BAD END THEATER

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In "BAD END THEATER" , players choose a protagonist and explore grim outcomes across multiple stories, with decisions in one story affecting others. The game features 16k words, 600 illustrations, and over 40 endings. It's a puzzle-driven experience where playtime varies, lasting approximately 1-3 hours to see all endings. The game is developed by NomnomNami, with animations by chunderfins, and offers translations in multiple languages .

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,677 reviews

story455 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

The game features a charming story with lovable characters that players quickly become attached to.
The art style and soundtrack are beautiful, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
The unique gameplay mechanic of toggling character traits to influence the story adds depth and replayability.

The game is quite short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete, which some players feel does not justify the price.
Many endings feel repetitive, as they often present similar scenarios from different character perspectives.
The final boss battle and true ending may feel anticlimactic or forced for some players.

story
923 mentions
49 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Bad End Theater" is a beautifully crafted, albeit short, narrative that intertwines the perspectives of four characters, each facing their own tragic endings. Players navigate through a series of choices that significantly impact the storyline, leading to multiple outcomes that evoke a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak. The game's unique mechanics and charming art style enhance the storytelling experience, making it a memorable journey that resonates with players long after completion.
- “The characters and story are the star of the show, and I find myself talking about them literal years after I played the game.”
- “The story really struck a chord with me.”
- “Absolutely fantastic visual novel/puzzle game with adorable characters and a touching story.”
- “The story took way too long to reach the point it was trying to make, and I feel it's a rehash of other stories. The game suffers from having too much fluff.”
- “It seemed forced when the real identity of both the player and the antagonist were revealed, and the story behind them just didn't really fit for me.”
- “The final ending with tragedy's backstory felt really disconnected with the rest of the game and seemed completely shoehorned in.”
music
335 mentions
60 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful composition and ability to enhance the emotional depth of the story. Many players noted that the soundtrack, featuring charming chiptune elements, perfectly complements the game's art style and narrative, creating a memorable experience. The end credits song, in particular, resonated deeply with players, often evoking strong emotional responses.
- “The music is a masterpiece level and hits every time you hear it.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, being able to convey the feeling of the scene while still being able to listen again and again without it getting boring.”
- “The music, art, and writing were great, and the gameplay felt lighthearted but not too trivial.”
- “The music started to grate on my ears (with the exception of the ending song) and the dialogue unfortunately doesn't change too much from each character's view.”
- “I don't know why I played this, but I was met with one of the best stories I have ever seen and beautiful visuals; the only complaint is that other than a few songs, the soundtrack is okay.”
- “Honestly, if there were more to this game, I don't think I could have finished it due to the amount of sadness just this game's music gave me, let alone the backstory of it all.”
emotional
232 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing deep connections to the characters and being moved to tears by the story's heartwarming and bittersweet endings. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to sadness, often describing it as a charming and touching experience that resonates long after playing. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful storytelling, relatable characters, and impactful emotional moments, making it a standout in the genre.
- “While its many endings were somewhat dark at times, it's a heartwarming tale that brought me to tears by the end.”
- “The characters are lovable, the general storyline is amazing, the ending made me cry, the art is so pleasing to the eye, everything about it is just amazing.”
- “This game was possibly the most moving and emotional gaming experience I have ever played and I could not recommend it enough.”
graphics
217 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and charming art style, which combines pixelated visuals with expressive character designs. Many reviewers highlight the unique and cute aesthetic, complemented by a fitting and delightful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Despite its simplicity, the art style effectively conveys the game's emotional depth and narrative, making it a standout feature for players.
- “The art style is beautiful and unique, and the music is so relaxing and calming to listen to!”
- “The characters are endearing, the art style is expressive, and the music is simple but sweet.”
- “The artwork is beautiful, and the soundtrack is so pretty; the visuals are absolutely wonderful.”
- “I think the graphics, song, and story are all okayish, but the overall volume is too small, like a starter edition or demo version... :/ and the game was too easy as well... I only tried twice to beat the boss...”
- “The game is rather simple in concept and art, and by no means am I saying the art style is bad.”
- “Soundtrack is fitting, entertaining but also depressing... the arts and graphics are pixelated and manga-like.”
gameplay
183 mentions
45 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is characterized by its unique mechanics that allow players to influence character outcomes through choices, creating a puzzle-like experience. While the game is relatively short, lasting around 1.5 to 2 hours, it offers a charming story, beautiful art, and engaging music, making it enjoyable despite some critiques about its simplicity and repetitiveness. Overall, players appreciate the innovative approach to storytelling and the satisfying exploration of multiple endings.
- “I enjoyed it; it's a cute story and has fun gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is seamless, and the information given for the multiple endings is coherent and easy to follow.”
