A Hint of Purple

About

A Hint of Purple is a single player action game. It was developed by Empty Exhibit and was released on May 25, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

A short visual novel about queer love and art. Follow Maya, a once-celebrated painter now paralyzed, as she struggles to accept her new reality and its effects on her relationship. Argue with your Prefrontal Cortex, insult an art critic, befriend the elderly.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews

story21 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

A Hint of Purple is a beautifully written and emotionally impactful visual novel that explores themes of grief, love, and personal growth, leaving players with a lasting impression.
The game features stunning visuals and a calming soundtrack that enhances the storytelling experience, drawing players into the narrative.
As a free-to-play title, it offers a unique and introspective experience that resonates with many players, making it a hidden gem in the visual novel genre.

The game lacks replayability and has no manual save feature, requiring players to complete it in a single sitting, which may be inconvenient for some.
While the dialogue choices add to the immersion, they ultimately do not affect the outcome of the story, which may disappoint players looking for a more interactive experience.
Some players found the themes and emotional weight of the story to be overwhelming, making it a challenging experience for those going through tough times.

story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The story in this game is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautifully written narrative, often described as touching and thought-provoking. While the gameplay features linear storytelling with limited impact from player choices, it effectively immerses players in a poignant exploration of themes like love, isolation, and self-reflection. The atmospheric soundtrack and unique art style further enhance the storytelling experience, making it a memorable and engaging journey despite its short runtime.
- “It's beautifully written and doesn't shy away from telling a very realistic story.”
- “It’s touching, thoughtful, brilliantly made, and tells the story of souls each trying their best in this world.”
- “This game sends a strong and compelling message that demonstrates how game design can be an art and how video games can be used to tell a story.”
- “Also to note, there are no auto saves and dialogue choices do not change the outcome of the story.”
- “Despite having conversational options, which add to the immersiveness of the game, the dialogue selections are ultimately irrelevant as the story itself is linear.”
- “To be honest, the story just wasn't interesting to me, but I wanted to see how it ended, so I quickly ended up skimming most of it.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching and heartfelt storytelling, often eliciting strong reactions from players, including tears and introspection. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from sadness to appreciation, through its rich narrative and relatable characters. Overall, it is described as a beautifully crafted emotional experience that resonates deeply with players, particularly those going through difficult times.
- “To be honest, I'm going through a tough time in my life at the moment, and going through the narrative got me pretty emotional at times, but it also made me appreciate what I do have left.”
- “It made me tear up, made me smile, made me think, made me feel sentimental, made me remember—and then tear up again.”
- “It's literally an hour long and easily one of the most touching games I've experienced in a while.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful artwork and clean visuals that enhance the storytelling, while others criticize the mediocre graphics that may deter potential players. Despite some clear inspiration from "Disco Elysium," the game establishes its own identity and mood, contributing positively to the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, complementing the engaging narrative and soundtrack.
- “Short but really deep story told in clean graphics with a soundtrack that will sound of life itself.”
- “This game has an emotionally rich queer story told in the form of a visual novel, a diverse cast of characters and beautiful visuals.”
- “The artwork is beautiful, the writing is engaging, and the music makes the mood.”
- “This has some really mediocre looking graphics that will understandably be a turn off for a lot of readers, and it's a big contributor to the failure of the book to attract readers despite having no up-front cost.”
- “Clear inspiration from Disco Elysium (mostly aesthetic) but establishes an identity and mood of its own.”
- “+ graphic design inspired by Disco Elysium”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the emotional depth of the story, with a calm yet anxious soundtrack that complements the engaging dialogue and strong characters. Reviewers note that the soundtrack, alongside beautiful artwork, creates a captivating atmosphere that elevates the overall experience. Overall, the music is considered a standout element that significantly contributes to the game's impact.
- “The Disco Elysium UI seems perfect for this kind of story, and while the game goes on, the calm but often anxious soundtrack helps greatly elevate the experience.”
- “Between a selection of music that hammers home its emotions and art reminiscent of Alexander Rostov's work on Disco Elysium, this game tells its story with pain, tears, and epiphany that makes it a concise standout that's worthy of your time.”
- “The artwork is beautiful, the writing is engaging, and the music makes the mood.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “While the soundtrack has potential, it often feels out of place and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
- “The audio design is disappointing, with tracks that don't match the game's atmosphere or emotional tone.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is deeply emotional and immersive, enhanced by a beautiful sound score that aligns perfectly with the narrative's tone. Players find it to be a touching experience, making it a compelling choice for those who appreciate story-rich, tearjerker games.
- “I teared up while playing it; the story is so touching and the atmosphere fits so well.”
- “Beautiful and atmospheric sound score, which adjusts seamlessly to the tone of the story as it progresses.”
- “'A Hint of Purple' is an emotional, atmospheric, story-rich visual novel that reminds us that 'it's always darkest before the dawn.' Anyone who enjoys a tearjerker and has an hour to spare should consider playing through this beautifully written game.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by sharp and witty dialogue that blends raw honesty with moments of levity, creating a realistic and relatable experience. Despite its somber themes, the well-developed characters contribute to a balance of love, unity, and humor throughout the narrative.
- “Sharp dialogue, sometimes witty, sometimes raw and unfiltered, sometimes humorous, sometimes painfully honest, and that’s precisely what makes it so real.”
- “Despite the short timeframe, the characters are incredibly fleshed out and there are plenty of moments of love, unity, and humor to balance the sad premise.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay aspect is notably absent, with the reviewer emphasizing a personal experience over traditional gameplay mechanics. This suggests that the game may focus more on emotional or narrative elements rather than interactive gameplay.
- “This has no gameplay.”
- “Gamers expecting a typical review should understand that I am writing about how the game affected me personally, rather than about gameplay.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is noted for having little to no replayability, suggesting that once completed, players may not find sufficient incentive to revisit it.
- “There is little to no replayability.”
- “The game lacks any significant replay value.”
- “Once you've completed it, there's not much incentive to play again.”