a Museum of Dubious Splendors

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a Museum of Dubious Splendors is a single player action game. It was developed by Studio Oleomingus and was released on March 6, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"A Museum of Dubious Splendors" is a text-based interactive fiction game that explores a surreal museum filled with strange and wondrous exhibits. Players uncover the stories behind these exhibits, meeting a cast of eccentric characters and uncovering a deeper narrative. The game encourages exploration and creativity, offering multiple endings based on player choices.

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Single-Player

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 119 reviews

story7 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and artistic experience, combining beautiful visuals with intriguing short stories that provoke thought and reflection.
Players appreciate the surreal and whimsical atmosphere, likening it to a digital museum filled with imaginative exhibits and clever narratives.
As a free game, it provides a short yet enjoyable experience for those who appreciate art and literature, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Many players feel that the game lacks traditional gameplay elements, reducing it to a simple reading experience with minimal interaction.
Some users have noted technical issues, such as poor camera controls and grammatical errors in the text, which detract from the overall experience.
The game's abstract nature and heavy reliance on reading may not appeal to everyone, leading some to find it boring or unengaging.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
11%
The game's story is presented through a series of short, metaphor-laden tales that explore human emotions and experiences, often accompanied by visually striking objects in a museum-like setting. While some players appreciate the clever integration of storytelling and exploration, others find the narrative disjointed or overly simplistic, with concerns about the order of story access and technical glitches affecting immersion. Overall, the experience is described as atmospheric and thought-provoking, appealing to fans of surrealism and magical realism, but may not satisfy those seeking a more cohesive or engaging narrative.
- “The punchline of using the video game medium to have the player discover what the artifact mentioned in each story is was amazing and a clever use of the format.”
- “The stories remind me of a collection of bedtime stories that present a variety of topics, but one that I felt encapsulated all was human emotion. Even with the gods present in some of these, the emotional reaction or ego presented in each story caused it, either by the feeling of superiority leading to stupidity or the wish for violence to cause a never-ending scale of war. It was presented in a great manner of writing.”
- “The point of this game is to discover a story laden with metaphor, and if you're at all familiar with magical realism, the graphics of the game fit right in with the story being told.”
- “The symbolism in this one is a bit on the nose, and the impact of its storytelling is stretched thin by perhaps a tad too many parables and the motif of 'big object in a room.' Technically, there are a few glitches as well, and it's somewhat immersion-breaking when up close the objects have visible polygonal and textural artifacts.”
- “This isn't even a game... you just click on doors, read a little story, and look at weird objects that are supposed to be museum exhibits?”
- “A story with random objects lazily placed was just too boring for me.”
graphics
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
28%
12%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and aesthetically pleasing qualities, often described as beautiful and surreal, with a strong connection to the game's storytelling. While some users noted minor glitches, the overall visual experience is considered impressive, enhancing the enjoyment of the narratives presented. The art style, which leans towards nontraditional and surrealism, resonates well with players who appreciate diverse artistic expressions.
- “Stunning graphics as well.”
- “Great visuals and nicely written stories breathe some magic into everyday objects.”
- “The point of this game is to discover a story laden with metaphor, and if you're at all familiar with magical realism, the graphics of the game fit right in with the story being told.”
- “No graphical settings.”
- “I couldn't see how the visuals related to the text and lost interest, then it finished.”
- “Works fine on Ubuntu Linux, although it requires a hefty graphics card.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of reading text and exploring 3D environments by opening doors, which some reviewers liken to a digital picture book. The lack of complex mechanics and interactive elements may disappoint players seeking traditional gameplay experiences, but the engaging narrative still encourages exploration. Overall, the text-to-gameplay ratio is heavily skewed towards reading, making it more of a narrative experience than a game in the conventional sense.
- “While many games will present narrative as a break from gameplay, this one is structured to present looking at a room and opening doors as a break from reading.”
- “So, while no gameplay exists, the stories and overall idea are engaging and merit exploration.”
