Depression Quest

About

Depression Quest is a single player role playing game with a drama theme. It was developed by The Quinnspiracy and was released on August 11, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Depression Quest" is a text-based game that simulates living with depression, presenting players with everyday challenges to manage while dealing with the illness. The game offers multiple endings and features over 150 unique encounters, with available choices and generated content based on the player's depression levels. The audio and visuals also adjust to reflect the player's emotional state, enhancing the immersive experience.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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61%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,444 reviews

story232 positive mentions

music53 negative mentions

The game provides a relatable and accurate portrayal of depression, resonating with many players' personal experiences.
The mechanic of crossing out certain choices effectively illustrates the limitations and struggles faced by individuals with depression.
It's a free game that serves as an educational tool for understanding mental health issues, making it accessible to a wide audience.

The game lacks depth and interactivity, often feeling more like a text-based novel than a traditional game.
Many players found the writing to be tedious and filled with grammatical errors, detracting from the overall experience.
The portrayal of depression may oversimplify the condition, leading some players to feel that it doesn't accurately represent their own experiences.

story
1,377 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
76%
7%
The story of "Depression Quest" is a poignant exploration of living with depression, presented as an interactive narrative where players make choices that reflect the protagonist's struggles. While some players found the story relatable and emotionally impactful, others criticized it for its simplistic portrayal of depression and lack of meaningful choices, leading to a sense of linearity and predictability. Overall, the game serves as a tool for understanding mental health, though its execution has drawn mixed reviews regarding its depth and engagement.
- “While it may not be perfect in all its executions, its heart has good intentions and I've connected with the story emotionally a lot while reading.”
- “Depression Quest expertly puts you in the shoes of a person suffering from depression; I've been playing for five minutes and I want to fucking die already.”
- “Depression Quest is a well-written exposition on depression in the form of an interactive story.”
- “While Depression Quest seems earnest in its attempt to portray depression, it unfortunately lacks the depth and nuance needed to make this game an effective attempt at portraying mental health issues, instead leaving a husk of what this game could have been.”
- “The story is bland and uninteresting, with none of the characters feeling developed. The lack of interactivity means your choices are pretty much irrelevant and only cause slightly different changes.”
- “The story is non-existent with no coherent plot, no meaningful dialogue, and not a single choice the player makes has any real impact on the outcome of the story.”
music
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
18%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive and monotonous nature, often describing it as a single looping piano track that can become grating over time. While some appreciate its ability to set a somber tone that aligns with the game's themes of depression, others find it distracting and ineffective, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a double-edged sword: it enhances the atmosphere for some, while for others, it becomes an annoying barrier to engagement.
- “The music, despite being minimalistic, appeals to my senses and allows me to immediately immerse myself in it.”
- “The soundtrack deserves mention as well: the restrained, hesitant music is subtle, but sets the mood perfectly without being intrusive.”
- “The music reflects current situations, creating further immersion into the plot, perhaps evoking an emotive response from the player.”
- “The music, which according to the in-game instructions is supposed to enhance gameplay (it's recommended to play with music on), was mostly distracting and at worst grating.”
- “The soundtrack basically consists of one track on a loop the entire time and for me, it did not deliver much of an impact so that was pretty disappointing because if the game wasn't good, I was hoping the music would at least make up for it.”
- “The music is repetitive and the sound effects annoying.”
gameplay
234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
73%
10%
The gameplay of "Depression Quest" has been widely criticized for its simplicity and lack of traditional gaming elements, often being described as more of an interactive story than a game. While some players appreciate the clever mechanics that reflect the experience of depression—such as the restriction of choices based on the character's mental state—many find the overall experience dull and lacking in engagement, with minimal interactivity and repetitive clicking. Overall, the game serves as a narrative exploration of depression rather than a conventional gaming experience, leading to mixed reviews regarding its effectiveness and entertainment value.
- “What truly sets this game apart is how depression is reflected in the gameplay itself—something I’ve never seen done this way before.”
- “The mechanic of crossed-out dialogue options is a superb, creative way to represent the limitations imposed by depression.”
- “Blocking out the most obvious choices and making the game a challenge based on your depression level is a brilliant use of mechanics to support theme and purpose.”
