Doors
- February 11, 2016
- Calvin Weibel
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Doors" is a single-player Arcade game with great graphics and a dense atmosphere, promising hilarious and challenging logic puzzles in a strange world, seeking the ultimate reward: bacon. Inspired by Limbo, The Stanley Parable, and the Portal Series, this short indie game offers a new experience for puzzle enthusiasts. Learn more at doorsgame.com. Despite its original concept and atmosphere, the game is not very replayable.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features fun and engaging logic puzzles that challenge the player's reasoning skills.
- The atmosphere is delightfully creepy, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- It's a short game, making it a quick and enjoyable way to spend some time.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 30 minutes to an hour to complete, which may not justify the price.
- There is a lack of a coherent story, with many players feeling that the narrative elements are underdeveloped.
- The presence of an unachievable achievement frustrates completionists and detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- story90 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being underdeveloped and lacking coherence, with many reviewers noting that it starts strong but fails to expand or resolve key plot elements as the game progresses. While some appreciate the initial setup and hints at a larger narrative, the overall execution is seen as disjointed and lacking depth, making it feel more like an afterthought than a central feature. Ultimately, players are advised to focus on the gameplay rather than expecting a rich storytelling experience.
“Through the first few logic puzzles, my thought was 'why on earth did someone make a 3D video game out of a concept that could be a text game?' but then the story kicked in and I was drawn in, waiting for more.”
“About halfway through (maybe about 20 minutes?), a plot element develops, which I found really interesting!”
“There are fun little suggestions that a sequel is forthcoming - I would definitely like to see something else made that follows this storyline.”
“This game could've been one big thing but instead chose to be lots of little crappy things and it's all over the place in its attempts at humour/storytelling.”
“The underlying story is thin and not very well presented, but I think the lack of background is intended.”
“There is an obvious lack of any sort of finished story.”
- humor56 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game has been widely criticized for being forced and repetitive, primarily revolving around a bacon joke that feels outdated and overused. While some players found a few amusing moments and Easter eggs, the overall comedic execution is seen as lacking depth and originality, often failing to engage or entertain. The attempts at humor, particularly in the context of puzzles and achievements, are viewed as uncreative and reminiscent of a bygone internet meme culture.
“The main draw is the combination of puzzles and absurd humor, which gives the game its flavor.”
“Quite a few funny jokes and 'easter eggs' are to be found by looking around the fairly pleasant environment, which reward exploration fairly well!”
“The puzzles made me engage my noodle; the first achievement I got made me laugh out loud; the description is honest about it being short.”
“This game tries to be funny but ends up falling flat on its face.”
“The humor feels forced and lacks any real wit or charm.”
“I expected clever jokes, but instead, I got tired clichés.”
- atmosphere40 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its creepy and immersive qualities, effectively creating tension that enhances the puzzle-solving experience. Set in an abandoned office building, it combines elements of simulation and corporate logic-testing, contributing to a unique and unsettling ambiance. However, some reviewers noted that while the atmosphere is strong, the overall gameplay lacks depth, leading to a repetitive experience.
“The atmosphere was delightfully creepy and the twist of the game being part simulation inside an abandoned office building (where possible evil things took place) made my heart pound.”
“It's atmospheric without being distracting, which is perfect for a puzzle game like this.”
“The game has a brilliant atmosphere that builds tension; the tension makes solving the puzzles a little more trickier.”
“There's visuals and atmosphere to consider as well, and here's where this game really falls short.”
“The atmosphere looked intriguing, the idea seemed novel, but all I got was a repetitive mess with puzzles that are better solved with trial and error than actual thought.”
“It's labeled as Stanley Parable-esque but it's also got a bit of a creepy atmosphere to it.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a minimalist and stylish art style that many players find charming and rewarding, often drawing comparisons to titles like "Limbo" and "The Stanley Parable." However, some reviewers note that the simplistic visuals can clash with certain game elements, such as humor, and that the overall aesthetic may not resonate with everyone. Despite these critiques, the graphics are generally well-received for their consistency and ability to create a lovely ambiance.
“The art style is honestly the best part of the game.”
“The ambiance is lovely, and the graphics are minimalist, yet charming.”
“The art style was also great, simplistic but slightly haunting.”
“There's visuals and atmosphere to consider as well, and here's where this game really falls short.”
“Most of the time, the game takes place in a black and white environment with a minimalist art style.”
“Visuals are very simplistic and the game runs well (600-1000 fps on my machine).”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple interface and a rewarding core loop centered around solving logic puzzles, reminiscent of titles like Limbo but presented in a first-person perspective. While the puzzles are engaging and well-designed, many players find the overall experience short, lasting only 1-2 hours, and suggest that the integration of thematic elements could enhance the gameplay. Some critiques point to a lack of depth in the narrative layers, making the game feel derivative despite its solid mechanics.
“Simple interface, consistent aesthetic, a rewarding core gameplay loop.”
“The gameplay is a sequence of logic puzzles you must solve to progress.”
“The gameplay is really well done, and it keeps introducing new concepts.”
“To me, it would make more sense if the darkness theme was somehow integrated into the puzzle-solving mechanic, or didn't exist at all.”
“I understand that it is intriguing to put another layer of narrative on a rather mechanical core game, but it just really comes across as a mediocre rip-off.”
“£4 seems like a bit too much for a maximum of 2-3 hours of gameplay.”
- replayability25 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 76 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with many players noting that once completed, there is little incentive to play again due to its repetitive nature and predictable design. Suggestions for improvement include the addition of difficulty modifiers and randomness to enhance replay value. Overall, players find the experience satisfying on the first playthrough, but it offers virtually no replay value thereafter.
“Overall, a well-made, minimalistic game that has no real replayability, as you already know which doors to take.”
“Took me 84 minutes to beat the game, and that’s it, there is absolutely no replay value to this game.”
“But seriously, this game is repetitive, and has no replay value whatsoever, except for achievements.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with simple puzzles that lack challenge and humor. While the initial puzzles are enjoyable, they quickly become repetitive and monotonous, leading to a sense of frustration rather than engagement. Overall, the grinding experience is marked by a lack of variety and increasing tedium.
“It was fun for the first few puzzles, but at some point they get really tedious.”
“That is just tedious, and it takes about 15 minutes to solve.”
“Simple puzzles that are tedious rather than challenging and with humor that falls completely flat.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its exceptional quality and atmospheric contribution, particularly in the trailer, while others feel it fails to match the game's dreary aesthetic and lacks coherence with the overall experience. Critics noted that the darker music intended to enhance the story ultimately fell short, leaving a sense of disconnection. Overall, while there are highlights, the music's effectiveness is inconsistent and does not significantly elevate the gameplay.
“Talos Principle has exceptional music that enhances the atmosphere and lore, making it much more than just a puzzle game.”
“The music in the trailer is stellar and exciting.”
“The darker music and scenery attempted to match the story, adding a unique layer to the overall experience.”
“The music and sounds don't match the dreary greyscale world, and the overall experience feels unfinished.”
“Darker music and scenery tried to match the story, but ultimately failed to add anything of value.”
“The music lacks uniqueness and fails to enhance the game's atmosphere.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is characterized by minor electronic glitches that contribute to its atmospheric and immersive experience, resembling a logic-testing simulator. While these glitches are present, they enhance rather than detract from the overall gameplay.
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly and offering an intuitive experience for players. However, some users expressed frustration over the lack of a zoom feature, which detracts from the overall usability.
“It runs smoothly and is pretty intuitive, so unless you want to zoom in (why can't I zoom in?), you're unlikely to experience any 'how does this work' type of frustration.”
