Press Any Button
“Columns…a reference to a very old match 3 puzzle game that this game emulates in no way, shape, or form…”
This is much less a game, than it is, a way to unwind and chill, maybe needle out some emotions.
Well, I say that, but, it is only mostly so, because A-Eye, the main interactive persona, the one ‘controlling everything’, does make it harder at some point, and the chill factor drops until one can pass it, and get the apology waffle.
This is mostly a medium of popular references. Olympics, sports, video games, hobbies, academics&trivia, and even a nod or two towards the likes of authors that wrote about humanity’s downward spiral, though no names are directly mentioned, I definitely got some vibes of George Orwell, to name one.
– Real player with 2.7 hrs in game
Read More: Best Story Rich Interactive Fiction Games.
This is a very simple, 2d game, that in terms of gameplay isn’t extremely exciting but it’s 100% worth just for the story itself. I randomly found this game yesterday and decided to install it, not really expecting much from it. But, the more you “press any button”, the more you get immersed in this story and relate to this cute little character called A-Eye, who, if you are anything like me, you will just want to hug and tell everything is going to be ok, by the time the game is over.
Don’t want to spoil the game too much, but if you have an hour to spare (probably less than that), you should give this game a go. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions.
– Real player with 2.0 hrs in game
A Lozenge
What a heartwarming little game this one is. Genuinely a beautiful example of great storytelling, and for the price point, there is no reason to not spare some pocket money on this one. The art fits the game so well in a way I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on yet, but maybe you could give it a play and let me know ;-).
– Real player with 0.7 hrs in game
Read More: Best Story Rich Interactive Fiction Games.
A Lozenge is a short interactive story about what was and what remains. It follows a mother and daughter as they grapple with a new normal. The hurt from the past is an iceberg and there is no inclination of what the future will be like for the duo. The now is what’s in focus as they barrel through the night toward a future that at very least holds pancakes.
– Real player with 0.5 hrs in game
OPUS: Echo of Starsong
Well then, where to start…
This game is mostly text, but there are gameplay elements, so if you like being invested in a great story, look no further. As one might guess, this takes place in space. The gameplay elements are not very complicated, though some of them are luck based. Average time for a full playthrough is around 10h. You can grab it on sale, but normally the price shouldn’t be very high. The art (the scenes) is quite good, the lore is original and the world (The exploration part) is rather well-made for a 2.5D game. It is not a very difficult game. I really enjoyed it and would recommend you give it a try.
– Real player with 34.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Story Rich Interactive Fiction Games.
A beautiful experience with great story, deep lore, outstanding music and artworks.
The gameplay consist of planet explorations, puzzle solving, try / roll for luck mechanic tailored into this masterpiece.
If you’re searching for something with deep and emotional story, try this.
The soundtracks are definitely worth the purchase. so if you can, get the game with it.
10/10 Absolutely Recommended.
– Real player with 28.0 hrs in game
The Babysitter
Wow!! What a cool developer! He answered my message and even changed the game to make it more user friendly. Now I can finish the game. Thanks.
– Real player with 6.6 hrs in game
i cant find cheats ANYWHERE for the door code and im stressing out and confused and upset. what is the code for the tent in the game? the door code with 3 numbers. i cant find or figure it out. im rage quitting, after an hour of research and racking my brain for answers ive given up. i hate that part so much, but i dont know about the rest of the game, because i cant get to it!!
– Real player with 3.2 hrs in game
Thistledown: A Tragedy of Blood
It’s an imaginative novel that you get to maneuver your way through, exploring a beautiful world and unique lore. A great interactive story you can experience in one or two sittings. It’s surprisingly dense with lore and narrative world building and I really liked some of the emotional beats the game managed to hit. Really liked the music as well.
– Real player with 2.4 hrs in game
it’s a very good and fun game, the platforming is very nice, and I love how the character evolves. Her journey is incredible, and as the player, I felt a connection to the character, but also, a connection, as more than just a player, as if I wish I could be an active observer, instead of a passive one, it is a beautiful game, as is 100% worth a buy seeing as the price is very manageable, and it is such a good game (so far).
– Real player with 1.7 hrs in game
To My Best Friend
Just as the description says, this is a short narrative about two friends and their memories together. It is a full-on walking simulator with no stress. Beautiful music! I think the graphics are beautiful, although there are a few floating trees, and basically low-budget looking areas.
All in all, it’s a good, bittersweet short story with colorful and creative areas to walk through. I recommend it.
