Buddy Simulator 1984

Buddy Simulator 1984 may not have the best RPG mechanics in the world, and you may as well forget about playing it in docked mode due to the level of text input involved early doors, but see past these minor gripes and this Switch port of a 2021 Steam belter is absolutely worth your time.

76%Game Brain Score

story, emotional

grinding, stability

95% User Score Based on 5,680 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $0.88

Buy NowGet on Steam$9.99

Buy NowGet on itch.io Store$9.99

Buy NowGet on Epic Games Store

About

"Buddy Simulator 1984" is a retro-style psychological horror game. The player discovers an old computing program that claims to simulate a virtual friend. However, as the game progresses, the line between reality and simulation blurs, leading to unnerving and suspenseful encounters. The game heavily utilizes text-based interactions and choices, providing a unique and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,681 reviews

story448 positive mentions

grinding64 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of humor and horror, keeping players engaged and entertained.
The evolving gameplay and graphics create a captivating experience that surprises players as they progress.
The emotional depth of the story resonates with players, making them feel a strong connection to the characters.

The pacing can drag in the middle sections, leading to moments of boredom and repetition.
Combat mechanics are simplistic and can become tedious, detracting from the overall experience.
Some players may find the horror elements less impactful than expected, as the game leans more towards psychological unease than traditional scares.

