Dropsy

About

Dropsy is a single player open world puzzle game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Devolver Digital and was released on September 10, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Dropsy" is a single-player, comedy open world game with a delightful story of a clown seeking redemption after a tragic fire. Its splendid game mechanics, wholesome story, and excellent soundtrack create an awesome atmosphere for players to explore. Despite some grinding, the game allows for freedom in determining your own adventure and features unique animal communication.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,391 reviews

story217 positive mentions

stability13 negative mentions

Unique storytelling through pictograms instead of text, creating an immersive experience.
Charming art style and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the game.
Heartwarming narrative about kindness and acceptance, with a lovable protagonist who just wants to spread joy.

Some puzzles can be obtuse and may require a walkthrough, leading to frustration.
The day/night cycle can make navigation tedious, especially before unlocking fast travel.
The ending feels abrupt and may leave players wanting more closure to the story.

story
617 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The story of "Dropsy" is a unique and heartfelt journey that follows a misunderstood clown on a quest for acceptance and connection in a world that shuns him. Told entirely through visual storytelling without dialogue, the narrative explores themes of kindness, redemption, and the impact of past trauma, often blending whimsical elements with darker undertones. While some players find the plot convoluted or the pacing slow, many appreciate the emotional depth and charm that the game conveys through its innovative approach to storytelling.
- “At first glance, it’s a quirky point-and-click adventure about a clown—but beneath the bright colors and surreal art style lies a story that’s deeply moving.”
- “Dropsy’s quest for connection is more than just a mechanic—it is a statement about how games can tell stories without combat or cruelty, focusing instead on building bridges between characters.”
- “The story is very well done; I think everybody can relate to Dropsy, we all want to make others happy so we in turn can be loved and accepted!”
- “Dropsy has a weirdly put together story with a lot of loose ends.”
- “The main story quickly takes a back seat to a series of increasingly infuriating side quests, before being resolved by a prompt deus ex machina ending that leaves quite a few loose ends untied.”
- “The story starts off well, but takes an odd and semi-dark turn at the end suddenly, that leaves me thinking they wrote the ending first and forced the game to get there without the time to properly do so.”
music
399 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The music in *Dropsy* has received widespread acclaim for its eclectic and engaging soundtrack, composed by Chris Schlarb, which features a mix of genres including jazz, electronic, and orchestral pieces that enhance the game's whimsical and melancholic atmosphere. Players appreciate how the music complements the vibrant pixel art and emotional storytelling, although some have noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “Complementing the art is a soundtrack by Chris Schlarb that perfectly captures the tone of each area.”
- “The music accompanying each screen is dynamic and inviting you to stay.”
- “The soundtrack is what seals the deal on this game for me, so keep in mind it's also available separately if you're interested.”
- “It's just a huge, frustrating waste of time and the repetitive music starts to get grating.”
- “I have been pointlessly wandering around for nearly 40 minutes with minimal feedback, barely any sound effects and the music got repetitive (read: drilling into my head) at the end.”
- “The story is boring and the music is stale and repetitive.”
graphics
252 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The graphics of *Dropsy* are characterized by a unique and vibrant pixel art style that blends whimsical and grotesque elements, creating a visually engaging experience. Players appreciate the game's colorful palette and expressive animations, which effectively convey emotions and storytelling without the use of text. While some find the retro aesthetic charming and nostalgic, others note that the pixelation can occasionally obscure clarity in gameplay. Overall, the art style and accompanying soundtrack contribute significantly to the game's heartwarming and immersive atmosphere.
- “The graphics are wonderfully drawn and animated with bright pastel colors and chunky pixel art, the music is really fun and varied, the strange and interesting world that's weird in all the right ways, the many characters are fun to meet and even more so when you solve their problems.”
- “The aesthetic of this game: very vibrant colorful palette paired with 8-bit graphics and an overall sci-fi carnival theme *chef's kiss*”
- “The graphics are amazing, the music is great, and the gameplay is simple, but the puzzles are challenging enough to keep you on your toes.”
- “There were several times that I mistook the meaning of an icon, and because nothing is labeled, the graphics were left to my interpretation.”
