Eliza

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,411 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Eliza Game Cover
A mirror for mental health counseling and the tech industry's role in it.
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"Eliza" is a single-player visual novel centered around an AI counseling program. As protagonist Evelyn, players explore thought-provoking themes about humanity, technology, and the value of human connection. With its masterful gameplay, stunning visuals, and emotional depth, "Eliza" invites players to question the true impact of artificial intelligence on our lives.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,411 reviews
story369 positive mentions
replayability4 negative mentions
  • Eliza features excellent voice acting and well-written dialogue that brings the characters to life.
  • The game tackles relevant themes such as mental health, technology, and the ethical implications of AI in a thoughtful manner.
  • The art style and overall presentation are beautiful, creating an immersive experience for players.
  • The game is very linear, with most choices feeling inconsequential until the final decision, which can be disappointing for players seeking meaningful interactions.
  • Some players may find the pacing slow, particularly in the early chapters, which could detract from engagement.
  • The lack of character animations and limited visual variety can make the experience feel static and less dynamic.
  • story1,026 mentions

    The story of "Eliza" is a poignant exploration of mental health and technology, focusing on the protagonist Evelyn's journey through grief and self-discovery as she navigates her role in an AI-driven counseling service. While the narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, many players noted its linearity and limited impact of choices, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the writing, voice acting, and character development resonate deeply, making it a compelling story that reflects contemporary societal issues.

    • “A very poignant story that grows in relevancy with the age of technology and rise of mental healthcare.”
    • “Eliza blends beautiful character-driven storytelling with meaningful discussions around big social issues and somehow never feels like it's compromising either.”
    • “The storytelling rests on a smart premise (an AI engineer discovering and confronting the impacts of her AI on humans by serving as the AI's mouthpiece and being face-to-face with its clients), and develops a host of relatable characters who either struggle with modern society or struggle with their relationship with the technology industry.”
    • “Since it's just a visual novel 'game' with little game-substance, this fell flat for me as I ended up disappointed in the storyline.”
    • “The story itself is just blah.”
    • “The plot tries to juggle all these difficult themes like workplace conditions/burnout, AI development, exploitation of private data, depression... but does so on a very surface, almost childish level without saying anything even remotely meaningful.”
  • graphics147 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and charming art style, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful visuals and professional voice acting that enhance the storytelling experience. However, some critiques mention the static nature of the visuals, which can feel flat and lack animation, detracting from the overall immersion. Despite these mixed feelings, the artwork is often described as evocative and well-suited to the narrative, contributing to a compelling atmosphere.

    • “Also, the art style of this game is very unique and charming!”
    • “The whole presentation is top notch, with beautiful visuals and fantastic music and voice work.”
    • “The writing, voice acting, and art style are stunning, and the story is truly unique and thought-provoking.”
    • “This thing was... it was just like a 2D pancake graphics render of my life, wth?!”
    • “I found the graphical content very poor, nothing is animated, and there were no decisions I had to take, just click and listen.”
    • “Eliza’s graphics are a bit plain for a game.”
  • music147 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beauty and effectiveness, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and emotional depth of the experience. However, some players noted that certain sections lack music, which can create a flat feeling, suggesting that additional ambient sound could improve these moments. Overall, the soundtrack is described as minimalistic yet impactful, complementing the narrative and voice acting beautifully.

    • “The cosy, 'blue' aesthetic of it and the minimal, emotive soundtrack are a big part of the deal.”
    • “The whole presentation is top notch, with beautiful visuals and fantastic music and voice work.”
    • “The music, picture and voices (I played in English) are so calming and give you space for thinking in a philosophical way, following the main character Evelyn.”
    • “The soundtrack is decent, and I would not recommend buying it for fun.”
    • “It certainly helps with the atmosphere of the game, but the music itself does not work well outside of it other than atmospheric sounds.”
    • “It's so boring; the story and the soundtrack, along with the characters, make it not worth playing the game.”
  • emotional116 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching narrative, exceptional voice acting, and deep exploration of themes such as mental health, individuality, and the impact of technology on human connection. Many players found the story to be both thought-provoking and relatable, often evoking strong feelings and reflections on personal experiences. However, some noted that while the game has powerful moments, it may not fully engage every player emotionally, leaving a sense of distance in certain parts.

    • “A very touching, mature production that can strike a chord for you on so many levels.”
    • “It's a beautifully told story that does a really good job of exploring some of the emotional impacts of technology in a way a lot of sci-fi is too up itself to do.”
    • “Amazing and very touching story about depression and recovery.”
  • gameplay107 mentions

    The gameplay in this visual novel is minimal and primarily revolves around dialogue choices, with a linear narrative that often lacks significant player agency. While some players appreciate the thought-provoking story and character development, many criticize the gameplay for being overly simplistic and not offering meaningful choices. Overall, the experience is more about engaging with the narrative than traditional gameplay mechanics, making it a unique but potentially disappointing choice for those seeking interactive gameplay.

