Afterparty

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73%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, grinding

72% User Score Based on 1,028 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 29 reviews

Platforms

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About

Afterparty is a single player casual action adventure game with fantasy, mystery and comedy themes. It was developed by Night School Studio and was released on October 22, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Afterparty is a single-player mystery action game with an intriguing story, good mechanics, marvelous graphics, and phenomenal music. As Milo and Lola, recently deceased best friends, you'll explore an interconnected underworld, outdrink demons, and uncover the mystery of your damnation. With an intelligent conversation system, varied libations, and a spectacular atmosphere, Afterparty delivers a memorable and highly emotional experience, despite some grinding and bugs.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,028 reviews

story268 positive mentions

stability54 negative mentions

The game features excellent voice acting and witty dialogue that keeps players engaged.
The art style and visuals are stunning, creating a vibrant and immersive atmosphere.
The unique premise of outdrinking Satan in Hell adds a fun and humorous twist to the narrative.

The gameplay is mostly linear with minimal interactivity, leading to repetitive walking and dialogue.
There are several game-breaking bugs that can hinder progress, causing frustration for players.
The story lacks depth and character development, making it hard for players to connect with the protagonists.

story
668 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The story of "Afterparty" is a mixed bag, with some players finding it entertaining and unique, while others criticize its linearity and lack of depth compared to previous titles like "Oxenfree." Many appreciate the humor and character interactions, but feel that the narrative drags and fails to fully develop its themes or characters, leading to a less engaging experience overall. Despite its charming visuals and voice acting, the game is often described as shallow, with a straightforward plot that doesn't offer enough meaningful choices or consequences.
- “The gripping storyline revolves around the inner demons of the two main characters, presenting hell as a means of self-discovery and self-reflection.”
- “Afterparty is a pretty chill and fun little game with a great story of two friends that meet interesting people along the way, for interesting goals, in interesting settings!”
- “The story is great, voice acting is sharp, dialogues are magnificent, the art style is basically a giant neon billboard that reads: 'dance nights in hell!'.”
- “Ultimately, regardless of your decisions, the story proceeds in a linear fashion, making the branching narrative feel superficial.”
- “The story, despite its promising setup, fails to deliver.”
- “The story was lacking and I didn't learn enough about the main characters to care about them by the end of the game.”
gameplay
270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
72%
9%
The gameplay of "Afterparty" has been widely criticized for its minimal interactivity, primarily consisting of walking and dialogue choices that often lack meaningful impact on the story. While the drinking mechanic introduces some variation in dialogue options, it ultimately feels underdeveloped and does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, players find the game to be a linear walking simulator with limited replayability, overshadowed by its engaging narrative and strong voice acting.
- “The gameplay is simple, as it's mainly dialogue choices that affect different situations and outcomes.”
- “The gameplay is casual, the content is highly entertaining (if you're into this type of game).”
- “The drinking mechanic was cool, adding some varying dialogue options depending on which drink you'd take.”
- “In the end, Afterparty is a game with a promising concept and an interesting art style, but the limited gameplay, poor writing, and unlikeable characters make it a forgettable and frustrating experience.”
- “The humor continues to get stretched thin and the 'gameplay' (if you can even call it that) is just a mix of walking around and choosing dialogue options that for the most part don't alter the direction of the story.”
- “This game is boring and literally has no gameplay.”
humor
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in the game is a divisive aspect, with some players finding it genuinely funny and engaging, particularly appreciating its dark and sarcastic wit, while others feel it becomes repetitive and one-dimensional over time. Many reviews highlight the clever writing and entertaining dialogue, though some criticize it for being crass or awkward, suggesting that the humor may not resonate with everyone, especially those sensitive to its themes. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable comedic moments and a unique narrative style, but its appeal largely depends on individual taste in humor.
- “Very funny and enjoyable game!”
- “The writing is hilarious and I really liked Milo and Lola's character arcs, especially the focus on, and critique of their friendship.”
- “Funny, engaging, original and entertaining”
- “The dialogues are so weird and unfunny, you'd swear they were all generated by a faulty AI algorithm.”
- “What I got was an uninteresting, predictable story, with unfunny jokes and useless extra minigames that are just an obstacle to the narration.”