- “Add to the general lack of logic the completely wordless dialogue, and messy graphics that sometimes leave the purpose of certain objects quite confusing.”
- “What a pain having to sit through 5 minutes of this game to review it, lackluster game, initial thoughts on graphics, worst pixelated crap.”
emotional
247 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Dropsy" is widely regarded as an unexpectedly emotional game that emphasizes themes of empathy, kindness, and the transformative power of small acts, such as hugs. Players appreciate its unique storytelling approach, conveyed through non-verbal communication and whimsical pixel art, which evokes a range of feelings from joy to sadness. While the game features some unsettling elements, its heartwarming narrative and the lovable protagonist, Dropsy, resonate deeply, leaving many players emotionally invested and even brought to tears by the end.
- “Rather than relying on violence or sharp wit, the game builds itself around empathy, kindness, and the transformative power of hugs, which immediately separates it from most of its peers and gives it a tone that is both quirky and emotionally resonant.”
- “Dropsy is one of those games that makes my heart melt and is a certified Jay Tholen banger, genuinely one of my favorite point-and-click games of all time because of how it made me feel.”
- “The wordless story is engaging and hits deep with a heartfelt ending.”
gameplay
145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The gameplay of *Dropsy* is a blend of traditional point-and-click mechanics with unique elements like a hug mechanic and a day/night cycle that adds depth to interactions. While some players appreciate the creative puzzles and charming atmosphere, many criticize the gameplay for being tedious, repetitive, and lacking challenge, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging experience. Overall, the game offers a distinctive narrative approach but struggles with execution, leaving a mixed impression on its gameplay quality.
- “At its best, this mechanic transforms every conversation into a small puzzle, where you carefully parse images to understand what someone wants or needs.”
- “The mechanic of solving people's problems and hugging them is a nice refreshing change of pace for an adventure game, as it allows you to make progress and discoveries while stuck on mainline tasks.”
- “The puzzles aren't super hard nor are they too easy; it had a nice mix of difficulty along with a well-utilized day/night mechanic.”
- “The slow-paced wandering, nonsensical puzzles, and clunky mechanics make it a chore rather than a joy to play.”
- “The touching story moments are buried under layers of tedious gameplay that feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
- “The gameplay loop becomes repetitive quickly, with little reward for your efforts.”
humor
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
4%
The humor in "Dropsy" is described as a unique blend of bizarre, dark, and heartwarming elements, often juxtaposing absurdity with moments of genuine emotion. Players appreciate the game's quirky characters, funny scenarios, and the ability to engage in humorous interactions, such as hugging various objects and NPCs. While some find the humor off-putting or subjective, many agree that it effectively enhances the game's charm and storytelling, making it both entertaining and poignant.
- “Despite its bizarre humor and grotesque flourishes, it consistently reinforces a message of kindness, forgiveness, and understanding.”
- “The mood of the game and funny scenarios are what I liked the most.”
- “Dropsy is a hilarious point & click, where you spread happiness through hugs.”
- “The humor falls flat, lacking any real emotional charge.”
- “I found the jokes to be not funny at all, missing the mark completely.”
- “The attempts at humor were more cringe-worthy than entertaining.”
atmosphere
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
33%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of heartwarming and melancholic elements, enhanced by a vibrant art style and an exceptional soundtrack. Players appreciate the richly detailed world and the emotional depth conveyed through the narrative, which resonates long after gameplay. Overall, the game's ability to create a captivating and immersive environment is considered one of its greatest strengths, making it a standout experience in the indie game landscape.
- “The audiovisual presentation becomes one of the game’s greatest strengths, setting a consistent atmosphere that lingers long after the game is over.”
- “The aesthetic and atmosphere of this game is out of this world, with a richly detailed world that breathes life into each aspect of it, exploring themes of love and forgiveness through the eyes of a deeply compassionate clown.”
- “Dropsy really pulled me in with its atmosphere that was both foreboding and light-hearted at the same time.”
- “These days it's been getting more and more difficult to find an indie game that actually bothers setting the mood, creating a dense atmosphere and bringing something new to the table.”
- “Too many works use creepy clowns as a shortcut for being edgy or faking some kind of atmosphere.”
- “You might expect, just like I did, from looking at this game, with its strange-looking clown protagonist and psychedelic atmosphere, to contain some subversive narrative, or that it's secretly a horror game.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
