Discussion Over Dinner

About

Discussion Over Dinner is a single player casual real-time strategy game with a horror theme. It was developed by Eli Stevens and was released on April 4, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Discussion Over Dinner is a fast-paced social interaction game where you respond quickly to your new neighbor's probing questions. You must read subtle body language cues to keep the conversation flowing smoothly while managing your own reactions. Success can lead to friendship or uncovering dark secrets hidden beneath polite dinner talk.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 205 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and unsettling experience that effectively captures the tension of social anxiety.
Theo is a well-crafted character that adds to the creepy atmosphere, making interactions both engaging and nerve-wracking.
It's a free game with great replay value, allowing players to explore different dialogue choices and endings.

The game lacks technical polish, with issues like overlapping text and no option to skip dialogue, which can be frustrating.
Some players found the gameplay mechanics too challenging, making it difficult to enjoy the experience fully.
The pacing can feel slow, and the repetitive nature of some interactions may lead to a stale experience over time.

gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics, such as quick-time events and innovative sentence-building challenges that require players to type scattered words linked to different keys. While some players appreciate the immersive storytelling and creative twists, others find the interactions monotonous and lacking engagement. Overall, the game offers a blend of high-pressure gameplay and compelling narrative, making it a memorable experience despite its brevity.
- “I love the quick-time event mechanics and loved the story even more!”
- “The typing mechanics are a brilliant twist.”
- “The combination of spelling versus the eating or other aspects of gameplay distracting you really kept us on our toes.”
- “The gameplay is reduced to a series of monotonous prompts and awkward interactions that fail to engage or entertain.”
- “The main gameplay mechanic is sticking sentences together - words appear scattered across your screen, each bound to a different key.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique, uncanny art style and cartoonish elements that contribute to its creepy atmosphere, while others criticize the character modeling and overall lack of polish. Despite being an indie title, the visuals evoke strong emotional responses, ranging from disturbing to charming, though many agree that the aesthetic may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the graphics serve to enhance the game's unsettling tone, even if they fall short in technical execution.
- “Really fun little game with a really neat uncanny art style and tone.”
- “Disturbing artwork, tension-soaked dialogue, and the kind of hospitality that keeps you up at night.”
- “I understand it’s an indie game, and maybe some of the rough edges are intentional or meant as part of the joke, but the graphics and character modeling are really bad.”
- “The environments are sparse, the character models are lifeless, and the overall aesthetic lacks any discernible style or polish.”
- “It may have cartoonish graphics, but this is truly one of the creepiest games I have ever played.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's story is highly praised for its immersive and engaging narrative, achieved through quick-time event mechanics that require players to make choices under pressure. It offers a unique blend of psychological thriller elements and experimental storytelling, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven experiences. With its short length, free access, and multiple endings, players are encouraged to replay and explore different conversational paths that significantly impact the story's outcome.
- “You're not just watching the story unfold, you're working out what to say under pressure, trying to please a host whose expectations are... unstable.”
- “This game proves that powerful storytelling and deep immersion can be achieved without reliance on elaborate environments, complex mechanics, or extensive voice acting.”
- “Its short length removes any barrier of entry, its free price tag makes it an absolute no-brainer to download, and the multiple ending possibilities incentivize replayability, offering players a chance to reexamine how subtle shifts in their conversational choices can dramatically reshape the story’s tone and outcome.”
- “No pause feature unfortunately... more like a visual story.”
- “You're not just watching the story unfold; you're working out what to say under pressure, trying to please a host whose expectations are... unstable.”
- “For players who gravitate toward narrative-driven experiences, who appreciate the slow, methodical burn of psychological thrillers, or who actively seek out experimental indie projects that challenge the conventional boundaries of video game storytelling, this game stands as an essential addition to their library.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with experiences ranging from fear and anxiety to heartwarming connections, particularly through interactions with the character Theo. Despite its short playtime, the game effectively evokes deep feelings, showcasing the power of indie game storytelling and emotional honesty. Overall, it resonates with players on multiple emotional levels, making it a memorable experience.
- “A heartwarming cozy game, where you meet your new neighbor, Theo.”
- “Though discussion over dinner may only offer a playtime experience that spans roughly 3 quarters of an hour, the emotional and psychological resonance it delivers is disproportionately powerful compared to its modest runtime.”
- “It encapsulates everything compelling about indie game development — innovation, risk-taking, emotional honesty — and delivers it in a format accessible to virtually any player willing to engage with it.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting its masterful tension-building and effective narrative without relying on jumpscares or visual horror elements. The minimalist approach enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the horror genre. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a key strength, contributing significantly to its effectiveness and enjoyment.
- “With discussion over dinner, Stevens has crafted a masterclass in atmosphere and tension-building, using only the barest of essentials to achieve maximum narrative effectiveness.”
- “The atmosphere and tension make this such a good horror game, and sometimes that's all you need!”
- “There are no jumpscares or scary images in general, but the atmosphere remains great throughout.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its blend of awkwardness and hilarity, contributing to a unique atmosphere that balances comedy with tension. Players appreciate the funny dialogue and the character interactions, which enhance the overall experience without detracting from the game's spooky elements.
- “It’s awkward, hilarious, unnerving, and genuinely stressful in a way most horror games dream of achieving.”
- “Such a good game, funny dialogue, spooky stuff, a challenge but not something that makes you wanna pull your hair out, an amazing concept.”
- “This guy is hilarious; I dig him.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game boasts great replay value due to its short length, free price, and multiple endings, encouraging players to explore different conversational choices that significantly alter the story's tone and outcome.
- “Great replay value.”
- “Its short length removes any barrier to entry, its free price tag makes it an absolute no-brainer to download, and the multiple ending possibilities incentivize replayability, offering players a chance to reexamine how subtle shifts in their conversational choices can dramatically reshape the story’s tone and outcome.”
- “Once you've experienced the main story, there isn't much incentive to go back. The lack of significant changes in subsequent playthroughs makes it feel repetitive.”
- “While the game offers multiple endings, the journey to reach them feels too similar, diminishing the excitement of replaying.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in this project is characterized by its subtlety and restraint, allowing silences and minimalistic soundscapes to enhance the emotional depth and storytelling, encouraging players to engage their imagination rather than relying solely on musical cues.
- “The strength of this project lies in its restraint — its willingness to let silences speak louder than music, to let subtle facial cues tell deeper stories than pages of exposition, and to let the player’s imagination fill in the gaps between polite conversation and psychological unease.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Theo's character design is highly praised for its exceptional quality, evoking a strong sense of the uncanny valley that enhances his presence in the game.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Discussion Over Dinner is a casual real-time strategy game with horror theme.

Discussion Over Dinner is available on PC and Windows.

Discussion Over Dinner was released on April 4, 2025.

Discussion Over Dinner was developed by Eli Stevens.

Discussion Over Dinner has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Discussion Over Dinner is a single player game.

Similar games include The Cabin Factory, DEAD LETTER DEPT., No, I'm not a Human, The Watson-Scott Test, The Convenience Store and others.

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