A Work of Art

About

"A Work of Art" is a psychological thriller horror game with a 1-2 hour story-driven experience. It features a mix of Visual Novel and traditional RPG elements, with a dark and witty plot following quirky characters. The game also offers player-developer interaction and an atmospheric soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 491 reviews

story88 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating dark atmosphere complemented by an amazing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The story is engaging and offers a unique blend of horror and humor, keeping players intrigued throughout its short duration.
It's a free game that showcases impressive art and sound design, making it accessible for a wide audience while still delivering a quality experience.

The game suffers from inconsistent art styles and noticeable AI-generated elements that can detract from immersion.
Some players found the dialogue to be predictable and lacking depth, which affected their overall enjoyment of the story.
The gameplay is quite linear with limited player agency, leading to a feeling of being more of a visual novel than an interactive game.

story
244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The game's story is a captivating blend of horror and fantasy, featuring a well-paced narrative with unexpected twists and engaging character development. While many players appreciated its short length and the artistic presentation, some felt it could benefit from deeper exploration and more choices. Overall, the story is praised for its eerie atmosphere and emotional resonance, making it a worthwhile experience despite its brevity.
- “The story line was wonderfully paced and the gore was... a work of art.”
- “The duration of the game may be short but it delivers a cool story with a cool plot twist, graphics were unsettling (in a good way) and the switch between the RPG art style and the fully detailed images made for intense moments.”
- “Gorgeous art, gorgeous music, and a mysterious, intriguing story-- what's not to love?”
- “Unfortunately, the story is disappointing, and so all the effort put into these assets could've been put somewhere else.”
- “The story is very simple and predictable, and the dialogue lacks any subtlety.”
- “It's a linear 20-minute story (most of the time is scrolling through dialogue rather than choices), a glorified walking sim, but beyond that, it's a short horror story... beware of gore and blood for those who aren't into it.”
music
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as a standout feature, featuring memorable tracks that resonate with players, including a particularly popular ending song. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the use of AI-generated music, which has led to mixed feelings about its authenticity and impact on the game's experience.
- “The soundtrack deserves a special shoutout—it’s hauntingly beautiful and really adds to the immersive experience.”
- “The music is amazing, the ambiance is creepy, the dialogue is funny!”
- “10/10, perfect art and atmosphere for the Halloween season, amazing soundtrack from beginning to end, totally engrossed in the entire experience.”
- “I know the game is free, and you said it wasn't stolen art, but that doesn't take away the fact that AI art just doesn't have any soul and fairly looks awful on some illustrations; the music in particular is just painful to hear.”
- “I really tried to give this game a chance, but on closer inspection it just became obvious that I was just in denial about my main concern: the artwork and music of this game is entirely (or at the very least, mostly) AI generated.”
- “The ending song and the song in the title screen make no sense for this type of game.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
6%
The graphics of the game received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful and atmospheric artwork that enhances the eerie tone, while others noted inconsistencies in the art styles, particularly due to noticeable AI-generated elements that occasionally broke immersion. The combination of RPG art and detailed images created intense moments, but some players expressed a desire for more cohesion and a preference for a unified visual style. Overall, the visuals were appreciated for their uniqueness, though opinions varied on their execution.
- “Some moments were extremely eerie and the graphic style really adds to this effect.”
- “The duration of the game may be short but it delivers a cool story with a cool plot twist; graphics were unsettling (in a good way) and the switch between the RPG art style and the fully detailed images made for intense moments.”
- “I am simply in pieces over the beauty of the artwork, indeed.”
- “One small issue: the AI-generated elements in the artwork can be a bit too noticeable, with some inconsistencies between character designs that broke the immersion at times.”
- “A bit more cohesion here would elevate the visuals to match the game's otherwise unique feel.”
- “I really tried to give this game a chance, but on closer inspection it just became obvious that I was just in denial about my main concern: the artwork and music of this game is entirely (or at the very least, mostly) AI-generated.”
humor
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark and morbidly funny elements, with many players appreciating the witty character dialogue and clever puns that provide a refreshing contrast to the psychological horror atmosphere. The humor effectively balances the suspense and creepy ambiance, enhancing the overall experience while keeping players engaged and entertained. Notable mentions include the amusing tavern name and the ability of the humor to add depth to the narrative.
- “The music is amazing, the ambiance is creepy, the dialogue is funny!”
- “'A work of art' is a captivating dive into psychological horror, with funny dialogue, blending visual novel storytelling with RPG elements to create a short yet impactful journey.”
- “This one had a pretty goofy, yet dark sense of humor that I found pretty refreshing.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
8%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, spooky tone and engaging soundtracks, effectively creating a sense of tension and fear throughout the experience. Players appreciate the clean visuals and the balance of humor that adds depth, although some found the dialogue occasionally disruptive to the horror elements. Overall, the game is considered perfect for the Halloween season, immersing players in a creepy yet captivating environment.
- “This is also just a great RPG with a lovely spooky atmosphere perfect for October.”
- “10/10, perfect art and atmosphere for the Halloween season, amazing soundtrack from beginning to end, totally engrossed in the entire experience.”
- “Between the spooky atmosphere, great dialogue, and fantastic music it is definitely worth the play.”
- “Very creepy dark atmosphere.”
- “The ending music doesn't fit the atmosphere though.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by a slow pace and repetitive mechanics, primarily involving exploration from two characters' perspectives. While some players found the experience dry, the humor in the story provided moments of enjoyment, particularly for a short free game. Overall, the game successfully reinvents certain horror RPG mechanics, allowing for a more immersive experience despite its limitations.
- “Once again, Randumb Studios has proven not only how deeply they can go in terms of the horror RPG genre, but also how they can reinvent mechanics from earlier games and just let the player experience more often than take action.”
- “I think the pacing was maybe a little slow given the dry gameplay, but the story got me to laugh a few times, and that's what I'd hope for from a short free game.”
- “The gameplay is mostly walking around and seeing things from two characters' points of view.”
- “I think the pacing was maybe a little slow given the dry gameplay, but the story got me to laugh a few times though and that's what I'd hope for from a short free game.”
- “I'd love for the graphics on the gameplay to be the same as in the character portrait, but even that felt too repetitive for my liking.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Overall, the character development in these games is highly praised, with engaging stories and well-designed characters that resonate with players. However, some users noted inconsistencies in character designs, particularly with AI-generated elements, which occasionally detracted from the immersion.
- “However, these games are often highly praised for their very good story and character development.”
- “[i] Lovely [/i] pun with the name, short but engaging story, cool character designs (I'm in love with the barmaid) and 100% free!”
- “The character development is truly impressive, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
- “The AI-generated elements in the artwork can be a bit too noticeable, with some inconsistencies between character designs that broke the immersion at times.”
- “Ronnie's character design clashes way too much with everyone else.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally resonant, appreciating its heartfelt messages and personal touch, especially during challenging times. The developers' considerate communication at the end enhances the overall experience, making it a meaningful distraction. Despite some originality concerns, the emotional impact remains strong.
- “It was a much needed distraction from the election blues I was feeling, and I appreciate the heartfelt messages at the credits.”
- “The game is also free, and the message at the end from the developers is really touching and considerate <3”
- “I played through the test trilogy, and although the core idea of these games wasn't very original, it was still a quite touching and personal experience.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is perceived as excessively time-consuming, with players feeling it requires an unrealistic commitment, akin to needing a "second life" to manage the demands of farming and progression.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But what am I farming in life really?”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its stability, with users reporting no glitches or frustrating puzzles, indicating a smooth and reliable gameplay experience.
- “No glitches or frustrating puzzles.”
- “No glitches or frustrating puzzles.”