All the Delicate Duplicates

About

"All the Delicate Duplicates" is a surreal, award-winning game that follows John and his daughter Charlotte as they discover strange properties of objects inherited from a relative. These objects have the power to change their reality and memories, leading to a reality-bending experience. The game has received numerous accolades including Best Experimental Game and 2nd Place in the Robert Coover Award for Electronic Literature.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 43 reviews

story13 positive mentions

atmosphere2 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging story that explores complex themes of mental illness and family dynamics.
Visually stunning with a rich atmosphere, the game rewards players who take their time to explore and piece together the narrative.
Offers a non-linear gameplay experience that encourages multiple playthroughs to uncover different layers of the story.

The gameplay is primarily limited to walking and interacting with objects, lacking traditional game mechanics and depth.
The story can be confusing and requires significant effort to piece together, which may frustrate some players.
The game is very short, with some players completing it in under an hour, leading to concerns about its value for the price.

story
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
7%
The game's story is polarizing, with some players finding it engaging and layered, requiring multiple playthroughs to fully grasp its complexities, while others criticize it as vague and poorly constructed. Many appreciate the non-linear storytelling and environmental exploration, which allows players to piece together fragmented narratives, but some feel it lacks resolution and coherence. Overall, it appeals to fans of walking simulators and those who enjoy deep, psychological themes, though it may leave others confused or unsatisfied.
- “The story has many layers and it might take a few playthroughs to get a sufficient understanding of what actually happened.”
- “The exploratory style of the game felt a little like 'Gone Home.' The complex emotional power of the game underlies the entire non-linear story but reverberates long after the game is turned off and the player walks away.”
- “A wonderful delivered story experience and one that is worth a playthrough.”
- “It feels like it was just thrown together without any real story or gameplay.”
- “There are quite a few gaps, and this story had a ton of potential, but ultimately I was left confused for a good chunk of the game.”
- “The storyline is so vague and perhaps 'deep' that I was left confused about what the hell I was actually playing.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
The graphics of the game are visually striking and feature a unique, gritty art style that enhances the eerie and psychological themes. While many players appreciate the psychedelic visuals and their ability to create tension, some feel that the graphics can be confusing or lack depth, appearing trippy for the sake of it. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, with a mix of admiration for their creativity and criticism for their perceived hollowness.
- “The graphics are good and it is pretty creepy at times, which is nice.”
- “Loved the visuals, wanted more to open up in the mo universe section.”
- “The visuals do a great job helping create tension as you learn this tale is a bit dark with eerie psychological conceptions.”
- “It seems people are 'blown away' by the psychedelic visuals, which are striking initially, but it comes across as hollow; trippy for the sake of being trippy with no reason for the trippiness other than being seen as 'trippy'.”
- “At first I thought something was wrong with my graphics card, but it seems this is 'geniusly made' experimental.”
- “It is just trying to use already existing tropes here and there to make you think 'OMG... wow.... this is so deep' when in fact it is nonsensical garbage made up and it doesn't mean anything, with dumb graphical effects to make you feel as if it is such a trippy and 'woah' game.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The gameplay primarily involves exploring the Sykes household, collecting and examining items, and reading notes, reminiscent of "Gone Home" but with a dreamlike quality. While some players appreciate the non-linear exploration, others feel the experience lacks depth and a cohesive story, leading to mixed opinions on its value given the short playtime for the price. Overall, the gameplay is described as simple and somewhat disjointed, appealing to those who enjoy atmospheric exploration.
- “The main mechanic is you walking around in the Sykes household at different times, looking at their belongings, reading notes and journals, etc. One could compare it a bit to 'Gone Home', but with a dreamlike twist to it.”
- “The gameplay is really up to you.”
- “The gameplay is non-linear.”
- “Gameplay consists solely of just walking around and picking up items to look at them.”
- “It feels like it was just thrown together without any real story or gameplay.”
- “Almost $10 for 1-2 hours of gameplay?”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The music in the game is generally praised for its fittingness and ability to enhance the atmosphere, effectively setting the mood during tense moments. However, some users noted inconsistencies in voice and sound quality, suggesting a lack of cohesion in the audio experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point of the game.
- “The music is quite fitting to the scenarios and complements the game wonderfully.”
- “The music for this game sets the perfect mood.”
- “As the house appeared more tense, the music was always there to accompany it.”
- “There were some annoying things with the voice, sounds, and music, like sometimes things were recorded by different people with different levels.”
- “The music is quite fitting to the scenarios, but it can become repetitive and lose its impact over time.”
- “While the music attempts to enhance the atmosphere, it often feels out of place and fails to engage the player.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is often compared to that of a horror title, evoking a sense of tension and unease that enhances the overall experience. While some players initially find it underwhelming, many are ultimately impressed by the atmospheric elements, even if the story itself may not resonate as strongly.
- “A friend recommended I try this, and at first it wasn’t all that. However, after giving it a quick go and reaching what I guessed was the end in just under 30 minutes, I was impressed by the atmosphere, even if I wasn't sold on the story.”
- “The atmosphere is reminiscent of that in a horror game, but calling it such would be cheapening it, I think.”
- “A friend recommended I try this, and at first it wasn’t all that. I gave it a quick go, getting to the end, or what I guessed was the end, in just under 30 minutes. I was impressed by the atmosphere but not sold on the story.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game evokes deep emotional reflections, prompting them to revisit its themes and feelings long after completion. Its non-linear storytelling and exploratory style contribute to a profound emotional impact, reminiscent of titles like "Gone Home."
- “I found myself returning to the game in my mind again and again, puzzling over it and thinking about the way it made me feel.”
- “The exploratory style of the game felt a little like 'Gone Home.' The complex emotional power of the game underlies the entire non-linear story but reverberates long after the game is turned off and the player walks away.”