol. Unfortunately, the earlier stages of the game are quite rushed, and they are more of a short tutorial than anything, which is a bit of a wasted oportunity - the game really starts when you reach teen years.
– Real player with 38.2 hrs in game
UPDATED REVIEW @ 22 Hrs:
Growing Up is a life simulation that fairly-accurately simulates the experience of growing up in a relatively affluent family in a reasonably well-to-do area of the United States in the mid-to-late 1990s.
I’m a fan of this game for a lot of reasons. The writing is pretty good, and the resource management gameplay is challenging enough to be fun while never feeling unfair or too difficult. The music ranges from unobtrusive to fantastic, and the interface is intuitive; simple without being too stupid (more on this below). If you’re a fan of resource management games, or if you like visual novels and don’t mind some casual gameplay mixed in, this is one to pick up even at full price.
– Real player with 31.1 hrs in game
Road 96 🛣️
Full video review: https://youtu.be/qJ7308la4hI
Summarized version below!
I consume way too many of these narrative-driven games for my own good, but I’m always on the lookout for one that tries to do something new, something cool - so I was excited to give Road 96 a look.
Note: Trimmed review to fit character limit, check video for full version!
Gameplay:
Road 96 is basically a more involved “choose your own adventure”-type game. There are decisions to make and these decisions end up affecting what path you go down and what ending you get. You don’t just play as one protagonist, but multiple. There is a small cast of recurring characters you will meet along this journey and that’s where the meat of the game lies.
– Real player with 17.4 hrs in game
This is the model that all walking simulators should follow from now on.
It’s really good. Like most “choice” based games, no, there isn’t as much variety in actual gameplay as was originally suggested in the trailer. Many of the games roughly 200-300 conversations play out similarly in one playthrough to the next, but they may occur at different points in your journeys, and with different people. I would say that is better than most of these types of games allow…think Life is Strange, Firewatch etc, where you are on rails for pretty much the entire game and there are only changes in the flavor text as a result of your meticulously thought over actions.
– Real player with 16.1 hrs in game
Once Upon a Jester
Once Upon a Jester is a story-driven, musical adventure about two best friends who decide to start their own theater show: Jester and Sok. When a visiting princess tells them about the Royal Theatrical Spectacle — a theater festival reserved for only the best shows in the realm — Jester knows he must do whatever it takes to qualify.
Will a lonely jester and an anthropomorphic sock puppet take their hometown show from rags to riches?
IMPROVISE YOUR OWN THEATER SHOW
With branching choices and improvisational moments, no two performances will ever be the same! Whether you decide to draw your sword, talk about your feelings or just randomly play the flute — the choice is yours.
DECIDE YOUR GENRE
Should you tell a joke, turn on the waterworks or introduce a little love? Choose between Comedy, Drama, Romance, and more!
IMPRESS A DYNAMIC, RESPONSIVE AUDIENCE
Every audience has its preference. Feel the rush of a crowd that loves your every action and the deepest sorrow of one that ignores you completely.
EXPLORE A VIBRANT FANTASY WORLD
Travel to memorable, hand-crafted locations like the cozy Dorp Town, the dark mysterious Woudwoods, and the radio-obsessed Stad City.
MAKE FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY
Running a theater show is tough work, but what would life be without friends? Meet a cast of characters including an endearing sock puppet, a Wendigo who dreams of becoming a dancer and a rebel princess with a passion for theater art.
A LOFI, INDIE-INFUSED SOUNDTRACK
Catchy songs, emotional music numbers and improvised tunes are all standard fare for a game with the Bonte Avond name.
Can’t wait to start your very own theatre adventure? Wishlist here and we’ll let you know when you can!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1668190/Once_Upon_a_Jester/
Heading Out - A Narrative Road Movie Racing Game
Heading Out is a road-movie inspired racing game mixed with an immersive narration, character creator and resource management.
We aim to recreate the spirit of cult American road-movies from the past. Such as Vanishing Point, Two-Lane Blacktop and Thelma & Louise.
Drive through the American West
Welcome to the mythical American West. You’re a vigilante driving across the country in a muscle car. How fast can you go coast to coast? Who or what are you running from? Are you looking for an adventure? Or do you want to get lost on the highways carved in vast American plains?
Beautiful cars, hi-octane races and the joy of the drive
Hop into a classic muscle car, tune in to a great Americana soundtrack and go on a drive through the American West. Run from the police, chase other drivers, maneuver in traffic, break through a sandstorm, contemplate views during a peaceful night ride through the desert… And most of all: enjoy the ride!
Create your own hero & story
You’re the Driver . Using a deep but easy-to-manage character creator, the player will answer questions about their fears, dreams and ambitions. What’s your motivation? Why are you on the run? Who’s chasing you? Choices made in the character creator determine what the player hears on the radio. Because you’re making headlines and everyone is talking about you!
Meaningful choices and unique adventure
Choose your path across America. Keep an eye on your fuel meter, car condition and wanted level. Think strategically. Study the map. Meet mysterious travelers, make interesting choices and discover fascinating sites.
Will you help a stranger? Will you leave your past in the dust? Will you take up the challenge to a duel on the blacktop? Build a legend that is uniquely yours.
Rogue-like structure, infinite replayability potential
Every time you click New Story, a new adventure is created. You can become someone completely different, encounter new events and make different, meaningful choices. After completing a run, you can immortalize your adventure and share it with other players!
Mr.DomusMundi
This is game Cool
– Real player with 2.3 hrs in game
Very simple and easy. I have mixed feelings but my score is 7/10 or so
That said, I didn’t overestimate my expectations of Mr. Domusmundi.
By the way, question. Is the king naked?!
– Real player with 1.6 hrs in game
She Sees Red - Interactive Movie
I liked Late Shift and I bought this game as it’s similar to that game, I finished my first play within 45 minutes and got a good ending don’t know if it’s best, this game has various choices to select like Late Shift but it’s shorter than Late Shift, when I started my play the game mentioned to play it twice to reveal more of the story.
As for the story it’s so fast players will be confused when they start the game as it progress they will get to know what is happening and what was this all about. There are around 15 achievements and I only managed to get 5 on my first time playing the game.
– Real player with 8.7 hrs in game
“She Sees Red” is a short, well-produced interactive movie that can take radically different turns depending on your choices.
The story is standard thriller material with murders in a nightclub, drugs, two detectives on an investigation, and some allusions to organized crime. The narrative is interesting and mysterious, particularly because you play both the detective and the killer. While you take moment-to-moment decisions like “fight or flee”, the motives of these characters remain unknown at first. But as you replay the game and discover more endings, secrets about each main character are revealed, until you understand the full picture.
– Real player with 6.2 hrs in game