- “But it's crass and unfunny; it's high-strung instead of rip-and-tear, and every time it starts picking up any kind of steam, it slams the brakes with a detached segment where a silly demon dispenses exposition about character backstories.”
graphics
232 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The graphics of "Afterparty" are widely praised for their unique and vibrant art style, drawing inspiration from Tim Burton and classic titles like Grim Fandango. Many reviewers highlight the immersive visuals and cohesive design that enhance the game's atmosphere, although some note occasional graphical glitches and clipping issues. Overall, the art direction and aesthetic contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it visually engaging despite criticisms of its gameplay and narrative depth.
- “The visuals are great too, there were a lot of cool spots, and generally everything was cohesive with a very nice art style.”
- “Art style is beautiful with a gorgeous neon rave club scene for hell that is awesome, and the score really doubles down on that and helps elevate that decision and it pays off very well.”
- “Such an incredible, immersive world - the visuals and music tie it all together so nicely.”
- “Sometimes there were issues with the graphics; stuff clipped and whatnot, and sadly I did sometimes cut off characters mid-sentence because I walked to a different destination which started another dialogue.”
- “And even the visuals are very underwhelming considering how long they've been making this.”
- “The movements of characters/figures in the world can be a little janky (standing on top of each other, getting caught on a pole) and there were multiple instances of texture clipping.”
music
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
30%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as immersive and well-composed, particularly highlighting the work of composer scntfc. The combination of music, voice acting, and visuals creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, although some players felt the soundtrack could be more prominent. While the music is often described as a standout feature, opinions vary on its memorability and impact on the game's engagement.
- “The music and the atmosphere (art/graphics/design) also help the mood and immersion.”
- “Such an incredible, immersive world - the visuals and music tie it all together so nicely.”
- “The mesmerizing soundtrack has been composed by scntfc who previously scored Oxenfree as well, among other titles.”
- “Meh soundtrack.”
- “Soundtrack is forgettable (except for wormhorn's theme), story is linear, overall game could be better, it does not have the charm oxenfree had, where I would just hang around because you would keep finding stuff, here I just felt the need to rush the game somewhere in midpoint because I wasn't engaged at all.”
- “He also crashed and I missed out on a significant portion of the dialogue while he stood in his base pose and the background music continued.”
stability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches reported, including character model malfunctions, soft locks, and gameplay freezes that can render it unplayable. While some players noted minor glitches that didn't severely impact their experience, many expressed frustration over the frequency and severity of these issues, particularly in the endgame. Overall, the game's stability detracts from its otherwise engaging narrative and visual style.
- “At some point in the game, you encounter an elevator, and when you use it, the game soft locks you and freezes your character in place, preventing you from continuing the game and making it unplayable.”
- “So many glitches and bugs; it is just impossible to play.”
- “Very buggy, despite having been out on EGS since March, including a bug that forces you to start over if you stop playing at the wrong place.”
atmosphere
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
37%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its charming art style, engaging music, and immersive design, contributing to a unique and humorous experience. However, some players feel that the atmosphere loses its impact after the initial stages, and the lack of exploration and gameplay depth detracts from the overall experience. While many appreciate the satirical tone and voice acting, there are mixed feelings about the game's pacing and the lessons conveyed, with some finding them overly pessimistic.
- “The music and the atmosphere (art/graphics/design) also help the mood and immersion.”
- “The atmosphere is great, the characters are funny and relatable, the situations are entertaining, the minigames for drinking and partying are fun and the length is ok for the price (7 hours for me).”
- “Incredible art style, amazing voice acting, the atmosphere is just as you'd imagine a hell's atmosphere be (maybe).”
- “The atmosphere doesn’t hold up beyond the first 30 minutes or so.”
- “There isn't much in the way of exploration, and that's a shame, because it really has a charming atmosphere and a world that you want to get lost in.”
- “The devs have the style and atmosphere down and it really carries the ultimately shallow gameplay and minigames.”
replayability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the presence of multiple endings and the impact of choices on the narrative, others find the limited number of significant outcomes and the inability to skip dialogue detract from the experience. Some reviews highlight that the game can be enjoyable for a second playthrough, but overall, the consensus suggests that replay value is somewhat constrained.
- “It really feels like the decisions you make alter the ending, and it holds replay value because of that.”
- “Different endings are available, so it has tons of replay value and I love the art direction.”
