Firework

About

Firework is a single player puzzle game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Shiying Studio and was released on February 3, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Firework is a single-player Horror Adventure game set in a remote Chinese mountain village, where a rookie police, Lin Lixun, re-investigates a closed case of a massacre after an accidental fire at a funeral. The game features a wonderful and wholesome story, delightful visuals and soundtrack, creating a very atmospheric experience as the past of the victims emerges, leading to a bewildering case of supernatural phenomenon or an elaborated murder."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 544 reviews

story169 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully intricate story that captivates players and evokes strong emotions.
The art style and atmosphere are stunning, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the narrative.
The game effectively combines horror elements with a touching narrative, making it a unique and memorable experience.

The gameplay is overly simplistic, with easy puzzles that may not satisfy players looking for a challenge.
The story can be confusing at times, especially for players unfamiliar with Chinese culture and names, leading to potential misunderstandings.
The game is quite short, which may leave some players wanting more depth and exploration.

story
379 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth, intricate narrative, and cultural insights, particularly into Chinese traditions and societal dynamics. Players appreciate the slow-burning tension and the way the story unfolds through simple puzzles and immersive environments, though some note its linearity and occasional convoluted elements. Overall, it is regarded as a compelling and beautifully told tale that resonates with themes of loss, family, and the supernatural, making it a standout experience for those who prioritize narrative in gaming.
- “The story pulled me in with an interesting premise and managed to keep me captivated the whole run.”
- “In a genre often dominated by intensity and shock value, Firework is a rare example of subtlety and sincerity, telling a story that’s as tragic as it is beautiful.”
- “The story is touching and excellent!”
- “The story is convoluted and confusing, the puzzles were too easy, and the game wasn't scary to me.”
- “However, the progression of the storyline and the puzzle-solving elements are not well integrated.”
- “The story cohesiveness is the biggest thing that took me out of the moment; it really felt like the devs had an ending in mind and the protagonist came secondary.”
atmosphere
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating art design, excellent soundscapes, and ability to evoke a sense of unease without relying heavily on jump scares. Players appreciate the emotionally resonant and immersive experience, describing it as a blend of eerie horror and introspective storytelling that enhances the overall narrative. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in dialogue or gameplay, the atmospheric elements consistently stand out as a highlight, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric horror.
- “For players who value atmosphere, narrative, and introspective horror, this game is a quiet masterpiece worth experiencing.”
- “Amazing game that initially draws you in with very unsettling horror mystery vibes, but evolves into an emotional adventure with peak storytelling, featuring lots of simple puzzles, hand-drawn art, and good music/sound design that really breathe life into the story and atmosphere.”
- “Maybe the devs were going for a Silent Hill kind of eerie atmosphere, but it just feels lazily written.”
- “The atmosphere is gloomy and weird but not so scary.”
- “The game focuses more on maintaining a persistent creepy atmosphere.”
graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, which effectively enhances the atmospheric and emotional depth of the narrative. Many reviewers noted the captivating visuals, which range from simple yet heartwarming to ethereal and haunting, contributing significantly to the overall experience. While some critiques mentioned a lack of polish in certain areas, the art style remains a standout feature that resonates well with players, particularly in its ability to complement the story and evoke a strong emotional response.
- “The art style is beautiful.”
- “Great atmosphere, amazing artwork, and a good mystery to dig your teeth into!”
- “The art style is lovely, it tells a gripping, dark story, and it sets a fantastic atmosphere that sends chills down your spine; overall an enjoyable experience.”
- “This game feels pretty cheap, the art style doesn't look like something that has been worked on for super long, there are many typos and grammatical errors in the English subtitles, and the sound effects are the same ones over and over again.”
- “Sluggish controls for a game with 2003-era graphics.”
- “Not much in terms of gameplay, more a graphical novel than anything else.”
gameplay
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
74%
10%
The gameplay is generally described as simple and repetitive, primarily involving exploration and light puzzle-solving that serves to enhance the narrative rather than challenge players. While some appreciate the integration of gameplay with storytelling, many find the mechanics lack depth and can feel tedious, with puzzles often being too easy and the overall experience leaning more towards a visual novel than a traditional game. Despite these criticisms, the game's strong narrative and atmospheric elements keep players engaged.
- “The gameplay itself is rooted in exploration and light puzzle-solving.”
- “The use of the supernatural serves not just as a gameplay device, but as a mirror to the human tragedies that fuel the horror.”
- “The puzzles are very easy and the gameplay almost nonexistent -- but that's okay; the game leans into the format to tell a great story, and difficult puzzles or twitchy gameplay would have detracted from that.”
