Désiré

About

"Désiré is a single-player, poetic point-and-click adventure game that uses good music and black-and-white graphics to convey the story of Désiré, a color-blind character living in a world without joy. The game contains mature themes, critical of modern society, with over 50 scenes, 40 characters, and numerous riddles, as Désiré seeks to discover if color is at the end of his road. Not recommended for children under 16."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

music8 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game features a genuinely interesting storyline with well-designed puzzles that engage the player.
The artwork, music, and atmosphere are praised for their beauty and depth, creating a captivating experience.
It explores taboo themes and personal journeys, offering a unique perspective that some players find thought-provoking.

The game is criticized for its explicit and disturbing content, including themes of sexism, misogyny, and paedophilia, which many find unacceptable.
The narrative is described as disjointed and lacking a clear message, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters and story.
Gameplay mechanics, such as unfair quiz portions and lack of sound effects, detract from the overall experience and make it frustrating for some players.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
73%
13%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its beauty and depth, while others criticize it for being disjointed and lacking a clear message. Many players felt disconnected from the characters and found the narrative to be pretentious, failing to deliver on its initial promise of a heartfelt exploration of themes like colorblindness. Overall, while the artwork and soundtrack are appreciated, the story itself is seen as a significant weakness.
- “Literally one of my favorite games, the most beautiful and real storyline I've ever seen. It's grotesque and gorgeous all at once, plus the soundtrack is gorgeous.”
- “This is, in my opinion, a really good game if you prefer to focus more on the story than the gameplay.”
- “I remember playing this game on mobile when I was a bit younger and giving up because I thought it was pretty boring, but now that I play again, I can take a step back and admire what the story is about and the message it gives.”
- “The artwork, the music, the atmosphere... all good, but not when it comes to going along with the story, which offers no moral, no perspective, not even a nihilistic approach to reality... it just serves it raw, colorless (I guess they got that spot on at least then), depressive...”
- “The story itself sucks and feels disjointed; at first, it seems like it’s going to be a heartfelt and beautiful story about a young boy struggling with being colorblind and finding his place in the world and finding happiness.”
- “But no, it’s not; the story jumps around with so many ideas and themes, trying to be deep and philosophical that it forgets its own story sometimes.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The music in the game is praised for its beauty and somber tone, contributing positively to the overall atmosphere. However, some players find it becomes repetitive over time, especially since there are no sound effects to diversify the audio experience. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the game's emotional depth, its lack of variety can lead to fatigue.
- “Literally one of my favorite games, the most beautiful and real storyline I've ever seen, it's grotesque and gorgeous all at once, plus the soundtrack is gorgeous.”
- “The music was good and I loved the opening animation; it reminded me of classic Newgrounds videos.”
- “Story, art style, music = thumbs up!”
- “The game also has no sound effects; it's only the music, which can get tiring.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
13%
The game's graphics are praised for their artistic style, particularly in the black and white aesthetic, which complements the overall atmosphere. However, the visuals are criticized for not aligning with the story's themes, resulting in a raw and colorless presentation that some find depressive. Overall, while the artwork and music receive positive feedback, the disconnect between visuals and narrative detracts from the experience.
- “The artwork, the music, the atmosphere... all good, but not when it comes to going accord with the story, which offers no moral, no perspective, not even a nihilistic approach to reality... it just serves it raw, colorless (I guess they got that spot on at least then), depressive...”
- “Story, art style, music = thumbs up!”
- “In my view, forget this game, go for something like Projectorface if you like this black and white aesthetic.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is generally considered secondary to the story, with players noting that the limited voice narration at the beginning and end of the game is disappointing. Overall, those who prioritize narrative over gameplay may find it enjoyable, but the gameplay itself does not stand out.
- “The game opens and ends with a voice narration, and while not exactly gameplay related, it was quite disappointing to find out that these were the only two instances of voice-over narration.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its artwork and music, creating a strong aesthetic experience. However, it is criticized for lacking coherence with the story, which is described as morally ambiguous and colorless, contributing to a generally depressive tone.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its disjointed storytelling, which undermines the initial promise of a heartfelt narrative about a young boy dealing with colorblindness and his quest for happiness. Overall, the execution fails to deliver a meaningful emotional experience.
- “The story initially presents itself as a heartfelt and beautiful journey about a young boy struggling with colorblindness, as he seeks to find his place in the world and ultimately discover happiness.”