a Museum of Dubious Splendors

About

"A Museum of Dubious Splendors" is a storybook game set in the world of Somewhere, adapting essays by the poet Mir UmarHassan. The game focuses on the chronicle of Ruhan Nissa Parkes, originally written in Gujarati in 1962 for the Malwa Chronicle. The essays, entitled "In Dubious Splendor," were mangled and edited without the author's permission before publication, leading to a court case over authorial ownership. The game offers a unique opportunity to explore these fascinating and controversial stories.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

a Museum of Dubious Splendors screenshot

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 116 reviews

story7 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game offers a beautiful and surreal aesthetic, with well-crafted visuals and a calming soundtrack that enhances the experience.
The short stories presented are clever, thought-provoking, and often humorous, providing a unique perspective on cultural themes and human emotions.
As a free game, it provides a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy reading and exploring artistic interpretations of narratives.

The gameplay is minimal, consisting mainly of walking through rooms and reading text, which may not appeal to players looking for more interactive experiences.
There are technical issues such as camera controls that can feel unwieldy, and some players noted spelling and grammatical errors in the text.
The connection between the stories and the exhibits can be unclear, leading to confusion about the overall narrative and purpose of the game.

story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
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 surreal museum setting. While some players appreciate the clever use of the medium and the emotional depth of the narratives, others find the gameplay simplistic and the storytelling somewhat disjointed, with concerns about the order of story access and the overall engagement level. Overall, the experience is described as atmospheric and visually appealing, but opinions vary on its depth and coherence.
- “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.”
- “Semi interesting surrealist museum with a short story to go along with it, no real gameplay other than opening doors; not sure if there are different endings depending on what doors you go through because I can't be bothered to replay.”
- “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?”
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, complementing the storytelling effectively. While some users noted minor glitches, the overall visual experience is considered impressive, with a unique art style that enhances the game's themes. The combination of graphics and music creates a tranquil atmosphere, making it a visually engaging experience for players.
- “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 requires a hefty graphics card.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of reading text and interacting with 3D models by opening doors, which some players liken to a digital picture book. The lack of complex mechanics and limited interactivity may disappoint those seeking traditional gameplay experiences, but the engaging stories and surrealist themes offer some merit for exploration. Overall, the game is more focused on narrative than gameplay.
- “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.”
- “There is no gameplay beyond that, so expect to be in for a digital picture book.”
- “The text-to-gameplay ratio is too high.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
10%
20%
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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as clever and layered, often relying on subtext and parody, which some players may overlook. Many users found it genuinely funny, with moments that elicited laughter, aligning well with its description as an irreverent exploration of memory and archives. Overall, the humor adds depth and enjoyment to the experience.
- “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.”
- “The result made me laugh out loud a few times.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its captivating storytelling, which evokes a range of feelings from curiosity to introspection. Each narrative explores deep human emotions, illustrating themes of ego, superiority, and the consequences of violence, all conveyed through compelling writing that resonates with players.
- “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
150%
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 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.”
- “Although the game offers some nice graphics, there are some ugly glitches here and there that detract from the overall experience.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to progress and enjoy the storyline.”
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 enhanced by atmospheric voiceovers rather than limited, small rooms with monotonous soundtracks. While the game offers a visually beautiful and atmospheric short story, it may feel constrained in its execution.
- “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.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “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.”