- “The gameplay is extraordinarily simple.”
- “Coupled with a slow pacing and repetitive tasks, the gameplay feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- “Regardless of how good or emotional the story might be, I can't find out due to the tedious, exhausting gameplay.”
emotional
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
6%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its powerful storytelling, atmospheric visuals, and evocative soundtrack that evoke strong feelings. Reviewers note that the game effectively combines horror elements with a deeply moving narrative, often leading to moments of genuine emotional impact, including tears and heartfelt connections to the characters. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a narrative-driven experience that offers both suspense and emotional depth.
- “Firework is an emotionally resonant and atmospherically rich indie horror game developed by Shiying Studio and published by Gamera Games.”
- “Amazing game that initially draws you in with very unsettling horror mystery vibes, but evolves into an emotional adventure with peak storytelling, featuring lots of simple puzzles, hand-drawn art, and good music/sound design that really breathe life into the story and atmosphere.”
- “The story is heartbreaking for me, as a daughter-in-law of a traditional Asian Chinese family that is living with my husband and in-laws and also with one cute innocent daughter about the same age as Fangfang; I can truly relate to all this... truly sad for me this story...”
- “The gameplay is ultra boring, but most importantly, the storytelling is absolutely dull.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters is lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
- “I felt no emotional investment in the story; it was predictable and uninspired.”
music
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
39%
7%
The music in the game is described as hauntingly beautiful and effectively enhances the emotional depth and atmosphere, particularly in moments of tension and revelation. While the game often relies on ambient sound effects rather than traditional background music, the sparse yet impactful soundtrack complements the storytelling and art style, creating a unique and immersive experience. Overall, players appreciate the thoughtful integration of music, which contributes significantly to the game's emotional and horror elements.
- “The accompanying soundtrack is haunting yet beautiful and worth a listen on its own.”
- “The soundtrack is a huge hit for me and merges simple rhythms into eerie complex undertones that make for a great visual novel-esque experience.”
- “The art style, the depth of character development for such a short game, and the soundtrack create a captivating atmosphere.”
- “Sound quality: no voice acting, no background music most of the time, sound pool for actions is terrible.”
- “The ending was also really sad and the music made it a lot more depressing.”
- “And I pussied out at several points and turned the music down because I was genuinely creeped out and couldn't handle the music with the visuals!”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and exhausting, detracting from the overall narrative experience. The gameplay is described as drawn out and frustrating, making it difficult to engage with the story, despite its potential. Additionally, there are no grindy achievements to motivate players further.
- “Regardless of how good or emotional the story might be, I can't find out due to the tedious, exhausting gameplay.”
- “The game's narrative, centered around a series of crimes in a remote Chinese village, is tediously drawn out, turning what could have been an engaging mystery into a disjointed and frustrating experience.”
- “Not that old graphics are necessarily a bad thing -- just that the game gets a bit tedious.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Reviewers highlight the impressive depth of character development in the game, particularly noting the well-designed characters and the main character, Blin Lixun. Despite the game's short length, the character arcs are praised for their depth and impact, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “The art style, the depth of character development for such a short game, and the soundtrack are all impressive.”
- “While I did praise character development, there was one particular development featured in the main character, Blin Lixun.”
- “Well-designed characters and character development.”
- “While I did praise character development, there was one particular development that’s featured on the main character, Blin Lixun.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Despite its brief playtime of three to four hours, "firework" provides a meaningful and replayable experience through its multiple endings, encouraging players to revisit the game and reflect on their choices with new insights.
- “Though short in length—many players finish it in three to four hours—Firework offers a meaningful and replayable experience.”
- “These alternate endings add replay value and invite the player to reevaluate earlier moments with the benefit of hindsight.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the well-written characters, particularly the main character, whose disbelief in ghosts while navigating a supernatural murder investigation adds a comedic twist. However, some players felt that the humor did not resonate with them, finding it neither scary nor particularly funny.
- “The characters were well written, and the main character, who is heavily connected to the supernatural and investigating a murder in a ghost world while claiming he doesn't believe in ghosts, was really funny.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, such as low frame rates (around 6fps), which can detract from the overall experience. However, certain scenes showcase creative performance elements that stand out positively.
- “Performance-wise, most of the time for a 2D game, it ran like dog shit with 6 FPS, but it wasn't to a degree that it was unplayable.”
- “The performance of some scenes is very creative.”