Analogue: A Hate Story

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,690 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Analogue: A Hate Story Game Cover
Beneath the endless text, Analogue is smart, focused, and refreshingly unpleasant stuff with a style all of its own.
Starting at $2.43Buy now
Get on Steam

"Analogue: A Hate Story" is a visual novel game where players uncover the secrets of a abandoned spaceship and learn about the lives of its past inhabitants through digital records. The game explores themes of gender, sexuality, and society in a sci-fi setting, with multiple endings based on the player's choices and actions. It also features a unique mechanic of deciphering old Korean script with the help of in-game tools.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,690 reviews
story617 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-written story that explores dark themes and societal issues.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that involve reading logs and interacting with AIs, creating an immersive experience.
  • Strong character development, particularly with the AIs, making players emotionally invested in their stories.
  • Heavy reliance on reading can be overwhelming and may deter players who prefer more action-oriented gameplay.
  • Confusing character names and relationships can make it difficult to follow the story at times.
  • Some players may find the pacing slow and the lack of visual variety limiting.
  • story1,933 mentions

    The story of "Analogue: A Hate Story" is a complex and engaging narrative that unfolds through the logs and letters of a long-dead society aboard a derelict spaceship, exploring themes of misogyny, familial conflict, and societal collapse. Players piece together the tragic fate of the ship's inhabitants while interacting with two AI characters, each offering different perspectives on the events that transpired. While the game is heavily text-based and requires significant reading, it is praised for its depth, emotional impact, and unique storytelling approach, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.

    • “The story is fictional, but the setting is based on an actual historical period in Korea, which is the Joseon period.”
    • “Is quite a contrast to see the two perspectives, and through each side you will slowly uncover the truth and backstory behind the characters, and eventually all the pieces will connect, and the shocking revelation will leave you speechless.”
    • “The story is fantastic, letting you draw your own conclusions and unravel events slowly.”
    • “The 'secret golden ending' should feel like a glorious hurrah for those devoted to the story, but it ultimately feels like a shoehorn and a betrayal of what the story is talking about.”
    • “The story is intentionally made difficult to grasp.”
    • “The story is already written; you're just gathering perspectives as you play. No matter what you do, the events have transpired, and the only justifiable ending is putting the memories of this person to rest.”
  • music199 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the storytelling and setting a fitting mood throughout the experience. While many reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's beauty and its ability to create an immersive backdrop, some note that it can be understated to the point of being forgettable or repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point of the game, with many recommending it as a worthwhile purchase alongside the game itself.

    • “The soundtrack is atmospheric and the setting really got under my skin.”
    • “The music is also quite simple but serves to enhance the atmosphere extremely well.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, and I highly recommend you buy the soundtrack with it.”
    • “The music wasn't really memorable; there was some good ambiance, and it mostly served to set the environment's feel.”
    • “Overall, compared to other visual novels, the art and music is rather bleak and character interaction is limited, as most of the text comes from logs of the past.”
    • “There's barely any music, you stick to the same scene 98% of the time, and despite all its reading, overall as a game it's short.”
  • gameplay197 mentions

    The gameplay of "Analogue: A Hate Story" is primarily text-based, focusing on reading logs and interacting with AI characters to uncover a narrative-driven mystery. While it features unique mechanics like a console for input and some light puzzle-solving, many players find the gameplay repetitive and minimal, typical of visual novels. Despite its limited interactivity, the engaging story and character dynamics provide a compelling experience for those who appreciate narrative over traditional gameplay elements.

    • “The gameplay is unique and fits the sci-fi atmosphere quite nicely.”
    • “The pacing is good, and for added variety there are some interesting 'hacking' gameplay segments, as well as a pretty ingenious way to unlock the true end.”
    • “The gameplay consists of a lot of reading and unlocking more pages as you progress through reading.”
    • “Gameplay is simply clicking through pages of 'diaries' and 'logs', and that will be the only thing you'll ever do.”
    • “The writing here is second rate, and the gameplay, which consists entirely of reading text documents, is tepid by visual novel standards.”
    • “If you don't like reading, this game isn't for you; most of the gameplay is sifting through old logs and correspondence trying to piece together what happened and learn more about the ship's inhabitants.”
  • emotional145 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its deeply touching and often heartbreaking narrative, which explores themes of oppression, abuse, and personal struggle. Players report feeling a strong connection to the characters and their stories, with many experiencing significant emotional responses, including sadness and empathy. The writing is noted for its ability to evoke powerful feelings, making it a memorable and impactful experience for those willing to engage with its complex themes.

    • “It's heartbreaking and horrifying to learn what happened to the so-called 'generation ship', and it's somber to realize that it didn't happen sooner.”
    • “The story is, truly, heart-wrenchingly beautiful.”
    • “This is by far one of the most amazing and touching games that I have ever played.”
    • “Boring storyline and flat character design.”
    • “It is in bad taste and reeks of desperation to try and make a really boring story into something more than what it actually is.”
  • graphics118 mentions

    The graphics in this visual novel are minimalistic, featuring a simple art style with very few illustrations, primarily focusing on two character designs against plain backgrounds. While some players appreciate the clean interface and thematic integration of visuals with the storytelling, others find the lack of artwork disappointing, especially compared to more visually rich titles in the genre. Overall, the graphics serve to enhance the narrative experience rather than stand out on their own, making it more of a literary work than a traditional visual novel.

