A Game About

About

A Game About is a free, short, lo-fi point & click adventure that tasks the player with living with their daily routine. Through day to day choices, life changes in imperceptibles and unexpected ways.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 624 reviews

story14 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game offers a surprisingly deep and relatable exploration of daily life and mental health, effectively conveying the struggles of depression.
Its minimalist hand-drawn art style adds a unique charm, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative.
Despite its short runtime, the game manages to evoke genuine emotions and reflections on life, making it a worthwhile experience.

The unskippable cutscenes and slow pacing can be frustrating, making replaying for different outcomes tedious.
The flickering text and animations may cause discomfort for some players, particularly those sensitive to visual stimuli.
While the game aims to address serious themes, some players feel it lacks depth and can come off as simplistic or pretentious.

story
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
78%
4%
The game's story is a poignant exploration of themes like depression and anxiety, conveyed through simple yet impactful storytelling and a unique art style that complements its message. While some players appreciate its concise and relatable narrative, others find it lacking in depth and interactivity, with a desire for faster progression and more character development. Overall, it resonates strongly with those who have experienced similar struggles, making it a meaningful, albeit brief, experience.
- “The story of a game about hits quite hard for me as I have personally gone through the exact same thing from the beginning to the end.”
- “A beautiful story told in a short and simple way.”
- “What’s not so well delivered is the story, which is a nonsensical and uninteresting mess.”
- “The story is utterly mediocre.”
- “It's so simple yet it tells a story of something so many of us go through... being hopeless, confused, tired.”
graphics
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
75%
5%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic, hand-drawn art style that many players find charming and fitting for the narrative's emotional depth. While some reviewers criticize the visuals as crude or distracting, others appreciate how they enhance the game's themes and messages, suggesting that the minimalist approach effectively conveys complex emotions. Overall, the graphics are seen as a deliberate choice that contributes to the game's unique atmosphere, despite not being technically advanced.
- “Its hand-drawn, lo-fi visuals add a personal charm, while the branching narrative cleverly reflects the weight of daily choices.”
- “The art style is part of the experience; it paints a physical picture of an emotion many don't know how to describe, or that isn't easily portrayed.”
- “The graphics are simplistic but very unique, and I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a game to pass the time.”
- “My biggest complaint is how ugly all the visuals are.”
- “Firstly, the art style is a strain on the eyes, and I highly recommend (if you ignore my recommendation that recommended not recommending the game) to turn off the effect that moves the images and words around because, holy shit, it's bad.”
- “The shaking effect in addition with the horrible art style gave me an insane headache.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game elicits a strong emotional response, blending humor with poignant moments that resonate deeply with players, particularly those grappling with issues like depression. While some find it profoundly moving and relatable, others criticize its shallow character development and mixed messaging. Overall, it is praised for its ability to evoke tears and introspection in a brief yet impactful experience.
- “Despite its brief runtime, the game packs an emotional punch—mixing subtle humor with moments of unexpected introspection.”
- “As someone with a lot of 'problems', this game made me feel connected to something bigger than myself—and also to the little stick man you play as.”
- “I genuinely enjoyed this game, and though it made me feel depressed knowing that my life would follow a path that is predetermined, it made me happy that accepting this fact is just one part of life, and how life doesn't have meaning not because there is no meaning but because we make our own meaning.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
65%
20%
The gameplay is characterized by simplistic mechanics and a point-and-click style that emphasizes story progression over player agency, often leading to a passive experience. While some players appreciate the art style and narrative elements, many criticize the lack of engaging gameplay, with complaints about long cutscenes, minimal interactivity, and a reliance on guides to navigate choices. Overall, the gameplay is seen as monotonous and lacking depth, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game.
- “Now, this is a very interesting game with simplistic mechanics and very simple, hand-drawn graphics.”
- “The gameplay is simple: point and click through the story to see various actions and the choices you make somewhat matter.”
- “As you play the game and follow the story, although the gameplay time is short, it draws you in.”
- “And honestly, I did not expect anything from this in terms of gameplay, yet it still managed to disappoint me.”
- “The gameplay, well, isn't really gameplay and more or less just click an option so the character does whatever on that day, and like I said it then displays a long cutscene. If you don't play with a guide, you may be lost and not know what actions lead to what, so maybe play with a guide.”
- “However, the minimal gameplay can make it feel like 'watching paint dry, except the paint's already dry.'”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its blend of subtle humor and emotional depth, offering a light-hearted take on serious themes. Players find the writing charming and relatable, with many moments that elicit genuine laughter. While some reviews note that humor may not resonate with everyone, the overall consensus is that the game provides an enjoyable and funny experience worth exploring.
- “Despite its brief runtime, the game packs an emotional punch—mixing subtle humor with moments of unexpected introspection.”
- “While the game focuses on an illness, it does so in a light-hearted, somewhat funny way.”
- “But, that's the point - it made me smile, and the dialogues were funny & made me laugh out loud at times.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players perceive the grinding aspect of the game as a poignant commentary on the monotony of daily life, highlighting feelings of futility and societal expectations. Many find the experience tedious, leading some to disengage from gameplay entirely.
- “It is less of a game and more of a strong commentary on our daily life, grinding away day to day in futility, without true direction and doing what society expects of individuals and its detrimental effects.”
- “Tedious, I just took my headphones off and watched the thing.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by well-executed sound effects and unique graphics that complement the story effectively. Despite its simple mechanics, it fosters a deep and authentic ambiance that resonates with players.
- “The sound effects were spot on, and while the graphics were different from any other game I've seen, they ended up working pretty well with the story and atmosphere as well.”
- “The simple game mechanics belies the deep and authentic atmosphere created.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the monetization model for enhancing the game experience, though some feel it can be overwhelming at times.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues, with frequent freezing being a common complaint.
- “It constantly freezes.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable.”
- “I experience regular lag spikes that disrupt gameplay.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's music is noted for its unique charm, contributing to its overall appeal despite the lack of polish in other areas.
- “I love the unique charm of the game, especially how the music complements its unpolished aesthetic.”
- “The music adds a distinctive character to the game, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The soundtrack is captivating and perfectly fits the game's atmosphere, making each moment memorable.”