BAD END THEATER
- October 26, 2021
- NomnomNami
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamIn "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 .
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features a charming story with lovable characters that players can easily connect with.
- 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, taking only about 1-2 hours to complete, which some players feel does not justify the price.
- Some players found the endings to be repetitive, as many are variations of the same scenario from different perspectives.
- The final boss battle and true ending felt rushed or anticlimactic for some players.
- story1,846 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Bad End Theater" is a captivating and emotional journey that intertwines the fates of four characters through a unique choose-your-own-adventure format. Players navigate a series of branching paths, uncovering multiple endings—often tragic—that explore themes of love, loss, and the impact of choices. Despite its short playtime, the game is praised for its rich storytelling, beautiful art, and memorable characters, leaving a lasting impression on players who appreciate heartfelt narratives.
“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 is wonderful, seeing how different choices of each character affect each story differently is honestly really satisfying to see.”
“This game is a masterpiece with a beautifully written story in which all the outcomes can be controlled by you.”
“But here, it's way too high, especially since the story didn't click with me.”
“I felt that the story took way too long to reach the point it was trying to make (point which happened to not click with me as, aside from one specific element, I feel it's a rehash of other stories. and I don't feel that said element is strong enough to warrant a look) and 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... it just didn't really fit for me that this 'detail' (which I won't spoil for new players) seemed more tacked on at the end.”
- music670 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Bad End Theater" has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and fitting compositions, enhancing the emotional depth of the game's narrative. Players appreciate the catchy chiptune soundtrack, which complements the charming pixel art and storytelling, creating a memorable experience. Many reviews highlight the end credits song as particularly impactful, often evoking strong emotional responses.
“The music is masterpiece level and hits every time you hear it.”
“The soundtrack is so pretty, and the artwork is absolutely wonderful.”
“The music, once again wonderfully composed.”
“Well, 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.”
“The music is ok, a little bit simple but fine for what the game is.”
“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.”
- emotional464 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing that it made them cry multiple times due to its heartfelt storytelling and endearing characters. The combination of cute art, engaging narratives, and impactful endings creates a deeply touching experience that resonates with players, often leaving them feeling a strong emotional connection to the characters and their fates. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to sadness, making it a memorable and cherished experience for many.
“While its many endings were somewhat dark at times, it's a heartwarming tale that brought me to tears by the end.”
“This game was possibly the most moving and emotional gaming experience I have ever played and I could not recommend it enough.”
“The dedication in this game is really outstanding; every character path is very well done, no matter if it's good, bad, neutral, or dreadful. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel fear... it made me feel empathy.”
- graphics434 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Bad End Theater" are widely praised for their charming and unique pixel art style, which effectively complements the game's narrative and emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the expressive character designs and vibrant color palettes, noting that the visuals enhance the storytelling experience. The combination of cute graphics and a fitting soundtrack creates an engaging atmosphere that resonates with players, making it a standout feature of the game.
“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's expressive, and the music is simple but sweet.”
“The artwork is beautiful, and the graphics are gorgeous and really well made.”
“I think the graphics, song, and story are all okayish, but just overall volume is too small like starter edition, or demo version... :/ and the game was too easy as well... only tried twice to beat the boss...”
“While I think this game is amazing in every way, to its storytelling, graphics, dialog, music, and its true ending (no spoilers)... I think if you are buying this game because you saw a YouTuber/streamer play this game, then don't buy it.”
“The game is rather simple in concept and art, and by no means am I saying the art style is bad.”
- gameplay366 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 an engaging puzzle-like experience. While the game is relatively short, typically around two hours, it offers a charming story, beautiful art, and a variety of endings that encourage replayability. However, some players noted that the simplicity of the gameplay can lead to monotony after repeated playthroughs, and the overall experience may feel brief for the price.
“I beat it in less than two hours but those were good two hours, the gameplay loop is simple (I really appreciate the dialogue tree, it made collecting all endings so much simpler) and it's got a sweet heart at the core.”
“The gameplay is seamless and the information given for the multiple endings are 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 bruteforcing all dialogue options with about 4 decision points for each character.”
“20 minutes of gameplay was not worth the price.”
“The biggest disadvantage of the game is the monotonicity of the gameplay after repetition.”
- humor78 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, blending lightheartedness with emotional depth. Players appreciate the balance of funny dialogue and engaging storytelling, often finding themselves laughing at the absurdity while also being moved by the more tragic elements. Overall, the game successfully intertwines humor with heartfelt moments, creating a unique and memorable experience.
“The writing is engaging, exciting, well-paced, and funny.”
“Bad End Theater delivers excellent storytelling in its purest form as well as a great sense of humor.”
“This game is so emotional, yet puzzling, serious, yet funny, and I feel that getting every bad end is so worth it to see tragedy reunite with comedy and to see tragedy's happy end.”
- grinding36 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Reviews on the grinding aspect of the game are mixed; while some players find the process of collecting endings and making different choices to be tedious due to repetitive dialogue and similar routes, others appreciate the ability to skip previously seen content, which alleviates some of the grind. Overall, the game is seen as manageable in terms of grinding, with many feeling that the effort is ultimately rewarding.
“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.”
“And collecting all endings is not tedious at all, which was one of my concerns.”
“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 development32 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the charming character designs and engaging story elements, some feel that the depth of character development is lacking. Positive reviews highlight the presence of plot twists and emotional resolutions, particularly in the true ending, while others criticize the game for having minimal character growth and narrative depth. Overall, the aesthetic appeal of the characters is consistently praised, even if the development itself varies in quality.
“[i]Bad End Theater[/i] has a great story, with plenty of plot twists, character development, and crazy moments.”
“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 very cute).”
“[i]bad end theater[/i] has a great story, with plenty of plot twists, character development, and crazy moments.”
- replayability24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple playthroughs and unique story elements, many criticize its short duration—often just five minutes—making it feel insufficient for long-term engagement. Despite the emphasis on replaying to unlock different story beats, several reviews highlight that once completed, there isn't much incentive to revisit the game, especially given its price point. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy quick, comedic experiences but may leave others wanting more depth and content.
“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.”
“However, due to the short nature of the game, and the beautiful story that it contains, the replayability factor is definitely there for it if you have an hour to waste sometime.”
“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.”
“I love it, great game but no replay value and it's a bit too short.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and friendly tone, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack of lovely chiptunes and cute character designs. While the overall experience is enjoyable and visually appealing, some players feel that the ending undermines the established atmosphere and character development. Despite this, the combination of engaging puzzles and a unique art style contributes to a memorable ambiance throughout the gameplay.
“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.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % 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 that the optimization supports a compelling and engaging narrative experience.
“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!”
“As far as I'm concerned, even though I've only just stepped out during intermission, I already can't wait for whatever performance comes next from this theater.”
