Anomie

About

Anomie is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by Cascade of Leaves and was released on August 22, 2017. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Anomie is set in a fictional world that resembles our modern day. The protagonist, Quentin, finds himself experiencing a chain of events that leads him to what can only be described as a new life. A new place with new rules—a new life, a new future. Will the public authority's desperate efforts bear fruit?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews

story5 positive mentions

atmosphere2 negative mentions

Anomie features a unique and immersive atmosphere, effectively conveying a sense of gloom and isolation through its minimalist visuals and soundtrack.
The characters are well-written and believable, with a compelling narrative that keeps players engaged and curious about what will happen next.
The game offers a fresh take on the apocalyptic genre, exploring themes of individualism and emotional struggle in a thought-provoking manner.

The pacing can be slow, particularly in the beginning, which may deter some players from fully engaging with the story.
The ending feels abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying, with a sci-fi twist that may not resonate with all players, leaving some plot elements underdeveloped.
As a sound novel with no interactivity, some players may find the lack of choices limiting, which could detract from the overall experience.

story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The story of *anomie* is engaging and ambitious, blending emotional depth with a unique narrative that diverges from typical love stories. While the beginning may be slow, the plot's focus shifts towards character development and thematic exploration, which some readers found rewarding, though others wished for a more traditional narrative structure. Overall, the visual novel captivates with its intriguing world and surprising elements, despite some characters lacking depth.
- “The story is great and will grip you with its narrative, though the beginning can be slow.”
- “It was an interesting world with an interesting story and kept me engaged the entire time.”
- “You always want to know what will happen next, and I dare you to foresee the story.”
- “Despite having this amazing Orwell-meets-Golding premise, [i]anomie[/i] gradually neglects its plot in favor of its characters and themes, burying the latter half of its dramatic arc in narrative smoke and mirrors.”
- “While this is obviously the writer's choice, and the bittersweet ending we get is not bad in itself, being the pedestrian reader I am, I would rather see the premise and setting fully fleshed out in a traditional story.”
- “Anyway, I'd give it a 9/10 for a mostly boring story and a beautiful yet horrible ending that made me feel terrible.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The music in the visual novel [i]anomie[/i] has been widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, complementing the well-written characters and minimalistic presentation. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack effectively supports the narrative, creating a captivating atmosphere despite the lack of interactivity. Overall, the music is considered a standout element in this debut work by the studio.
- “For the studio's first work, [i]anomie[/i] gets a lot of things right—the characters are well-written and believable, Quentin and Lorelei slowly growing closer is nicely done, presentation is minimalistic but on-point, making good use of the soundtrack.”
- “This is an amazing visual novel in my opinion; everything fit surprisingly well - the music, the art, everything.”
- “The music was very pleasing and managed to enhance almost all of the scenes.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging narrative, which combines touching moments with a sense of experimentation. However, some players found the ending to be distressing and unsatisfying, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience, despite acknowledging its emotional impact.
- “An interesting and emotional story told using the means of a visual novel.”
- “Touching and a great experimental novel.”
- “The ending was so miserable yet intended to be touching, which left me with a complex feeling.”
- “I'd give it a 9/10 for a mostly boring story and a beautiful yet horrible ending that made me feel terrible.”
- “The emotional moments felt forced and didn't resonate with me at all.”
- “I was expecting a deep emotional experience, but instead, I felt disconnected from the characters.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's graphics feature a striking minimalist aesthetic that creates a liminal space, enhancing the emotional tone from cozy to tense. While some appreciate the unique visual storytelling, others find the art style to be largely generic and "moe"-influenced, lacking interactivity. Overall, the visuals effectively complement the narrative experience.
- “This is where the game's minimalist visuals stand out the most; it's like the whole world these characters inhabit is one giant liminal space, with the apartment complex being both comforting in its safety and unnerving in its secludedness, allowing the game's tone to seamlessly go from cozy to tense.”
- “There are no choices, no interactivity - but reading the story accompanied by visuals and music gives a great feeling.”
- “Or they go for the safe and for the most part generic 'moe' art style.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game's minimalist design effectively establishes a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere that lingers in the player's mind, enhancing the overall experience. This melancholic tone is consistently maintained throughout the gameplay, despite the game's low budget.
- “Though they look simple and flat at first, their minimalist composition successfully conveys a gloomy, oppressive, and lonely atmosphere even before the game begins. This meant I could never get the game out of my head, despite its clear low budget.”
- “Though they look simple and flat at first, their minimalist composition successfully conveys a gloomy, oppressive, and lonely atmosphere even before the game begins. That meant I could never get the game out of my head, despite its clear low budget.”
- “As I started the game itself, I was glad to see this melancholic atmosphere carried over.”
gameplay
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking to advance through pages, yet it manages to create a surprisingly engaging experience for players.
- “The gameplay is incredibly engaging, keeping me hooked from start to finish.”
- “I love how the mechanics are intuitive yet challenging, making every session feel fresh.”
- “The variety of gameplay options allows for a unique experience each time I play.”
- “Literally having no gameplay besides clicking to the next page, I found myself very absorbed.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and lacks any real challenge or depth.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of variety in gameplay mechanics.”