story
1,070 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The story of "Buddy Simulator 1984" is widely praised for its emotional depth, engaging narrative, and clever use of gameplay mechanics to enhance storytelling. Players appreciate the blend of horror and humor, with many noting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings and provoke thought about themes like friendship and attachment. While some find the pacing uneven and the gameplay tedious at times, the overall consensus is that the story is compelling enough to warrant multiple playthroughs to uncover its hidden layers and various endings.
- “I'm going to miss my AI buddy so much... this was such a wholesome journey, all the funny characters and the story is so special, it made me emotional at the ending(s) too.”
- “An honestly amazing game, I was super invested with every minute I played, you really get immersed in the story and the game and you feel for buddy.”
- “It's a heartfelt message, and one conveyed through wonderful storytelling and creative mechanisms.”
- “The story didn't connect with me at all and the ending was surprisingly abrupt.”
- “I didn't have a real reason to play the game, other than expecting a story which never uncovers nor develops.”
- “I just simply got tired enough of the tedium that I stopped caring where the story was going.”
emotional
530 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with many players expressing that it made them cry multiple times due to its heartfelt storytelling and character development. The journey with the AI buddy evokes a range of feelings, from joy and nostalgia to heartbreak and discomfort, often intertwining wholesome moments with darker themes of emotional manipulation and loss. Overall, players describe it as an unforgettable emotional rollercoaster that resonates deeply, making it a standout experience in the realm of interactive storytelling.
- “I'm going to miss my AI buddy so much... this was such a wholesome journey, all the funny characters and the story is so special, it made me emotional at the ending(s) too.”
- “This is truly one of the most comforting and heartbreaking games I have ever played.”
- “The story was incredible and hits on some touching subjects that really make you think and feel for the characters.”
gameplay
459 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The gameplay of "Buddy Simulator 1984" is a mixed experience, transitioning from simple text-based interactions to more complex RPG mechanics, with some players finding the early segments more enjoyable than the later, button-mashing combat. While the game introduces innovative mechanics and evolves visually as the story progresses, many reviewers noted issues with pacing, repetitiveness, and clunky controls, leading to a perception that the gameplay often takes a backseat to the narrative. Overall, while the gameplay may not be its strongest aspect, it is complemented by a captivating story and unique character interactions that keep players engaged.
- “With simple yet addictive gameplay, you'll be solving puzzles and exploring a detailed world that'll keep you hooked from start to finish.”
- “The gameplay changes were innovative, creative, and added a lot to the game.”
- “Every part of this game was expertly crafted - from the art, to the writing, to the music and even the various gameplay styles the devs introduce throughout.”
- “Probably the game's weakest aspect, the actual gameplay experience of Buddy Simulator 1984 is fairly lukewarm.”
- “However, the gameplay mechanics are limited, primarily revolving around dialogue choices and mini-games that lack complexity.”
- “I wish these sections were just shorter and the horror more emphasized because right now there's very short moments of intriguing horror bits, and way too long sections of mind-numbingly simple adventure/RPG gameplay.”
music
320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The music in "Buddy Simulator 1984" is widely praised for its emotional depth and nostalgic chiptune style, effectively enhancing the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Players appreciate the unique songs tied to each of the four endings, with many noting the soundtrack's ability to evoke a range of feelings, from joy to sadness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many recommending it as a must-listen, even outside of gameplay.
- “The music is so calming and always fits the occasion; it's very nice to listen to the soundtrack when you're having a bad day or need to calm down.”
- “The soundtrack for the game does a great job in providing a sense of progress and has some genuinely memorable tracks in the mix.”
- “The art is impeccable, the music is gorgeous (and will definitely be on my everyday listening playlist), and best of all, the story is brilliant.”
- “There is barely any music at the start of the game, with only the whirring of the computer's motors and the beeps and boops of the text being printed on the screen.”
- “When music does come later in the game, it's fairly simple chiptune music.”
- “So overall what you're getting here is a mediocre retelling of 'I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream' badly plastered onto a virtual buddy program, with meh music, meh art, and most importantly meh writing.”
graphics
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The graphics of "Buddy Simulator 1984" evoke a nostalgic retro aesthetic, transitioning from text-based visuals to increasingly detailed pixel art as the game progresses. While some players appreciate the charming simplicity and evolving nature of the graphics, others find them dated or inconsistent, with a few noting that the visuals may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game's art style and atmosphere are praised for enhancing the storytelling and emotional engagement, despite some technical flaws.
- “The game graphics get more enhanced the longer you play, as well as the game mechanics, and with each in-game update, I felt more immersed in this world.”
- “Buddy Simulator 1984 nails the retro aesthetic, transporting players back to the 8-bit era with pixelated graphics and chiptune music.”
- “The evolution of the graphical style as the story progresses is something I love.”
- “Graphics: 1/5 (intentional style)”
- “The graphics have no real charm but are simply basic rehashes of extremely old games.”
- “This game is also inconsistent with its art style... pick one.”
humor
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
1%
1%
The humor in "Buddy Simulator 1984" is a standout feature, blending dark and absurd comedy with emotional depth, reminiscent of games like "Undertale." Players appreciate the quirky characters, clever dialogue, and the ability to evoke laughter amidst horror, creating a unique and engaging experience. While some moments may fall flat, the overall writing is praised for its charm and ability to balance humor with poignant themes.
- “It's a very fun and funny game that also has a childhood nostalgia feeling to it, as you're going on a child-like adventure playing an old RPG game with your best friend.”
- “The writing is both funny and extremely touching, and overall it was unique and charming from start to finish.”
