35MM

35MM tries a lot of things but succeeds at only a few of those things. There’s a unique tale here, but you have to get past many limitations along the way.

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"35MM" is a single-player horror shooter game set in a post-apocalyptic Russia, following two travelers on a quest for survival and self-discovery. The game offers beautiful visuals, masterful music, and an exceptional atmosphere, with various items, secrets, and quests to uncover throughout the journey. However, it is plagued with bugs and requires extensive grinding, but its wholesome story and multiple endings make it worthwhile.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

57%

Audience ScoreBased on 879 reviews

story138 positive mentions

gameplay37 negative mentions

story
472 mentions
29 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story of "35mm" is a post-apocalyptic narrative that unfolds slowly, often through environmental storytelling and scattered notes, which some players found engaging while others deemed it simplistic or poorly executed. Many reviews highlight the atmospheric setting and emotional depth, but criticisms include vague plot points, poor translations, and a lack of character development, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. While some players appreciated the journey and thematic elements, others felt the story was underwhelming and not compelling enough to sustain interest throughout the gameplay.
- “With its compelling story and unique setting, 35mm is a captivating adventure that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.”
- “The atmosphere and visuals, however, make for an interesting game but it is the story of 35mm that really shines, thus ensuring that this game is on my recommendation list.”
- “35mm is a dark and melancholic story about two travelers.”
- “It takes about 2-3 hours to finish and it has no real story.”
- “The plot is stupid, has a million and a small cart of logic holes.”
- “I wouldn't really recommend this though, it's bland, story is non-existent, the English is pretty badly subtitled.”
atmosphere
304 mentions
59 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "35mm" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive portrayal of a post-apocalyptic Russia, drawing comparisons to films like Tarkovsky's "Stalker" and games such as "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." and "Metro." While many reviewers appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of isolation and emotional depth through its visuals and sound design, some criticize the pacing and gameplay mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere stands out as its strongest feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric storytelling and exploration.
- “35mm offers a haunting journey through post-apocalyptic Russia, rich with atmosphere and emotion.”
- “The atmosphere is both beautiful and yet foreboding and tragic.”
- “The atmosphere is unique and very Tarkovskian (you literally feel the influence of his movie 'Stalker').”
- “The atmosphere is grey and, to say the least, boring.”
- “The game has atmosphere, and that's about it.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is ugly and boring.”
gameplay
181 mentions
14 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers describing it as a slow-paced walking simulator that lacks engaging mechanics and often feels tedious. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and narrative depth, the clunky controls, poorly explained mechanics, and frequent bugs detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among players. Overall, the gameplay is seen as simplistic and unfinished, failing to provide a satisfying interactive experience.
- “Shockingly engrossing, an all-around impressive effort narratively and in gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is quite varied, and wandering the empty European plains and cities while hearing the ambient sounds gives off that Stalker/Metro vibe that we all want from Slavic games.”
- “Overall, great game when it comes to design and gameplay.”
- “Slow boring slog with poorly designed mechanics and bugs that were never addressed by the dev. You spend most of the time walking around lost due to no map or even a journal to tell you what you're supposed to be doing.”
- “The gameplay is a bit meh and besides the different endings, the game is pretty straightforward.”
- “The gameplay was dull, the graphics were sub-par.”
graphics
156 mentions
47 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting a blend of decent artistic design and outdated visuals reminiscent of earlier gaming eras. While some appreciate the atmospheric quality and aesthetic appeal, others criticize the graphics as subpar, with issues like blurriness, lack of detail, and repetitive assets detracting from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the visuals contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere, particularly in its post-apocalyptic setting.
- “The game's stunning visuals and ambient soundtrack immerse players in its desolate world.”
- “The graphics are fantastic and so is the environment and the atmosphere of isolation.”
- “The developer has clearly put a lot of thought into just about every aspect of the visuals, and for those unfamiliar with this post-apocalyptic rural Russian world, it shows.”
- “The graphics are not great.”
- “Graphics are lackluster, with plenty of artifacts and lots of reused scenery, but not awful considering the asking price.”
- “The gameplay was dull, the graphics were sub-par.”
music
64 mentions
38 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the immersive experience of the desolate world. Many players appreciate the ambient soundtrack, which complements the gameplay and contributes to the overall mood, although some note that it can be inconsistent in volume. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, with several reviewers recommending it as a standout feature of the game.
- “The game's stunning visuals and ambient soundtrack immerse players in its desolate world.”
- “The imagery, the music, and overall acoustic atmosphere of this game are excellent.”
- “This melancholy is further reinforced with minimalistic musical ambiance as it seeps from the background, submerging the player in the ever-present angst of a post-disaster world.”
- “It's your standard walking simulator noises: wind against grass, creaking buildings, stock gunshot and knife sounds, etc. The music isn't half bad, but it only pops up in a few places, so you never really get to appreciate it.”
- “Very basic settings, cannot turn off very annoying background music.”
- “Also, the sound design was terrible, with just sound that should be quiet and atmospheric turning into loud booms and screeches. I was looking through houses, and cicadas, birds, and other insects were louder than the game's music.”
grinding
21 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious gameplay, including excessive walking, unskippable cutscenes, and vague quests that detract from the overall experience. Players found the need to repeat tasks and search for items frustrating, leading to a sense of boredom and irritation, particularly in later chapters. While the game boasts a beautiful atmosphere and intriguing premise, many felt that the tedious elements overshadowed its potential, making it a challenging experience for those seeking engaging gameplay.