    • “The art style is very pleasing, has a very interesting plot, and is very well made with an amazing soundtrack.”
    • “The graphics are good, and the interface is well designed and well integrated into the story.”
    • “The anime visuals look great and the fully diegetic layout (coupled with a nice soundtrack) does a great job of really immersing the player.”
    • “There is very minimal artwork and there is very limited background artwork.”
    • “The visuals in this visual novel are not all that fancy if compared to some other works and the story is mostly linear, with only a few shorter branches.”
    • “So little visuals that I'm pretty sure you can't call it a visual novel.”
  • replayability46 mentions

    The game offers some replayability primarily through multiple endings and achievements, which encourages players to revisit the story. However, many reviewers note that the experience can feel tedious due to the linear nature and repetitive dialogue, leading to a consensus that while there is replay value, it is somewhat limited. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy narrative-driven games, but players may find themselves moving on after unlocking the various endings.

    • “It's definitely one of my favorite interactive novel experiences, and I would recommend it to those looking for an intriguing (and often heartbreaking) story with a lot of replay value.”
    • “This game has multiple endings, so there is great replay value, and a sequel coming soon!”
    • “Multiple endings promote replayability, and the deeper mystery of the story is engrossing enough for the time you play the game.”
    • “Beyond that, replay value is pretty limited.”
    • “A major weakness is its low replayability.”
    • “The replayability value of this game, however, is quite low; if you're after the multiple ending achievements, you're really likely to just click through the game from an existing save or the beginning.”
  • humor30 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark, self-referential, and situational comedy, often juxtaposed with serious themes like violence and feminism. Players appreciate the clever writing, funny character interactions, and humorous plot twists, which contribute to an engaging and entertaining experience. Overall, the game balances its comedic elements with emotional depth, making it both funny and thought-provoking.

    • “These games are at once thrilling, soothing, hilarious, and heartbreaking.”
    • “The right mix of humor, mystery, and tragedy.”
    • “Has an interesting sense of humor and kept me entertained the whole way through.”
  • atmosphere27 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that complements the sci-fi setting and evokes a range of emotions. Players appreciate the minimalistic approach, which allows the narrative and environmental storytelling to shine, creating a contemplative yet tense experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating, with a strong emphasis on characterization and emotional depth.

    • “The soundtrack is atmospheric and the setting really got under my skin.”
    • “It's a great combination of a contemplative mood with building tension, and the music works fantastically with the writing to create that atmosphere.”
    • “This is one of those games where it's more about the atmosphere it creates and the emotions it inspires than the actual content.”
    • “Gameplay is almost nonexistent, interactions are minimal and backgrounds are completely absent, but this minimalistic approach works so well for this game's atmosphere.”
    • “A relatively short game with a surprisingly engrossing atmosphere.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly during subsequent playthroughs aimed at achieving different endings. While the initial experience is engaging, the extensive reading and code entering required for replaying can lead to frustration and boredom. Despite some players appreciating the story and immersive elements, many agree that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Unfortunately, this process quickly becomes tedious and after 2 hours of it, I was frustrated and bored.”
    • “An aspect of the genre I find hard to reconcile is that I want to see multiple endings, but the process of replaying and trying new things to get to those endings is exceedingly tedious.”
    • “You spend the rest of the game rather tediously sorting through encrypted ship logs one by one...the only boring part of the game, really.”
  • character development16 mentions

    Overall, the reviews highlight strong character development as a standout feature of the game, with many praising the depth and emotional resonance achieved through well-crafted writing and storytelling. While some noted limitations in romance options, the intricate relationships and character arcs were frequently described as satisfying and engaging. The game is recognized for elevating the visual novel genre by focusing on character growth and narrative quality rather than solely on superficial elements.

    • “In my opinion, it should set the bar for the standard that all visual novels should strive to achieve; with good writing, animation, and interesting character development, being an exciting, shocking, and altogether enjoyable experience.”
    • “But fortunately, the storytelling is strong enough to evoke emotions of empathy for these heroines through strong character development.”
    • “I won't say much more about it, because that will ruin some of the story, but there is gripping and intricate character development at work here.”
    • “Boring storyline and flat character design.”
    • “Seriously, if you like slow character development, get this.”
    • “However, it's a visual novel -- what matters is ambiance, quality of writing, the plot itself (which in this case is interesting, as most of it takes place in the story's own past) and, above all, character design.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report stability issues, noting that the UI contains some buggy shortcuts that can enhance usability, but significant glitches occur during the activation of the AI, rendering commands ineffective.

    • “Tried getting past the first part of activating the AI, yet it glitches out and none of the commands work.”
    • “There were a few slightly buggy shortcuts in the UI that made it more tolerable to read.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy for the game appears to be effective, as it successfully attracts fans of sci-fi, horror, and transhumanism, leveraging targeted advertising to drive purchases.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Analogue: A Hate Story

Play time

8hMedian play time
29hAverage play time
5-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games