- “Definite replay value to go back and play again with different choices and outcomes.”
- “There's barely any replay value.”
- “It lacks replayability with only 2 majorly different endings and don't expect any long and meaningful decision trees here, but if you're looking for something low threat with a lot of charm for a couple of evenings, Afterparty fills that niche nicely.”
- “There is a little replayability for some alternate routes, but not much, and the fact that you can't skip dialogue makes a second playthrough a drag.”
emotional
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
14%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses; while some players found it creatively funny and capable of evoking tears, others felt it lacked the depth and lasting impact of similar titles like Oxenfree. Emotional moments often felt rushed or disconnected from the narrative, leading to a sense of detachment from the characters despite some poignant themes resonating with personal experiences. Overall, the game offers a lighter emotional experience with moments of genuine connection, but it may not satisfy those seeking a deeply written and heartfelt story.
- “[spoiler] I personally had alcoholism problems in my family, and the ending I got resonated with that experience perfectly. I cried because that felt like everything I have gone through; it was heart-wrenching.”
- “I felt I had grown attached to Milo and Lola, so seeing them at the end act like nothing had even happened made me feel strangely detached and confused.”
- “The voice actors managed to convey a variety of easy, conversational tones, exasperated snark, and quite emotional story beats with seeming ease.”
- “It won't take much effort to uncover the entire plot within the first hour of gameplay in Afterparty, leaving a boring story with some comedic drama that fails to evoke any real emotional engagement.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters is lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles and triumphs throughout the game.”
- “Despite its attempts at humor, the game ultimately falls flat in delivering any meaningful emotional experiences.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
5%
78%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often overshadowing the more enjoyable elements. Many reviews highlight the excessive back-and-forth walking and monotonous tasks that detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and disengagement. While some moments of humor exist, they are frequently overshadowed by the grind, prompting players to lose interest.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “The game feels a bit grindy at times, yet it keeps me engaged.”
- “While it can be a bit grindy, the sense of progression is very satisfying.”
- “The last straw was when I saw there was going to be a lot of grinding going on, which made me say 'screw it'.”
- “All the good parts of this game are overshadowed by tedious repetitive animations and some game-breaking bugs.”
- “You get to embark on tedious, boring tasks until it's finally time to play two drinking games and either beat him and be alive again, or stay in hell for a bit and then be offered the chance to leave because of some loophole.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The game's optimization is generally smooth until the end game, where players report significant glitches and performance issues. While the voice acting and writing are praised, some animations and character model clipping detract from the overall experience. Players may want to consider purchasing the game on sale due to these optimization concerns.
- “Performance is good, though some of the animations can be a bit rough and character model clipping is reoccurring.”
- “Except that your performance in these minigames will affect your outcome!”
- “Don't get me wrong - the writing is witty, the voice actors turn in top-notch performances, and the cocktails themselves are delightfully creative.”
- “Gotta be honest, Afterparty was a big letdown in its writing, performance, and gameplay.”
- “Without any way to really practice them in advance, my performance in the minigames was based on whether I had played a game with similar mechanics before, which led to me performing perfectly on the DDR-esque minigame, while it took me one loss in the drinking game to understand the controls and a second loss to understand the goal.”
- “I have seen people noting bugs, glitches, and performance issues.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the depth and humor intertwined with serious themes, others criticize the lack of meaningful growth and stakes compared to similar titles like Oxenfree. The vibrant character designs and voice acting are praised, but the overall impact of character development seems limited for some players.
- “The voice acting is amazing and the game truly is extremely funny at times while hiding more important topics and a fair amount of character development!”
- “I loved the colors and character designs.”
- “Zero character development and no risk at stake compared to Oxenfree.”
- “The neon-by-night look really shines through the story and the feel of this kind of hell - boozy, wayward, and a little depressed - is significantly carried on the back of the environmental and character designs.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of Afterparty has drawn mixed reactions, with some users feeling that the game's advertising could have better aligned with its tone and content. While the pricing is generally considered acceptable, there is a sentiment that clearer marketing could have set more accurate expectations regarding the game's emotional stakes and character engagement.