- “The gameplay is boring and the commentary is weak.”
- “There is no gameplay, just a bad choose your own adventure book.”
- “Overall, the gameplay... it isn't even gameplay at all.”
emotional
225 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of the game has elicited a wide range of responses from players, with many expressing feelings of deep connection and understanding regarding their own experiences with depression. While some found the game to be a powerful and touching exploration of emotional struggles, leading to tears and moments of reflection, others criticized it for being overly draining or triggering, potentially exacerbating feelings of hopelessness. Overall, the game is recognized for its heartfelt intentions and ability to resonate with players on a personal level, though it may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those currently struggling with their mental health.
- “This game made me feel understood, and for that, I am deeply grateful.”
- “While it may not be perfect in all its executions, its heart has good intentions and I've connected with the story emotionally a lot while reading.”
- “As someone who suffers from depression, I would like to warn everybody with this illness to play this game while having a rather unstable emotional status as it may indeed trigger you.”
- “It also literally defeats the purpose of gaming for most people (escapism, fun, excitement, etc.), and thrusts you into an extremely boring story filled with a 2-dimensional protagonist (you) and 1-dimensional supporting characters.”
- “It is a very short and boring story.”
graphics
135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
76%
10%
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized, with many reviewers describing them as subpar, reminiscent of early 90s websites, and lacking in visual engagement. While some appreciate the minimalistic approach as fitting for the game's themes, the overall consensus is that the visuals do not enhance the experience and often detract from it, making the game feel more like an interactive text document than a fully realized video game. Despite the lack of graphical sophistication, a few users noted that the simplicity can effectively convey the emotional depth of the narrative.
- “The graphics are breathtaking, from underground black markets selling uranium-235 and m249s, to the beautiful Mexican city of Tijuana, it will put you in a trance with the ultimate immersion!”
- “With stunning visuals and a great battle system, this game will have you hooked till the very end.”
- “The music choices and visuals offer great atmosphere for the depressing content.”
- “The graphics are not stunning.”
- “The pictures and graphics are poor quality to say the least.”
- “It looks as though it was designed 100% for utility and no thought went into aesthetics.”
humor
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, with players finding amusement in its poor design and absurdity rather than in deliberate comedic elements. While some appreciate the dark humor related to themes of depression, others feel the game fails to effectively balance its serious subject matter with humor, leading to mixed reactions. Overall, the humor is seen as a coping mechanism for the game's heavy themes, with many players finding it "hilariously bad" or amusingly absurd.
- “Hilarious game, bad graphics, person who is too much of a wuss to put their life back together, overall 10/10.”
- “The only part that entertained me was the trigger warning at the beginning; that was pretty funny.”
- “This game makes it seem like it wants to tell you about depression, but the creators instead tried to make a game that was so unbelievably stupid that it was funny, and that for one is why I love Depression Quest.”
- “And I know that it's not funny or fun, but it's not meant to be.”
- “And if we talk only about the 'game' ignoring everything else... it's bad, it's not funny, it's not remarkable, it's not even a serious or real experience about depression. Even if it is free, it's just not worth it.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
63%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as haunting and oppressive, effectively capturing the essence of depression through its writing, music, and visuals. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and introspective qualities, others find the atmosphere overwhelmingly bleak, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a strikingly realistic portrayal of depression, though its heavy tone may not appeal to everyone.
- “I loved it, the atmosphere is awesome and it's really well written.”
- “A++ it does a good job of cultivating an atmosphere of empathy and introspection simultaneously, a sound balance allowing for a clinical analysis and emotional depth.”
- “The atmosphere was overwhelming!”
- “Though again, the whole atmosphere of the game contributes to making you feel like shit.”
- “While it's a noble goal, the game itself tries to beat the atmosphere and helplessness into you in such an awkward way that playing this is unpleasant.”
- “It doesn't take long to complete, but the oppressive atmosphere feeling playing it will hopefully stick with you for a long time.”
replayability
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
59%
15%
The reviews on replayability for this game are mixed, with some players praising its engaging choices and multiple outcomes, suggesting a decent level of replay value. However, many others criticize it for having low replayability, often citing that once the main storyline is completed, there is little incentive to replay. Overall, while some find enjoyment in exploring different decisions, others feel the game lacks sufficient variety to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “Really good game, the replay value is off the charts! I really enjoy it; I just started playing 3 days ago and am addicted. I've beaten the main storyline many times and continue to have fun. The developers really put a lot into this game, and it really makes you think outside of the box.”
