Beholder

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by this game. Despite flaws, I would say it's certainly worth a download.

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Beholder is a single-player adventure game with a dark, dystopian setting. As the State-installed manager of an apartment building, you must covertly watch and profile your tenants, reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities. With ingenious graphics, a splendid soundtrack, and a sensational gameplay, Beholder offers a grim glimpse into a society where privacy is non-existent, and the totalitarian State is all-powerful.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

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

Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,674 reviews

story241 positive mentions

grinding42 negative mentions

Engaging and thought-provoking storyline with multiple endings based on player choices.
Unique art style and atmospheric sound design that enhance the dystopian experience.
Challenging gameplay that requires strategic thinking and resource management.

Repetitive tasks and limited gameplay mechanics can lead to boredom over time.
Unforgiving time constraints and high stakes can create frustration for players.
Poor English localization and translation issues detract from the overall experience.

story
933 mentions
26 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Beholder" is a compelling exploration of moral dilemmas set in a dystopian society, where players navigate the challenges of managing a building while making difficult choices that impact their family and tenants. The narrative is rich with well-developed characters and multiple endings, but some players find the gameplay repetitive and the quest mechanics frustrating, particularly due to time constraints and linear story progression. Overall, while the story is engaging and thought-provoking, the execution can lead to a sense of tedium over repeated playthroughs.
- “The narrative is rich, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you on edge.”
- “Beholder excels in storytelling.”
- “Beholder is a standout title that offers a unique blend of strategy, storytelling, and moral exploration.”
- “The story was too shallow and chaotic to grab my attention; the gameplay became a monotonous chore with no meaningful rewards, challenges, or moral dilemmas.”
- “The storyline is too short and linear for playing it many times: ok, it is different every time depending on what you do, but when you have always the same tenants, the same missions... low replayability.”
- “The only thing that would be cool is a sandbox mode, where tenants move in and out with random quests or such, not just a main story.”
gameplay
449 mentions
28 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Beholder" is characterized by a mix of simple mechanics and complex moral dilemmas, creating a unique experience that can be both engaging and frustrating. While players appreciate the strategic elements of spying and resource management, many find the gameplay repetitive and the mechanics poorly explained, leading to a trial-and-error approach that can detract from enjoyment. Overall, the game offers a compelling narrative and atmosphere, but its execution leaves room for improvement in terms of gameplay depth and clarity.
- “The game mechanics are straightforward yet deeply engaging.”
- “Balancing your duties to the state with your desire to help (or exploit) your tenants creates a dynamic and often stressful gameplay experience.”
- “Its blend of stealth gameplay, narrative depth, and atmospheric tension make it a standout title in its genre.”
- “Unnecessary mechanics like additional clicks on illegal items in someone's closet, or manually filling tenants' details while quest timers are ticking is just frustrating.”
- “Gameplay-wise, way too many choices end in an instant game over without any warning, as if the game wasn't difficult enough.”
- “The gameplay loop becomes kind of repetitive towards the end though.”
graphics
257 mentions
53 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and atmospheric art style, which effectively complements the bleak, dystopian setting and enhances the overall narrative experience. Many players appreciate the simplistic yet captivating visuals, describing them as beautiful and fitting for the game's themes, although some note that the graphics may not be technically advanced. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere and emotional impact.
- “The highly stylized but nonetheless threatening and gloomy art style matches the story and its themes excellently.”
- “The art style is beautiful for the opening cut scene and the animation and design for the world is unique and beautiful.”
- “The art style is unique and fitting for the environment.”
- “Bad graphics, bad controls, horrible audio.”
- “The graphics aren't exactly anything to write home about, and for such a simple game with one screen, the visuals haven't aged very well; nor has the repetitive audio that consists of three or four brief tracks, with one main 'rainy noir' style song that loops for most of a playthrough's duration.”
- “The graphics put me off, despite not being a big graphics whore.”
atmosphere
125 mentions
65 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently described as dark, oppressive, and immersive, effectively capturing a bleak, dystopian world filled with moral dilemmas and constant tension. The art style and soundtrack complement this atmosphere, enhancing the sense of surveillance and despair that permeates the gameplay. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to evoke strong emotions and create a compelling narrative through its atmospheric design.
- “The grim, dystopian setting is perfectly crafted, with an art style that complements the oppressive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is so bleak and oppressive, it's like a warm hug on a cold winter day.”
- “The game's atmosphere is very depressing, but that's why it is such a good game.”
- “The atmosphere is so bleak and oppressive, it's like a warm hug on a cold winter day.”
- “The whole atmosphere in the game is quite dark and suffocating, so I don't recommend you to play this if you are stressed or feel pressured recently, but it shows how hard it is when living under dictatorship very well.”
- “This basic meaninglessness to your interactions undermines any attempt to build up atmosphere, and completely eliminates any emotional investment.”
music
123 mentions
41 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the bleak and tense environment that reflects the game's themes of surveillance and totalitarianism. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to evoke emotions, although some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of music and art style is seen as a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack further enhances the experience, adding layers of tension and melancholy to your every move.”
- “The music and graphics match the tone of the game perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack fits the game well and really adds to the atmosphere, helping to draw you into the world.”
- “Same boring music over and over.”
- “The graphics aren't exactly anything to write home about, and for such a simple game with one screen, the visuals haven't aged very well; nor has the repetitive audio that consists of three or four brief tracks, with one main 'rainy noir' style song that loops for most of a playthrough's duration.”
- “The music is weak and on repeat, there could be a bit more than one minute loop that makes your brain go nuts after 20 minutes of playing.”
replayability
123 mentions
