Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,484 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery Game Cover
A stunning tribute to a love borne of all the things that should have been said but were kept within, Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery made me full on sob after witnessing its incredible beauty.
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"Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery" is a heartwarming puzzle adventure game that tells the story of a struggling artist preparing for her final exhibit. Immerse in a vibrant and serene world as you help her complete her masterpiece, interacting with intriguing characters and uncovering secrets along the way. This game is a feast for the senses, combining beautiful hand-drawn art, soothing music, and engaging narrative into an unforgettable experience.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,484 reviews
story453 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, creating a visually stunning experience.
  • Heartwarming and emotional story that resonates with players, often evoking tears.
  • Relaxing gameplay with simple puzzles that enhance the narrative without being overly challenging.
  • Very short game, typically completed in under 2 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • Puzzles can be overly simplistic, lacking depth and challenge.
  • Limited replayability, as the story is linear and does not change with multiple playthroughs.
  • story1,005 mentions

    The story of "Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery" is a beautifully crafted, bittersweet narrative that explores themes of love, loss, and the artistic journey, often evoking strong emotional responses from players. While the game is relatively short, typically taking around one to two hours to complete, its stunning visuals and atmospheric music enhance the storytelling experience, making it feel akin to a heartfelt animated film. However, some players noted that the plot can be predictable or confusing at times, and the gameplay primarily serves to advance the narrative rather than challenge the player.

    • “The story is so beautifully crafted, touching, and immersive.”
    • “The storytelling was masterful and the puzzles were fun, but not too difficult.”
    • “The story is a bit touching, but probably mostly due to the atmosphere, as the story doesn't really explain much and is very short.”
    • “The story was rather boring and didn't actually bring any answers.”
    • “The story just had no point to it and not explained well at all.”
    • “The story is quite short and shallow.”
  • music386 mentions

    The music in the game has been widely praised for its beauty and emotional resonance, enhancing the overall experience with a calming and atmospheric soundtrack that complements the stunning visuals. Many players noted its studio Ghibli-inspired qualities, describing it as soothing and evocative, effectively setting the mood for the game's heartfelt narrative. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional impact.

    • “The music is gorgeous, and the visuals are unique and beautiful too.”
    • “The atmospheric music suited each chapter as the story progressed.”
    • “With its enchanting visuals, evocative soundtrack, and compelling storytelling reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's timeless classics, this game offers a deeply immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression, even after multiple playthroughs.”
    • “The only good thing about it are the visuals, as they are indeed quite lovely, but the rest is extremely weak; the puzzles (if can even be called such) are easy, the story is rather underwhelming and short, the music, although nice, is repetitive, gameplay is meh at best.”
    • “It had a sad feel to it that's not my favorite and I disliked the soundtrack; it was too melancholy or jazzy for my tastes.”
    • “The music is very calming; and the story is such a mystery.”
  • graphics315 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning, Ghibli-inspired art style, which many players found enchanting and emotionally resonant. The visuals are described as breathtaking, with beautiful animations and a soothing atmosphere that enhance the overall experience. While the game is relatively short, the combination of its gorgeous artwork, captivating soundtrack, and heartfelt storytelling creates a memorable and immersive journey for players.

    • “The graphics are stunning, adding a visual richness that pulls you deeper into the world.”
    • “Visually stunning with hand-painted artwork that exudes charm and elegance, each scene is a masterpiece in itself, drawing players into a world of vibrant colors and tranquil landscapes reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's enchanting worlds.”
    • “Absolutely beautiful graphics with a wonderful storyline that tugs at your heartstrings and pulls you in if you're a sensitive, empathetic person like me.”
    • “The graphics, though likened to Studio Ghibli by others, would, in my opinion, be more watercolor painterly.”
    • “The art style, music, atmosphere, and story are so up my alley that the extreme lack of content (I beat it in an hour with 20 minutes extra for achievements) and overly simple (if still effective and narratively fitting) gameplay hurts me and keeps it from being something genuinely astounding like I wish it was.”
    • “Now, I know graphics are not everything in a game, but this title was absolutely gorgeous and I instantly fell in love with the smoothness of the animations.”
  • emotional279 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt and touching narrative, often described as both beautiful and heartbreaking. Many players reported being moved to tears by the story, which is complemented by stunning visuals and a soothing soundtrack, creating a cozy yet profound experience. While some found the gameplay lacking, the overall emotional impact and artistic presentation resonated deeply with players, making it a memorable journey.