- “Very dynamic and fun in every way; this game has a huge replayability factor to it.”
- “Overally, short (~20) playthrough, but its replayability is pretty good. It's fun to go through and choose different decisions and see what new outcomes there are.”
- “It does have a decent amount of replayability, if you want to go back and make different choices; however, one questions if that is something that most people would even really want to do.”
- “And, most of all, I believe it doesn't have replay value; playing the game once, with thought-out answers to the situations, will net you the best sense of fulfillment, so to speak.”
- “Unfortunately, all the above means that there is not much replay value.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious, repetitive, and lacking creativity, often leaving players feeling frustrated and disengaged. Many reviewers express that the experience feels more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay, with some likening it to a monotonous task that fails to evoke genuine emotion or connection. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the narrative and user experience, making it a significant drawback for players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “That game is not shy about wasting your time grinding for a character only to have them die and make you do the same with a new character.”
- “Unfortunately, the experience is more akin to sitting in a DMV waiting line and reading the dictionary at the same time, only even more tedious.”
- “The writing is tediously unimaginative and dull, and simply fails to hold interest.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
11%
78%
The monetization aspect of Depression Quest is notable for its absence of ads and microtransactions, offering a free experience. However, the broader discussion highlights concerns about corruption in the gaming industry, including paid reviews and conflicts of interest, which some users feel undermine the integrity of game promotion. Additionally, there are mixed feelings about potential future microtransactions and irrelevant advertisements that detract from the game's message.
- “Depression Quest is a short free game with no ads and no microtransactions.”
- “The problem is that despite the advertising, there is not much to choose from here.”
- “Also, I really wasn't happy with what looks like the later implementation of microtransactions.”
- “Completely irrelevant advertisement for the suicide prevention thing.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and complexity in the characters, describing them as shallow and stereotypical. While some mention minimal character development exists, it is overshadowed by the game's overall structure, which fails to engage players meaningfully. Comparisons to other titles highlight a significant shortfall in emotional resonance and character growth.
- “Character development was somewhat present, but the game's structure kind of just throws you into the world of the main character.”
- “There is some character development, but it feels thin and could have been more impactful.”
- “For a more meaningful experience with character development, I recommend playing Narcissu, which truly makes you sympathize with a character facing depression.”
- “Character development was nonexistent and the characters were shallow and stereotypical.”
- “- thin character development.”
- “Play Narcissu instead for something that actually has character development and actually makes you sympathize with a character facing depression... and beyond that.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent glitches, including application crashes and issues with the official website's hyperlinks. These technical flaws detract significantly from the overall experience, suggesting that the game is currently unstable and in need of substantial improvements.
- “My first impressions of Depression Quest were on its official site, which had a myriad of glitches in the hyperlinks.”
- “Next are the glitches encountered, for example, crashing the application twice in a single playthrough.”
- “Might have potential, but is weighed down by glitches, poor/uninteresting design and controls, etc.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is generally viewed as lacking, with some users experiencing performance issues, though others report a mostly smooth experience. Overall, it appears that the game's focus on narrative over traditional gaming elements may contribute to its unoptimized feel.
- “☐ unoptimized”
- “In my mind, there's no difference between Depression Quest and visual novels, because neither is focused on the typical aspects of a video game like graphics, gameplay, or performance.”
- “Was running into some issues with performance, but overall it was a smooth experience.”

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76h Median play time

69h Average play time

3-168h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Depression Quest is a role playing game with drama theme.

Depression Quest is available on PC, Web Browser, Mac OS, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 69 hours playing Depression Quest.

Depression Quest was released on August 11, 2014.

Depression Quest was developed by The Quinnspiracy.

Depression Quest has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its music.

Depression Quest is a single player game.

Similar games include Actual Sunlight, Always Sometimes Monsters, Missed Messages, The Beginner's Guide, The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne and others.

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