21 Days

52%
Game Brain Score Based on 26 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • emotional
21 Days Game Cover
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"21 Days" is a simulation adventure game that places you in the shoes of Mohammed Shenu, a Syrian refugee seeking safety in Western Europe. With only 21 days to manage money, time, hunger, and mental status, you must navigate a foreign society and earn enough to help your family escape. The game provides a sobering look into the struggles faced by refugees, with the faint hope of reuniting with loved ones driving your journey.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

52%
Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews
emotional6 positive mentions
grinding1 negative mentions
  • The game effectively encourages empathy by confronting players with the harsh realities faced by refugees.
  • It features a compelling narrative that highlights the struggles of a Syrian refugee trying to build a new life in a foreign country.
  • The gameplay, while challenging, offers a unique experience of resource management and decision-making that reflects the difficult choices refugees must make.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks engaging mechanics, leading to a sense of boredom.
  • The emotional impact of the story is muted, making it difficult for players to connect deeply with the characters and their struggles.
  • The game has limited replayability and feels linear, with few meaningful choices that affect the outcome.
  • story12 mentions

    The story of "21 Days" centers on a Muslim refugee fleeing the war in Syria, navigating the challenges of seeking refuge in the United States. While it aims to deliver a political statement and offers a choose-your-own-adventure format, many reviewers found the emotional depth lacking, describing the narrative as bland and the presentation as low-quality. The game is recommended for those interested in storytelling, but it may not appeal to players prioritizing graphics and audio quality.

    • “21 Days is a good role-playing game that tells the story of a Muslim trying to find refuge in the hostile environment of the United States while fleeing the war in Syria.”
    • “I plan to use this game for English teaching because it's a good mix of medium difficulty language and visual storytelling.”
    • “This gave me a very interesting feeling and I was fascinated by the story.”
    • “Instead, the story feels a bit bland with extremely muted emotions.”
    • “But this story is told in the most unemotional, flat way possible.”
    • “Portrayal of Islam in this game is rather misleading; it seems like a game made just to culturally appropriate people and give a false story about migrants.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a time management style that initially appears easy but proves to be quite challenging. However, many players find it lacking in depth, describing it as a repetitive walking simulator with minimal strategy and bland mechanics, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the absence of mouse or controller support further limits its appeal.

    • “The premise of the gameplay seems like it will be 'easy' -- literally a time management gameplay style -- but it's actually rather challenging.”
    • “Other games have managed to build tedium or frustration into the gameplay for good effect and still keep it engaging, but this game just doesn't have gameplay.”
    • “It's basically a walking sim, so don't expect a lot of strategy - the eating and working mechanics are similar to Always Sometimes Monsters.”
    • “It's basically a walking sim, so don't expect a lot of strategy - the eating/working mechanics are similar to Always Sometimes Monsters.”
    • “The gameplay is purposefully repetitive; I get it.”
    • “As for the gameplay itself, it's rather bland and boring, and there is no mouse/controller support.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth and connection to characters, with comparisons to "Papers, Please" highlighting its shortcomings in evoking empathy. While some players found moments of emotional resonance in the daily letters, many felt that the storytelling was flat and failed to develop characters sufficiently to create a meaningful emotional impact.

    • “I just created a let's play on this game and I got very emotional reading the daily letters!”
    • “While Papers, Please leaves you actually feeling and empathizing with the character, you never really get a chance to make an emotional connection to these characters.”
    • “Unfortunately, nothing ever really gets developed enough to feel emotional.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack's emotional impact while others criticize its repetitiveness and limited variety, leading to frustration and the need to mute the game. Despite the complaints, there is a desire among some users to download the soundtrack, indicating a recognition of its potential appeal.

    • “The soundtrack is something that almost made me have an 'allahu akbar' moment in my head.”
    • “This game is amazing! Where can I download the soundtrack?”
    • “The music adds a lovely touch to the experience, enhancing the emotional impact of the game.”
    • “There came a point where I had to mute the game because I couldn’t stand the music anymore.”
    • “The game pretty much has only 2 songs in the whole game, which makes the main theme overplay itself throughout the game and probably kills your ears in the process.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    The graphics are described as old-school, which may appeal to fans of storytelling games but could frustrate players who prioritize modern visuals and audio quality. Overall, the aesthetic choice may detract from the gaming experience for those seeking a more polished presentation.

    • “The graphics are beautifully crafted, capturing a unique art style that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The visual design is stunning, with vibrant colors and intricate details that bring the game world to life.”
    • “The graphics create an immersive atmosphere, making every scene feel alive and engaging.”
    • “I would recommend this to players who enjoy storytelling games, but if you think that graphics and audio quality are the most important aspects, then maybe this isn't the game for you.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    While the game offers numerous decisions and multiple endings, many players feel that its linearity diminishes replayability, as different choices do not significantly alter the overall experience.

  • grinding1 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game effectively captures the relentless struggle of a refugee attempting to rebuild their life amidst a harsh and unpredictable setting, emphasizing the challenges posed by limited time and resources.

    • “Through a method of day after day of grinding attrition, the game conveys the quiet desperation of an average refugee trying to build a new life out of ashes in a frequently arbitrary and hostile environment with limited time and very limited resources.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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