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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
story, humor
graphics, music
85% User Score Based on 75 reviews

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Game Cover

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a single player simulation game with a warfare theme. It was developed by James Earl Cox III and was released on November 7, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a thought-provoking, emotionally gripping intermedia game that adapts Ambrose Bierce's Civil War story. It blurs the line between reading a story and experiencing it firsthand, using game design as an art form to deliver a strong and compelling message. This artistic exploration of narrative and player agency is Game 9 of 100, created in five years.

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An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge screenshot
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge screenshot
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge screenshot
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge screenshot
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge screenshot
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge screenshot
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 75 reviews
story18 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a deeply emotional and atmospheric experience, effectively capturing the essence of Ambrose Bierce's classic story.
  • The visuals and sound design are well-executed, enhancing the storytelling and evoking strong emotions.
  • Despite its short length, the game leaves a lasting impact, prompting players to reflect on themes of war, death, and illusion.
  • The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of moving right with little interaction, which may disappoint those seeking a more engaging experience.
  • The game is very short, taking only a few minutes to complete, which some players feel limits its overall value.
  • Technical issues, such as lag and unresponsive controls, can detract from the experience, making it frustrating for some players.
  • story
    85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is a minimalist adaptation of Ambrose Bierce's classic short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," effectively conveying its themes and emotional depth through visuals and gameplay without any text. While some players appreciate its artistic approach and faithful representation of the original narrative, others criticize it for lacking gameplay depth and originality. Overall, it serves as a brief yet impactful experience that invites players to reflect on the story's poignant themes.

    • “Bierce's story was unique for its time because of how the reader is able to directly experience the actions and feelings of the central character, Farquhar, as if it is their own.”
    • “This game variation has taken the Civil War story and kept the main theme yet shown it in an artistic way by using no words, only visuals in the form of pixelated graphics and sound.”
    • “A poignant and powerful short story that delves deeply into the human psyche.”
    • “The visuals fully showcase the protagonists' experiences much as Bierce intended in his story, yet the only missing section is the story's explanation behind why the protagonist had ended up at Owl Creek Bridge and who was behind it.”
    • “Although not as effective as some of this developer's other titles, this game is another competent example of minimalist storytelling in video-gamedom.”
    • “Save your $4; the story is widely available online, this is straight up theft.”
  • graphics
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics feature charming 8-bit visuals that effectively convey the story without words, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics and minimalist design. However, some reviewers criticize the graphics as outdated and lacking depth, describing them as a lazy substitute for modern visuals. Overall, while the pixel art successfully captures the essence of the narrative, opinions vary on its artistic merit and execution.

    • “The visuals change often, and it conveys its story entirely without words, which I admire.”
    • “This game variation has taken the Civil War story and kept the main theme yet shown it in an artistic way by using no words, only visuals in the form of pixelated graphics and sound.”
    • “The pixel art does a fine job of telling the story, and the music manages to evoke a sense of urgency while staying true to the overall simple design aesthetic.”
    • “In a disgraceful insult to a great work of literary majesty, the game was made with obsolete retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “The lazy, phoned-in graphics, practically zero gameplay... with the butchered skin of a brilliant, emotional story plastered over it like a psycho cannibal wearing someone else's skin... this is not art.”
    • “Pixel graphics are fine (not great) and the music is also fine (also not great in my opinion).”
  • music
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to evoke emotion and enhance the atmosphere, despite some opinions deeming it merely "fine." While the sound design and art complement the experience, a few players felt the pacing issues detracted from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the music is highlighted as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's narrative and emotional depth.

    • “Good art, music, sound design.”
    • “The alternative ending is totally unexpected, and the music is outstanding.”
    • “Sadly, this short game kinda overstayed its welcome for me, as the pacing is severely truncated in order to extend the meager length of the experience, or to accommodate the song that's in it.”
    • “Pixel graphics are fine (not great) and the music is also fine (also not great in my opinion).”
    • “The pixel art does a fine job of telling the story, and the music manages to evoke a sense of urgency while staying true to the overall simple design aesthetic.”
  • gameplay
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is minimal and largely consists of holding a button until the end, with a difficulty rating of 1/10 due to its lack of interactivity and reliance on a linear narrative. Players should not expect traditional gameplay mechanics, as the experience is more of a guided story walkthrough rather than an engaging game, leading to criticism of its artistic and graphical execution. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a narrative experience rather than gameplay.

    • “Besides the title screen, there are no words (spoken or written) within the game, allowing the art and mechanics to tell the story.”
    • “You shouldn't go in expecting a ton of gameplay; it's more of a short walkthrough of the story.”
    • “Gameplay is hold right until the end, and even that is a little janky.”
    • “I would rate its difficulty at 1/10, given the minimal gameplay and clear instructions throughout (simply follow the soldier's story).”
    • “There's no actual gameplay, and that was not the intent... this was designed from scratch to be an affront to all that is good in literature.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is noted for its dark undertones, encapsulating a sense of existentialism with the phrase "life sucks." Despite this, players find the humor immersive and appreciate its subtlety, with references to works like Ambrose Bierce's "Devil's Dictionary" enhancing the comedic experience.

    • “All that buildup to say 'life sucks.' :lunar2019laughingpig: Even with that anomaly, I still found the game immersive and appreciated how it said a lot with a little.”
    • “Side note: anyone who has never heard of Ambrose Bierce should find online his 'Devil's Dictionary.' It is a hilarious and unique collection of his own interpretation of words in dictionary format.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as a poignant story that is ultimately undermined by poor graphics and gameplay, leaving players feeling disappointed and heartbroken over the wasted potential.

    • “It is a bit heartbreaking to see someone strive so hard for naught though.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its effective orchestration of visual experiences through progression triggers, complemented by great music that enhances the overall ambiance, culminating in a satisfying ending.

    • “It relies on progression triggers to orchestrate and control a visual experience that is effective and atmospheric.”
    • “Great music and atmosphere; nice ending too.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a simulation game with warfare theme.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is available on PC and Windows.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge was released on November 7, 2019.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge was developed by James Earl Cox III.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a single player game.

Similar games include A Bird Story, Stories Untold, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, INSIDE, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and others.