Apartment Story

About

"Apartment Story" is a single-player thriller game set in a single apartment in 2023. As Arthur, you must manage your needs and decide whether to engage with visitors or isolate yourself. The arrival of an old roommate and a dangerous character named Blondey sets the stage for a dramatic and risky narrative, with a gun hidden somewhere in the apartment. The game features a deep needs management system and distinct personalities that develop as the stakes rise.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 84 reviews

story16 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Apartment Story offers a unique blend of Sims-like gameplay and a gripping narrative, immersing players in a captivating atmosphere filled with meaningful choices.
The game's attention to detail, including beautiful lighting and a well-crafted soundtrack, enhances the overall experience and draws players into the protagonist's life.
Despite its short runtime, the game effectively balances moments of mundane realism with genuine tension, making it a memorable and engaging experience.

The gameplay can feel slow-paced and clunky, with several bugs and janky mechanics that detract from the overall enjoyment.
Character depth is lacking, and dialogues often feel short and unengaging, leading to a less impactful narrative experience.
The absence of multiple endings or significant player choices can leave players feeling disappointed, as the game feels more linear than expected.

story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
"Apartment Story" is praised for its unique blend of narrative-driven gameplay and life simulation mechanics, creating a captivating experience that immerses players in the protagonist's life. The game features multiple endings, enhancing replayability, while its focus on mundane realism and character development adds depth to the storytelling. Although some find the story predictable, the overall atmosphere and thoughtful design make it a standout title in the indie gaming scene, appealing to fans of concise, engaging narratives.
- “An insanely stylish sims-like that cleverly leverages the genre not only to tell a story, but to explore the negative space around it, the mundane parts that are often skipped.”
- “Each interaction feels significant, drawing you deeper into the story.”
- “Apartment story offers a captivating atmosphere and a truly unique experience that immerses you in someone else’s life.”
- “It feels like this would have worked much better as a short film or written story.”
- “The game will take around two hours to complete, and while there is a story to be told here, much of the real meat of the game is in the quiet time between the big story beats.”
- “While the story can be a bit predictable at moments, the overall experience left me satisfied.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The gameplay is characterized by a slow pace and some clunky controls, which detracts from the overall experience despite the engaging story and thoughtful character development. While it effectively utilizes life-sim mechanics and offers rewarding challenges, players feel it could benefit from more polished controls and additional features like voice acting. Overall, the game excels in its interaction mechanics and storytelling, making it a unique experience despite its shortcomings.
- “Great story and really cool use of the life-sim mechanic.”
- “It doesn’t rely on flashy mechanics but instead uses thoughtful storytelling and character development to pull you in.”
- “Apartment story offers gameplay that is as precise as a well-honed blade, challenging yet rewarding those with the courage to navigate its thrilling twists.”
- “Gameplay is rather slow-paced, and at the time of reviewing, I'm unsure if the game has alternate endings.”
- “Some of the controls are clunky, and the mechanics aren't amazing given the 'sims-like' comparison.”
- “This game deserves better control, a slightly more polished gameplay, and some voice acting.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
69%
19%
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming low-poly aesthetic that enhances its atmosphere and authenticity, with detailed environments and impressive lighting that bring the setting to life. The minimalist art style effectively communicates complex ideas while allowing players' imaginations to fill in the gaps, making it particularly appealing to those familiar with retro visuals. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's personality and immersive experience.
- “The visuals really bring it to life; every detail of the apartment exudes personality and the lighting is gorgeous.”
- “The characters and environment feel authentic, and the art style is spot on.”
- “Though all of the controls are a bit fiddly (picking multiple items up is particularly clumsy) and there’s a degree of jank to every element of the design, it somehow works with the low-poly aesthetics - plus the sheer volume of interactable 'stuff' is impressive.”
- “I don't really have any nostalgia for PS1 style graphics, but I felt that the game utilized the look effectively, allowing for more complex ideas to be communicated through a simplified visual language.”
- “Lends itself well to the lo-fi graphics and especially if you are British your brain will be filling in the details vividly anyway.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, allowing players to relax and reflect while exploring unique scenarios. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke a chill, weird, and dreary vibe, making it an engaging experience that encourages players to delve into another person's life. Overall, the game's rich atmosphere, combined with its visuals and storytelling, makes it a compelling choice for those seeking a reflective, story-driven experience.
- “Apartment Story offers a captivating atmosphere and a truly unique experience that immerses you in someone else’s life.”
- “Everything about this game is fire - the atmosphere, the visuals, the story, and the characters.”
- “It definitely passes the weird/chill/dreary atmosphere vibe check, and for $7 and two hours of my life, I found it to be a pretty interesting game and a great way to spend my weekend.”
- “The game compels the player to take time for reflection, time to take in the atmosphere, time to take a peek into another life.”
- “It changes scenarios and oozes atmosphere.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The music in the game is highly praised for its beautiful, drifting electronic soundtrack and effective diegetic elements that enhance the overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail, including how the music interacts with the camera angles, contributing to a well-paced and immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and narrative.
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, composed of drifting electronic tracks from traaps.”
- “The diegetic music nails the vibe, especially when you have a visitor.”
- “Perfectly paced with a fantastic use of music; it is absolutely well deserving of your time.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game evokes a strong sense of anxiety and powerlessness, creating a unique emotional experience. The mundane task of washing dishes becomes a source of tension as players anticipate the repercussions of their previous actions, enhancing the overall feeling of paranoia.
- “This game made me feel anxious and powerless in a way that was pretty unique.”
- “Washing the dishes while you wait in paranoia for the consequences of what took place the previous day was quite interesting and made me feel surprisingly anxious.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game offers notable replayability through its branching narrative, allowing players to experience multiple story endings. This feature adds a layer of richness that is often uncommon in smaller titles, encouraging players to revisit the game for different outcomes.
- “There are several ways your story can end, which adds to the replayability.”
- “The branching narrative and replayability give it a richness that’s rare in smaller games.”
- “There are several ways your story can 'end', which makes for some replayability.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with some users reporting minor glitches such as issues with item interaction and environmental obstacles. However, it performs well on the Steam Deck, indicating good optimization for that platform.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck too.”
- “I experienced a few glitches here and there, such as being unable to pick up an item again after I set it down somewhere, and being stuck for a little while trying to turn off a light because there was an item in front of it.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and thoughtfulness, emphasizing storytelling over flashy mechanics to engage players effectively. This approach creates a more immersive experience, allowing for meaningful connections with the characters.
- “It doesn’t rely on flashy mechanics but instead uses thoughtful storytelling and character development to pull you in.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game's bugs, often appreciating them for adding a comedic element to the experience. This lighthearted approach to glitches enhances enjoyment, making players more forgiving of technical issues.
- “There were some bugs, but I didn't mind them since they made me laugh.”