Continue?9876543210

51%
Game Brain Score Based on 195 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Continue?9876543210 Game Cover
Continue?9876543210 is as weird as its title suggests, and surprisingly clever as well.
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"Continue?9876543210" is a single-player Science Fiction Quiz game with a good plot and splendid atmosphere, but awful mechanics and lots of grinding. As a dead video game character in the Random Access Memory, players explore existential themes and their own mortality in this unique, confusing, and emotional journey, reminiscent of games like Gone Home and Papers Please. The splendid soundtrack and philosophical exploration make it a memorable and thought-provoking experience.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
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  • Mobile Platform
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Reviews

51%
Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews
story10 positive mentions
gameplay30 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of mortality and existentialism, prompting moments of introspection.
  • The atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, complemented by a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The gameplay mechanics, while challenging, provide a sense of urgency and require strategic thinking, making each playthrough feel distinct.
  • The controls are often imprecise and can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
  • Many players find the game confusing and poorly explained, with a lack of clear objectives and guidance, making it difficult to engage fully.
  • The repetitive nature of the gameplay and unskippable cutscenes can lead to boredom, diminishing the impact of the narrative over time.
  • gameplay103 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and clunky mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the interesting concepts and atmospheric elements, others find the objectives tedious and the controls frustrating, leading to a lack of enjoyment. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant flaw, overshadowing the game's artistic and narrative strengths.

    • “Once you get the hang of the gameplay and pay a bit of attention to the surroundings and the NPCs, you'll probably enjoy the time more.”
    • “This game, being my game nomination of the year, has amazing art, an amazing soundtrack, a great storyline, and decently appealing gameplay which makes for a fantastic game altogether.”
    • “In these moments, the mellow music, the great art design, and gameplay all come to form a tight bond.”
    • “Other player reviews have gone into detail about the gameplay and atmosphere, but the bottom line is I didn't find it fun to play.”
    • “I tried to like this game, but I just could not get past the terrible gameplay. If there were better objectives, not such a harsh timer, or anything really, it could be playable, but it's just not.”
    • “Ostensibly the game is a contemplation of death, but the gameplay is so awful that it ruins anything that the game is trying to communicate.”
  • story98 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its deep, philosophical themes and unique narrative style, while others find it confusing and lacking in coherence. Many reviews highlight the interesting backstory and character arcs, but criticize the slow pacing and repetitive cutscenes that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the storytelling is seen as ambitious yet flawed, appealing to those who enjoy abstract narratives but potentially frustrating for players seeking a more straightforward plot.

    • “It was a beautifully written story that I wish I had screenshots of, but unfortunately the levels randomly generate and I can't quite work up the motivation to play again until I get to that level.”
    • “I saw a retro-style action adventure game with a deep, sad, yet sweet story that would make me think about life and fill me with a desire to help this poor protagonist sprite.”
    • “The story is very good if simple, and is as the description says the story of a man trying to come to terms with his death, while also trying to complete his original quest he was designed to perform and locate a woman who has also fled from deletion.”
    • “This game is way too slow and the story is lackluster at best.”
    • “The storytelling is slow and a bit overestimated; add to that very aggressive sound effects, and you'd understand why I won't play beyond the first hour.”
    • “The game has awful play control, awful storytelling (with lots of forced 'cutscenes' that are both repetitive and uninteresting), and awful direction.”
  • music51 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful, calming, and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional depth. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as a masterpiece that complements the game's themes and graphics. However, some players found the music repetitive or felt that it didn't always match the gameplay experience, leading to mixed opinions on its overall impact.

    • “Filled with beautiful soundtracks and thoughtful dialogues, this game will make you think about your own existence and mortality while you struggle to survive attacks from the relentless garbage collector.”
    • “The game's soundtrack is so amazing, and honestly sounds like a masterpiece all on its own.”
    • “This game features calm, beautiful music and can teach you a lesson for your soul.”
    • “The music and the graphics are fitting to the theme of the game, but leave much to be desired.”
    • “This is one of those games that try to be something it's not, with a sad themed song that plays over and over again. The movement of your character seems awkward and it feels as if the game was rushed to get out.”
    • “I found the graphics and music just plain boring to look at and listen to. While there are some flashy scenes and very well done graphical choices during cutscenes, the levels look somewhat all the same, and in the end, I just grew tired of it all very quickly.”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the unique and original style as well as the flashy visuals, while others criticize them for being reminiscent of outdated PS1 graphics that can be visually tiring. Although certain levels and cutscenes are highlighted for their impressive design, many users feel that the overall graphical presentation lacks variety and can become monotonous. Overall, the graphics are seen as fitting to the game's theme but leave room for improvement.

