11-11 Memories Retold

Spending the evening of Armistice Day playing 11-11: Memories Retold – a moving narrative-driven game about the first World War – couldn’t have been more apt really.

81%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability, grinding

84% User Score Based on 964 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $0.96

Buy NowGet on Steam$29.99

About

"11-11 Memories Retold" is a narrative-driven adventure game that explores the lives of two soldiers during World War I. Navigate the war-torn landscapes of the Western Front as you uncover their individual stories, and experience the emotional impact of war. This game features stunning visuals and a moving orchestral score, immersing you in a poignant and unforgettable journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 979 reviews

story496 positive mentions

stability16 negative mentions

Beautiful, painterly art style that creates a unique atmosphere.
Engaging and emotional story that explores the human side of war from two perspectives.
Strong voice acting and a compelling narrative with multiple endings.

Gameplay is simplistic and often feels like a walking simulator with minimal interaction.
Collectibles can be difficult to find due to the art style, detracting from immersion.
Some plot points feel unrealistic or forced, especially towards the end of the game.

story
1,161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The story of "11-11: Memories Retold" is a poignant and emotional narrative set during World War I, exploring the intertwined lives of a Canadian photographer and a German engineer, each driven by personal motives. Players experience the war's human side through dual perspectives, with choices impacting the storyline and multiple endings available. While the art style is unique and visually striking, some players found the gameplay simplistic, yet many agree that the storytelling and character development are the game's strongest aspects, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “The storytelling is where 11-11 truly shines.”
- “What truly makes the story resonate is its focus on humanity, forgiveness, and the futility of conflict, themes that are further strengthened by the game's quiet, contemplative moments between the grander events of the war.”
- “11-11: memories retold offers a deeply emotional and visually stunning experience, with a story that focuses on the human side of World War I through its two protagonists—Harry and Kurt.”
- “The story is linear, very little choices matter before the last scene.”
- “The gameplay mechanic is rarely used (most of attention is given to the story), the story itself is extremely weak and riddled with more plot holes than Swiss cheese.”
- “The story became more and more outlandish as I played.”
graphics
575 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
57%
5%
The graphics of "11-11: Memories Retold" are characterized by a unique, painterly art style that resembles impressionist paintings, creating a visually stunning yet sometimes disorienting experience. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and charm this aesthetic brings to the narrative, others find it challenging to navigate due to its blurry textures and lack of detail, which can detract from gameplay. Overall, the art style is a polarizing element, with opinions varying widely on its effectiveness in enhancing the storytelling.
- “What immediately sets this game apart is its breathtaking, hand-painted art style.”
- “The watercolor aesthetic makes everything feel distant, like a fading memory, which only enhances the game’s emotional weight.”
- “The unique art style is immediately captivating, with its impressionistic visuals giving life to the harrowing and heartfelt narrative set during World War I.”
- “The graphics are horrible, it's like looking at a blurry image constantly and was a firm no from me.”
- “The art style can be unappealing to some, but it's kind of unique.”
- “The graphics hurt my eyes.”
gameplay
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
70%
12%
The gameplay of "11-11: Memories Retold" is primarily a walking simulator with minimal interactivity, focusing on exploration and simple puzzles that often feel repetitive and uninspired. While the narrative and visual presentation are praised, many players find the gameplay lacking depth and engagement, making it feel more like an interactive story than a traditional game. Overall, those seeking a rich gameplay experience may be disappointed, as the game prioritizes storytelling over mechanics.
- “A beautiful, short, story-driven linear game about the scars of war with simple gameplay that I recommend to story lovers.”
- “Gameplay mechanics are thoughtfully designed to enhance the narrative without overshadowing it.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and the story is engaging, with a very important moral lesson about war and loss.”
- “The gameplay is one of the most underwhelming aspects, falling short of what one might expect from a game with such a compelling narrative and art direction.”
- “The mechanics are simplistic, often revolving around basic exploration and object interaction, which leaves you feeling more like an observer than an active participant in the story.”
- “This seems like a story that should have been told with no gameplay elements because the ones that exist are purely here to justify calling this a game.”
emotional
197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
2%
