Adios

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,105 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • gameplay
Adios Game Cover
Adios is brief and mostly concerned with dialogue, but it's a thought-provoking piece of interactive fiction, even if the visual style clashes with the narrative.
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"Adios" is a single-player drama simulation game with an intriguing story and good gameplay set in a beautifully designed American Midwest environment. As a pig farmer in Kansas, you decide to stop helping the mob dispose of bodies, leading to tense interactions with a hitman friend. The game is both atmospheric and wholesome, with humor and bugs, and your decisions will determine the rest of your life in this goodbye story.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,105 reviews
story228 positive mentions
stability16 negative mentions
  • Incredible writing and voice acting that create a deeply emotional experience.
  • The game effectively explores themes of regret, mortality, and the complexity of human relationships.
  • Unique dialogue mechanics that allow players to experience the protagonist's internal struggles.
  • The game is very short, lasting only about 1-2 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • Limited interactivity and gameplay mechanics that can feel clunky and detract from immersion.
  • Some technical issues and bugs that can disrupt the experience.
  • story665 mentions

    The story of "Adios" is a poignant exploration of regret and moral dilemmas, centered around a pig farmer who wishes to leave his life of crime behind. While the narrative is well-written and features exceptional voice acting, many players feel that the gameplay is minimal and does not significantly impact the story's outcome, making it feel more like an interactive short story than a traditional game. Overall, it is praised for its emotional depth and character-driven storytelling, though some critics argue it may be better suited as a film or short story rather than a video game.

    • “Adios is a beautifully written and acted story about a man deciding his final act will be to take a moral stand, and his friend who is desperately trying to save him from the consequences of this decision.”
    • “The voice acting and writing are top notch and if you're at all a person who enjoys a well thought out story then you're in for a treat.”
    • “Adios is a great interactive story filled with heart.”
    • “The story feels flat and rushed with an abrupt ending.”
    • “The problem is, the story just really isn't that good.”
    • “Despite the game being all about the story, the story just isn't that good.”
  • emotional190 mentions

    The game *Adios* is widely regarded as a deeply emotional experience, effectively conveying themes of regret, grief, and hope through its poignant narrative and strong voice acting. Many players found themselves emotionally invested in the protagonist's story, with several reporting moments of genuine sadness and reflection, despite the game's short runtime. While some critiques mention gameplay limitations, the overall consensus highlights its powerful storytelling and emotional depth, making it a memorable and impactful experience.

    • “It's an emotional situation about regrets, grief, and hope.”
    • “Adios is a surprisingly emotional portrait of a man who has decided he's had enough and the man who doesn't want to kill him.”
    • “This game is an incredibly heartbreaking story that parallels the lost soul of America.”
  • gameplay112 mentions

    The gameplay in "Adios" is largely minimal and simplistic, often described as a walking simulator with limited interactivity and clunky mechanics. While it serves primarily to facilitate the narrative, many players found it lacking in depth and engagement, with some mechanics feeling awkward or poorly implemented. Despite these shortcomings, the game is appreciated for its storytelling and emotional impact, making it more suitable for those who prioritize narrative over gameplay.

    • “The gameplay complements the story, but doesn't get in the way of it, either.”
    • “The primary gameplay of Adios is in walking, listening, and making choices in the form of sparse statements that lead to lengthy monologues written with equal parts weight and realism.”
    • “It's a rare pleasure to play a story-based game that doesn't feel the need to run for tens of hours and pad itself out with melodrama and/or exciting gameplay experiences, but instead contents itself with exploring a single character's life and relationships, drifting in and out of vignettes of his life.”
    • “The gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.”
    • “There is no real gameplay in Adios - no meaningful interactivity with the game world, and no reason for the player to be in control at any point during its ~40 minute runtime.”
    • “The gameplay - short, simple activities between walks to different vignette-style settings rarely adds to the experience, mostly due to poor implementation but the achieved sense of place and atmosphere created by the beautiful environment art and lighting really sell the story in a neat package.”
  • graphics77 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally described as basic and stylized, with many reviewers noting that they are serviceable but not impressive. While some appreciate the distinct art style and how it complements the narrative, others criticize the visuals as clunky, generic, or even ugly, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, with a focus on storytelling and voice acting overshadowing their shortcomings.

    • “The game's art style is well suited to conveying the simple charm of a rural Kansas farmstead, and the voice performances bring the narrative solidly home.”
    • “The graphics, while not cutting edge, do a great job of delivering the clear visual aesthetic that the team had in mind.”
    • “The environmental design and artwork is gorgeous and a welcome addition to the cell-shaded genre.”
    • “The graphics are crude and some textures look out of place; the map is big but mostly empty and non-interactable.”
    • “Technically it's awful with bulky graphics, ridiculous animations, almost no audio design at all, and bad control mechanics.”
    • “The visuals are honestly pretty terrible.”
  • optimization43 mentions

    The optimization of the game is praised for its stunning visuals and seamless integration of voice acting, which significantly enhances the narrative experience. While the vocal performances are exceptional and emotionally resonant, some critiques note that the animation does not always match the intensity of the voice work, leading to a disconnect in certain scenes. Overall, the game is well-optimized, delivering a compelling story through strong writing and outstanding voice performances, despite its short length.

