Calm Down, Stalin

About

Calm Down, Stalin is a single player action game. It was developed by Cartboard Games and was released on September 8, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Calm Down, Stalin" is a darkly humorous cardboard dungeon crawler game. You play as a miniature Stalin, navigating through Soviet-themed levels while completing absurd objectives and avoiding various obstacles. The unique cardboard aesthetic and satirical take on historical events make for a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 440 reviews

humor37 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game is a hilarious and unique take on the life of Stalin, providing a fun and engaging experience.
It offers a challenging gameplay experience that tests multitasking skills while keeping players entertained.
The satirical nature and quirky mechanics make it a memorable and enjoyable game for those who appreciate dark humor.

The controls can be frustrating and unresponsive, leading to accidental game overs and a lack of precision.
The gameplay can become repetitive and may not hold players' interest for long periods.
There are several bugs and technical issues that can detract from the overall experience, such as items getting stuck or not registering correctly.

humor
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both funny and entertaining, often highlighting its absurdity and slapstick elements, particularly in the context of its Soviet Union theme. However, some users express frustration with gameplay mechanics that can detract from the humor, leading to moments of aggravation. Overall, the game is described as a hilarious yet challenging experience that can provide stress relief, despite concerns about its replay value and occasional repetitiveness.
- “It's a funny, janky Soviet Union meme of a game.”
- “A hilarious slapstick type game featuring Stalin himself!”
- “This game is hilarious and really fun to play.”
gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
The gameplay is generally well-received, praised for its quirky mechanics and engaging design that balances humor with emotional depth. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of new mechanics, though some find the experience can become repetitive after extended play. Overall, it offers a fun and entertaining experience, particularly for those who enjoy multi-tasking and physics-based challenges, despite some criticisms regarding its longevity.
- “Looking past the game's satirical nature, the gameplay is actually not bad and I believe it is a good purchase.”
- “Neat little game with quirky mechanics.”
- “The game helps ease you into each of the mechanics, giving you a level where you only have to deal with the new mechanic and nothing else (other than the button).”
- “Gameplay somehow makes you sympathetic towards one of history's worst dictators.”
- “This emotional game brought a tear to my eye in some sections of it and at some points I had to stop playing because of the somewhat repetitive gameplay.”
- “Once you reach a point where your desk is completely filled with items, you question how often the gameplay was tested.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The game's story is described as a compelling and intricate narrative that captivates players, though some find it brief, completing the story mode in about three hours. While the storyline is praised for its depth and quality, players express a desire for better pacing and balance in story progression, as well as clearer guidance on gameplay mechanics. Overall, the narrative is seen as a highlight, but its execution leaves room for improvement.
- “Has a great storyline.”
- “The story is an incredible masterpiece that should not be missed by even the most conservative of Americans, and the beautiful story is complemented by glitch-free gameplay.”
- “Accurate storyline, great campaign, amazing graphics and physics, huge attention to detail, and amazing shaders.”
- “On top of that, the story map can be a bit confusing; at least add a text box or even just a help button that gives a short explanation.”
- “You need to maintain the integrity of your country, which slowly but surely worsens with each 'story' mission you do. Abruptly ending calls or not answering them at all will decrease the country integrity after you've unlocked the phone.”
- “The main campaign is just like a tutorial, really drip-fed items mission after mission.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some users praising the attention to detail and impressive shaders, while others criticized them as subpar, especially on lower-end hardware. Many noted that high settings could lead to performance issues, necessitating a reduction in graphics quality for smoother gameplay. Overall, the visuals are described as decent but not exceptional.
- “Accurate storyline, great campaign, amazing graphics and physics, huge attention to detail, and amazing shaders.”
- “Nice and semi-good graphics”
- “The graphics are those of a potato.”
- “Granted, I have an old laptop for gaming, but the graphics aren't the best on the high settings.”
- “I had to put all of the graphics settings to their lowest just so I didn't get lag.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is praised for its ability to enhance the mood, particularly during moments of panic, and is complemented by great sound effects. Players appreciate the use of royalty-free music, which adds to the overall experience, with one user even creating a musical to express their enjoyment of it.
- “Great sound effects and music.”
- “I love how the music tends to fit the mood of panic.”
- “But I love how the music tends to fit the mood of panic.”
- “The best part about this game is the royalty-free music.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have several bugs, including issues with collision physics and phone detection, leading some users to seek refunds. However, ongoing updates may improve stability in the future.
- “However, the game can be buggy at times.”
- “I refunded it seeing as it was a bit repetitive and buggy (collision physics problems, phone detection, etc.), but seeing as this game is still getting updates, that may be subject to change.”
- “It is kind of buggy, though.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players note that optimization involves managing two key factors that vary between levels, influenced by both the player's choices and their performance. This adds a strategic layer to gameplay, requiring careful consideration to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- “You can choose to focus on the two key factors that vary between levels based on your selection, as well as your overall performance.”
- “The optimization mechanics allow for strategic decision-making that enhances gameplay and keeps each level engaging.”
- “I love how the game encourages you to adapt your strategy based on the optimization factors that change with each level.”
- “The optimization in this game is frustratingly inconsistent, making it hard to gauge my progress.”
- “I often find myself struggling with the optimization mechanics, which feel poorly implemented and confusing.”
- “The lack of clear guidelines on optimization leads to a lot of trial and error, which detracts from the overall experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its deep emotional impact, with players noting that it can evoke strong feelings, even bringing some to tears. However, the emotional experience is occasionally hindered by repetitive gameplay, prompting players to take breaks.
- “This game is incredibly deep and emotional.”
- “This emotional game brought a tear to my eye in some sections, and at times I had to stop playing because of the somewhat repetitive gameplay.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is perceived as humorous but ultimately lacks replay value, being described as gimmicky and reliant on a concept that doesn't sustain long-term engagement. Despite its comedic elements, players feel it does not offer enough incentive for repeated play.
- “It's funny but has no replay value, and is basically just a gimmicky game.”
- “People will pay for it because it's a silly game with no replay value, which is ironic since the entire game relies on replay value.”