198X

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,470 reviews

story277 positive mentions

replayability19 negative mentions

Beautiful pixel art and stunning visuals that capture the essence of 80s arcade games.
Great soundtrack that enhances the nostalgic atmosphere and complements the gameplay.
Engaging concept that intertwines a coming-of-age story with various arcade game genres.

Extremely short gameplay, typically completed in under 2 hours, which feels overpriced at full price.
Unskippable cutscenes and slow transitions that disrupt the flow of the game and can be frustrating.
The narrative lacks depth and resolution, leaving players wanting more without a satisfying conclusion.

story
1,155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The story of *198x* is a nostalgic coming-of-age narrative centered around a teenager navigating life in the 1980s, using arcade games as a form of escapism. While the pixel art and soundtrack are praised for their quality, many reviewers find the story itself to be clichéd, vague, and lacking depth, often feeling like a collection of unfulfilled plot threads rather than a cohesive narrative. The game ends abruptly, leaving players wanting more, and the unskippable cutscenes detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game.
- “Through various mechanics and experiences, it invites us to relive that golden era, wrapping us in a story that is both melancholic and deeply emotional.”
- “The music, impeccable, blends perfectly with the protagonist's narration, connecting us intimately with his story.”
- “This game is a lovingly crafted, bittersweet homage to games of yore mixed in with an engaging story shot through with nostalgia.”
- “The story is a collection of five short games connected together by a story that's honestly pretty boring, with some really cringy dialogue and it doesn't even have an ending (and probably never will).”
- “The story sucks and is just a Tron rip-off.”
- “The story is pretty boring, color by numbers coming-of-age stuff.”
music
560 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The music in "198x" has been widely praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers highlighting its nostalgic synthwave soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's retro aesthetic. The soundtrack not only enhances the overall atmosphere but also evokes strong emotional responses, making it a standout feature of the game. While some players noted that the music can occasionally overshadow the narration, the consensus is that it significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a must-listen for fans of 80s-inspired soundtracks.
- “The music, impeccable, blends perfectly with the protagonist's narration, connecting us intimately with his story.”
- “The pixel art and the music are both beautiful.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, switching appropriately between chiptune homages to arcade classics and a dreamy synth score reminiscent of Vangelis' soundtrack for Blade Runner.”
- “Yeah, the graphics may be a nice gesture to the 80s, but the music is boringly repetitive. I just can't stand devs who don't respect the player's time.”
- “There are no redeeming qualities in the gameplay or the plot; the soundtrack's alright though, so if that's your jam, buy the soundtrack, skip the game.”
- “While the art style, the synth-heavy soundtrack, and the rather vague background story of '198x' create an authentic 80s vibe, the design of the 5 mini-games it consists of is strictly rinse and repeat.”
gameplay
376 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The gameplay in 198x is a mixed bag, featuring a series of short, nostalgic mini-games that pay homage to classic arcade genres, but often lack depth and innovation. While the visuals and soundtrack receive high praise, many players find the gameplay segments to be shallow and overly brief, with a significant portion of the experience dedicated to lengthy cutscenes. Overall, the game appeals more to those seeking a narrative-driven experience rather than robust gameplay mechanics.
- “The gameplay is challenging and satisfying, and I found myself getting lost in the world of the game.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay segments control well, they're fair, and they're fun.”
- “Setting/artwork has some cool interesting bits which alone sadly don't redeem the gameplay and dragged out unskippable lame story about a bored whiny androgynous kid.”
- “The gameplay is a grab bag of different classic arcade genres, and while none of them stick out as poor, none of them do anything to make themselves very memorable either.”
- “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.”
graphics
375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The graphics of 198x are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and vibrant retro aesthetic, effectively capturing the nostalgic feel of 80s arcade games. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork and impressive animations, which enhance the overall atmosphere and storytelling, despite some criticism regarding the game's brevity and gameplay depth. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, making the game appealing to fans of retro gaming and pixel art.
- “The graphics and art are gorgeous, and the music is top notch!”
- “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, with beautifully drawn pixel art and a narrative that hits close to home for me.”
- “The pixel art style and music really work for this, too.”
- “What is striking in 198x is not the graphic capability or extraordinary features or open worlds used in current games produced by large studios and companies.”
- “The driving level was slow and boring and the graphics are a bit glitchy; I suspect the devs struggled to get it right.”
- “The concept and artwork started off very strong but it felt like the devs cared less and less as the game went on.”
atmosphere
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning pixel art, nostalgic 1980s aesthetic, and captivating soundtrack, which together create a rich and immersive experience. Many players appreciate the blend of sadness and beauty in the ambiance, although some note that the overall experience can feel shallow or slow-paced. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest element, effectively drawing players into its unique world.
- “Come for the fantastic recreations of arcade classics, stay for the gorgeous pixel art and noir cinematic storytelling dripping with atmosphere.”
- “I've found myself returning to it repeatedly, captivated by the unique atmosphere and its blend of sadness and beauty.”
- “The atmosphere, the soundtrack... everything comes together perfectly in this short little gem of a game.”
- “I felt like the atmosphere set by the graphics and the music put me in the mood for a good story, but the whole experience feels shallow and underdeveloped.”
- “The whiny voice acting and 'story' was complete cringe and ruined the excellent music and atmosphere.”
- “Actual gameplay is slim—the appeal is more in the vibe, the great soundtrack and the dreamlike synth 80s atmosphere.”
emotional
