Dry Drowning

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 106 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Dry Drowning Game Cover
Dry Drowning is a thought-provoking and gripping narrative experience that effectively critiques fascistic tendencies in modern society, blending noir and cyberpunk elements in a unique way.
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"Dry Drowning" is a futuristic, dystopian investigative thriller visual novel set in Nova Polemos. As a tormented detective, you must uncover the truth behind a serial killer, facing moral dilemmas and making choices that impact the story's outcome, with 150+ branches and 3 different endings. Your decisions affect the game's politics, technology, and environment, creating a highly immersive and mature narrative experience.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 106 reviews
story48 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating and mature story with significant moral dilemmas that keep players engaged.
  • The art style and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Choices made throughout the game have real consequences, leading to multiple endings that encourage replayability.
  • The writing suffers from translation issues and awkward phrasing, which can detract from the immersion.
  • Technical problems, such as bugs and lack of Steamdeck support, hinder the gameplay experience.
  • Some players find the pacing slow and the dialogue overly verbose, making it feel tedious at times.
  • story139 mentions

    The story of "Dry Drowning" is a complex and engaging narrative set in a dystopian, noir-inspired world, where players navigate moral dilemmas and make impactful choices that shape character arcs and outcomes. While some reviews praise its depth and the intertwining of personal and political themes, others criticize it for being convoluted or overly political, with mixed opinions on character likability and writing quality. Overall, the game offers a rich storytelling experience that resonates with fans of detective narratives and those who appreciate a darker, thought-provoking atmosphere.

    • “Dry Drowning is an interesting visual novel with a noir film-inspired aesthetic and story, with shocking crime scenes and several different endings depending on your choices.”
    • “The story is engaging, and you really have to pay attention to all the evidence you find.”
    • “The story and atmosphere are amazing with a nice mix of noir and dystopian settings, and the consequences of your choices make it very interesting.”
    • “The story is so convoluted as to be borderline gibberish; there are a zillion unremarkable characters most introduced willy-nilly, and the prose is so yellow it comes across as more parody of noir detective novels than a pastiche.”
    • “The game was boring; the story didn't make any sense, and the political background could have been interesting if not spoiled by lazy storytelling and long, dull dialogues.”
    • “The story they came up with was at first interesting, but everything got eclipsed by the political plot they tried to push into the narrative, which felt forced and poorly integrated.”
  • music41 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a varied soundtrack that includes haunting piano pieces and intense compositions that align well with the game's themes. Many reviewers noted that the original score effectively complements the visuals, creating an immersive experience, although some felt that standout tracks were limited. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its engaging storytelling and unique ambiance.

    • “The original music soundtrack, capable of increasing your anxiety in pivotal scenes while becoming much more contemplative during the investigation phase, greatly enhances your gaming experience.”
    • “The music and art were very well done and really let you slip into this dystopian world the developers have created.”
    • “The wonderful and melancholic piano music fits perfectly in the noir scenario, softly embracing you in the narrative rhythm.”
    • “The visuals are pretty enough and the soundtrack keeps to the background, but with clumsy writing and translation -- you should stay away.”
    • “The game has three distinct parts that work together; first is the visual novel element itself, which is dark and bleary, accompanied by haunting, depressing music and a fairly solid, if at times twitchy translation.”
    • “Music can reminisce something you already heard, the drums can sound a lot like other drums, guitars can feel more or less heavy, but the images songwriting is capable of creating can still lay claim to originality.”
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay in "Dry Drowning" primarily revolves around narrative progression through reading and making choices, typical of visual novels, but it also incorporates engaging mechanics such as interrogations, evidence presentation, and light puzzles that require logical thinking. While some players find the gameplay simplistic and the mechanics somewhat unrefined compared to other titles like "Phoenix Wright," the blend of conversation and investigation elements keeps the experience engaging and offers meaningful consequences for player choices. Overall, the game balances its storytelling with interactive components, though it may not satisfy those seeking fast-paced action.

    • “As a visual novel, there is not much in the way of 'gameplay,' but the light puzzles and myriad choices make the game quite engaging.”
    • “The main character has a strange psychological condition where he sees a hideous mask on the face of those who lie to him, and so part of the gameplay is to unmask these characters by presenting evidence to them and outwitting them through logical deduction.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly just clicking to advance the story, but the interrogations or 'unmaskings' require attention to detail and some logical thinking to reach the right conclusions.”
    • “Overall, it is a chunky story with mediocre mechanics wrapped in a beautiful package.”
    • “The overall complexity of design was a bit too much for me, like an overkill of different mechanics and plot turns.”
  • graphics25 mentions

    The graphics of "Dry Drowning" are generally praised for their noir-inspired aesthetic and artistic flair, with many reviewers highlighting the appealing art style and effective use of monochrome. However, some criticism arises regarding the quality of character art and the overall polish, with mentions of amateurish elements and translation issues. Despite these mixed opinions, the visuals are often described as captivating and well-integrated with the game's atmosphere.

