Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
- April 14, 2016
- The Chinese Room
- 6h median play time
A John Wyndhamesque story placing you at ground zero of a strange event. Can you unravel the truth of what has happened?
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is a first-person adventure game set in a picturesque English village. The player explores the abandoned landscape, uncovering the story of the mysterious disappearance of the town's inhabitants through environmental clues and interactions with ghostly manifestations. The game features a non-linear narrative and a serene atmosphere, inviting players to immerse themselves in a thought-provoking exploration of fate, faith, and human connection.
Reviews
- Stunning graphics and beautiful environments that evoke a realistic English countryside.
- Engaging and emotional story with well-developed characters, enhanced by excellent voice acting.
- Hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that complements the atmosphere and narrative.
- Extremely slow walking speed that can make exploration tedious and frustrating.
- Lack of meaningful interactivity with the environment, limiting player engagement.
- Poorly optimized performance on PC, leading to low frame rates and technical issues.
- story1,228 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Everybody's Gone to the Rapture" is a unique and emotional narrative set in a quaint English village, where players uncover the lives of its vanished inhabitants through non-linear storytelling and environmental cues. While the voice acting and atmospheric music are praised, many players find the pacing slow and the plot occasionally confusing, leading to mixed feelings about the overall engagement and satisfaction of the story's conclusion. Despite its flaws, the game is recommended for those who appreciate deep, character-driven narratives and immersive experiences.
“The game is divided into chapters and each chapter shows the story of a different character, often ending with catharsis.”
“Every character is different, and you just can’t wait to see who the next will be, whose soul you will see, whose story will touch your heart (or break it) next.”
“The story is captivating, interesting, and emotional to explore, but it does require a lot of patience.”
“At this point in my playthrough, there is no cohesive story, just a few vague plots that seem like eventually they'll fit together but currently are just confusing and overwhelming.”
“I feel like there is no direction to follow, not physically built into the gameplay or written into the story; I am just wandering around in hopes of finding the next vague scene to watch, and it makes for the most grating and disheartening gaming experience I have ever played.”
“The story is confusing and really feels too artsy for its own sake, and the conclusion is really not very satisfying.”
- music438 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Everybody's Gone to the Rapture" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting Jessica Curry's exceptional soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the game's atmosphere. While the music is often described as captivating and integral to the experience, some players noted issues with its volume and the lack of options to adjust it, which could detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the best in gaming, leaving a lasting impression on players long after they finish the game.
“The soundtrack is one of the best out there and the themes and ideas presented will stick with you.”
“The music is beautiful and at times haunting.”
“The soundtrack is jaw-droppingly beautiful, though.”
“Just listen to the soundtrack instead of playing the game.”
“I can deal with the visual stuff to an extent, but when I can't turn the music down or off, I'm going to leave a negative review.”
“The music is effective in places, but in others becomes a heavy-handed distraction with majestic chorals being used far too much and hence losing their effect over time.”
- graphics366 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning quality and attention to detail, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience. Many players appreciate the beautiful landscapes and artistic design, although some report performance issues, including frame rate drops and optimization problems, particularly on certain hardware configurations. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact and aesthetic appeal.
“The graphics are stunning, and the soundtrack is a masterpiece.”
“The game has beautiful graphics, and I simply enjoy walking around with my game controller and enjoying the scenery whilst sitting up close to my HD TV with my gaming headset on and relaxing without worrying too much about solving the very strange mystery that surrounds this game.”
“A breathtakingly beautiful game, with gorgeous visuals, deep and moving stories, exceptional voice acting, and a soundtrack that can move the listener to tears.”
“There were also occasional framerate drops (it didn't make a difference whether I was on 'low' or 'high' graphics settings, which I found weird), even though my computer has good performance.”
“Struggled to stay above 20 fps on lowest settings (on a high spec PC that gets over 100 fps in much newer and more graphically intensive games).”
“I'm running a machine that easily handles every other game in my library with no bother with graphics turned up to max. This game is the opposite; everything is turned to low and it still lags and stutters and crashes.”