    • “I love this style of graphics, so that's another tally in the 'pro' column.”
    • “Very original idea, very good concept, and extremely good graphics for its purpose.”
    • “The tone is incredibly dark, the graphics are incredibly flashy on some settings (epileptics be warned!), the controls are the only downside as they feel a little too slippery.”
    • “The terrible graphics make my eyes hurt after playing only a couple of minutes.”
    • “You just get annoyed with the PS1-style graphics and decide Minecraft is better; after all, you can figure out the rules there.”
    • “I found the graphics and music just plain boring to look at and listen to, and while there are some flashy scenes and very well done graphical choices during cutscenes, the levels look somewhat all the same except for a few that look amazing (the level where you're chasing down your reflections in the sea comes to mind) and in the end, I just grew tired of it all very quickly.”
  • atmosphere20 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and ethereal qualities, creating a sense of inevitable doom and existential questioning. The haunting soundtrack and unique sound design enhance this surreal environment, making it a standout feature despite mixed feelings about the gameplay itself. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both romantic and fraught, contributing significantly to the game's impact.

    • “The game actually has a really great atmosphere of inevitable doom and the futility of struggling further.”
    • “The game has a haunting soundtrack, interesting but odd sound design, but it all fits the weird atmosphere of the game perfectly.”
    • “Not quite a 'roguelike' (maybe a 'roguelike-like'?), it was a bit difficult and stressful, but very atmospheric and fraught—the kind of game that makes you question your purpose in life.”
    • “Other player reviews have gone into detail about the gameplay and atmosphere, but the bottom line is I didn't find it fun to play.”
    • “The game itself is okay, but the atmosphere and some of the surreal elements I enjoyed.”
    • “As for the content itself, its atmosphere sort of reminds me of a 3D Sword & Sworcery.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The game evokes a strong emotional response, tackling themes of mortality and sadness, which some players found both impactful and thought-provoking. While it may not be universally enjoyable, its ability to resonate on a personal level and provoke introspection is widely appreciated. The emotional depth invites individual interpretation, making it a compelling experience despite its grim subject matter.

    • “Yo this game is like, not 'good' in terms of objectivity maybe but subjectively and emotionally it can help you feel a little better about your inevitable death, which is a pretty cool thing to get out of a video game.”
    • “I can't say that I 'enjoyed' it (actually it made me feel quite sad), but I'm glad that I played it.”
    • “It's an emotional ride that is open to your own interpretation.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, requiring repetitive tasks to progress, such as interacting with town residents to collect resources. The lack of proper gamepad support and convoluted mechanics further detract from the experience, making the gameplay feel laborious and frustrating. Additionally, the unpleasant presentation and frequent cutscenes contribute to a sense of monotony.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Tedious gameplay with no proper gamepad support and obscure mechanics further marred the experience.”
    • “Now let me try to explain the mechanics of the game: you go to a random level of ten different levels that you can be dropped into. You will then try to complete various tedious objectives, normally involving talking to the residents in the 'town'. What you are trying to do is gain lightning and prayers from around the town; you need both to win the game. The lightning will randomly destroy a piece of the blocks blocking the exits.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The game is praised for its blend of humor and thoughtfulness, with dialogue that often elicits laughter. While it touches on deep topics, the humor—both intentional and otherwise—provides a lighthearted counterbalance, particularly through its use of dark humor. Overall, the comedic elements enhance the entertainment value, making the experience enjoyable.

    • “They turned me on to a slew of music that I wouldn't have appreciated otherwise and managed to be both hilarious and thoughtful throughout.”
    • “However, there is, thankfully, a fair amount of humor (whether intentional or not) that offsets the sincerity.”
    • “The dialogue here can be... pretty hilarious.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability, with players likely to experience most of its content within just a few playthroughs. It lacks significant random number generation elements that could enhance replay value.

    • “There is little replayability; you will discover most of what the game has to offer in a few short playthroughs.”
    • “If you are looking for a game that has a lot of replayability or huge amounts of random number generation, then this game is not for you.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is marred by notable glitches that can force players to restart, which is particularly ironic given the game's theme of battling through memory. Additionally, the repetitive conversations and cut scenes contribute to a frustrating experience, detracting from overall gameplay.

    • “It has some other flaws, some in the mechanics (I hit some glitches that required me to start the game over—which is ironic as hell, considering the plot of a game character battling through random access memory trying to buy time to avoid being deleted) and some with the repetitive nature of the conversations and cut scenes that can't be avoided or skipped.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

61% average critic score

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