9.03m

About

"9.03m" is a single-player Point and Click art/empathy game with excellent mechanics, visuals, and music. The game is set on Baker Beach in San Francisco, where debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami has washed ashore. The goal is to find the butterflies, serving as a reminder of the individuals behind the disaster's death toll. The game originated as a final year university project aiming to affect the player emotionally.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 857 reviews

emotional166 positive mentions

character development2 negative mentions

9.03m is a beautifully crafted experience that serves as a heartfelt tribute to the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, evoking deep emotions and empathy.
The game's minimalist art style and soothing soundtrack create a calming atmosphere that enhances the reflective experience.
With half of the proceeds going to charity, purchasing 9.03m not only provides a meaningful experience but also contributes to a good cause.

The game is extremely short, lasting only about 10-15 minutes, which may leave some players feeling unsatisfied.
As a walking simulator, the gameplay is very limited, with little interactivity beyond following a set path and examining objects.
Some players found the emotional impact to be lacking or overly sentimental, feeling that the game did not effectively convey the intended message.

emotional
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game "9.03m" is widely regarded as a deeply emotional experience, serving as a poignant tribute to the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Players describe it as a touching and immersive journey that evokes real feelings, often leading to tears, despite its short duration of around 12-20 minutes. While some critique its gameplay elements, many appreciate its artistic approach and the powerful emotional impact it delivers, making it more of a memorial than a traditional game.
- “9.03m is a truly exceptional and emotionally resonant gaming experience that leaves a lasting impact.”
- “This game is a poignant and heartwarming tribute to the human spirit, resilience, and the importance of remembrance.”
- “9.03m is an experience, a touching, beautiful experience that will move you to the core.”
music
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The music in *9.03m* is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful piano composition, which significantly enhances the game's reflective atmosphere. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack could have been more extensive, many felt it effectively conveyed the themes of loss and remembrance, making it a defining aspect of the experience. Overall, the combination of evocative music and minimalistic visuals creates a poignant and calming journey for players.
- “The music is a large piece of the experience, although not as long as I would have liked, and builds the atmosphere nicely.”
- “The music, the artistic value, and everything about it is so wonderful.”
- “Music is always an integral part of how one experiences any given media, but in the particular case of 9.03, I felt that the incredibly moving, reflective, and gentle piano soundtrack was the defining point of the game.”
- “The music is inoffensive, but dull.”
- “It's a ten-minute experiment with five seconds of interaction: stretching it out and putting sad piano music over it doesn't make it better.”
- “The lack of sound frustrated me and I think that the game would have been much better for the music.”
graphics
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
The graphics of 9.03m are described as simplistic and stylized, with many reviewers appreciating the beautiful art style and its ability to convey emotional themes effectively. However, some players noted issues with clarity and resolution, finding the visuals occasionally fuzzy or dark, which detracted from the overall experience. While the aesthetics are generally praised for their artistic value, they are also critiqued for lacking depth and detail, leading some to view the game more as a piece of art than a traditional gaming experience.
- “Beautiful graphics, music, and scenery.”
- “The simple graphics and gentle music do a wonderful job of conveying the tragic losses, reminding you that those losses were more than just numbers; they were people with lives of their own.”
- “For anyone who wants to look at some beautiful artistic graphics and listen to awe-inspiring music: play this game.”
- “-lackluster graphics that just seem so dark and claustrophobic”
- “I also ran into a number of graphical issues that are inexcusable in a game with a run-time of about 10-20 minutes, such as low draw distance and, again, especially bearing in mind the length of the game, very low resolution models and textures.”
- “In terms of graphics and gameplay, it is quite subpar.”
story
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The story in "9.03m" is described as a poignant and emotional experience, conveyed through minimalistic visuals and music rather than traditional narrative methods. While some players appreciate its artistic approach and the heavy themes it addresses, others criticize its linearity and lack of interactivity, suggesting it functions more as a short visual poem than a conventional game. Overall, it resonates deeply with those open to its unique storytelling style, particularly in reflecting on the impact of the 2011 tsunami in Japan.
- “The story was short but heavy, and how the developers managed to convey their message was beautifully done.”
- “9.03m is not meant to be played as a game, more as a meaningful, sad, and informative story.”
- “The game is only 12 - 15 minutes long, but that's all it needs to tell a heart-wrenching story and pay tribute to the victims of the 2011 tsunami in Japan.”
- “That said, as both a game and a means of telling a story, this just doesn't do its job well.”
- “There is no gameplay, story, or anything.”
- “I found myself desperately looking for symbolism to finally grasp the story/message it had to tell, but alas I could not find it until the very end of the game.”
gameplay
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
67%
11%
The gameplay of '9.03m' is minimal and primarily consists of walking and examining objects, resulting in a total playtime of about 10-30 minutes. While it lacks traditional gameplay mechanics and can feel repetitive or shallow, many players find its emotional impact and unique approach to storytelling rewarding. Overall, it is more an experience of reflection than a conventional game, appealing to those seeking a poignant narrative rather than gameplay challenges.
- “The game steps back from most mechanics and extra audio and visual input so that you can focus on what it's trying to get across.”
- “Tranquility and simplicity were the main points of the little gameplay there was, and I found it intriguing and calming.”
- “An outstanding game with amazing visual style and great gameplay.”
- “In terms of actual gameplay, '9.03m' is essentially a slideshow which you are holding W to navigate.”
- “There is no gameplay, story, or anything.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay does not support this in the slightest.”
atmosphere
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
8%
The game's atmosphere is described as beautifully atmospheric, often gloomy and calming, with a strong emphasis on minimalism and art. While the slow-paced gameplay may bore some players, many find the experience entrancing, enhanced by a poignant soundtrack and evocative scenery. Overall, it effectively immerses players in a unique, dreamlike environment that resonates emotionally, despite some desires for deeper narrative context.
- “It's a very atmospheric linear adventure game that explores the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake/tsunami.”
- “The good: this game is dripping with atmosphere; all you have to do is look at the screenshots in order to see that.”
- “It adopts a neat aesthetic which seeps sorrow and beauty, along with nice sound effects of the ocean to help with the soothing atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is definitely gloomy and your character moves rather slowly, which can be boring and is a pet peeve of many people.”
- “I would have wished to read something about their background, where they come from and who they were; maybe some more personal stuff in descriptions - the atmosphere and credibility would have improved on a large scale!”
- “The purpose of the game is to sweep you away in the atmosphere while being artsy, but the subject matter is not abstract enough to be fascinating and not concrete enough to be profound.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Reviews indicate a significant disappointment in character development, with multiple users expressing that there is a complete lack of growth or depth in the characters, contradicting expectations of empathy and humanization.
- “I keep seeing the words humanize, empathy, and character development.”
- “There was absolutely zero character development.”
- “There was absolutely zero character development.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game 9.03m is noted for its simplicity, which may limit its complexity and replay value; however, this straightforwardness effectively resonates with players on an emotional level.
- “Where it lacks in complexity or replay value, 9.03m's simplicity allows for an appeal to the player's emotions.”