Blankspace
- July 23, 2020
- NoBreadStudio
Get on Steam"Blankspace" is a single-player mystery visual novel game with an intriguing story and multiple endings. Wake up in a strange room, handcuffed to a pipe, with no memory of the night before. Your choices affect your relationship and ending in this story-rich, character-driven narrative with puzzle and romance elements. The phenomenal soundtrack is composed by OddTillTheEnd. An optional free H-patch and support for Windows and Linux are also included.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and emotional story that effectively explores serious themes, leaving players feeling deeply connected to the characters.
- The puzzles are well-designed, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating, and they integrate nicely with the narrative.
- The character interactions are well-written and engaging, with a good balance of humor and depth that enhances the overall experience.
- The pacing of the story feels uneven, with some parts dragging on while others rush through important moments, leading to a lack of full character development.
- Navigation within the escape room environments can be confusing and disorienting, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
- The emotional payoff at the end may feel unsatisfying for some players due to a lack of time spent developing the characters and their relationships.
- story51 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story is generally praised for its emotional depth and character-driven narrative, particularly focusing on the relationships between the main characters. While some reviewers noted pacing issues and a linear structure, many found the plot engaging and well-written, with unexpected twists that enhanced the overall experience. The integration of puzzles with the storytelling was also highlighted as a strong point, making it a compelling visual novel despite its brevity.
“The story is interesting, the mystery slowly unveils itself as the game progresses.”
“The characters were written well, the story was good and emotional, and I really appreciated how the developers treated topics about sex and relationships; they did a great job with that.”
“Overall, an amazing visual novel if you want to solve some puzzles, read a great story, and just get immersed.”
“In the sort-of pre-ending, there's a fairly powerful moment that is hampered by some factors of the storytelling.”
“Sometimes the story goes too slow when it should pick up, and other times it speeds through what should be taken a bit slower, likely due to design choices made to avoid your character getting help with the puzzles.”
“At its core, it's a character-driven story, but it is ruined by a random choice that comes out of nowhere.”
- music11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising the memorable soundtrack and its ability to enhance the overall experience. The vocal tracks and ambient sounds are particularly highlighted, with some users expressing a desire to purchase the soundtrack after completing the game. Overall, the music is seen as a standout feature that complements the character design and storytelling effectively.
“I loved the soundtrack too and that vocal song is going on my playlist!”
“The biggest surprise for me was the music, it's genuinely great, bought the OST as soon as I finished the game.”
“Also, the soundtrack is very memorable.”
“The soundtrack is a delight, especially the intense one from the beginning of the game.”
“The music started to grow on me once I learned the story; it fits well with the narrative and mood.”
“I'm considering getting the soundtrack.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with players expressing deep connections to the characters and their stories. While some felt the emotional payoff was undermined by insufficient character development, many praised the vivid storytelling and sensitive handling of complex themes like relationships and personal struggles. Overall, the game is noted for its capacity to elicit intense emotional responses, making it a memorable experience for players seeking a heartfelt narrative.
“The glimpses into their experiences were so vivid and touching that I didn't want to let them go, thus playing three endings back to back and breaking my own heart over and over.”
“So if you're looking for a game to make you ugly cry but also love it, please play this game and support the devs. I had to review it right away because these devs deserve to know how touching this game truly is and how much I loved it.”
“The story was more deep than I was expecting, and I didn't expect to get as emotionally involved in the game as I did.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their fun and interesting character designs, along with a lovely and smart art direction that showcases the creators' progress. The visuals and soundtrack are considered pretty good, contributing to an aesthetically satisfying experience, while the absence of graphic content adds a thoughtful touch.
“Aesthetically, it's all very satisfying.”
“The art direction and art style are lovely and smart; if you are familiar with the creator's work, you see some great progress.”
“The characters are fun and interesting, and the visuals and soundtrack are pretty good.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game excels in character development, featuring relatable characters and believable dialogue that enhance the overall experience. The combination of impressive character design, a captivating soundtrack, and concise storytelling makes it stand out among other titles.
“I clicked for the character design, was pulled in by this beautiful song that played, and finished the game because it turned out to be quite relatable.”
“You can slog through AAA titles with half-baked stories, but Blankspace is concise and impressive for anyone who enjoys character development and believable dialogue.”
“The art, character design, and soundtrack are excellent, but the real star of the show here is the characters and dialogue.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and enjoyable, particularly for fans of visual novels and point-and-click genres, despite its relatively short length. While it may not appeal to everyone, it features fun mechanics and an interesting story with unexpected twists and charming romance elements.
“While not particularly long, having some engaging gameplay makes this visual novel stand out.”
“Gameplay-wise, visual novels and point-and-clicks aren't for everyone, but if you're a fan of this genre, you should totally give it a try.”
“This is the only real flaw I found; otherwise, the gameplay was fun and the story was really interesting, with some unexpected twists and surprisingly cute romance.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability in terms of puzzles and a linear main story, but players can enjoy multiple endings and the challenge of collecting items and logos, which adds some value for those seeking to explore different outcomes.
“And there is definitely replay value... different endings, finding logos, finding all items. I was actually worried when it was near the end and I had to walk to that one final door in that hallway. Good job on the intense moments!”
“There's no real replayability in regards to the puzzles, and the main story is essentially linear.”
“The game lacks significant replay value, as the puzzles do not change and the story follows a linear path.”
“While there are different endings and collectibles, the overall experience feels too linear to encourage multiple playthroughs.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its quality, contributing to an engaging experience alongside a compelling story and enjoyable writing. Overall, it enhances the gameplay, making it a solid puzzler.
“Solid puzzler, good atmosphere, good story.”
“The atmosphere is quite nice, and I enjoyed the writing.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is effective and consistently elicits laughter from players, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“It made me laugh!”
“The humor is spot on and keeps the gameplay light-hearted.”
“I love the witty dialogue and clever puns throughout the game.”
