Annie and the AI

About

"Annie and the AI" is a story-driven puzzle game set in the late 2020s, where you play as Esme, an AI developed by a shut-in programmer named Annie. Your main goal is to solve visual puzzles using pattern and emotional matching of images from Annie's life, while uncovering details about her complicated family situation. The game features hand-drawn illustrations, an original soundtrack, and voice-acting led by Katy Bentz of Life is Strange.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

story28 positive mentions

The game features a beautifully written and emotionally engaging story that keeps players invested from start to finish.
The voice acting, particularly by Katy Bentz, and the music are exceptional, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
The puzzles are enjoyable and provide a good balance with the storytelling, making the gameplay both challenging and rewarding.

The game is relatively short, leaving some players wishing for more content or additional levels.
Some puzzles are not fully intuitive or explained, which may lead to confusion for players initially.
There are display issues on the Steam Deck that can hinder gameplay, requiring players to use 'Desktop Mode' for a better experience.

story
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The story is a short yet emotionally complex narrative that captivates players from start to finish, blending visual novel elements with engaging puzzles. It explores themes of family dynamics and human-AI interaction, enhanced by beautiful art and music, making it a memorable experience. While some players wished for a longer story, the overall execution and depth of the narrative have been widely praised.
- “The story is surprisingly emotionally complex and touching.”
- “This is a fantastic story about family and boundaries wrapped up in minesweeper with a twist.”
- “The game told a beautiful and emotional story with a perfect balance of puzzles and storytelling that kept me invested the entire time.”
- “The story was short enough to complete in a day and it was written in a way that I couldn't stop playing until the end.”
- “It's a deeply personal story, as the focus (even if they don't want it to be) is on Annie, the creator of a new AI, and the difficult family relationships they have to navigate.”
- “With the current spotlight on ChatGPT and advanced machine learning, 'Annie and the AI' is a timely story of human/AI interaction.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
21%
21%
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the narrative and emotional tension, with a soundtrack that complements the visuals and voice acting effectively. Players particularly enjoy the catchy puzzle music, which adds to the overall immersive experience. The combination of excellent voice acting, including notable performances, further elevates the game's artistic quality.
- “The story, the art, the acting, the music... is just a beautiful work of art.”
- “This is basically a narrative/visual novel that requires you to solve a puzzle in order to 'turn the page.' The main character's voice acting and the soundtrack completely carry the narrative tension that develops as you get through the game.”
- “There is excellent voice acting throughout the game, for example, Annie being portrayed by Katy Bentz of Life is Strange fame, and the music complements the game scenes well; the puzzle music in particular is a bit of an earworm.”
- “The music complements the game scenes well, but the puzzle music in particular is a bit of an earworm.”
- “The soundtrack completely carries the narrative tension that develops as you get through the game.”
- “The main character's voice acting and the soundtrack are crucial for the overall experience.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotionally complex and touching narrative, which effectively combines storytelling with gameplay elements. Players describe it as a beautifully crafted experience that evokes strong emotions and keeps them deeply invested throughout the journey. Overall, it is recognized for its ability to tug at the heartstrings and deliver a poignant emotional experience.
- “The game told a beautiful and emotional story with a perfect balance of puzzles and storytelling that kept me invested the entire time.”
- “A beautifully crafted visual novel that tugs at the heartstrings, enveloping players in a poignant, emotionally charged journey.”
- “I don't want to go into specifics for spoilers - I will simply say this is an emotional story propped up by some talented artists.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide any relevant information regarding the optimization of the game, as they focus solely on a performance nomination issue unrelated to technical aspects.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtly woven into the narrative, balancing the characters' tragic elements with positive themes that elicit genuine chuckles from players.
- “The characters definitely have a shade of tragedy to them, but there are a lot of positive themes that emerge, and I even found myself chuckling a few times.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is praised for its accessibility and effectiveness in engaging players, seamlessly integrating with the narrative while allowing for exploration of various topics of interest.
- “The gameplay is easy to understand and works well as a way to break up the story and involve the player, and also gives freedom to explore topics of interest.”