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its nostalgic homage to the 80s arcade era, featuring a touching coming-of-age story that resonates deeply with players who grew up during that time. While many appreciate the heartfelt narrative and evocative soundtrack, some critiques point to a lack of emotional depth in certain storytelling elements, leaving players wanting more in terms of emotional satisfaction. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of feelings, from nostalgia to melancholy, making it a memorable experience for those who connect with its themes.
- “Through various mechanics and experiences, it invites us to relive that golden era, wrapping us in a story that is both melancholic and deeply emotional.”
- “The seamless blend of gameplay and cinematic storytelling creates a unique and emotional experience.”
- “It combined some really fun 80's style arcade action with a really emotional story of a young kid dealing with some heavy (implied) depression by throwing herself into an arcade every day... highly recommend it.”
- “They were trying to portray the '80s with fancy visuals that games didn't have back then and really boring storytelling.”
- “Just that typical sort of thing when developers put all sorts of different game genres together that really have no idea what they're doing besides trying to tell a really boring story while they suck at level design but try to make up for it with good looking art.”
replayability
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
53%
31%
Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, primarily appealing to achievement hunters due to its short playtime of about 1-2 hours. While some players find enjoyment in replaying levels for mastery or nostalgia, many reviews highlight a lack of substantial content and options, making a single playthrough sufficient for most. The absence of features like a skip function for story segments further diminishes the incentive to replay.
- “Although the games serve mainly as a vehicle for the ambiance and story, the quality of production and gameplay is top-notch and made me wish for more content and replayability after the credits rolled.”
- “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.”
- “There is some replayability in getting all the achievements, but this is still a game worth experiencing.”
- “Sadly, the game offers little replay value; the overall game and story are short, and some of the minigames have numerous troublesome (though non-gamebreaking) glitches.”
- “The game is quite short and has little to no replay value, but it seems to be the start of a great story. Whether or not they continue to update the game with a continuation of the story or plan on releasing a second game will be the difference in the game being worth the price.”
- “There is basically no replayability, but what an enjoyable experience.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
Reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often tedious and unfulfilling, with many players expressing frustration over long cutscenes and repetitive gameplay mechanics that disrupt the flow. While some aspects of the game may evoke nostalgia, the overall experience is marred by excessive grinding and a lack of engaging content, leading to a sense of exhaustion rather than enjoyment. Players recommend skipping certain levels due to their grindy nature, which detracts from the overall appeal of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The ninja sidescroller and RPG/dungeon crawler were atrocious and tedious as hell!”
- “I went from fairly amused and rather excited by the Streets of Rage/Final Fight rip opener to downright insulted by the final level, which is a terribly tedious dungeon crawler with 5 enemy types - 3 of which are mostly palette swaps - and 1 boss copied and colored three times.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
38%
23%
Overall, the game is highly praised for its optimization, with users reporting no bugs or performance issues. The smooth gameplay and easy-to-learn controls enhance the experience, while the impressive vocal performance by Maya Tuttle adds depth to the storytelling. The pixel graphic cutscenes are also noted for their beauty, contributing to the game's overall polished presentation.
- “A greatly optimized game.”
- “The game's pixel graphic cutscenes are gorgeous, and the games within the game run smoothly with easy-to-learn controls.”
- “No bugs or performance issues to report.”
- “There's no performance from supporting characters; next to no expression is given to the arcade 'cast', so their showcase at the closing shot was really something.”
- “Steam optimization, support, and updates as of 21/03/2021 have been lacking.”
- “Overall impressions indicate that there are no bugs or performance issues to report, but the optimization leaves much to be desired.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its cozy atmosphere and amusing cutscenes featuring an emo teenager's exaggerated reflections on life, which resonate particularly well with those familiar with the 1980s. While the storyline involving a gamer boy and an alternative girl is deemed uninspired, it adds to the comedic effect, as players find humor in the lack of ambition in the narrative. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging music and gameplay.
- “Short gameplay sequences punctuated by hilariously angsty cutscenes where an emo teenager soliloquizes about yearning and growing up.”
- “But it was super funny, especially for people from the 1980s.”
- “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.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is largely criticized for being shallow and limited, failing to provide depth despite the appealing voice acting and character designs inspired by the 1980s. While the animation and aesthetics are praised, they do not compensate for the lack of meaningful character growth throughout the narrative.
- “The voice acting and character designs, though limited in number, are beautiful and clearly inspired by the 1980s.”
- “Sprites are beautifully animated, and some character designs in the game are incredible.”
- “The character development is incredibly shallow, especially for a game that's narrated at a snail's pace.”
- “Limited character development.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting numerous non-gamebreaking glitches, particularly in certain minigames, while others experienced no bugs at all. Overall, the game holds together well, but frustrating glitches can disrupt gameplay, especially in the final levels. Despite these issues, the game's design and story are praised, suggesting that improvements could enhance its value.
- “Sadly, the game offers little replay value, the overall game and story are short, and some of the minigames have numerous troublesome (though non-gamebreaking) glitches.”
- “The game holds together very well, but 'Beating Heart' in particular is fairly janky and you don't have to even try to hit some glitches.”
- “There are some really annoying glitches that can make you repeat the level and spend another 30 minutes doing it again.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as potentially exploitative, with users feeling misled by marketing that does not clearly indicate the episodic nature of the content. Many express concern that future chapters may not justify their price, leading to perceptions of the game as a cash grab.
- “One good thing about this awful cash grab.”
- “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).”