Absent

Absent is the first freeware release from FNGames. Originally released in 2013, the game makes its' Steam debut this year.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 236 reviews

story71 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Engaging story with interesting twists and humorous dialogue.
Good voice acting that adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.
Decent gameplay mechanics that are easy to understand, making it accessible for players of all ages.

Graphics are simplistic and may not appeal to everyone, feeling dated.
Some puzzles can be confusing or require trial and error, leading to potential frustration.
Minor bugs and glitches can disrupt the gameplay experience.

story
136 mentions
52 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of "Absent" is generally well-received, characterized as an engaging mix of horror, comedy, and mystery, with a variety of quirky characters and surprising plot twists. While some players found the narrative occasionally confusing or hindered by frustrating controls, many appreciated its humor and depth, especially for a free game. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some minor criticisms regarding pacing and clarity.
- “The story of Absent was quite a fun ride, full of jolly little quirks, humorous situations, and outcomes with a plot that became progressively more engaging.”
- “Absent is a supernatural comedy thriller with a complex story set in and around a British university campus.”
- “The story was very intriguing and kept me playing throughout, and it managed to really surprise me a lot, too.”
- “Literally a waste of time; the story is boring and stupid.”
- “The voice acting is awful, the plot holes are gaping, and the art style looks like something MS Paint threw up.”
- “However, here, after a while, it was so complex to understand that I lost interest in the story.”
graphics
55 mentions
24 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting their simplicity and retro style, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures. While some appreciate the charm and consistency of the low-res, hand-drawn visuals, others criticize them as unpolished and lacking in detail, often describing them as "janky" or "ugly." Overall, the graphics are seen as acceptable for a free indie project, but they may not appeal to players seeking high-quality visuals.
- “The graphics are incredible given this is a one-man project.”
- “Absent deserves recognition for its graphics, design, and scope - it is certainly very impressive for a free adventure game.”
- “The art style is different but pleasing to the eye.”
- “The graphics are quite bare-boned and rough to say the least... but the biggest problem is the unpolished and clunky and slowly functioning interface.”
- “This game is very unpleasant to look at, and not in the limitation of the system way like Secret of Monkey Island, but just because of a sub-par art style.”
- “Yes, the engine is prehistoric (I couldn't even run the game in fullscreen), the story is a mess, graphics are simple and animations are sometimes laughable - the main protagonist looks like he came from the Ministry of Silly Walks.”
gameplay
28 mentions
29 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as solid and enjoyable, particularly for fans of point-and-click adventure games, though it suffers from some cumbersome controls and a lack of clear mechanics explanation. While the puzzles can be engaging, they occasionally veer into frustrating territory, and the overall experience is enhanced by amusing dialogue and a decent storyline. Despite its flaws, many players find the gameplay satisfactory, especially considering the game is free.
- “The gameplay consisted of the usual point & click style, with inventory items used to solve some of the scenes.”
- “This provides just enough direction to keep the gameplay from becoming stagnant, while still demanding you use your brain.”
- “I thought the gameplay was solid, though at least one or two puzzles felt a bit obtuse.”
- “The game doesn't explain the mechanics, so it took me a little while to finally realize some of the features and things I had to use, but I quite liked the process.”
- “Luckily, I figured out the mechanics of the game, but there were still a lot of things that I would have never guessed on my own and probably would have quit out of frustration without the help from the walkthrough.”
- “The gameplay isn't even worth mentioning.”
humor
25 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, featuring a cast of hilarious characters and witty dialogue that effectively employs techniques like awkward silence and deadpan delivery. Players appreciate the blend of British humor with engaging storytelling, resulting in a fun and entertaining experience, despite some criticisms regarding character depth and graphics. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with its mystery elements, making it a delightful point-and-click adventure.
- “The story of 'Absent' was quite a fun ride, full of jolly little quirks, humorous situations, and outcomes with a plot that became progressively more engaging.”
- “I absolutely love this game; it makes perfect use of awkward silence as a humor technique, as well as other factors that make the game funny and good for a laugh.”
- “The actors did a wonderful job on each of their character’s personalities, showing 50 shades of British schoolmates in its full spectrum and adding a healthy dose of humor to the game.”
music
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as engaging and fitting for the atmosphere, with some standout moments that enhance the experience. However, there are criticisms regarding the volume balance between music and dialogue, as well as a lack of variety, with some players finding the music generic and more suited for background purposes. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.
- “The music is good and the voice acting is great.”
- “There's also voice acting which, for the most part, is decent, and definitely adds to the atmosphere as well as the great music, fit for each occasion.”
- “- Catchy music that entirely matched the scene (near the end especially).”
- “The music is for background purposes only and does the job well but has a rather annoying tendency to be louder than certain characters’ dialogue (there are no options to fix this).”
- “There's barely any music and when the music is playing, it's generic and doesn't have any atmosphere.”
- “The pros are: for a point-and-click game, it has everything I imagine one would want; plenty of options to explore, a story, alright art, and an alright soundtrack.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its cohesive design, enhanced by decent voice acting and fitting music that contributes to a sense of mystery. However, some users noted that the music can be generic and lacks depth, which detracts from the overall ambiance. The art style is also highlighted as a positive element that complements the atmospheric experience.
- “I like how it all seemed to meld together and create the atmosphere.”
- “There's also voice acting which, for the most part, is decent and definitely adds to the atmosphere, as well as the great music, fit for each occasion.”
- “Nice game, I like the art style and the atmosphere of it.”
- “There's barely any music, and when the music is playing, it's generic and doesn't contribute to the atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere lacks depth and fails to engage the player.”
- “The game has a mystery atmosphere, but it feels underdeveloped and uninspired.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, often requiring significant time investment, but acknowledge that it can be enjoyable if approached with patience, especially given the game's free-to-play nature.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Strange little game, a little tedious at times but certainly good enough if you have a few hours to kill, especially considering it's free.”
replayability
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers an enjoyable experience as a free-to-play title, but it lacks significant replayability, making it less appealing for multiple playthroughs.
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express strong negative emotions towards the game, with some feeling regret and frustration that leads them to tears, indicating a deeply disappointing experience.
- “This game made me feel a whirlwind of emotions; I laughed, I cried, and I felt deeply connected to the characters.”
- “The story was so moving that I found myself reflecting on my own life and experiences long after I finished playing.”
- “I was completely immersed in the emotional journey; it touched my heart in ways I never expected.”