76%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs, particularly related to achievements and occasional freezing issues, especially after the credits. While some players experience significant technical problems like screen tearing and glitches in puzzles, others find the game runs smoothly and enjoyably. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, many players still appreciate the game's charm and story.
- “The game is technically sound, runs great, and has the kind of soundtrack you'll be humming to yourself for years to come.”
- “I'm not really sure what I can complain about; it's not buggy.”
- “I have no doubt that within a couple of months, Dropsy will be 99.9999% bug-free, regardless of how it may or may not be right this very second.”
- “Only bad thing I have to say is that there is a bug after the credits where it freezes, which will prevent getting the achievement.”
- “First off, there's general technical issues like screen tearing (apparently no solution to enable vsync in 2024 anymore) or the game freezing during one of the insanely glitchy DLC 'puzzles', then there's the achievements that are hella buggy (dropsy refuses to use the bathroom) or can be soft-locked by making the wrong choice, thus requiring another playthrough (soup puzzle).”
- “Be warned though, some of the achievements are buggy.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to the extensive back-and-forth travel across a large map, slow character movement, and a day/night cycle that complicates character interactions. While some appreciate the novelty of the time-based mechanics, many feel that the gameplay often feels like a chore, with frustratingly hidden items and a lack of emotional investment in the story, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the game struggles to balance its intriguing premise with the tedious nature of its exploration and puzzle-solving elements.
- “The touching story moments are buried under layers of tedious gameplay that feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
- “Walking around is also kind of tedious and it takes a while to get from one side of the world to the other.”
- “The game is mostly about small subplots with the characters you meet, but the game really struggles to make the player emotionally invested in anyone, and as a result most of the gameplay is tedious.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
The game "Dropsy" is praised for its smooth performance and visually appealing graphics, with users reporting no crashes or significant bugs during gameplay. Its minimalist design complements the exaggerated art style, contributing to an overall positive optimization experience.
- “Graphics and colors are pleasing to the eye and the game runs smoothly.”
- “A minimalist take on the point and click adventure, albeit with a wonderfully exaggerated and at times grotesque art style, Dropsy puts on a fantastic performance with a poignant message about love and acceptance.”
- “[h1]System info & performance report[/h1]”
- “The performance is kind of messed up, but that's the interesting part of it.”
- “During my playthrough, I didn't run into crashes or bad bugs at all, and the game's performance is very smooth.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
The character development in Dropsy is highlighted by its charming and bizarre protagonist, complemented by unique and captivating character designs that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the intriguing storyline and the game's ability to convey depth without the use of readable text, making it a standout feature. The combination of demented character designs and a fitting soundtrack further enriches the game's character-driven narrative.
- “Dropsy oozes with charm, a cute and intriguing storyline, and character development - all without readable text.”
- “I love this game, from the demented character designs, to the awesome jazz soundtrack, and the unique open world adventure game concept.”
- “I did get lost a lot and wasn't put off by the character designs, though I did think the entire time the dog companion had a nose covered with blood. 10/10 experience.”
- “The biggest strength of this game is its character design.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many players noting a lack of memorable content and minimal incentive to replay after a single playthrough. While some aspects, like an open-ended world and the option to complete puzzles, offer slight replay value for completists, the consensus is that the game is best experienced once for its emotional impact.
- “It is possible to finish the game without solving every single puzzle, so there is a replayability factor with a walkthrough if you are a completist.”
- “+ Open-ended world makes the game feel less linear and allows for some replayability.”
- “It takes so many playthroughs to find everything that the replayability is worth it.”
- “This limits replayability a bit.”
- “It has no replay value nor does it have anything incredible going for it, but it's a nice game worth a playthrough.”
- “While there's not much of replay value, all you need is a single playthrough to get the full effect and stir of emotions that the game is invested towards.”