    • “A well-optimized, gorgeous, cell-shaded indie game.”
    • “There's a lot of depth to the writing and the voice actors did a great job with their performances.”
    • “What it excels at is delivering a beautiful slice of writing complemented by absolutely fantastic performances that elevate the narrative.”
    • “Adios tries to be deep, though underachieves in almost every regard bar its vocal performances.”
    • “The vocal performances are strong, but the animation fails to meet those performances, with entire sequences having only basic idle animations that don't match the emotional tension of the scene.”
    • “First of all, don't come to this game expecting 'content.' It is clearly a narrative that is driven by top-notch performances and quality art, but it is not the kind of game you repeatedly play to master some sort of mechanic (except maybe horseshoes?).”
  • atmosphere25 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Adios" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting the game's unique premise, superb voice acting, and rich writing that collectively create an immersive experience. While some gameplay elements may detract from the overall experience, the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of place and mood is consistently noted as a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of narrative-driven games. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautiful and impactful, elevating the storytelling and player engagement.

    • “Games in general allow for such an intimate relationship with the atmosphere, places, and characters in them, and Adios is one of the best in allowing you to just experience a vibe, a feeling, and a life through a place.”
    • “It's a lovely, atmospheric, emotional narrative game.”
    • “The atmosphere, writing, and voice acting are on point.”
    • “Compared to the likes of Edith Finch, Gone Home, and Firewatch, its gameplay mechanics aren't as well synthesized with the story, but the writing, dialogue, and atmosphere really make it worthwhile.”
    • “I didn't like some of the mini-games like cooking and fishing; I just wanted to see the rest of the story, but I guess those mini-games have a point of building the atmosphere.”
    • “At first, the animations for the hitman were a bit off-putting, but the writing, acting, and atmosphere make it fade into the background after 15 minutes or so.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting a lack of a traditional soundtrack and minimal ambient sound, which detracts from the overall experience. While there are moments that evoke strong emotions, such as poignant dialogues and immersive environmental sounds, the absence of consistent musical elements leaves a noticeable gap. Overall, the game's music may resonate with those who appreciate emotional storytelling, but it may not satisfy players looking for a robust musical accompaniment.

    • “Many moments in this game will stick with you, from the discussion about extinct chestnut trees, to the heart-wrenching phone call to the farmer's son, to beating his soon-to-be assassin in horseshoes and futzing around with the in-game musical players.”
    • “Simply put, if you enjoy media that makes you feel, in this case sad, be it in music, movies, or video games, then this is right up your alley.”
    • “From the lack of any music, to the subtle but immersive wind in the background, and most of all the outstanding voice acting.”
    • “There are some sound cues but there isn't really a soundtrack.”
    • “Not a lot of music or ambient noise to speak of, but you do feel as if you really are on a farm.”
    • “There is no menu music, or any kind of music playing whilst you play.”
  • stability16 mentions

    The game has received mixed reviews regarding stability, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some acknowledge that the issues are not game-breaking and that patches are being released to address them, the consensus is that the game is currently quite unstable, impacting its value for the price. Overall, players suggest waiting for further updates or discounts before purchasing.

    • “Super buggy but decent story.”
    • “The game is also rather buggy in places.”
    • “Right now the game is super buggy honestly and not worth the 20 bucks.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of pathos and lightheartedness, featuring amusing character designs like funny-looking pigs and horses that evoke laughter. Players appreciate the balance of serious themes with humorous dialogue and interactions, often finding themselves in unintentionally hilarious situations that enhance the overall experience. While some moments are deep or somber, the comedic elements provide a comforting and enjoyable atmosphere throughout the gameplay.

    • “An interesting mixture of pathos and humor.”
    • “Cooking, of course, is a cool-down activity, but considering I had a lot of trouble just getting the ingredients without throwing them or the knife across the room, I couldn't stop laughing.”
    • “Although, there's plenty of opportunities to balance out the serious tone with humorous dialogue, interactions, and opportunities.”
  • replayability9 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, primarily due to the lack of meaningful changes in outcomes based on player choices, with most reviewers noting that the experience is short (1-2 hours) and primarily focused on the narrative. While some players mention the potential for achievement hunting and different conversation paths, these elements do not significantly enhance replay value, leading to a consensus that the game offers limited incentive for multiple playthroughs.

    • “I would highly recommend this game; exploring the harsh and emotionally rich story of its main character through the mundanity of farm life while keeping itself concise, replayable, captivating, and visually beautiful.”
    • “It's fairly short, but don't let that stop you; it's got a decent replay value (different conversation paths, achievements) and it's well worth it for what you pay for it.”
    • “To get through the main story, you're probably looking at 2 hours tops, and replayability is only slight with achievement hunting.”
    • “They do not change the outcome, so the game has low replayability unless you want to unlock every achievement.”
    • “The dialogue choices don't seem to change anything, so there isn't much replay value. While there are tiny bits of gameplay, the dialogue seems to exist separately from anything going on in the game world, making it harder to focus on the story.”
    • “$18 for just under 100 minutes of gameplay with zero replayability is unacceptable.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    The reviews suggest that the grinding aspect of the game is intertwined with a sense of dread, as the characters engage in seemingly pleasant yet ultimately superficial discussions about farming and ranch work, reflecting a deeper emotional struggle. This creates a contrast between the enjoyable activities and the underlying tension, making the grinding feel more significant than just repetitive tasks.

    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly became boring and frustrating.”
    • “The amount of time required to level up or progress is excessive, turning what could be an enjoyable experience into a chore.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the graphics are noted as unremarkable, the smoothness of the gameplay enhances the experience, particularly in relation to the unique character designs. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of growth or narrative depth.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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