- gameplay167 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is primarily characterized as a walking simulator, with minimal mechanics and a slow pace that many players find frustrating. While the game offers a rich narrative and beautiful visuals, it lacks engaging gameplay elements, relying heavily on exploration and audio snippets without any real challenges or interactions. Overall, players seeking traditional gameplay experiences may be disappointed, as the focus is more on atmosphere and storytelling than on action or mechanics.
“The gameplay is simplistic and relaxing, and the story makes you want to carry on playing.”
“It's a walking simulator with a terrible implementation of walking.... I can't recommend this game on any mechanical level.”
“Gameplay consists of trudging (a verb I use deliberately) around the village, listening to brief audio clips played on various radios, and encountering the ghostly, lighted spirits of people as they re-enact the events of recent days prior to being taken away.”
“The basic gameplay is a walking simulator, so the gaming experience largely consists of walking around, following a beam of light, and listening to the events.”
“Sadly, the core gameplay is incredibly underwhelming with extremely slow walking controls and a narrative that fails to engage or intrigue.”
“There is no gameplay elements at all.”
- atmosphere146 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, haunting soundtrack, and immersive storytelling, creating a deeply engaging experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke emotional responses through its detailed environments and sound design, although some note that the slow pacing can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, it is regarded as a beautifully atmospheric walking simulator that excels in crafting a captivating and melancholic world.
“The atmosphere and attention to detail is astounding.”
“This is an excellent walking simulator with an interesting and disquieting atmosphere.”
“Everything about this game complements everything else seamlessly, creating a fully immersive atmosphere that took my breath away.”
“Even not knowing the ending, I still think the atmosphere and dialogues were way too soft for an apocalyptic-esque story.”
“Quite a predictable story; the 'mystery' aspect is very oversold, and the same goes for the 'sinister' atmosphere I expected to find, of which I only really found one moment.”
“They've duplicated the melancholy, lonely atmosphere and made another game that's pretty much the same.”
- emotional129 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting the profound impact of the narrative, music, and character development. The soundtrack, particularly Jessica Curry's compositions, is noted for enhancing the emotional journey, often evoking tears and deep connections to the characters. While some players found the pacing slow and the story convoluted, the overall experience is described as a beautiful, heart-wrenching exploration of themes like mortality and human connection, making it a compelling choice for those seeking an emotionally rich gaming experience.
“Each piece, depending on the story, gives the player an emotional journey to feel what that character is going through at that particular moment.”
“The soundtrack is an ethereal companion, harmonizing with the vast expanse of emptiness, heightening the emotional depth of the journey.”
“The story, beautiful world, and soundtrack combine to make an emotionally compelling experience.”
“Nice graphics but boring story and poor gameplay.”
“Boring story.”
- optimization115 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates, stuttering, and inconsistent gameplay even on high-end hardware. While some users experienced acceptable performance, the majority found the PC port poorly optimized, leading to frustration and immersion-breaking moments. Overall, the game's technical performance is considered a significant drawback, overshadowing its otherwise strong narrative and artistic elements.
“If it would be optimized better and wouldn't have these design flaws, it would be a great game.”
“The world is beautiful, but the game is not that well optimized.”
“There's definitely some frame-pacing issues, and some areas need some optimization (framerate drops at random times in the game), but nothing game breaking, and nothing that breaks immersion.”
“Extremely badly optimized game, Jesus Christ.”
“The performance is abysmal.”
“Poorly optimized to the point of being unplayable.”
- grinding25 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews consistently highlight the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and slow, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of save points and the excessively slow movement speed that hampers exploration. The game's design leads to repetitive backtracking and a feeling of monotony, making it difficult for players to stay engaged with the story and environment. Overall, the experience is described as beautiful yet ultimately boring and self-indulgent, detracting from the enjoyment of the gameplay.
“The game really needs you to be super-motivated to dig into its world, but at the same time, its slowness and tedious mechanics make it unnecessarily hard ... which is a pity.”
