Drawn: The Painted Tower

About

Drawn: The Painted Tower is a single player casual puzzle game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Big Fish Studios and was released on January 19, 2011. It received positive reviews from players.

"Drawn: The Painted Tower" is a fantasy-themed hidden object game. Iris, a young girl with a special gift, must climb a mysterious tower and rescue a prince from a curse. The game features beautiful hand-drawn art and challenging puzzles. Players must search for hidden objects and solve intricate puzzles to progress through the story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 198 reviews

story58 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features stunning artwork and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The puzzles are engaging and moderately challenging, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.
The story is interesting and nostalgic, making it enjoyable for both new players and those revisiting from childhood.

The game can be prone to crashes and glitches, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
Some puzzles lack clear instructions, leading to frustration and trial-and-error gameplay.
The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content and a more complete story.

story
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The game's story is generally described as interesting and engaging, complemented by beautiful art and music, though some players find it lacking in depth and a satisfying conclusion. While the narrative draws players in, it is often noted to be short and somewhat simplistic, with a few cliffhangers that may require additional installments for a complete experience. Overall, the combination of whimsical storytelling and unique puzzles creates a charming atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding the clarity and intuitiveness of the puzzles.
- “The story is interesting and the art is gorgeous.”
- “I'd have to say, the design and storyline for this game is amazing.”
- “The game combines classic puzzles, item combination, beautiful art direction, and an engrossing story to great effect.”
- “Whilst the story is definitely lacking in many areas, Iris herself is well fleshed out.”
- “The story ending is a little 'meh', but the puzzles are wonderful and the music is haunting.”
- “This story’s depth runs about as deep as a 3-year-old child’s written work.”
graphics
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
32%
4%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beautiful and whimsical art style, which effectively creates a magical atmosphere and enhances the storytelling. However, some users noted issues with low resolution and cut scene graphics not loading properly, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the detailed visuals and engaging artwork remain a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's charm.
- “Absolutely gorgeous game with stunning visuals and clever puzzles.”
- “The graphics are part of this, with their detailed vistas and sharp surreal interiors.”
- “I loved the colorful, whimsical graphics and fantasy settings.”
- “Also had some problems with the cut scene graphics; the colors and framing didn't load properly at all.”
- “Another issue is that the art style, with very little contrast in details, makes it very hard to notice small things in the environment.”
- “The graphics are more like drawings; however, they're very somber apart from the paintings themselves: a farm in the sunset, a witch doctor in the jungle, a dragon cave, a griffon castle (though it's an ice landscape), a forest during the night (perhaps the only real dark painting), and a giant tree.”
music
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
31%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many describing it as enchanting, soothing, and fitting for the game's emotional tone. Reviewers highlight the orchestral tracks and haunting melodies that complement the visuals and storytelling, creating a magical and immersive experience. While some find the music occasionally overwhelming, the consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The soundtrack that accompanies it all is superb, the orchestral tracks are somber and moody with wailing violins that sound like rushing wind through empty corridors and synthetic voices that create an aura of gloom.”
- “The music is enchanting, as is the overall gameplay and graphics.”
- “A wonderful game that I feel nostalgia towards, enchanting and very relaxing music, and fun puzzles and story.”
- “The music is a bit much at times.”
- “The soundtrack and visuals really work together to create a sad atmosphere.”
- “Ephemeral soundtrack that creates a subdued atmosphere.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the integration of story, art, and mechanics, while others criticize the simplistic and often glitchy mechanics that detract from the experience. Although the game offers a variety of puzzles and a beautiful fairytale ambiance, it suffers from frequent crashes and a lack of hidden object scenes, leading to a relatively short playtime with limited depth. Overall, while there is some replayability due to diverse achievements, the gameplay mechanics are seen as underwhelming and frustrating by many.
- “Drawn has superbly married its themes, art, story, and gameplay.”
- “This is one of the most beautiful interpretations of fairytales into gameplay, and whilst quite short (taking approximately three hours or so to complete), it will offer a fantastic escape for the duration.”
- “It is generally the story’s depth, the game’s mechanics, and the variety of engaging puzzles that make for a fun puzzle adventure.”
- “The only times it was hard was because of bad mechanics and/or no explanations of what to do.”
- “However, the 'adventure game' mechanics are boring and dumbed-down to the point where the majority of the 'adventure game' type puzzles involve just finding the inventory items that you need.”
- “(mechanics): as other negative reviewers have said, the game crashes frequently.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
16%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a moody and subdued ambiance, enhanced by an ephemeral soundtrack that complements the visuals to evoke a sense of sadness and relaxation. While it may appeal to younger players, it is also recommended for adults who appreciate atmospheric storytelling and puzzles. The game's artistic design and eerie main menu further contribute to its immersive experience.
- “Drawn: The Painted Tower is a moody, atmospheric game which is conveyed immediately by its eerie main menu.”
- “The soundtrack and visuals really work together to create a sad atmosphere.”
- “Ephemeral soundtrack that creates a subdued atmosphere.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches during scene transitions that can disrupt gameplay and require a restart. Many users report that these bugs detract from the overall experience, indicating a need for improvements in stability.
- “The game is merely okay, but it's riddled with bugs and glitches that completely remove you from the experience.”
- “There were some occasional glitches transferring between scenes that forced me to shut down Steam to close the game, but I figure that's an easy fix to push.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
While the gameplay is relatively short, the presence of diverse achievements offers some level of replayability, encouraging players to revisit the game for completion.
- “Gameplay is relatively short, but with diverse achievements, there is significant replayability.”
- “Gameplay is relatively short, but at least with diverse achievements there is some replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game features a touching and engaging plot that unfolds through scattered pieces of paper and recordings, revealing the protagonist Iris's past and potential future, which effectively keeps players emotionally invested in her journey.
- “This game has an interesting and touching plot with bits of information about Iris and her past, as well as her possible future, presented in pieces of paper scattered throughout the game and scenes with recordings that keep you motivated.”
- “The emotional depth of the story really resonated with me, making me reflect on my own experiences and feelings.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the character development and the way the narrative unfolded, creating a strong emotional connection.”