Essays on Empathy

I’ve always said that the best and most interesting games are being made at the experimental level in game jams and Essays on Empathy proves that. If you’re skipping Essays, at least check out Deconstructeam’s itch.io page.

79%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

stability, character development

78% User Score Based on 111 reviews

Critic Score 81%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Essays on Empathy is a single player casual role playing game with romance, drama, comedy, science fiction and others themes. It was developed by Deconstructeam and was released on May 18, 2021. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Essays on Empathy" is a narrative-driven game that explores the theme of empathy through a series of interactive vignettes. Players will confront ethical dilemmas and make choices that challenge their perspectives on complex social issues. The game encourages self-reflection and introspection, making it a thought-provoking and immersive experience. However, please note that the game contains mature themes and may not be suitable for all players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+10

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 111 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

Essays on Empathy offers a unique collection of short, narrative-driven games that explore deep emotional themes, making players reflect on their own experiences and societal issues.
The inclusion of behind-the-scenes documentaries adds significant value, providing insight into the creative process and personal struggles of the developers, enhancing the overall experience.
The art direction and music throughout the collection are consistently praised, contributing to the immersive atmosphere and emotional impact of each game.

Many of the games feel unfinished or lack polish, with some players experiencing bugs and technical issues that detract from the gameplay experience.
The minimalist mechanics and short playtime of each game may leave some players feeling unsatisfied, especially those looking for more traditional gameplay or challenge.
The collection's themes can be heavy and emotionally taxing, which may not appeal to all players, particularly those who prefer lighter or more straightforward gaming experiences.

gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The gameplay across this collection of narrative-driven games is characterized by minimal mechanics, primarily involving point-and-click exploration, choice-based dialogue, and light puzzles, which serve to enhance the emotional depth of the stories rather than challenge players' skills. While some titles feature innovative concepts and unique mechanics, many suffer from poor execution, bugs, and a lack of clarity, leading to frustration for players seeking a more traditional gaming experience. Overall, the collection is best suited for those who appreciate experimental storytelling and are willing to overlook mechanical shortcomings in favor of engaging narratives.
- “Most of the games are minimal in terms of mechanics—simple point-and-click exploration, choice-based dialogue, or light puzzles—but what interaction is present is meaningful.”
- “What makes this compilation stand out isn’t just the variety of themes or the engaging mechanics but the soul behind each project.”
- “Gameplay is incredibly creative and unlike anything I've played, combining aspects of deckbuilding games with comedy dialogue, allowing you to attempt to earn coins to improve your deck.”
- “The mechanics of each game are not explained well, and it makes even just interacting with things difficult, which for interactive fiction games isn't a good thing.”
- “Honestly, I don't think there's anything more I can say about it; the mechanics are janky and feel bad to control, narrative is compelling enough but missing a lot.”
- “Sadly, there's not much to get from a gameplay point of view.”
story
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The story aspect of "Essays on Empathy" is characterized by a collection of introspective, short narratives that explore diverse themes such as relationships, mental health, and personal growth, each presented with unique aesthetics. Players appreciate the emotional depth and relatability of the stories, enhanced by innovative gameplay mechanics that complement the storytelling. The inclusion of development notes and creator reflections adds a documentary-like layer, enriching the overall experience and highlighting the power of games to convey complex human emotions.
- “The brevity of each story works to the game’s advantage, allowing the developers to explore different perspectives without diluting their emotional weight.”
- “This meta-layer adds a surprising amount of value, transforming the collection from a set of short games into a documentary-like exploration of indie game development and personal storytelling.”
- “Whether it’s picking a gift for your father or picking possibly the last flowers on earth for a memorial, every story packed a punch emotionally.”
- “While this can be interesting and fine, here also – at least for my taste – it was too on the nose and like the game mechanics were not great to carry the story.”
- “There’s some story and the gameplay is short, requiring you only to look through the options and pick one.”
- “I'd say only one or two of these has actual game design and the rest are just here to tell a story; but just like a movie needs film language and books need... well language, interaction needs to work on a mechanical level.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game collection is highlighted by its honest and engaging storytelling, featuring ten individual vignettes that explore diverse themes and perspectives. Each entry effectively conveys deep emotional weight through concise narratives and impactful visuals, creating a sensory experience that resonates with players. Notable titles like "Behind Every Great One" and "De Tres al Cuarto" exemplify the collection's ability to tackle sensitive topics, leaving players with profound emotional reflections and a deeper connection to the creators' journeys.
- “Rather than a single narrative, this collection offers ten individual vignettes, each with its own tone, theme, and gameplay structure, united by a shared commitment to emotional depth and narrative experimentation.”
- “The brevity of each story works to the game’s advantage, allowing the developers to explore different perspectives without diluting their emotional weight.”
- “Their work always manages to strike a deep emotional chord, blending meaningful storytelling with immersive gameplay.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The music in the game, composed by Paula Ruiz, is widely praised for enhancing the atmosphere with its emotional depth, seamlessly fitting the game's tone without overshadowing the gameplay. Players appreciate the inclusion of a comprehensive soundtrack, which complements the compelling narratives and art direction, making it a standout feature of the overall experience. While some critiques mention gameplay issues, the music consistently receives high marks for its quality and contribution to the game's immersive storytelling.
- “The music, composed by Paula Ruiz, adds another layer of atmosphere, providing melancholy, tension, or warmth exactly when it’s needed, without overwhelming the player.”
- “Compelling narratives, consistently great music, beautiful art, relatable and believable characters.”
- “The music never fails.”
- “Just listen to the soundtrack, even if you did not like the games.”
- “With its engaging dialogue, gloomy pixel-art aesthetic, and ambient synth soundtrack, this game oozes style from every pixel.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The graphics in these games are praised for their unique aesthetics that contribute significantly to the emotional depth of the narratives, utilizing pixel art to create a cohesive and atmospheric experience. Players appreciate the integration of visuals with storytelling, noting how the art style enhances the themes and character development, despite some graphic content being presented in a less intense manner. Overall, the combination of engaging visuals, music, and sound design is highlighted as a key element that elevates the gaming experience.
- “The visuals often do a lot of the emotional heavy lifting, conveying mood and subtext through subtle shifts in expression, body language, or environmental detail.”
- “With its engaging dialogue, gloomy pixel-art aesthetic, and ambient synth soundtrack, this game oozes style from every pixel.”
- “They're so much more than just games; the graphics, together with the music and sound design, work perfectly with the narratives.”
- “While the pixel graphics are fantastic and the atmosphere in most of the games is terrific, I still cannot recommend getting it.”
- “While some graphic scenes of self-mutilation and PTSD were shown, the 8-bit pixel sprites reduce the grotesque factor.”
- “Those windows also do not have sound or graphics settings either.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The atmosphere in the game is richly crafted, enhanced by Paula Ruiz's evocative music that complements the pixel graphics and art direction, creating a blend of melancholy, tension, and warmth. Players experience a gripping and chilling ambiance, marked by themes of desperation and moral complexity, particularly through the use of life as currency. The integration of ancient technology within a cyberpunk setting further deepens the atmosphere, making it both thought-provoking and immersive.
- “The music, composed by Paula Ruiz, adds another layer of atmosphere, providing melancholy, tension, or warmth exactly when it’s needed, without overwhelming the player.”
- “This title is melancholy, chilling, and is dripping with disturbing atmosphere like a blood-soaked cloth.”
- “Using life as a vessel of currency adds a dreadful atmosphere to the game as you watch these characters barter even with their kin to gratify their wishes.”
- “This title is melancholy, chilling, and is dripping with a disturbing atmosphere like a blood-soaked cloth.”
- “Integrating ancient technology with the futuristic cyberpunk atmosphere creates a deep contrast between the freelancer’s intent of unveiling mysteries—and the thrill of scheming via futuristic manipulation methods such as voice changing, quick information hacking, and more.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game collection is notably poor, with users reporting numerous game-breaking glitches, bugs, and unfinished mechanics that hinder gameplay. Players frequently encounter issues such as getting stuck in walls or floors, leading to frustration and confusion about progression. Overall, the collection is perceived as a compilation of buggy demos rather than polished games.
- “The game functions but it's super buggy and it's easy to get stuck in a wall or the floor.”
- “The game is buggy and it's hard to figure out what the next step would be.”
- “A collection of unfinished extremely buggy games.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by self-deprecating jokes, particularly through the comedic duo of Garzo and Bonachera, which adds a lighthearted touch. Players experience a mix of successful punchlines and humorous failures, creating an engaging atmosphere that can lead to both laughter and embarrassment. Overall, the humor is a notable aspect, even if it may not resonate with everyone.
- “The phrase 'three for a quarter' showcases self-deprecating humor about how Garzo and Bonachera view their comedic duo.”
- “Cards will either build upon a joke, execute a hilarious punchline, or fail miserably and embarrass you in front of an entire crowd.”
- “Funny thing is, I really did get lost in the game; I don’t think I ever found the aliens. It's been a little while since I played this one, but it’s not something I’m super into.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Reviewers highlight that Supercontinent excels in character development and world-building, achieving more depth in just thirty minutes than some larger titles, such as Cyberpunk 2077, manage throughout their entire narratives.
- “The depth of each character's backstory and the way their arcs intertwine is truly remarkable.”
- “I was amazed at how the choices I made influenced the characters' growth and relationships throughout the game.”
- “Impressively, Supercontinent somehow manages to achieve more character development and world-building in thirty minutes than games like Cyberpunk 2077 do in their entire narrative.”
- “The character development feels rushed and superficial, leaving players disconnected from the story and its characters.”
- “I expected a deep exploration of the characters, but instead, they felt one-dimensional and lacked meaningful growth throughout the game.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, citing the exploration of various concepts and satisfying mechanics as key factors. The presence of multiple dialogue options and six possible endings further enhances the incentive to replay the game.
- “I love the exploration between different concepts in each game, many of which were very satisfying to experiment with and leave room for replayability.”
- “The different dialogues provide a lot of replayability, with six possible endings you can achieve.”
- “The different dialogues provide a lot of replayability, with six possible endings you can come up with.”
- “I love the exploration between different concepts in each game, a lot of which were very satisfying to mess around with and leave room for replayability.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While some games feature tedious and unfulfilling grinding mechanics, the majority are well-received and enjoyable.

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81%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Essays on Empathy is a casual role playing game with romance, drama, comedy, science fiction and others themes.

Essays on Empathy is available on PC and Windows.

Essays on Empathy was released on May 18, 2021.

Essays on Empathy was developed by Deconstructeam.

Essays on Empathy has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Essays on Empathy is a single player game.

Similar games include The Red Strings Club, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, Subsurface Circular, The Dream Machine, Forgotton Anne and others.

Essays on Empathy

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