    • “Beautiful writing and beautiful artwork mixed in one to make for an emotional and worthy experience.”
    • “A beautiful and emotional story with amazing animations and cozy music.”
    • “The story is so beautifully crafted, touching, and immersive.”
  • gameplay166 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as simple and straightforward, focusing more on storytelling and artistic presentation than on challenging mechanics. While the puzzles are often considered easy and repetitive, many players appreciate the relaxing and immersive experience, enhanced by beautiful visuals and a touching narrative. Overall, the game is seen as more of an interactive story than a traditional game, appealing to those who prioritize emotional engagement over complex gameplay.

    • “The gameplay was fun and the puzzles were fair.”
    • “Great gameplay loop, the puzzles were fun, art style is cute and fitting.”
    • “A lovely atmospheric game – Behind the Frame mixes light puzzle gameplay with interactive storytelling to create an immersive cosy-yet-melancholic experience.”
    • “But don't expect too much from core gameplay; basically, it is filling colors with some easy puzzles.”
    • “The gameplay is very straightforward and simple.”
    • “The gameplay is kind of non-existent as the 'puzzles' are simply no-brainers, so it plays more like an interactive story.”
  • atmosphere62 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhanced by a beautiful art style and a soothing soundtrack that evokes a range of emotions, from coziness to bittersweet nostalgia. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a relaxing environment that complements its storytelling, making it a memorable experience despite its simplicity and short length. Overall, the combination of music, visuals, and narrative successfully draws players into a captivating and emotional world.

    • “The atmospheric music suited each chapter as the story progressed.”
    • “Accompanied by a soothing soundtrack that enhances the game's contemplative atmosphere, it offers a sensory experience that captivates from start to finish.”
    • “A lovely atmospheric game – Behind the Frame mixes light puzzle gameplay with interactive storytelling to create an immersive cozy-yet-melancholic experience.”
    • “The story is not so easy to follow as it seems... but with a dreamy atmosphere and very original, unexpected animations you don't really want to give up such a cute game.”
    • “However, with the random puzzles and the lack of flexibility in gameplay, the game design simply does not match with the cozy atmosphere it is going for, but made it more like an escape-the-room game and that distracted me a lot from the story.”
    • “The art style, music, atmosphere, and story are so up my alley that the extreme lack of content (I beat it in an hour with 20 minutes extra for achievements) and overly simple (if still effective and narratively fitting) gameplay hurts me and keeps it from being something genuinely astounding like I wish it was.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience and flow of the story. Many players feel that the grinding tasks are more of a chore than enjoyable gameplay, leading to frustration rather than engagement. While some appreciate the storytelling, the grinding aspect is generally viewed as a significant drawback.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay also consists of repetitive motions that are more mindless actions as opposed to actual gameplay; they are so tedious and personally, any 'gameplay' I did ruined the flow of the story for me.”
    • “They’re just more tedious tasks I need to finish in order to unlock more story and animations.”
    • “As a game though, it’s like a 4/10 due to the horrendous 'gameplay' and tedious tasks that brought no joy to my poor heart that just wanted to witness a beautiful story.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game is noted for its low replayability, with many reviewers indicating that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to play again. While it offers a charming experience, its short length and lack of substantial content limit its replay value significantly. Players may find it enjoyable for a single playthrough, but it does not encourage repeated sessions.

    • “Replayability and value:”
    • “It's a pretty peaceful little moment that doesn't offer any replayability, but is still just sorta nice.”
    • “This was a sweet, adorable game with no replayability unless I forget about it one day and want the nostalgia.”
    • “As a PC game, it lacks replayability.”
    • “Replay value is limited, because much of the time taken is in figuring out the puzzles, and once you know the answers, the game is just images and music.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, frequently freezing for around 15 seconds during interactions, particularly in chapter 2, which has prevented some players from progressing further.

    • “Buggy; it gets stuck for around 15 seconds many times when I click something.”
    • “Sadly, it always kind of freezes in chapter 2, so I've not been able to play further.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a charming mix of funny and emotional elements, particularly highlighted in the credits, which enhance the overall experience with a delightful artistic touch.

    • “The credits feature a delightful blend of funny and emotional drawings that add a sweet touch to the overall experience.”
    • “Life is a funny thing, isn't it?”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the character design and background work are intricately connected, enhancing the overall depth and cohesion of character development within the game.

    • “The character design and background work tied a lot of things together.”
    • “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the gameplay experience.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

Play time

2hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
1-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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