Alt-Frequencies

About

Alt-Frequencies is a single player arcade simulation game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Plug In Digital and was released on May 16, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

Alt-Frequencies is a single-player Mystery Interactive Fiction game with an intriguing story and unique game mechanics. Players record and redistribute radio broadcasts in a time loop to impact news cycles and the lives of characters, including radio hosts, conspiracy theorists, and politicians. The audio-based game offers built-in accessibility features for wide-ranging player inclusion.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 159 reviews

story43 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Unique gameplay mechanics that involve listening to radio broadcasts and recording clips to influence the story.
Great voice acting and an engaging narrative that explores themes of conspiracy and government control.
Short but interesting, making it a good option for a quick gaming session.

The game feels too short and the ending is unsatisfying, leaving many questions unanswered.
Limited player choice and consequences, which reduces replayability and impact on the story.
Some gameplay mechanics can be frustrating, such as the inability to rewind audio clips and unintuitive controls.

story
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The story of "Alt-Frequencies" is praised for its innovative concept centered around deciphering radio broadcasts to uncover a conspiracy, but many reviewers feel it is underdeveloped and rushed, lacking depth and character connection. While the audio storytelling and voice acting are highlighted as strong points, the overall narrative is seen as too short and unsatisfying, with limited player agency and a need for more substantial plot development. Despite its intriguing premise, the execution leaves players wanting more, making it a mixed experience for those seeking a robust story.
- “First off, it does have an alluring narrative with its cryptic story, centered around deciphering multiple radio frequencies and attempting to uncover hidden messages to assist in exposing corrupt politicians within a conspiracy.”
- “The story is nice and though I feel it ended too quickly, I think it's something to try and experience.”
- “It's atmospheric, the voice acting is phenomenal, and the story is very compelling!”
- “The story moves along a bit too quickly and the ending is unsatisfying.”
- “You’re thrown into a conspiracy without any real connection to the characters or scenario, even after piecing together the entire fragmented story.”
- “The plot feels rushed and unfinished while the characters look more like caricatures of what they represent with some unrealistic voice acting performances.”
gameplay
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The gameplay of "Alt-Frequencies" features a unique mechanic centered around recording and sending audio clips between radio stations, which many players found engaging and innovative. However, the simplicity of the mechanics, combined with a lack of depth in decision-making and narrative development, led to a somewhat monotonous experience for some. While the core concept shows promise, the execution often feels clunky and underwhelming, resulting in a mixed reception regarding its overall enjoyment and replayability.
- “The gameplay can be fun and its core system is solid enough to stop its score from falling too far.”
- “The seamless integration of audio clips and interactive gameplay creates an immersive and unique experience that engages both your ears and mind.”
- “Unique gameplay mechanics (if sometimes a bit wonky) that fit really well with the story and setting.”
- “The concept and core mechanics hold promise, but the lack of consequences from player's decision-making and an underdeveloped narrative prevent the game from reaching its full potential.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is actually much less creative than it sounds, becoming monotonous.”
- “I understand the need to create a sense of realism and flow, but this does it at the cost of creating an uninteresting and boring gameplay experience.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
10%
20%
The music in the game has received high praise from users, with many describing the soundtrack as fantastic, banger-worthy, and surprisingly decent. Reviewers appreciate the well-chosen songs that enhance the storytelling and character interactions, alongside commendable voice acting. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience.
- “I was pleasantly surprised with how fantastic the soundtrack was!”
- “The characters, voices, and the music are simply superb; all of the 100% achievements really feel earned and like little easter eggs.”
- “The music is very well chosen by the developers.”
- “Surprisingly decent original music.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its immersive atmosphere, enhanced by excellent voice acting and atmospheric sound design, which draw players into its world. While the visuals are minimal and somewhat static, they contribute to a relaxing experience. However, those seeking a strong narrative may find the story lacking, making it more suitable for fans of atmospheric exploration and cryptic storytelling.
- “The game has great voice acting and creates an immersive atmosphere.”
- “The voice acting is top-notch, drawing you deeper into the story, while the atmospheric sound design immerses you in the world of the game.”
- “It's atmospheric, the voice acting is phenomenal, and the story is very compelling!”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics in Alt-frequencies are minimalistic, featuring a simple interface and a beautifully painted room that contributes to a relaxing atmosphere. While the visuals may not appeal to everyone due to their static nature, they are generally well-received for their aesthetic quality. Overall, the game's graphics complement its audio-focused experience effectively.
- “Alt-Frequencies is a good short game with an original story, some nice graphics, and a relaxing ambiance.”
- “Despite being too static, the minimal visuals are nice with an overall relaxing atmosphere.”
- “Visuals were of course very simple, but the one room you see is very gorgeously painted.”
- “I could see this game not being for everyone since it's all audio; the only visuals are the game interface, a picture of a radio, the station name, and subtitles of the audio stream.”
- “Visuals were, of course, very simple, but the one room you see is very gorgeously painted.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's replayability is hindered by a lack of meaningful player choices and a singular ending, leading to repetitive gameplay. While there are some achievements that offer a slight incentive to replay, the overall experience remains short and limited in variety.
- “However, the lack of player choice consequences and a singular ending severely limited replayability, and the frequent looping of the stations, while attempting to piece together the messages, became extremely repetitive and annoying.”
- “This adds a bit of replayability, but frankly not much.”
- “I was surprised there is a bit of replayability with the achievements, but even with them, the game is still very short.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a significant lack of emotional engagement in the game, leading to an underwhelming experience, particularly in critical moments like the ending and character deaths. The varied emotional responses represented by different game stations highlight the disconnect between player experience and intended emotional impact.
- “From a carefree non-stop pop to a pessimistic talk show, each station is characterized to represent different parts of the populace and their emotional response.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by its low-pressure environment and the frequent occurrence of unexpected, funny events that arise from player curiosity. Many users appreciate the abundance of optional storylines and humorous conversations, suggesting that exploring the game thoroughly can reveal a wealth of comedic content.
- “Whenever I asked myself, 'I wonder if something would happen if I did...', the answer was very often: 'Yes, yes, something cool, funny, or unforeseen will happen.'”
- “It's low-pressure and has a lot of funny, optional storylines.”
- “I decided to 100% the game, and I'm surprised at the amount of humorous conversations you can miss.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of time loop games to be tedious, particularly when repeatedly reliving the same events or struggling with puzzles. The lack of a restart button can exacerbate this frustration, making the experience feel cumbersome and less enjoyable. Overall, while the concept is intriguing, the execution can lead to a monotonous gameplay experience.
- “Designing time loop games can be tricky, because subjecting players to reliving the same events many times can make the gameplay tedious very quickly.”
- “The idea is that you listen to and send clips from a series of stations stuck in a time-loop is neat, but from a game design perspective, it's really odd and tedious.”
- “My only criticism is that when having trouble figuring out a puzzle or achievement it can be tedious getting back to the beginning of the level; a restart button would be appreciated.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has been criticized for its rushed plot and underdeveloped characters, which come across as caricatures. Additionally, the voice acting is noted to be largely unrealistic, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The plot feels rushed and unfinished while the characters look more like caricatures of what they represent, with some unrealistic voice acting performances.”
- “Mostly unrealistic voice acting performances.”