- “The game is trying to be thoughtful and reflective but in truth is just boring with unnecessary gameplay prolonging through tedious searching quests, unskippable cutscenes, and vague logic.”
- “Had stuff I thought I would enjoy, with a stalker/roadside picnic feel and premise (one of my favorite books and movies) but really badly designed and very tedious.”
- “Searching for items is made very tedious - finding the bucket is becoming infamous and really says it all about the game.”
emotional
20 mentions
95 % positive mentions
-10 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a touching and impactful story that resonates deeply with players, evoking feelings of sorrow and loneliness, particularly in its post-apocalyptic setting. However, many reviewers note that the gameplay is limited and can detract from the emotional experience, with some criticizing the writing and overall execution. While the narrative has moments of brilliance, the game's lack of engaging mechanics and a satisfying conclusion leaves some players feeling underwhelmed.
- “Very emotionally engaging.”
- “I found the game to be very emotionally involving, and when the game wants you to feel a certain way, you do.”
- “Wonderful, heartbreaking story.”
- “The story felt incredibly dull and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
- “I found the narrative to be unengaging and lacking depth, which made it hard to connect emotionally.”
- “The emotional moments were predictable and didn't resonate with me at all.”
stability
17 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous glitches, bugs, and frustrating mechanics that hinder gameplay. Many reviewers describe the experience as clunky and unfinished, leading to significant difficulties in progression and overall enjoyment. While some aspects, like atmosphere and scenery, are appreciated, the pervasive technical issues overshadow these positives.
- “Overall, the game runs great! I would like to mention that it would be nice to speed up the walking of NPCs. I'm getting vibes of Stalker in the first hour and love it; Russians are great storytellers.”
- “I really can't stress what a clunky, buggy, and unfinished mess this game is.”
- “This game has so many event bugs and glitches I cannot progress in the game.”
- “Scenery is nice and atmosphere is definitely strong, but the gameplay is frustrating and the overall game is very slow and very buggy.”
replayability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting the presence of different endings and achievements that offer limited replay value. However, many reviewers express disappointment, stating that the overall experience is short and lacks significant incentives to replay, leading to a consensus of low replayability. While there are interesting moments, the game's brevity and issues detract from its potential for repeated playthroughs.
- “Finally, I expected it to be longer, but for the price, it is well worth it, especially as it has replayability with different endings.”
- “So in conclusion, 35mm isn't a terrible, if not polished, game. With a few different endings, it has replayability value, but you will probably run through it in less than five hours. If you aren't keen on spending much on a short game with many grammatical mistakes, then pick it up when on sale and enjoy a short experience in the post-apocalyptic Soviet Union.”
- “The way you play has an impact on the ending, giving this game some replay value.”
- “Replay value: it doesn’t even have play value.”
- “In summary, there is little to no replay value.”
- “This game has no replay value.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its poorly executed English translations and amusing animations, particularly the graphics of the wolves. Players find the translation errors and certain story elements, like bear shooting, to be genuinely funny, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience despite the game's lack of polish and direction. While some mechanics, like the character's jump ability, are criticized, the humor remains a highlight for many players.
- “Instead, I was captivated by hilariously bad English and pacing, but good setting and slightly compelling story.”
- “A strange game indeed; I guess I can still recommend it for the price, but be warned it's not that polished and the English translations are funny.”
- “Buuuut the story itself isn't bad; the bear shooting and dirt glass was hilarious, the actual exploration and scavenging is oddly enjoyable, and when I'm not in pain because of a bad direction, I'm enjoying myself.”
character development
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players noting a lack of depth and engagement, while others appreciate the attempts made in the first half, despite a poorly executed twist. Overall, the game struggles with delivering a compelling narrative and character growth, leading to mixed reviews on this aspect.
- “It's a good game, runs smoothly, and has good character development.”
- “Story -- despite the poor translation, I could follow the skeletal bits of story and character development in the first half of the game mostly fine.”
- “You have to have at least a little interesting plot and a little interesting character development.”
- “This is the only time character development is even attempted, and the game exploits it for an enormously crappy twist.”
- “35mm is a post-apocalyptic game that lacks open world, story, character development, exploration, item system, excitement, fun, functional jump ability, and everything else that makes a game enjoyable.”
- “Despite the poor translation, I could follow the skeletal bits of story and character development in the first half of the game mostly fine.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for being subpar, with players experiencing crashes and performance issues, particularly when enabling certain graphical settings. While the initial atmosphere and visuals are praised, the gameplay mechanics, such as unrealistic survival requirements and resource scarcity, detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “Performance friendly-ish; I did crash a few times, and I didn't turn SSAO and motion blur on, but that's about it.”
- “The game has a beautiful concept and atmosphere, but the optimization could use improvement to enhance the overall experience.”
- “Performance friendly-ish; I did crash a few times and I didn't turn SSAO and motion blur on, but that's about it.”
- “The game is too unrealistic and has nothing to do with 'surviving.' You have to eat 10 cans every 5 minutes to see normally; otherwise, the entire game is blurred and all the atmosphere is gone until you find at least 6 cans. No matter how much you search, you just can't find anything. It's like the developers said, 'Hey guys, let's make an awesome atmospheric game with zero optimization and make the gameplay terrible.'”
- “I experienced several crashes, and even with settings turned down, the performance was still lacking. It feels like the game was released without proper optimization.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for deceptive advertising that misleads players, particularly those seeking adventure, into engaging with a shooter experience.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending.”
- “The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency ruin the overall experience and make it feel like a cash grab.”