20something
- January 26, 2017
- Jake Tucker
Get on Steam20Something is an interactive fiction game, a candid and honest look at dating, relationships and navigating life as a man in his twenties for whom interactions can provoke a little extra soul searching.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a well-written narrative that effectively explores themes of dating, intimacy, and mental health, making it relatable for young adults.
- It includes humor and references to pop culture, which adds a light-hearted touch to the serious topics it addresses.
- Despite its shortcomings, the game is a commendable first effort and is free of technical issues, providing a smooth experience.
- The lack of a save feature and the short length of the game can make it feel tedious, requiring players to complete it in one sitting.
- The writing style is criticized for being overly pretentious and not engaging enough, leading to a bland experience.
- The game offers limited interactivity and agency, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied with their choices.
- story10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story is described as relatable yet unexceptional, with a lack of depth and interactivity, drawing criticism for its similarities to "High Fidelity." While it addresses important themes like mental health and alcohol abuse, the narrative ultimately fails to deliver a profound experience, despite the author's competent writing. There is some replayability due to limited agency, but the overall execution leaves much to be desired.
“The story it tells is relatable if unexceptional, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the author's command of the written word (always a nice thing in text adventures, I'm sure you'll agree).”
“And there isn't a huge amount of agency, but perhaps enough to make it replayable, should your first run-through of the storyline prove sufficiently intriguing.”
“Between randomly throwing in Asperger's and stealing the core plot and outline of 'High Fidelity', the creator ultimately fails at his attempt to be deep and provocative.”
“It's not so much interactive, and the story is not very deep.”
“Amongst the soul searching and eerily familiar romantic encounters, the story also touches on mental health issues and alcohol abuse, two topics young men often feel unable to talk about in healthy and productive ways, and are helpful to see represented in media.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics feature occasional hand-drawn illustrations, which add a personal touch, but the overall presentation relies on standard blue links for navigation, suggesting a minimalist aesthetic choice rather than a lack of effort.
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers limited agency, but the storyline's intrigue may encourage players to replay it for a different experience. Overall, while not highly variable, the narrative can still provide enough motivation for multiple playthroughs.
“There isn't a huge amount of agency, but perhaps enough to make it replayable, should your first run-through of the storyline prove sufficiently intriguing.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
20something is praised for its emotional depth, effectively exploring the complexities of dating and intimacy faced by a young man in his twenties. The game's interactive narrative resonates with players, making it a poignant experience that touches on relatable themes of love and connection.
“20something is a touching interactive fiction game that cuts to the heart of the world of dating and intimacy for a young man in his early twenties.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a relatable stream of consciousness that cleverly blends elements of 'bad but good' action movies, parties, and dates, creating a comedic experience that resonates with players.
“Scenes are told through a highly relatable stream of consciousness, humorously interwoven with 'bad but good' action movies, 'bad but good' parties, and 'bad but good' dates.”