“While the aforementioned games put a lot of effort into making exploration and endless walking not only a sort of redemption of the 'walking simulator' genre but also very interesting per se, almost *nothing* in 'Rapture' can be touched or viewed, making for an extremely tedious experience precisely because the rich, beautiful environments of the game turn out to be nothing but one-dimensional cardboard cutouts that the player cannot really interact with.”
“It's nice and all, but tends to become tedious, which I found somewhat annoying.”
- replayability17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the exploration opportunities and the allure of achievement hunting, many feel that the slow pace and limited content significantly diminish the incentive to replay. Overall, it seems that replay value largely hinges on personal preferences, such as a desire to experience the story again or to explore the environment more thoroughly.
“The replay value is high in my opinion, since there is so much to discover if you veer off the beaten path. Exploring the forest paths was one of my favorite things to do.”
“The non-linear aspect, as opposed to hobbling the experience, encourages the player onward and increases replayability even after you complete the game.”
“Great story, voice acting, soundtrack, art, and a lot of things that you can, and probably will, miss on your first playthrough, giving it a form of replay value.”
“There is also no replay value except if you are an achievement collector.”
“Due to how slow the player walks, I honestly cannot see myself going for any of the extra achievements, or even replaying the game for any missed story elements because of how much time it takes just to get around the map.”
“There is little to no replay value.”
- stability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- -18 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, performance issues, and poor optimization that detract from the overall experience. Many players experienced significant frame rate drops, visual glitches, and unreliable game mechanics, leading to frustration and disappointment. While some appreciated the game's aesthetics, the persistent technical problems overshadowed its strengths, leaving a negative impression on the gameplay.
“Looks great, runs great.”
“The game maintains a smooth performance without any noticeable glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
“Then I quickly realized how buggy, untrustworthy, and flat out wrong the guidance is.”
“Routine FPS chugs down to the single digits for no apparent reason, visual glitches, etc. Really disappointed and I just have no desire to go back to it.”
“However, and it's what destroys the game for me, the game is buggy as hell and it's in desperate need of optimization!”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring occasional genuinely funny moments and amusing radio dialogue, but it often struggles to maintain a consistent comedic tone amidst more serious and emotional scenes. While some interactions can elicit laughter, the overall effectiveness of the humor is inconsistent, leaving players wanting more.
“From downright sad and depressing scenes to heartfelt scenes and even a few genuinely funny ones for you to uncover.”
“Things you hear on the radio are hilarious and add more nonsensical plot holes to the story.”
“I could tell the guy at the next table was laughing about the conversation I was having with my partner.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game features impressive character development, highlighted by a compelling story arc and branching paths that enhance the player's experience. Users appreciate the philosophical themes and the emotional depth of the characters, all set against a beautifully designed world and an evocative soundtrack.
“If you are interested in character development, philosophy, or just an overall immersive experience, this game is for you.”
“It is a truly stunning, touching, humble, and beautiful trip through a picturesque world filled with incredible character design and a stunning soundtrack to accompany you on this wonderful journey.”
“I love the story arc and the branching paths of character development.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices in character development; it felt like my decisions didn't matter.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their growth throughout the game is minimal at best.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of "Everybody's Gone to the Rapture" is criticized for relying on heavy advertising that oversells the game, which some players feel lacks substantial content. However, the game's immersive details and stunning visuals are noted as positive elements that enhance the overall experience.
Critic Reviews
Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture PC Review
A John Wyndhamesque story placing you at ground zero of a strange event. Can you unravel the truth of what has happened?
96%Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture Review – A Lonesome Road
Everybody's Gone To The Rapture really tried to be something more powerful than a video game. It tried to be art. However, instead of becoming a Mona Lisa, it felt as though the paint was still awaiting its first brush stroke. It never quite got there, but if it ever achieved that first stroke, it was bound to be brilliant.
60%Everybody's Gone to the Rapture review
An exceptional story, told via one of the most vivid game worlds around.
90%