The emotional aspect of "11-11: Memories Retold" is widely praised for its deeply moving narrative set against the backdrop of World War I, exploring themes of loss, friendship, and the human cost of war. Players report being profoundly affected by the game's poignant storytelling, stunning watercolor visuals, and evocative music, which together create an immersive experience that often leads to tears. While some critiques mention moments of cliché or simplicity, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a heartfelt and memorable emotional journey.
- “A deeply emotional narrative adventure set during World War I, it tells the intertwined stories of Harry, a young Canadian photographer, and Kurt, a German technician searching for his lost son.”
- “The narrative avoids simple heroics and instead dives into the emotional toll of loss and the yearning for redemption, which aims to leave you with a lasting, melancholic reflection on the true cost of war.”
- “The music and sound design are among the most powerful aspects, creating an immersive and emotionally resonant experience.”
- “The story was dull and the gameplay mechanics were even more tedious, consisting mainly of just walking or solving overly simplistic puzzles.”
- “I felt no emotional connection to the characters; their struggles seemed unimportant and uninspired.”
- “The game failed to evoke any real feelings, leaving me indifferent to the events unfolding on screen.”
music
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience. Composed by Olivier Deriviere, the orchestral soundtrack is described as hauntingly beautiful, perfectly complementing the game's atmosphere and character narratives without overpowering them. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, significantly contributing to the game's immersive and poignant experience.
- “The music and sound design are among the most powerful aspects, creating an immersive and emotionally resonant experience.”
- “The musical score deserves special mention for its hauntingly beautiful compositions that elevate the emotional impact of every scene.”
- “The music never overpowers the narrative but instead complements it, swelling at key moments to heighten the emotional weight of the characters' struggles.”
- “The music in the game is beautiful, but it feels like it doesn't quite fit the overall experience.”
- “The music was very big and Hollywood-y which worked, but wasn't really something I enjoyed; it really sounds like the soundtrack to a big movie and must have taken a lot of work, but for me, I've heard stuff like this just way too often.”
- “The music and impressionist art do the emotional heavy lifting when the storytelling - specifically Harry's romance story - falls flat.”
atmosphere
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
30%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning art style, exceptional orchestral soundtrack, and immersive storytelling, effectively capturing the emotional weight of World War I. Players appreciate the unique painting-like visuals that enhance the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding the clarity of details. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and artistic direction creates a deeply atmospheric and engaging environment that resonates with players.
- “The music is perfectly matched to the game's tone, enhancing the overall atmosphere and drawing players even deeper into the experience.”
- “Through an art style that resembles an impressionist painting that comes to life and an incredibly atmospheric soundtrack, the game manages to take you on two adventures that will ultimately lead to one of seven different endings.”
- “The atmosphere is masterfully enhanced by the insane orchestral performances throughout the game.”
- “The game has a very heavy 'waterpaint'-brushstroke filter which cannot be deactivated... this creates a special atmosphere, but after 10 minutes or so I was totally used to it... it removes a lot of detail though, but that doesn't really matter.”
- “That painting-like visual filter is part of the atmosphere and offers some very artistic images, but there is a lot of annoying flickering.”
- “Navigation and controls may not be the smoothest, but the game's atmosphere, story, and artistic direction come together in a touching portrayal that manages to strike an interesting balance between grim and whimsical.”
optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
Overall, the optimization of "11-11: Memories Retold" is generally well-received, with most players reporting smooth performance and only occasional minor FPS drops, particularly on mid-range hardware like the GTX 1070. While some users experienced crashes, the game is praised for its ability to run well, especially considering its indie status. The artistic direction and engaging narrative further enhance the overall experience, compensating for any minor technical issues.
- “I did not find any game-breaking bugs, and did not experience any issues with optimization.”
- “+ The game is well optimized and with the exception of a few spots where FPS drops a bit, it runs pretty well.”
- “Performance-wise, I am surprised that this game supports NVIDIA Surround right out of the box.”
- “The only real downside is optimization (some unexpected FPS drops on GTX 1070), but this is expected from basically an indie game.”
- “The performances of the voice actors were kind of mixed.”
- “Except for the protagonists, voice acting performances are mediocre.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
94%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and control issues that disrupt gameplay. While some users found the overall experience enjoyable despite these problems, others experienced significant interruptions requiring restarts. Overall, the game is described as unpolished and technically rough, with various minor to major stability issues affecting the experience.