– Real player with 1.5 hrs in game
cute
– Real player with 1.4 hrs in game
Before Your Eyes
–-{Story}—
☐ Doesn’t have any
☐ Something isn’t nothing I guess
☐ Not greatly told
☐ Average
☐ Good
☐ Lovely
✔️ Will make you cry or smile a lot
—{Gameplay}—
✔️ Try not to get addicted
☐ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Nothing special
☐ Ehh
☐ Bad
☐ Just don’t
—{ Grind }—
✔️ Nothing
☐ Only if you care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn’t necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ Insanity
—{Graphics}—
☐ You forget reality
☐ Masterpiece
✔️ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Will do
☐ Bad
– Real player with 4.8 hrs in game
Extremely beautiful and emotional story. I loved the unique art style and game play. Played it twice and left me crying for hours after each run through - would definitely recommend. Absolutely worth the money and time.
– Real player with 4.2 hrs in game
Dino Hazard: Chronos Blackout
Gorgeous prehistoric animal designs ! It’s good to see proper paleoart in a game that isn’t a walking simulator for once.
The dog was kind of annoying, but thankfully not for long ;^)
– Real player with 14.3 hrs in game
This review was made after completing the Beta.
Even at this stage Dino Hazard shows a lot of potential. The games setting and story are so far very interesting and while not 100% original, the more derivative elements are used in the best possible way rather then as a crutch. Do not be turned off by the games retro aesthetic, it’s very fun and runs smoothly. In fact it I rate it far more highly then maybe 99% of the Dinosaur games on steam.
This is a retro style rpg, you have the ability to explore an open world plus interior areas (which in themselves are pretty big) collecting items and solving puzzles. The enemies in this game are vary varied, including not just dinosaurs but a whole host of prehistoric life from multiple eras as well as several types of robot. The combat is turn based, in the same vain as EarthBound. Your characters are not visible on screen and the enemy sprites are static. When you attack sometimes an animation such as hand swinging a knife will appear, as a nice touch the weapon in the characters hand will change depending on what has been equipped. Despite combat’s simple animation, things can still get very tense and you will have to learn your enemies weaknesses in order to make things easier. Some aspects of combat are rather simple, others are a bit more complex but it’s not that hard to figure out. My one and only complain is that enemy attack turns can go by very quickly, making it a bit confusing as to what happened, but to balance that out not once did I feel things were being unfair.
– Real player with 10.8 hrs in game
Faded Grey
Firstly, I didn’t realize this was a short promo game (that’s on me, of course, since I usually don’t read the game info before playing games). However, it still was a decent enough promo game. It definitely made me want to know more of the story. The story itself in this promo game was very brief (which is expected). The graphics are decent enough, I suppose. I did expect horror based from the user tags (which are always a hit or miss), but there isn’t any real horror, just a bit of suspense and dark themes (or a hint of a dark theme that involves possible
! incest/pedophilia, rather). So, definitely hope the next game lives up to the hype this game created.
– Real player with 1.3 hrs in game
This was a rather short game with beautiful graphics (hello? that flooring?). I didn’t understand any of it when I began. I purposely played this game without even looking at the description because I wanted to see how I’d feel while playing it. I felt extremely weirded out by all the bunnies, and skeptical of the casserole. All in all, it was short and interesting despite it’s simple controls and minimal dialogue. It seriously left me craving more of this story. I feel like the more I learned, the more I needed to know.
– Real player with 0.7 hrs in game
Linda & Joan
Linda & Joan is a forthcoming narrative game about a British family. You play as Russell, Linda, and Joan — son, mother, and grandmother — switching between them to help the family cope with a series of traumatic events. Based on a true story.
The main game is scheduled for release in 2022. It will be part two of the Linda & Joan story. Part one is Prologue: “Four Months Earlier” which is available now.
Players experience the events from the perspectives of Russell, Linda, and Joan through exploration, conversation, and tasks designed to give emotional insight into the themes of caregiving, dying, bereavement, and homeland.
What sets Linda & Joan apart from other branching-narrative experiences is that while the player has many choices to make, nothing can change the core events that follow — there is only one ending.
However, actions, dialogue choices, and task completion, do affect the characters’ perception of events. By spending time with happier memories, taking care of themselves, and choosing the right things to say to each other, the characters — and therefore the player — will find themselves able to deal with the impossible.
The characters’ emotional states will be graphically represented in the game. The player will have to carefully balance the needs of the characters to progress, sometimes requiring difficult zero-sum tradeoffs.
These mechanisms attempt to mirror the real-life feeling of being powerless in the face of looming trauma, when you realize that no decision can affect the outcome, but you can affect how you and others feel about it.
Even when life’s story feels like it’s on rails, we still have some power over our own realities. There is still room for dignity, compassion, honesty. For fear and for love. There is a time for self-care. There is a time for duty. The choices we make will define the memories we hold for the rest of our lives.