    • “Characters feel real and developed, and the gameplay is interactive and fun.”
    • “For a visual novel, the gameplay is very good, and there's a few different mini-games thrown in there as well.”
    • “Despite the intensity of which I described the story, the actual gameplay is very calming and incorporates a lot of mindfulness elements.”
    • “Eliza does not feature gameplay and your choices are not meant to matter and the story will be linear.”
    • “There's no gameplay or even decision-making, but it has a whole XP and reward system.”
    • “If you're looking for interactivity and gameplay, then this is probably not the right game for you.”
  • atmosphere24 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its authenticity, particularly in capturing the Seattle tech scene, which resonates deeply with players who share similar backgrounds. The combination of excellent voice acting, immersive storytelling, and thoughtful music contributes to a compelling and introspective experience, although some reviewers noted a desire for more atmospheric music. Overall, the game's atmosphere effectively draws players in, making it a standout feature of the visual novel.

    • “The atmosphere, the music, the voices of the characters, the availability of subtitles in different languages, etc. are excellent.”
    • “- The voice acting is on another level in this visual novel (with little to no animation - just the actors’ voices created an amazing atmosphere).”
    • “It certainly helps with the atmosphere of the game, but the music itself does not work well outside of it other than atmospheric sounds.”
    • “The story is short, and some themes weren't fully developed - though those are mostly minor themes that are mostly meant to either create the atmosphere to support the story, or to provide a thought-provoking idea for the player.”
    • “All in all the atmosphere got me from the first minute and it was easy to just let the characters talk and give their impressions.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find enjoyment in exploring multiple endings and making different choices, many feel that it lacks significant replay value beyond a single playthrough. The experience is often compared to rereading a good book, suggesting that while it may be enjoyable, it doesn't offer substantial new content upon replay. Additionally, certain gameplay elements, like the solitaire game, are noted for having higher replay potential.

    • “That said, it was enjoyable to play and the solitaire game has plenty of replay value.”
    • “The choices make it something I think might have some good replayability to it.”
    • “There's much soul searching to be done, and although I've only played through once, so far, I think that it's a very replayable game.”
    • “Has multiple endings that stem mainly from a decision near the end, so not overly replayable aside from the bit at the end.”
    • “One sad part of this visual novel is that it has no replay value except for the endings, which you can select one by one after you have been there for the first time.”
    • “Unfortunately, even when you clear the air of all incorrect expectations going into this game, there is one especially bad flaw with this game: replayability.”
  • character development16 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and realism, with many reviewers highlighting the quality of dialogue and voice acting as standout features. The diverse and believable character designs contribute to a unique experience, although some feel the decision-making process lacks clarity across different endings. Overall, the writing and character interactions are considered top-notch, making it a compelling choice for those who appreciate substantive storytelling.

    • “Top-notch writing, character development, some of the best voice acting I've ever heard in a game, art direction, etc. It's all quality, and I'd recommend the experience to everyone.”
    • “If you value substantive dialogue options, existential themes, and realistic character development, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than Eliza.”
    • “I also wanted to point out that the voice acting was top rate, along with the character development.”
    • “The character design is diverse and believable; as a PNW resident, all of these people look like someone you might pass on the sidewalk at any time.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing stuttering issues that may be related to performance rather than the game itself. Despite these technical hiccups, the compelling writing and outstanding voice acting have been praised, making the overall experience enjoyable even with its mechanical simplicity. Players hope for future updates to address the reported playtime discrepancies and performance concerns.

    • “In fact, the writing and performances are so good that I didn't mind at all how mechanically sparse the game is, even for a visual novel.”
    • “The writing is excellent throughout, and every single performance in the game is voiced perfectly.”
    • “Honestly, the performances alone may have sold this even if the writing weren't quite as stellar.”
    • “The game is about 5 hours long give or take, right now my Steam says my playtime is 1.6 hours for some reason but hopefully that gets ironed out. I also found some stuttering here and there, but I'm not sure if it's a game issue or a performance issue.”
    • “I experienced some stuttering here and there, but I'm not sure if it's a game issue or a performance issue.”
    • “The optimization seems off, as my playtime doesn't match my actual gameplay, which raises concerns about the game's performance.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring funny voice acting and clever moments that enhance the storytelling. Players appreciate the comedic jabs, such as the humorous take on conference submissions, and find the overall experience enjoyable, even for those who typically don't favor visual novels. Additionally, the game's lightheartedness is highlighted by amusing incidents, like unexpected crashes.

    • “Plus it was funny voice acted, so that was helpful. I would 100% recommend this game to anyone who doesn't usually like visual novels; it's definitely worth it. This was really fun.”
    • “The game also has a lot of funny moments, and an intriguing solitaire game I spent at least two hours straight on.”
    • “The way that [spoiler] you're asked to give a keynote when you work for Reiner, but your conference submission is rejected if you go independent, felt like a subtle, but funny jab.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game features appealing graphics, but players have reported experiencing noticeable glitches that affect overall stability. Despite these issues, the gameplay remains enjoyable.

  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when attempting to unlock multiple endings, but appreciate the inclusion of a chapter selection feature that alleviates the need to replay lengthy dialogue sequences.

    • “For the five (I assume) different endings, the developers very smartly added a chapter selection feature because they knew that nobody in their right minds would spend eight hours clicking through dialogue each time they wanted to get a new ending: the game is downright tedious sometimes.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
    • “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over just to level up, which made the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

Buy Eliza

Play time

6hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
5-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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