- “Not much in the way of gameplay, though, so if you are looking for that, then this might not be the game for you.”
- “There is essentially no gameplay; you read a big block of text, look at a 3D model, and repeat.”
- “Gameplay is minimal, mostly just opening doors and exploring.”
- “There is no gameplay beyond that, so expect to be in for a digital picture book.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
11%
22%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its tranquil and meditative qualities, enhancing the overall experience alongside the impressive graphics. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack, which complements the minimalist environments and storytelling, creating a reflective atmosphere. Overall, the combination of calming music and beautiful visuals contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “It's filled with tranquil music, admirable graphics, and several folklores/stories that will make you stop to think.”
- “I really enjoy this, very good stories with lovely meditative music.”
- “The music is calm and it was a great way to pause life and just 'be' for a while.”
- “The rooms and installations themselves are minimalist in nature, and I'd much rather walk through a huge, mysterious virtual art gallery with an atmospheric voiceover than read short excerpts to a monotone soundtrack and walk a few meters through limited, small rooms with wonky mouse controls.”
- “A short literary and visual experience with soothing art and music.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating its layered and irreverent approach, often finding it genuinely funny and capable of eliciting laughter. The game's context and clever use of parody contribute to its comedic appeal, though some players note that the subtleties may be missed by others. Overall, it successfully blends humor with deeper themes, making for an engaging experience.
- “This game is great because not only is it from India and gives you a bit of context from there, it's also fairly funny.”
- “This game is pretty funny, and the Steam description is accurate: 'an irreverent rumination on the nature of an archive and forms of recollection'.”
- “Too many people are missing the subtext of this work; it is a very layered and many-flavored sandwich of subtext, garnished with parody and basted in humor.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through a captivating collection of stories that evoke a range of feelings, from curiosity to introspection. Each narrative effectively explores human emotions, showcasing themes of ego, superiority, and the consequences of violence, all delivered with compelling writing.
- “A great collection of stories that made me feel enthralled and at the same time curious with each invention presented.”
- “The stories remind me of a collection of bedtime stories that present a variety of topics, but one that I felt encapsulated all was human emotion. Even with the gods present in some of these, the emotional reactions or egos presented in each story caused it, either by the feeling of superiority leading to stupidity or the wish for violence to cause a never-ending scale of war. It was presented in a great manner of writing.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marred by noticeable glitches and visual artifacts that can disrupt immersion, particularly when examining objects up close. While the graphics are generally appealing, these technical issues detract from the overall experience.
- “The symbolism in this game is a bit on the nose, and the impact of its storytelling is stretched thin by perhaps a tad too many parables and the motif of 'big object in a room.' Technically, there are a few glitches as well, and it's somewhat immersion-breaking when up close the objects have visible polygonal and textural artifacts.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics, although there are some ugly glitches here and there; it is pleasant all the same.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by minimalist design and a desire for a more immersive experience, with users expressing a preference for a mysterious virtual art gallery accompanied by engaging voiceovers rather than limited, short rooms with monotonous soundtracks. While the game offers a visually beautiful and atmospheric short story, it may feel constrained and lacking in depth for some players.
- “The rooms and installations themselves are minimalist in nature, and I'd much rather walk through a huge, mysterious virtual art gallery with an atmospheric voiceover than read short excerpts to a monotone soundtrack and walk a few meters through limited, small rooms with wonky mouse controls.”
- “Good if you are looking for a very beautiful and atmospheric short story to play through for probably under an hour.”

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a Museum of Dubious Splendors is a action game.

a Museum of Dubious Splendors is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

a Museum of Dubious Splendors was released on March 6, 2018.

a Museum of Dubious Splendors was developed by Studio Oleomingus.

a Museum of Dubious Splendors has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

a Museum of Dubious Splendors is a single player game.

Similar games include The Norwood Suite, Marie's Room, Caligo, Metamorphosis, MANDAGON and others.

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