198X

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 713 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
198X Game Cover
198X is an incredible nostalgia trip for those who grew up playing arcade games and gives younger players the opportunity to experience those games in all their 80s glory.
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"198X" is a single-player Fantasy Hack and Slash game with an ingenious story, wonderful gameplay, fabulous graphics, and masterful music. The game follows Kid, a teenager navigating the limitations of youth and the obligations of adulthood, who discovers the local arcade and finds new worlds and meanings in video games. As Kid grows stronger with every game uncovered and demon defeated, the lines between game and reality blur. The estimated play time is 2 hours.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 713 reviews
story134 positive mentions
replayability10 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and stunning visuals that capture the essence of 80s arcade games.
  • Engaging soundtrack that enhances the nostalgic atmosphere and complements the gameplay.
  • Relatable coming-of-age story that resonates with players who grew up in the 80s and 90s.
  • Extremely short gameplay, typically completed in under 2 hours, leaving players wanting more.
  • Lack of replayability as mini-games cannot be played individually after completing the story.
  • Vague and clichéd narrative that fails to develop character depth or emotional investment.
  • story596 mentions

    The story of *198x* is a nostalgic coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of 80s arcade culture, exploring themes of escapism and identity through a series of mini-games. While some players find the narrative relatable and emotionally resonant, others criticize it for being vague, shallow, and poorly paced, often feeling more like a collection of game segments than a cohesive story. Overall, the game leaves many wanting more depth and development, especially as it is presented as only the first chapter of a larger narrative.

    • “Each level is a love letter to classic genres, and together they weave a story that deeply resonates with those who grew up on these games.”
    • “This game is a lovingly crafted, bittersweet homage to games of yore mixed in with an engaging story shot through with nostalgia.”
    • “The story hits me hard as I was that kid.”
    • “The story isn't necessarily 'bad', it's just too vague to have an impact because what exactly happened isn't explicitly stated; it's implied through the games themselves.”
    • “You're teased with some hints of a larger story which isn't ever delivered, and I don't understand why.”
    • “The story is nonexistent, just some maudlin whining that goes nowhere.”
  • music282 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic synthwave soundtrack and its ability to evoke emotions reminiscent of the 80s. Composed by notable artists including Yuzo Koshiro, the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere and complements the beautiful pixel art, making it a standout feature despite the game's short playtime. Overall, the music is described as captivating, immersive, and a key element that elevates the gaming experience.

    • “The music, the graphics, the atmosphere is all just brilliant.”
    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal.”
    • “The pixel art is amazing, the arcade games are solid and speak to a knowledge of the games that were around in my childhood, and the music is amazing.”
    • “It deeply pains me that copies of the OST aren't available in any fashion (outside of ripping the audio from the game itself) as of this writing, though the devs have responded to concerns on the community pages that they are actively working on remedying this situation.”
    • “Tl;dr version: a 'successful' Kickstarter game with just under 70k USD for 1 hour of beautiful graphics, awesome music, shitty story, limited gameplay, and no replayability?”
    • “The story and soundtrack are really the only thing that holds this 1 hour experience together.”
  • graphics194 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and nostalgic 1980s aesthetic, effectively capturing the atmosphere of classic arcade games. Reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and impressive soundtrack, noting that they enhance the overall experience and evoke a strong sense of nostalgia. However, some critiques mention that the graphics may appear too advanced for the era they aim to emulate, and the game's short length leaves players wanting more despite the high-quality art.

    • “The game's visuals and sound design do an excellent job of capturing the nostalgia and atmosphere of the 1980s arcade scene.”
    • “It's amazing, the level of detail that the developers were able to achieve with the game's graphics, given the art style... sound and soundtrack are rad as well.”
    • “The game is absolutely gorgeous in terms of the graphics, it’s aesthetically pleasing and it’s something you won’t forget for a while.”
    • “However, its graphics look too advanced for the era it wants to emulate.”
    • “198x should be a game I absolutely love: 80s nostalgia, synthwave OST, mini games that resemble old school gold, pixelated artwork, etc., but it falls so drastically short that I can't recommend this game for anything less than a few bucks.”
    • “The game is about 2 hours long, the story is generic and irrelevant, the voice acting is overdone and obnoxious, the mini games are no more than 2-3 levels each, and the pixelated artwork is little more than minimally animated wallpaper.”
  • gameplay169 mentions

    The gameplay in this title is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its nostalgic homage to 1980s arcade games and unique mechanics across various genres, but lamenting its brevity, often clocking in at around 1-2 hours. While the visuals and music receive high praise, the gameplay itself is described as shallow and lacking depth, leaving some players wanting more in terms of both content and emotional engagement. Overall, it offers a fun experience for those who value aesthetics and nostalgia, but may disappoint those seeking substantial gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is a mix of side-scrolling action and RPG elements, allowing players to level up and upgrade their abilities as they progress through the game.”
    • “Beautiful pixel animations, fantastic 80's soundtracks, and awesome gameplay resembling classic video game machines.”
    • “The gameplay segments control well, they're fair, and they're fun.”
    • “I don't think it's worth $9.99 for an hour of gameplay though.”
    • “I can see why some people are disappointed, this is a short experience and neither the gameplay ideas nor the narrative are quite fleshed out enough, particularly the latter.”
    • “The actual gameplay is less than 30 minutes but they make you listen to the kid exposition for another 30ish minutes to extend the playtime.”
  • atmosphere54 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, nostalgic ambiance, effectively capturing the essence of the 1980s arcade scene through excellent graphics, sound design, and music. Players appreciate the immersive quality and emotional depth it brings, although some note that the pacing can detract from the experience. Overall, the game's attention to detail and artistic style contribute to a stunning and memorable atmosphere that resonates with many, making it a standout feature.

