Adios

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,886 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

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,886 reviews
story392 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • Incredible writing and voice acting that evoke strong emotions.
  • A unique narrative experience that effectively explores themes of regret and mortality.
  • Short but impactful, leaving a lasting impression on players.
  • Gameplay is minimal and may feel more like an interactive movie than a traditional game.
  • Some technical issues and bugs that can disrupt immersion.
  • The price may be considered steep for a game with such a short runtime.
  • story1,099 mentions

    The story of "Adios" is a poignant exploration of regret, guilt, and the complexities of human relationships, centered around a pig farmer contemplating his life choices as he prepares for a final confrontation with a hitman. While the narrative is concise and impactful, some players feel it lacks depth and could have been more engaging if presented in a different medium, such as film. However, the exceptional voice acting and well-crafted dialogue elevate the emotional weight of the story, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven games.

    • “A well-executed narrative that tells a story of guilt, grief, and hope delivered through short conversations as much by what's said as what's left unsaid.”
    • “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 writing, atmosphere, and storytelling is phenomenal.”
    • “On a macro level, neither the story nor the way it was presented worked for me.”
    • “The game's brevity really works against it in terms of storytelling, I feel.”
    • “Despite the game being all about the story, the story just isn't that good.”
  • emotional304 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Adios" is widely praised for its profound storytelling and the ability to evoke deep feelings in players, often leading to tears. Many reviewers highlight the game's touching narrative about a farmer contemplating his life choices and the poignant interactions with a friend, emphasizing the strong voice acting and writing that enhance the emotional weight. While some players found the gameplay simplistic, the overall experience is described as a heartfelt, reflective journey that resonates long after completion.

    • “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 very emotionally affecting; I teared up several times.”
    • “Adios is that one last walk around your home you take before you say goodbye to it forever, and the development team has ensured that every scene has the right amount of emotional weight and catharsis.”
  • gameplay174 mentions

    The gameplay in "Adios" is largely minimalistic, resembling a walking simulator with rudimentary mechanics that often feel clunky and unintuitive. While it serves primarily to enhance the narrative experience, many players find the lack of meaningful interactivity and engaging gameplay disappointing, suggesting that the story might have been better suited for another medium, such as film. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize narrative over gameplay, as it offers a poignant story delivered through simple interactions.

    • “I think it takes the framing of a short story but tries its best to enhance/flesh out the narrative via the gameplay, which was cool in my opinion.”
    • “The experience uses every element of gameplay to tell the story and include you in it, both through the actions available to you and those that aren't, and through the emotions and state of mind it provokes.”
    • “The gameplay complements the story, but doesn't get in the way of it, either.”
    • “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 leaves a lot to be desired.”
    • “If you're not into stories, where there isn't much gameplay to be had and some minor exploration, but mainly observing a story then this is a really great one.”
  • graphics109 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many describing them as basic and typical of indie titles, lacking in detail and animation. While some appreciate the art style for its charm and suitability to the setting, others find the visuals disappointing, particularly in comparison to the strong voice acting and writing. Overall, the graphics are seen as serviceable but not a highlight of the experience, often overshadowed by the narrative elements.

    • “The game's art style is well suited to conveying the simple charm of a rural Kansas farmstead, and the voice acting 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/artwork is gorgeous and a welcome addition to the cell-shaded genre.”
    • “Great voice acting, good writing, terrible visuals.”
    • “I don't expect AAA graphics, and prefer smaller studios/developers, but the lack of facial expressions, any sort of animations (i.e., you start a car by walking to the side of it, not even opening a door), and the overall design on some of the 'key' things in the game were really disappointing (i.e., the horse is so poorly done).”
    • “The graphics for this game are not great, they are simply serviceable, and I do believe they do not subtract from the plot and dialogue so it does its job there.”
  • optimization78 mentions

    The optimization of "Adios" is generally praised, with reviewers highlighting its beautiful graphics and smooth performance that enhance the emotional storytelling. The game effectively utilizes its dialogue and voice acting to create a captivating narrative experience, although some noted that the animation does not always match the intensity of the vocal performances. Overall, it is considered a well-optimized indie game that successfully combines strong writing and voice acting to deliver a poignant story.

    • “A well-optimized, gorgeous, cell-shaded indie game.”
    • “Not only does this game have two of the single most stellar voice acting performances found on the Steam store, but the cinematic-like cuts, the interactive chores, and the genius handling of the dialogue system all come together to tell a deeply sad tale of a man who's finally had enough and wants to save what's left.”
    • “There's a lot of very powerful writing in this game, driven home by some really fantastic voice 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?).”
    • “Adios tries to be deep, though underachieves in almost every regard bar its vocal performances.”
  • atmosphere44 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Adios" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, enhanced by exceptional voice acting and thoughtful writing. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create an immersive experience that allows players to connect intimately with its setting and characters, despite some criticism of the gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's rich atmosphere is considered a standout feature that elevates the narrative experience.

    • “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 clear that there was a lot of care put into that atmosphere, which elevates it above many games of similar length.”
    • “It's a lovely, atmospheric, emotional narrative game.”
    • “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.”
    • “It's short and focused, doing everything to immerse you in its story and atmosphere.”
  • music30 mentions

    The music in the game is largely subjective, with some players noting a lack of a cohesive soundtrack and minimal ambient sound, which detracts from the overall experience. While there are moments that resonate emotionally, such as poignant dialogues and interactions, the absence of a more robust musical presence leaves a noticeable gap. Overall, the game's sound design may not impress, but it effectively immerses players in the farm setting through subtle environmental cues and strong voice acting.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game will not fill you with awe for its design or music.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The game effectively blends humor with pathos, featuring amusing character designs like funny-looking pigs and a horse, which contribute to its charm. Players appreciate the comedic elements in gameplay, such as cooking mishaps, and the humorous dialogue that balances the more serious themes. Overall, the humor is described as both intentional and unintentional, adding to the game's appeal and comfort.

    • “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.”
    • “In a way, this could seem like the cheese factor has ruined it for me, but this just made me laugh and appreciate this all the more.”
    • “Unintentionally hilarious.”
  • stability24 mentions

    The game is generally described as quite buggy, with numerous minor glitches and issues affecting stability, though none are reported as game-breaking. While some players noted that patches have been released to address these problems, the overall experience is marred by the frequency of bugs, leading to mixed feelings about its value. Despite the stability issues, the narrative and voice acting received praise, indicating that the game's strengths may be overshadowed by its technical shortcomings.

    • “Very good narrative and voice acting, but very buggy.”
    • “Right now the game is super buggy honestly and not worth the 20 bucks.”
    • “The graphics are okay but the game is incredibly buggy.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the different conversation paths and achievements that offer decent replay value, others criticize the lack of meaningful impact from dialogue choices, leading to a perception of shallow gameplay and limited incentive to replay. Overall, it is seen as a captivating experience with a rich story, but its replay value may not satisfy all players.

    • “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.”
    • “Good story, great voice acting, good experience, very shallow on gameplay and very weak on replay value for the story.”
    • “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.”
    • “Good story, great voice acting, good experience, but very shallow on gameplay and very weak on replay value for the story.”
    • “This is not what replayability is.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    The reviews suggest that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of monotony and an undercurrent of dread, despite the engaging and hobbyist-level explanations of farming. Players may find it difficult to connect with the characters due to the repetitive nature of the tasks involved.

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 4 analyzed playthroughs

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