    • “Dry Drowning is an interesting visual novel with a noir film-inspired aesthetic and story, with shocking crime scenes and several different endings depending on your choices.”
    • “The art style of characters, environments, and still images is quite amazing.”
    • “The art style is mesmerizing as well as the subtle nuanced animations that help the art come to life.”
    • “The graphics of the game are adequate.”
    • “I didn't like the characters, mechanics, story, and graphics.”
    • “It's got that Nintendo DS with updated graphics feel.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a compelling blend of noir and dystopian elements, enhanced by a fitting and emotionally charged soundtrack. Players appreciate the immersive environment created through well-drawn character slides and static scenes, which, combined with meaningful choices, contribute to a unique and engaging storytelling experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as haunting and deeply impactful, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “Many elements of this game are very organically combined, and with the music and sound effects creating a strong sense of atmosphere, it offers a unique gaming experience.”
    • “The music is intense and full of emotions, greatly enhancing the atmosphere in each scene.”
    • “The story and atmosphere are amazing, featuring a nice mix of noir and dystopian settings, with consequences to your choices that make it very interesting.”
    • “The game is not exactly cyberpunk and just has a tinge of futuristic atmosphere, with the story being delivered through static scenes and well-drawn character slides.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and lacks the immersive qualities expected from a game of this genre.”
    • “While the soundtrack is fitting, the overall atmosphere fails to engage and feels disconnected from the gameplay.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and attention to detail, contributing significantly to the overall narrative. While the initial premise and character interactions are engaging, some players feel that the introduction of political themes detracts from the character arcs. Overall, the game is recognized for its strong character development within a compelling thriller context.

    • “The character development is also superb.”
    • “It's a great thriller story, one of the best you'd experience in a game, and there's been clearly a lot of attention given to world-building and character development.”
    • “The illustrations are beautiful and heavily inspired by classic detective film noir movies: the main characters are represented in black and white like in the old movies and only the backgrounds are colored, but the drawings still have an artistic flair and some anime inspiration in the character designs.”
    • “The story they come up with was at first interesting, the things with the mask, the interactions also the promising character development but everything got pretty much eclipsed by the political plot they try to push into the narrative.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and forced, lacking the depth and nuance that would make the characters truly engaging.”
    • “Despite the initial promise of character development, the narrative ultimately falls flat, overshadowed by a convoluted political agenda.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The game's emotional impact is significantly enhanced by its varied soundtrack, which complements the illustrations and creates an immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the detailed character expressions that convey emotional depth, leading to a heart-wrenching yet rewarding experience that resonates strongly with them.

    • “The OST is varied and combines a mix of sad, mysterious, emotional, or stress-inducing songs depending on the scene, and it works very well with the illustrations, creating an involving ambience.”
    • “I am astonished by the way this game made me feel.”
    • “It was heart-wrenching, but so worthwhile staying true to how I saw these strong characters, and it wrapped it all up nicely.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability remains a significant concern, with users reporting persistent bugs and performance issues even after more than a year since its release. Many experience unresponsive menus and game lock-ups, indicating that the developers have yet to resolve these critical problems.

    • “Second try on my other PC with Windows 10 - the game starts, but the menu is a buggy mess.”
    • “More than a year in, and the game is still so buggy that it locks up with no way to bypass it, compounded by a clunky UI and performance issues.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization remains a significant issue over a year post-launch, with persistent bugs, a clunky user interface, and performance problems that can lead to game lock-ups. Despite these technical shortcomings, players find the plot engaging and compelling enough to push through the frustrations.

    • “The plot runs smoothly and it's engaging; you really want to get to the end to find out who the killer really is.”
    • “More than 1 year in, and the game is still buggy, locking up with no way to bypass it due to a clunky UI and performance issues.”
    • “The optimization is so poor that even high-end systems struggle to maintain a stable frame rate.”
    • “Despite numerous updates, the game still suffers from severe lag and crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players indicate that the game offers significant replayability, with many expressing a sense of value in revisiting the experience even before completing their initial playthrough.

    • “I haven't finished my first playthrough yet, but it does seem like there's replayability value here.”
    • “This adds a lot of replay value to the game.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from the contrast between self-serving characters and those like Freya and Hera, who embody a more idealistic approach to their pretend utopia. However, some players find certain characters, such as Mordred, less likable, which can affect the overall comedic tone.

    • “The humor in the game is cleverly woven into the dialogue, making even the most serious moments feel lighthearted.”
    • “I love how the characters have such quirky personalities; their interactions are often hilarious and keep me entertained.”
    • “The witty banter between characters adds a delightful layer of comedy that makes the gameplay experience even more enjoyable.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often feeling overwhelmed by the excessive back-and-forth clicking required to progress.

    • “You have to click through so much back and forth; it felt really tedious at times.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I spent hours doing the same tasks over and over, and it quickly became boring.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Dry Drowning

Play time

20hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
20-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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