33 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its multiple endings and branching paths that encourage exploration of different strategies and moral choices. However, some reviewers note limitations due to scripted events and repetitive dialogue, which can diminish the overall replay value. Overall, while many find the game highly replayable, others feel it lacks sufficient content for multiple playthroughs.
- “The multiple endings and branching paths provide significant replay value, encouraging you to explore different strategies and moral choices.”
- “Diverse endings and decision points give the game great replay value; if you're anything like me you'll want to see all the possible endings and you'll wind up playing for hours - in the process becoming a master beholder.”
- “This is a great game with a lot of replayability!”
- “Replayability is severely limited as the whole game is heavily pre-scripted.”
- “Overall the game is lacking a little content as each playthrough follows the same route in terms of events, lowering the replay value.”
- “The storyline is too short and linear for playing it many times: ok, it is different every time depending on what you do, but when you have always the same tenants, the same missions... low replayability, so buy it only with sales.”
grinding
46 mentions
0 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and often frustrating, with many players feeling that the mechanics detract from overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the challenge and stakes involved, the repetitive tasks and lack of engaging gameplay lead to a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction, particularly when pursuing different endings. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major flaw that overshadows the game's potential.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “A bit grindy.”
- “The pacing of the game with the tedious task of looting everyone's room to just keep up with all the expenses that you have no control over is just not fun at all.”
- “I get it, but in the end this game is about a lot of hard and often quite grinding work, sometimes waiting around for ages for a perfect moment that never comes, and the reward is just dark and depressing.”
- “Unique and interesting but also squanders itself and forces the player to put tedious levels of effort into getting good outcomes in the game.”
emotional
43 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a complex blend of heart-wrenching decisions and morally challenging scenarios that deeply engage players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, ranging from sadness and anxiety to moments of unexpected humor, creating a multifaceted emotional experience. While some players found the emotional weight overwhelming and the story simplistic, others appreciated the depth of character investment and the impactful consequences of their choices, making it a memorable and often distressing journey.
- “What starts as a straightforward job quickly evolves into a morally complex and emotionally taxing journey.”
- “Full disclosure: I cried a bit on 'Blissful Sleep' (after completing the main game); the characters will stick with me for a long while.”
- “This game made me feel like I was in Orwell's 1984, and I actually cried more than once.”
- “The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The story feels generic and fails to evoke any real feelings.”
- “Actions and consequences are only apparent in hindsight, which detracts from the emotional engagement.”
humor
39 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is predominantly dark and satirical, effectively balancing its grim themes with genuinely funny dialogue and absurd situations. Players appreciate the cleverness of the humor, which often arises from the game's dystopian setting and exaggerated character interactions, creating a unique emotional experience. While some find the humor to be a bit over-the-top or reliant on low-hanging fruit, many agree that it enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The game in general is sad and desperate, but there is some genuinely hilarious dialogue in there when you least expect it that creates a more dimensioned emotional experience.”
- “It manages to be charming and funny while still depicting a depressing environment, and that's a really hard tightrope to walk.”
- “Beholder is ultimately a satire, and quite a funny one, for something that deals with murder and torture as major themes.”
- “But sometimes I notice that obeying the law is not funny.”
- “The jokes often fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it mostly relies on clichés.”
stability
15 mentions
7 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and freezing issues that hinder progress, particularly with mission objectives not being recognized. While some players experienced a smooth gameplay experience without major bugs, the overall consensus leans towards it being buggy and unpolished, with significant interface problems and unreliable auto-saving.
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “The objectives are unclear, and if you do them out of order, the game won't recognize you as completing the objective, so you can't progress. It also has a lot of other minor glitches that are annoying.”
- “It freezes randomly, and I've had it crash, forcing me to repeat a ridiculous amount of tasks because the auto-save is so bad.”
- “At the moment, it is severely let down by a very buggy interface.”
character development
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is described as mediocre by some, while others praise it as superb, particularly highlighting the unique art style and how character designs effectively reflect their personalities. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some reviewers appreciating the artistic elements but feeling that the character development lacks depth.
- “I'd love to give this game a score but I simply can't yet because I have yet to finish it, but I do recommend it just for its unique character design and its depressing but still artistic world.”
- “Everything feels 3D and believable, and each character design complements their personalities greatly.”
- “Really love the Tim Burton art style, and the character development is superb.”
- “Character development is mediocre, too.”
- “I'd love to give this game a score, but I simply can't yet because I have yet to finish it. However, I do recommend it just for its unique character design and its depressing but still artistic world.”
- “The graphics and character designs were unique, as well as the music.”
optimization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players find it not demanding with only minor stuttering, others criticize it for severe optimization issues that remain unresolved in the official version, impacting gameplay experience.
- “It's terrible; it's utterly terrible that such a fundamental concept of saving your whole family is locked behind a min-max completionist performance requirement.”
- “However, it had severe optimization problems, and that hasn't been solved in the official version.”
- “It's not demanding at all, although I did experience some minor stuttering here and there.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users express strong frustration with the monetization strategy, particularly criticizing intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay and create a negative experience.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without being bombarded by ads.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be exploitative, as they create a pay-to-win environment that ruins the experience for free players.”
- “The constant push for microtransactions is frustrating and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”