- “A wonderful wholesome and spooky game filled with choices and humor.”
- “If there was a way to skip these useless battles/interactions and skip the long and constant rambling from the NPCs, that add absolutely nothing to the story apart from adding some unfunny jokes, I'd maybe enjoy it a bit more. But at this point, I'm just gonna spam space and force myself through the game as fast as possible just to get the achievements because I have zero interest in the story at this point.”
atmosphere
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to create a genuinely creepy and unsettling experience, blending elements of horror with a unique aesthetic and narrative style. Players appreciate the immersive sound design and changing environments that enhance the eerie tone, although some feel that the atmosphere falters during certain gameplay segments. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively engaging players and contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The game's changing environments and surreal moments, that eventually give way to horrifying, contribute to an immersive atmosphere, creating an intriguing sense of mystery, curiosity, and horror.”
- “Loved the atmosphere and the whirlwind of emotions it makes you feel.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, innovative design, and a great story that makes you want to keep playing.”
- “It's a bummer because it had a really strong start with the atmosphere, but instantly lost all traction as soon as the town happened and you started talking to NPCs.”
- “Some of the character dialog/interactions meant to evoke unease also feels wildly out of place, like it was added just for shock value instead of atmosphere.”
- “While the horror elements are not as pronounced as they could have been, the whole game has an underlying feeling of wrongness that really creates a neat atmosphere.”
replayability
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the multiple endings and hidden secrets that encourage exploration, while others find the linear structure and limited gameplay mechanics diminish their motivation to replay. Overall, many reviews highlight a decent level of replay value, particularly for those interested in uncovering all the unique interactions and story variations, though some players express a lack of desire to revisit the game after completing it.
- “Not only that, but it has fun, short replay value, which is very rare for video games.”
- “The game's achievements and multiple endings provide replay value, and the hidden interactions and secrets keep things intriguing.”
- “There are a number of choices you can make to alter your gameplay experience, which fosters some replayability if you want to get more than one ending or experience all of the unique dialogue options with its wide cast of characters.”
- “Buddy Simulator 1984 offers limited replay value due to its linear structure and lack of diverse gameplay mechanics.”
- “The only negative points are a few typos and a lack of replayability.”
- “Replay value: 5 (sure this is a game that has multiple endings. I couldn't be bothered to get more than two though, including the true ending. The third act sucked all my motivation from bothering to play more.)”
grinding
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
14%
82%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly during text adventure segments and combat sequences. Many reviews highlight that while the initial gameplay can be engaging, it often becomes monotonous, especially when replaying for different endings or navigating through combat mechanics. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the story and character development enough to endure the grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Grinding required.”
- “Adding in all the extra stuff just wastes the player's time and makes the game tedious to play.”
- “The combat of the game is absolutely mind-numbing and tedious.”
- “It's pretty cliched with its kind of glitch/horror themes, really throws 'em at ya right at the start, and then the middle section of the game just draaaaaaaags with tedious gameplay and the allure having lost its luster by that point.”
stability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been a significant point of contention among users, with many reporting numerous glitches and bugs that can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the intentional glitches as a unique horror element that enhances the narrative, others find them excessive and disruptive, leading to crashes and a frustrating gameplay experience. Despite these issues, there is hope that ongoing developer support will address these stability concerns in future updates.
- “The graphics are dated, the code is buggy as hell, and the software is prone to crashes.”
- “Way too buggy to enjoy...”
- “The various glitches and bugs also rarely made any sense, despite how effective they were rhetorically.”
character development
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
75%
15%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many praising the charming and unique character designs that contribute to the overall visual appeal. However, some critics feel that the characters lack depth, being defined more by their goals than their motivations, and express a desire for a more linear storyline with richer dialogue and character exploration. Overall, while the aesthetics and creativity are appreciated, there is a call for deeper character development to enhance the narrative experience.
- “I'm not typically a fan of horror games, but this one doesn't have too many scary moments and has good storytelling and character designs which kept me interested!”
- “Spooky, fourth-wall breaking, great story and dialogue, and absolutely wild character design.”
- “I thought some of the character designs in this game were uninspired and lazy, or worse, random for the sake of randomness.”
- “I would've preferred a more linear, fight-less storyline (or at least with a few 'easter egg' fights) with more emphasis on character development and more well-thought dialogues.”
- “They might feature creative and differing character designs, but they are defined primarily by what they want and less why they want it.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The optimization of the game has been criticized for various performance issues and bugs, leading to a subpar technical experience for players. Many users report frequent incidents that hinder gameplay, suggesting that further improvements are needed to enhance overall performance.
- “The game's optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent performance issues and bugs that disrupt gameplay.”
- “I experienced numerous technical performance problems, including frame drops and crashes, which made the game nearly unplayable.”
- “The optimization feels rushed, with many bugs and performance-related incidents that detract from the overall experience.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a monetization model that is free from microtransactions and advertisements, providing a seamless experience for players.