- “The gameplay allows the player to make choices for different characters, all of which intertwine together to weave out a specific scenario.”
- “Gameplay consists of brute-forcing all dialogue options with about 4 decision points for each character.”
- “The gameplay wears off sort of fast, but it really didn't bother me that much, especially with the helpful story map.”
- “The biggest disadvantage of the game is the monotony of the gameplay after repetition.”
humor
39 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, blending lighthearted moments with deeper, often tragic themes. Players appreciate the engaging dialogue and funny character interactions, which provide comic relief amidst the emotional storytelling. Overall, the game successfully balances humor and sadness, creating a unique experience that resonates with players on multiple levels.
- “I really liked the personality and sense of humor this game offers.”
- “The characters are entertaining, with some funny moments to brighten the mood after the darker endings.”
- “The writing is engaging, exciting, well-paced, and funny.”
grinding
18 mentions
11 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some describe the process of collecting endings and making different choices as tedious due to repetitive dialogue, others appreciate the ability to skip previously seen content, which alleviates some of the grind. Ultimately, many agree that the effort put into grinding is rewarded with a fulfilling experience, despite occasional feelings of tedium.
- “And collecting all endings is not tedious at all, which was one of my concerns.”
- “The art was wonderful, the story was cleverly designed and not tedious or drawn-out like this kind of game easily could be, and I loved the ending.”
- “Since each route is pretty similar to the surrounding ones, usually with only mild changes, the game starts to feel a bit tedious after a while.”
- “That being said, having to collect all the various bad endings to get the true one, while totally understandable, did feel a little tedious.”
- “Doing something like this where you go back and make different choices in other choice-based games feels artificially driven and a tedious task because of the repetitive dialogue.”
character development
16 mentions
56 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while many players praise the adorable character designs and beautiful pixel art, some criticize the lack of depth in character arcs and storytelling. However, others highlight the engaging narrative and plot twists that contribute to meaningful character growth, particularly in the context of achieving a satisfying ending. Overall, the game's charm lies in its visuals and atmosphere, though opinions vary on the depth of character development.
- “Bad End Theater has a great story, with plenty of plot twists, character development, and crazy moments.”
- “Although it doesn't take too long to play (I was able to finish the game in about two hours), it offers interesting game mechanics, great character writing, and a charming atmosphere (the character designs are very cute).”
- “This game is beautiful from its character design to its soundtrack. The story and concept of how you must work for a truly happy ending is a nice sentiment, and getting to see the characters live out their happy lives after a dramatic climax is such a warm welcome for a game that continuously berated you with one bad ending after another.”
- “There is no character development, no real story, no nothing.”
- “Although it doesn't take too long to play (I was able to finish the game in about two hours), it offers interesting game mechanics, great character writing, and a charming atmosphere.”
- “The character designs are so cute, and I found it easy to 100% this game within a few hours.”
replayability
12 mentions
42 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple playthroughs and unique story elements that encourage replaying, others criticize the short duration of the game and lack of content after completion. Many agree that the experience is enjoyable, but the limited gameplay time and high price point may deter those seeking substantial replay value.
- “Replayability: 8 (it is kind of the point of the game)”
- “Great game, very replayable, and amazing music.”
- “It felt new and unique, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for a good story with a lot of replay value.”
- “The replayability is not enough to make up for the incredibly short 5-minute scenario that gets played.”
- “The game is incredibly short and a bit overpriced considering the game is all story with little replay value.”
- “My only issue is the lack of replayability; once you complete the game there's not really much to do after (unless you're playing it with other people), plus it's quite short.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and friendly tone, enhanced by a delightful chiptune soundtrack that complements the visuals and character designs. While the overall experience is engaging and cute, some players feel that the ending undermines the established atmosphere and character development. Overall, the combination of art style, music, and writing creates a captivating environment, despite some narrative inconsistencies.
- “The soundtrack is comprised of some lovely chiptunes that fit the atmosphere of the game wonderfully.”
- “Although it doesn't take too long to play (I was able to finish the game in about two hours), it offers interesting game mechanics, great character writing, and a charming atmosphere (the character designs are very cute).”
- “The artwork was awesome and I loved its whole atmosphere and style.”
- “The ending throws away all atmosphere, weight, and characterization for a literal deus ex machina, involving characters we do not meet until the ending.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is praised for its seamless integration of storytelling and gameplay mechanics, allowing players to toggle character traits before starting new scenarios. This feature enhances replayability and keeps the experience fresh, contributing to an overall satisfying performance. Players express excitement for future content, indicating a well-optimized experience that encourages continued engagement.
- “The storytelling is really well done too, and the 'choose-your-own-adventure' genre portrayed through a theatre performance being directed by you works very well.”
- “These traits can then be toggled right before you start another 'performance' or story run, which causes that character to present new scenarios or events when you choose to play as someone else.”
- “A very satisfying performance by all parties!”