    • “The game's visuals and sound design do an excellent job of capturing the nostalgia and atmosphere of the 1980s arcade scene.”
    • “This game has such a rich atmosphere which I didn't find in any other game yet.”
    • “The music, the narration, the art style ... just a fantastic game with a stunning atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere and narrative cash in on nostalgia like many others but what sets it apart is that 198x does it in all the right ways.”
    • “There was a lot of attention to detail in terms of pixel art and capturing the atmosphere of the city.”
    • “So I can’t fully relate to most of these memories, but I can definitely value the style, vibes, and that whole atmosphere thing.”
  • emotional43 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and nostalgic connections to the 80s arcade culture, resonating deeply with players who share similar experiences. While the narrative is well-crafted and touching, some reviewers felt it lacked sufficient emotional investment in the characters, leaving them wanting more in terms of emotional satisfaction. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging presentation and ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a standout narrative experience despite some gameplay shortcomings.

    • “The presentation of the story and the relation of the story to the arcade games is admirable, and the emotional finale is flawless.”
    • “It’s a strong, emotional bit of storytelling on its own, but if you're like me and grew up in the arcades of this time, you will find it resonates with those experiences in a way few games, books, or movies ever have.”
    • “Clearly inspired by a kid's story from the Animatrix, 198x offers a touching and relatable story, superb music, excellent voice work, and impressive tributes to coin-op arcade games from the mid to late 80s.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers little incentive to play again outside of achievement hunting. While some found enjoyment in the gameplay and suggested that a patch allowing individual minigame access could enhance replay value, the consensus is that the short playtime and lack of difficulty limit the game's longevity.

    • “I had a blast playing this game on stream; it does have a lot of replay value because the games are fun and you want to get better at them.”
    • “Additionally, I feel like this would strongly encourage replay value, as I would be far more inclined to take a crack at those perfectionist achievements if I could simply restart from the beginning of that particular minigame/segment.”
    • “I'd love a bit more replayability (like they did in 'Sayonara Wild Hearts', for example).”
    • “However, this is not a substitute for playing 5 different games in one package, since these stages are only a single stage and I don't think I get a lot of replay value for playing the same stage over again, especially when the games aren't very difficult (some are even too easy).”
    • “The playtime is very short, as it should only take you approximately an hour to play through the game, and I didn't feel like it had much replayability.”
    • “The only downsides are the fact that it's very short as it's only a part of the full story and the fact that there is absolutely no replay value.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    The reviews do not specifically address the optimization of the game, focusing instead on the performances and storytelling. However, the overall sentiment suggests that while the narrative and voice acting, particularly by Maya Tuttle, are commendable, there may be a sense of nostalgia that could overshadow the game's originality.

    • “The story is well told, even if a bit ambiguous, with an especially amazing performance from Maya Tuttle.”
    • “I've not heard of Maya Tuttle before, but she deserves a goddamn Oscar for her performance in this.”
    • “Maya Tuttle, whom I had never heard of before, absolutely kills her performance as a kid.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the game can be completed in under two hours, it is not primarily focused on grinding. Instead, it captures the nostalgic feel of arcade gaming, evoking the experience of playing with a joystick while enjoying pizza, rather than requiring extensive grinding gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Finished under 2 hours, but the game was not designed to be about grinding.”
    • “It really captures the aesthetic of grinding away at an arcade machine while trying to hold on to the joystick with greasy pizza hands.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the game's episodic nature and pricing. Many feel that the promotional materials do not adequately inform potential buyers that they are purchasing only the first part of a series, leading to disappointment and reluctance to invest further.

    • “If future chapters are this length with the same price tag, then this looks like a cash grab and I probably won't purchase.”
    • “The trailer and adverts never really tell you this is 'part 1' of anything (note the Steam description does, but any and all outside advertisements, i.e. the dev's YouTube channel, do not mention this).”
    • “One good thing about this awful cash grab.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from its self-aware absurdity, particularly in its uninspired storyline about a gamer boy and an alternative girl, which some players find amusingly stagnant. Additionally, there are suggestions that transforming certain game elements into endless runners could enhance the experience, highlighting a playful critique of the game's design choices. Overall, the humor seems to stem from a mix of irony and a lighthearted acceptance of the game's shortcomings.

    • “Gamer boy who likes alternative girl has become the most uninspired storyline ever, and the game doesn't even attempt to go anywhere with it, which is frankly hilarious because I didn't want to go anywhere with that anyway.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy 198X

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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