- “The game runs smoothly without major crashes or glitches, providing a stable experience.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have focused on stability, ensuring that gameplay is consistent and reliable.”
- “The performance is solid, with minimal lag and no significant issues that disrupt the gaming experience.”
- “Then it is buggy and made me reload checkpoints twice just so I could progress.”
- “From a technical standpoint, there are some audio glitches that really aren't that serious, but I did encounter two bugs that brought the game to a halt and required restarts and some fiddling to get past.”
- “From a technical standpoint it's very very rough, from the utterly nonsensical default movement layout, to plenty of audio/visual glitches and poor signposting in spots.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting multiple endings and collectibles that encourage revisiting the story, while others feel the short playtime (around 4.5 to 10 hours) limits long-term engagement. Choices significantly impact outcomes, enhancing replay value for those interested in exploring different paths, but overall, many suggest it is best experienced on sale rather than at full price.
- “The choices you make affect the ending, making for a very replayable game.”
- “Best of all, there is good replayability to this game, so other than collecting stuff and achievements you might have missed along the way, you can also choose different options to find out what happens to the protagonists.”
- “There must be several different endings to the story, which, along with more collectibles to be found and other achievements to be unlocked, should make for some replay value.”
- “There are multiple places where choices can be made, so there is some replay value after the first playthrough, but I wouldn't expect the total play time for 100% completion to be any more than 10 hours in total.”
- “It can be completed in under 5 hours, or around 8 if you want all the achievements, and I don't see much replayability once completed.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The grinding aspect of "11-11: Memories Retold" is often described as tedious, with players noting that the gameplay can feel repetitive and akin to a walking simulator. While the story and artistic graphics are praised, the lack of a skip option for dialogue and the need to collect items can make the experience feel drawn out, especially towards the end. Overall, while some players find the narrative engaging enough to push through the grind, many agree that it detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “Going for 100% achievements isn't that tedious either.”
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
- “As much as the story might be interesting on paper, the execution is terribly tedious.”
- “The trouble comes when the gameplay is just a tedious addon; it would have been better as an animation.”
- “It gets a bit tedious at the end getting the different endings as there is no skip button on the dialogue trees, so you have to rehear the same stuff 5-6 times for the final chapter.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle and intertwined with its serious themes, featuring both funny and poignant moments that reflect the complexities of war and friendship. The watercolor art style complements the narrative's dreamlike quality, enhancing the impact of its humor, such as the ironic "press e to enlist" reference. Overall, the game balances its heartbreaking story with moments of levity, creating a unique emotional experience.
- “There are funny and sad moments, and the idea of two soldiers going through hardship and friendships without being able to understand each other was fantastic.”
- “"Press E to enlist" would be a funny reference if the game wasn't being serious.”
- “This game is beautiful, story-driven, heartbreaking, and funny at times.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The unique art style effectively supports the storytelling and character development by prioritizing charm over realism, allowing for a more budget-friendly approach that enhances the overall narrative experience.
- “The art style is very unique and covers a multitude of sins, allowing the developers to keep the budget down by not needing realism. This focus on story and character development is quite charming.”

77%Critics’ scoreBased on 17 critic reviews

Buy 11-11 Memories Retold

6h Median play time

8h Average play time

5-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

85%13.8kreviews

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

2014

Casual Platformer

+12

84%917reviews

Forgotton Anne

2018

Casual Role Playing

+13

Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth Image

This game contains adult content

86%3kreviews

Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth

2017

Casual Action Adventure

+11

This game contains adult content

81%7kreviews

Tell Me Why

2020

Action Adventure

95%73.1kreviews

Life Is Strange Episode 1

2015

Arcade Action Adventure

This game contains adult content

87%50.3kreviews

Life is Strange

2015

Casual Role Playing

+18

77%2kreviews

The First Tree

2017

Simulation

+12

82%4.5kreviews

RiME

2017

Open World Action Adventure

This game contains adult content

87%21.2kreviews

A Plague Tale: Innocence

2019

Role Playing

+11

88%16.2kreviews

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

2015

Casual Platformer

+18

11-11 Memories Retold Tweets

11-11 Memories Retold

Platforms

About