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Back Then

Back Then Game Cover
91%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
replayability, graphics
96% User Score Based on 46 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Back Then Game Cover

About

Back Then is a single player action game. It was developed by Octopus Embrace and was released on December 8, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Back Then" is a narrative-driven first-person game that explores the mind of Thomas Eilian, an elderly writer with Alzheimer's Disease. Players, as Thomas, interact with collectibles, puzzles, and memories while traversing through a house and dreamlike sequences, uncovering truths about Thomas and his family. The game emphasizes storytelling, exploration, and detective work as players struggle to remember their past.

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Back Then screenshot
Back Then screenshot
Back Then screenshot
Back Then screenshot
Back Then screenshot
Back Then screenshot
Back Then screenshot
Back Then screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews
story16 positive mentions
replayability1 negative mentions
  • The game offers a deeply emotional and moving narrative that effectively portrays the struggles of Alzheimer's Disease.
  • It features beautiful art design, impactful environments, and excellent voice acting that enhance the overall experience.
  • Many players found the game to be a powerful tool for understanding and processing their own experiences with dementia and loss.
  • The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with minimal interaction, which some players found tedious and unengaging.
  • There is no option to save mid-chapter, requiring players to replay sections if they need to exit, which can be frustrating.
  • The game has a short duration and limited replayability, leading some to feel it does not provide enough value for the price.
  • story
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is described as deeply emotional and beautifully sad, effectively exploring themes of dementia and loss through the character of Tommy. While some reviewers appreciate its pacing and thoughtfulness, others note that it unfolds slowly and is limited to just two scenarios. Overall, it resonates strongly with players, evoking a range of feelings and drawing comparisons to other impactful narrative-driven games.

    • “It's such a beautiful, yet incredibly sad story.”
    • “The story is deeply emotional, touching, and managed to sadden even a jaded, cynical person like myself.”
    • “It does an amazing job of telling Tommy's story, but is also done in such a way that it can be applied to anyone's story.”
    • “It just tells a sad story, painfully slowly, while you do nothing.”
    • “I really wanted to do a little review ^^ so, the story is certainly very well thought out, it's a shame that it's contained in just 2 scenarios.”
    • “I can't remember the story.”
  • emotional
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is noted for its intense emotional impact, featuring a mix of tension, frustration, and sadness that resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers highlight the story's ability to evoke strong feelings, even affecting those who typically remain unaffected by emotional narratives. Overall, it delivers a powerful emotional experience that leaves a lasting impression.

    • “The story is deeply emotional, touching, and managed to sadden even a jaded, cynical person like myself.”
    • “There were a lot of tense moments and many emotional ones as well.”
    • “It's emotional, frustrating, disorienting, scary, and very sad.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is praised for being spot on, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and mood. It works in harmony with the art and narration, contributing positively to the game's flow.

    • “The soundtrack and the art really helped set the mood, and the narration enhanced the flow.”
    • “Nice and spot-on soundtrack.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with users noting a short playtime of only two hours, which diminishes its value given the high price. Overall, it received a rating of 6/10 due to these concerns.

    • “Overall rating 6/10. I can't give more because the price is a bit high and the longevity is just 2 hours, not replayable.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by high-quality voice acting, which has been consistently praised by users for its immersive qualities.

    • “The voice acting is really good and atmospheric.”
  • graphics
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers praise the graphics for their appealing art style, which complements the well-executed voice acting, enhancing the overall visual and auditory experience of the game.

  • gameplay
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging mechanics and fluid controls, while others criticize it for repetitive tasks and a lack of depth. Overall, the experience is described as enjoyable but could benefit from more variety and innovation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Back Then is a action game.

Back Then is available on PC and Windows.

Back Then was released on December 8, 2023.

Back Then was developed by Octopus Embrace.

Back Then has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Back Then is a single player game.

Similar games include What Remains of Edith Finch, Lost Words: Beyond the Page, The Haunting of Joni Evers, The Shattering, The Cat Lady and others.