Elsinore

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"Elsinore is a single-player simulation game that lets you explore an intriguing story in the world of Shakespeare's Hamlet, with a dynamic story engine that reacts to your decisions in real-time. As Ophelia, you're trapped in a time-loop, reliving the same four days again and again, caught in a point-and-click adventure to change the fate of Elsinore Castle's inhabitants. With wonderful game mechanics, amazing music, and highly emotional moments, Elsinore challenges you to prevent a tragic ending."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 244 reviews

story44 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

Elsinore offers a unique and engaging take on Shakespeare's Hamlet, allowing players to explore the story from Ophelia's perspective and make impactful choices that alter the narrative.
The writing is exceptional, with well-developed characters and a rich, immersive world that captures the essence of Shakespearean themes while incorporating modern sensibilities and diverse representation.
The time-loop mechanic is cleverly implemented, providing a satisfying blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and character interaction that keeps the gameplay fresh and intriguing.

The game can become repetitive due to the nature of the time-loop mechanic, and some players may find the need to replay sections to unlock different endings tedious.
There are occasional bugs and inconsistencies in character interactions that can break immersion, such as characters referencing events that have already occurred in previous loops.
Choosing an ending results in the deletion of save files, forcing players to start over to explore other outcomes, which can be frustrating for those wanting to see all possible endings.

