A Story Beside

About

"A Story Beside" is a narrative-driven fantasy adventure game where you play as Lyric, an innkeeper in a quiet mountain village, reflecting on a lifetime of memories, friendships, and choices. Your decisions shape Lyric's story, influencing her relationships, appearance, and the village's fate, offering a unique and emotional experience inspired by games like Life is Strange and To the Moon.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 388 reviews

story222 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful and touching story that evokes genuine emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the characters.
The pixel art and visuals are stunning, creating an enchanting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
The voice acting is top-notch, adding depth to the narrative and making the characters feel more alive.

The pacing can be slow, with a lot of tedious walking and limited gameplay mechanics, which may lead to moments of boredom.
Some players experienced technical issues, including crashes and lock-ups, which can disrupt the immersive experience.
The game may feel more like an interactive story rather than a traditional game, which could disappoint those looking for more gameplay elements.

story
578 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
1%
The story of "A Story Beside" is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful writing, focusing on the life of Lyric, a character often overlooked in traditional RPGs. Players appreciate the heartfelt narrative that explores themes of family, friendship, and the passage of time, often leading to poignant moments that resonate long after the game ends. While some critiques mention a lack of gameplay variety and a more linear experience, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke strong feelings and create a lasting impact through its storytelling.
- “The story was really bittersweet and made me tear up at times.”
- “What a beautiful story, just long enough to be full of detail and emotion but not too long that the lack of actual things to do gets boring.”
- “The plot is ultimately just a series of events without much purpose or cohesion.”
- “This isn't a game, it's a story.”
- “Also - the story is very, very different from what I imagined as it's mostly tragedy.”
emotional
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its deeply emotional storytelling, with many players reporting that it made them cry and feel a strong connection to the characters. Reviewers highlight its heartwarming themes of family, friendship, and personal growth, often describing the narrative as both beautiful and bittersweet. Overall, it is considered a touching experience that resonates with players on a profound level, making it a standout in emotional gaming.
- “This game emotionally destroyed me, and I loved every minute of it.”
- “For anyone that's experienced loss before, it's absolutely heart-wrenching.”
- “The storytelling in this game is very well-written with many emotionally invested scenes and evocative moments.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
29%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning aesthetic, charming character designs, and beautiful environmental art, creating an enchanting atmosphere that enhances the storytelling. While some players note the simplicity of the pixel art style, the overall presentation is considered captivating and immersive, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact. However, a few critiques mention limitations such as a lack of integer scaling, which detracts slightly from the otherwise beautiful visuals.
- “The game is aesthetically stunning, and it was relaxing and enjoyable to begin with.”
- “Delightful graphics, charming characters, and relaxing and incredibly gorgeous music surround a beautifully written narrative that draws a player in from the start.”
- “This game is utterly gorgeous in graphics and in story line.”
- “Even if the art style is extremely pixelated.”
- “Yes, some of the graphics are part of the basic RPG Maker program.”
- “Like with World's Dawn, this game is proof that marvelous results can be achieved with storytelling alone, without cutting-edge graphics or an advanced engine.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
30%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its relaxing and enchanting qualities. It complements the stunning visuals and well-written narrative, creating an immersive experience that resonates emotionally with players. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and storytelling.
- “The music and art style along with the storyteller make the atmosphere enchanting.”
- “Delightful graphics, charming characters, and relaxing and incredibly gorgeous music surround a beautifully written narrative that draws a player in from the start.”
- “Most of the time, it's the only screen with a different perspective, with ominous sound effects and lack of music.”
- “The music in the game made me want to stop playing from time to time and just listen to it.”
- “The writing of the characters is very well done, you can get a grasp of who they are with just a few lines of dialog and the music complements the environment of the world.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
79%
9%
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics primarily focused on exploration and interaction, with players often walking through expansive environments to uncover story choices. While some appreciate the calm and immersive experience, many criticize the lack of substantial gameplay elements, feeling it leans more towards a narrative-driven experience rather than traditional gameplay. Overall, the game offers a unique storytelling perspective but may not satisfy those seeking more interactive or combat-oriented gameplay.
- “The art, the gameplay, the pacing, and the chapters of life - all so intricate and unique.”
- “What an amazing game, amazing narration, amazing music, amazing storyline, and most importantly amazing gameplay.”
- “Calm, gentle gameplay with beautifully crafted, warm and cozy environments.”
- “What little bit of game mechanics there are (which aren't many at all) you are railroaded and can only do exactly what they want you to do and nothing else.”
- “Gameplay-wise, there's a lot of walking in a rather large area, without a map, and I found it a bit tedious.”
- “While I know this game is early access, there just isn't enough gameplay to justify spending any money on this game.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its enchanting blend of beautiful art, atmospheric music, and engaging storytelling, creating a cozy and immersive experience. Players appreciate the meaningful character interactions and the emotional depth of the narrative, which resonates with real-life themes of overcoming hardships. Overall, the charming ambiance and slow-paced narrative invite players to connect deeply with the characters and the world.
- “Lovely art style and atmospheric music as well!”
- “The music and art style along with the storyteller make the atmosphere enchanting.”
- “This game is incredibly charming and atmospheric, and I can already feel myself falling in love with the characters and the village.”
- “The art is okay, could be better, but the story, atmosphere, and characters certainly make up for it.”
- “If you appreciate slow-paced narratives with a cozy quality to their atmosphere and an emphasis on player choice, then I suggest you give this game a go.”
- “It had the same vibe as World's Dawn and everything, similar sounds and just atmosphere.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
69%
19%
The game offers a notable level of replayability, primarily due to its impactful narrative and the significant consequences of player choices, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes. While some players felt satisfied with their initial experience and didn't feel compelled to replay, others appreciated the opportunity to make different choices and engage with various storylines. Overall, the combination of emotional connection and branching paths contributes to its replay value, though some aspects of exploration may limit it for certain players.
- “This makes the game replayable and refreshing with different choices and scenarios.”
- “The game does have replayability value, so I played through it twice and I have 22 hours on it.”
- “There's definitely some replayability, if you want to make different choices, but I found that when I reached the end, I was simply satisfied with the story that had been told.”
- “It's a big bummer considering there's a decent amount of exploration and it really hurt the replayability value.”
- “I think I'll replay this game again after some time to marry someone different, side with different people, etc. There's a decent amount of replayability here just because of the profound effect your choices have.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, primarily due to the slow walking speed of the character and the lack of a map in a large area, which can make exploration feel laborious. Many expected a more engaging farming experience similar to titles like "World's Dawn" or "Stardew Valley," but were disappointed by the repetitive nature of the gameplay. Despite these criticisms, some acknowledge the game's emotional depth as a redeeming quality.
- “There is a lot of tedious walking, and Lyric walks very slowly.”
- “Gameplay-wise, there's a lot of walking in a rather large area, without a map, and I found it a bit tedious.”
- “While the game pales in comparison to the farming and building aspect of Stardew Valley, the game truly shines in its heart.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users report significant stability issues, particularly noting that the game frequently freezes during specific interactions, such as when the adventurer inquires about potential damage in his cabin.
- “The game freezes after the adventurer asks if we have broken anything in his cabin.”
- “The game frequently crashes during key interactions, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced multiple freezes that forced me to restart the game entirely.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the game features beautiful visuals and character designs, which enhance the overall aesthetic experience but do not provide specific insights into character development or growth.