story
153 mentions
29 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of *Elsinore* is a complex and engaging reimagining of Shakespeare's *Hamlet*, centered around Ophelia as she navigates a time-loop mechanic that allows her to explore character motivations and alter outcomes. Players appreciate the depth of character development, intricate plot twists, and the ethical dilemmas presented throughout the narrative, making it a captivating experience even for those unfamiliar with the original play. The game successfully combines rich storytelling with interactive gameplay, offering multiple endings and a fresh perspective on a classic tale.
- “The characters, even though they're from a familiar story, feel fresh and complex, with motives that you can uncover through multiple playthroughs.”
- “Elsinore is a complex adaptation of one of the most widely-adapted works in Western literature, which circles out from its source material to develop the stories of each character in the play, and show how Ophelia’s fate might change if she had not only agency (absent in the original), but also the ability to see each individual story through to its conclusion.”
- “It was delightful to play a game that truly honored the story, yet managed to expand on the play and its characters in a way that was fresh and vibrant.”
- “The story brings up thoughtful ethical quandaries throughout.”
- “Elsinore will leave the story quite literally in pieces if you don't manage to get it right; and the player is frustrated beyond measure once you've buried someone your character loved during your third playthrough.”
- “Liberties have been taken with Shakespeare's tale (each change adds dimension to characters and the story, so purists can stuff it), and the writing is uniformly personal and well-written; the branches the story takes in each time loop as you share new information is dizzying, and I haven't found an illogical or broken path yet.”
gameplay
52 mentions
29 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its innovative time loop mechanics, which encourage exploration and strategic decision-making through dialogue and character interactions. Players appreciate the seamless integration of storytelling and gameplay, with many praising the intuitive controls and engaging puzzles, though some note minor issues with mechanics and the need for polish. Overall, the game offers a rich narrative experience that rewards curiosity and replayability, making it a standout in its genre.
- “Seamless gameplay, intriguing mysteries, sky-high replay value, and delightful homages to many of Shakespeare's works even beyond Hamlet - Elsinore is absolutely a hidden gem of a game.”
- “The time-looping mechanics work well and I felt like new information yielded itself with every loop I played.”
- “This unique game mechanics really works, keeps you hooked, and leaves you yearning to explore more and more of the timeline, with a multitude of different ways events can play out.”
- “Creatively designed with compelling characters, but also needs a lot of polish to the gameplay.”
- “One problem gameplay-wise I had was that I didn't want to risk making decisions.”
- “Another gameplay problem was that there lacked an ability to easily tell what events/dialogue you've already seen.”
music
23 mentions
65 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the immersive atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its fitting and beautiful compositions that complement the narrative and emotional depth. While some mention occasional repetitiveness and a desire for a larger soundtrack, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's storytelling and character development, creating memorable moments throughout the experience.
- “The art and music add to the immersive atmosphere, and it’s clear that so much love went into designing this game.”
- “Even the more stressful scores of the soundtrack were still so amazing and added a bigger depth to the scenarios at hand, placing so much more emphasis on the choices one needed to make.”
- “Not only is it unique, it's effective: between equally amazing writing and soundtrack, you will get thoroughly invested in the lives of these characters and Ophelia's search for a better ending to her story.”
- “This definitely feels like an indie title with a lack of voice acting, rough graphics/animations, and sporadic and buggy music.”
- “The only negatives I can even say about the game are that it’s unfortunate it’s not fully voice acted and it’s a shame the soundtrack isn’t bigger.”
- “The music feels appropriate to the mood and setting, but can at times sound repetitive, as the game’s main theme is often reused and replayed.”
graphics
18 mentions
39 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as modest and somewhat outdated, with simple character models and animations that can break immersion. However, many reviewers appreciate the unique art style, likening it to a "living painting," and find the visuals charming and effective in complementing the strong narrative. While the graphics may not meet modern standards, they are considered serviceable and contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “Also, the soundtrack and the visuals are really nice!”
- “It has rich story, pretty visuals, and outstanding music.”
- “The graphics are really nice and the gameplay feels really smooth.”
- “Don't expect, you know, the smoothest of 2020s graphics or anything -- it's mostly text-based, characters occasionally teleport, and I once conversed with a character who forgot that Hamlet had already died in that loop.”
- “This definitely feels like an indie title with a lack of voiceover, rough graphics and animations, and sporadic and buggy music.”
- “But the graphics are really outdated otherwise, and the simulation-like animation of the characters is kind of immersion-breaking sometimes; for instance, none of the characters actually sleep, they just stand in their room.”
emotional
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Elsinore is praised for its deep emotional engagement, combining intelligent writing with a heartfelt narrative that resonates with players. The game effectively balances humor and tragedy, leading to moments of genuine emotional investment and reflection on complex themes of love, loss, and humanity. Players report being moved to tears, highlighting the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions through its authentic storytelling and character development.
- “Elsinore is a beautifully crafted game that offers a deep, intelligent, and emotional experience.”
- “I was emotionally invested from the prologue to the finale.”
- “It struck me as deeply authentic and emotionally honest, and again, a kind of solidarity and love that isn't often represented in video games.”
stability
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is generally stable, with users noting some bugs and rough graphics, but none of these issues are game-breaking. While it has a few sporadic glitches, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “This definitely feels like an indie title with a lack of voiceover, rough graphics and animations, and sporadic, buggy music.”
- “It is kind of buggy, which, given the amount of everything that's going on, I can understand.”
- “Still a little buggy (as of August 7, 2019), but nothing game-breaking at all.”
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability with 13 different endings and a looping design that encourages exploration of various storylines and character interactions. While players can enjoy multiple playthroughs to uncover secrets and solve puzzles, the incentive to replay diminishes once all endings are achieved, typically within 4-12 hours. Overall, it is praised for its engaging narrative and well-crafted characters, making it a hidden gem for those who appreciate depth in gameplay.
- “Seamless gameplay, intriguing mysteries, sky-high replay value, and delightful homages to many of Shakespeare's works even beyond Hamlet—Elsinore is absolutely a hidden gem of a game.”
- “Best features: lots of dialogue, well-written Shakespearean characters with cool interactions and secrets to discover, lots of replayability due to its looping design (at least until you unlock all endings), fun puzzle-like way of piecing together information and using it to solve different situations.”
- “Estimated duration/replayability: 4-12 hours depending on how many endings you get. There are 13 endings, and some require more than one loop, but there is little reason to go back once you have seen them all.”
- “I can already tell this is a game with multiple options for replayability—so many storylines to follow, and all of them interesting.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly as they progress and await events to unfold, despite the intuitive mechanics and engaging gameplay that initially keep them invested. While the experience can be enjoyable for many hours, it tends to become repetitive towards the end, with some players expressing a desire for more efficient ways to navigate tasks and conversations.
- “I think the game can be a bit tedious once you've seen most of the daily events and are waiting for stuff to happen on the last day, even with the fast forward.”
- “A couple of issues are minor mechanical gripes that only really started to wear on me at the end, namely that sometimes finding particular conversation topics in a large list is tedious and sometimes I wanted to be able to straight-up skip ahead in time rather than use the given fast-forward feature.”
- “+mechanics are very intuitive, and while eventually a little tedious, it took at least a dozen hours to get there. Before then, the gradual revelations left me always with a sense of what I would try next.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as clever and fresh, with witty nods to Shakespearean themes and a surprisingly playful tone. While it effectively balances humor with emotional depth, some players felt that the overall experience was marred by frustrations with the game's structure, which detracted from their enjoyment of the comedic elements.
- “Addicting, fresh, filled with clever nods to the source material and other Shakespeare, surprisingly funny, and also pretty gay!”
- “Between the ugliness and the overall emotional difficulty of the story, there lies a lot of humor, lost loves, resolute wills, tenderness, humanity.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by exceptional art and music that reflect a deep commitment to design. Reviewers note that the soundtrack contributes significantly to a Shakespearean ambiance, enriching the overall experience.
- “The art and music add to the immersive atmosphere, and it's clear that so much love went into designing this game.”
- “In addition, the music is great and helps create a truly Shakespearean atmosphere.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for being both believable and surprising, showcasing a successful balance that enhances the narrative. Additionally, the game features fresh and inclusive character designs that contribute to its overall appeal.
- “I thought the character development was believable yet managed to be surprising as well – a difficult combination to achieve.”
- “The art is gorgeous, with fresh and inclusive character designs.”