Follow the meaning

About

"Follow the Meaning" is a point-and-click adventure game featuring a surreal, hand-drawn world and a twisted mystery. As detective Paul Trilby, you'll explore a peculiar island town divided by a wall and ruled by a hospital, unraveling a sinister conspiracy involving missing memories. With whimsical worldbuilding, lateral thinking puzzles, and an atmospheric soundtrack, this 1.5-hour experience offers a satisfying and different adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 458 reviews

story74 positive mentions

The game features a charming hand-drawn art style that enhances the overall experience.
The puzzles are engaging and provide a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
The narrative is intriguing and offers a unique blend of humor and dark themes, reminiscent of games like Rusty Lake.

The game is quite short, typically taking only about 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
Some puzzles can feel too easy or linear, lacking the depth and complexity found in other similar games.
The story feels underdeveloped at times, with some players finding the ending unsatisfying or confusing.

story
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
48%
2%
The story of "Follow the Meaning" is described as a quirky and engaging narrative that combines humor with darker themes, though some players feel it is underdeveloped and leaves certain plot points unresolved. While the art style and atmosphere enhance the storytelling, opinions vary on the effectiveness of the cutscenes and the overall depth of the plot, with many appreciating its unique twists and the integration of puzzles. Overall, it offers a captivating experience, albeit with a sense of potential that some feel was not fully realized.
- “A beautiful game with well-crafted storytelling and atmosphere, offering an impressive experience.”
- “The storytelling is succinct yet captivating, and the art style—reminiscent of children’s drawings—is in stark contrast to the events you’re witnessing, creating a uniquely unsettling vibe.”
- “The story is intriguing – it keeps you hooked, making you want to uncover what's happening in the hospital and figure out what’s really going on!”
- “The plot feels underdeveloped and it kind of just leaves you unfulfilled with how it ends.”
- “The story is sort of nothing; the game would be better off without it, so the cutscenes are just annoying.”
- “The plot is clearly not finished and the key characters aren't fully shown as well.”
graphics
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their unique, hand-drawn art style that combines charm with a surreal atmosphere, effectively complementing the narrative and gameplay. Players appreciate the colorful and detailed visuals, which evoke a cozy yet unsettling vibe, and the overall aesthetic is often compared to vintage cartoons and the works of notable artists like Mateusz Skutnik. The stunning artwork, along with a well-matched soundtrack, enhances the engaging experience, making it a highlight of the game.
- “A beautiful and cozy little adventure game with sinister undertones that took me in with its breathtaking hand-drawn visuals and didn't let me go 'til the very end!”
- “The hand-drawn art style is stunning, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the game's surreal, eerie tone.”
- “The visuals are really pleasing and contrast really well with the mildly dark story.”
- “The storytelling is succinct yet captivating, and the art style—reminiscent of children’s drawings—is in stark contrast to the events you’re witnessing, creating a uniquely unsettling vibe.”
- “Although the game is sure to captivate children with its graphics, adults may find a much deeper meaning in it.”
- “The puzzles weren't too difficult, and the graphics were detailed, colorful, and in the case of the cats, cute!”
music
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
33%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its soothing and atmospheric qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the work of composer Victor Butzelaar, known for his contributions to the Rusty Lake series. While some players noted a lack of music during gameplay, the soundtrack is described as beautifully complementing the game's unique art style and narrative, enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's charm and immersive quality.
- “The music fits perfectly with each new area, the puzzles range from simple to complex and the runtime is just enough not to overstay its welcome, nor is it too short to leave you dissatisfied.”
- “The hand-drawn art style is stunning, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the game's surreal, eerie tone.”
- “The atmosphere, graphics, and music were all very good, but the puzzles were a bit too easy and the story was super basic and underdeveloped.”
- “In regards to the music, there's just the one track that plays in the main menu.”
- “Thus, in the game itself, there isn't really music (or very little of it).”
- “The developers could teach a masterclass on crafting an immersive, deeply enjoyable game without relying on flashy gimmicks or not-so-cheap thrills, like hiring a full orchestra for the soundtrack or a Broadway troupe for voice acting.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click adventure that features engaging and varied puzzles, which are both challenging and satisfying. Players appreciate the unique artwork and well-implemented soundtrack that enhance the overall experience, making it a delightful and immersive journey despite its relatively short playtime. While the puzzles may not be the most difficult, they incorporate fresh ideas that keep players engaged throughout.
- “At any rate, it was the gameplay that ended up absorbing my attention the most, and the sounds and such help to enhance it.”
- “They’re not the hardest you’ll encounter, but they’re special—a mix of familiar mechanics and fresh ideas that make solving them a delight.”
- “A perfectly acceptable point and click adventure with a very small and simple scope/gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is casual with a few not too challenging riddles, but fun enough.”
- “The gameplay basically consists of puzzles without any fillers, so despite short playtime, it is very much worth the price, as the player is engaged throughout the whole game.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever and quirky humor, blending nostalgic elements with surreal, hand-drawn artwork. Players appreciate the engaging story that features both funny and dark moments, as well as the charming characters and clever plot twists. Overall, the humor is described as immersive and delightful, making it a perfect choice for a lighthearted gaming experience.
- “This is such a nostalgic yet funny game. I loved it, the music is fantastic, and the characters' voices are mesmerizing! I love 4th wall breaking related games, lmao!”
- “I love the art style and there are many funny little moments and twists. I was laughing, 'ooh'ing, and going 'woah!!' through the whole game.”
- “Hilarious and charming, perfect for a chill afternoon.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
15%
15%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beauty, mystery, and surreal qualities, with many players noting the captivating storytelling and impressive artwork. While some comparisons to "Shutter Island" were made, the unique atmosphere and character development set it apart. Overall, the combination of graphics, music, and a well-crafted environment contributes to a highly enjoyable experience, despite some critiques regarding the simplicity of the puzzles and story.
- “Really fun short game with beautiful artwork and atmosphere.”
- “A beautiful game with well-crafted storytelling and atmosphere, offering an impressive experience.”
- “Wonderful game with some great ideas and a very pleasant, surreal atmosphere.”
- “Its story is a bit too similar to 'Shutter Island' for my taste, but it still manages to deliver a different type of atmosphere and characters to the table.”
- “Surprising mix of rusty lake weirdness with Milo & the Magpies' relaxed atmosphere (and cats).”
- “I recently played this game, and I was completely captivated by its atmosphere and storytelling.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game offers limited replayability, primarily revolving around collecting all the cats and achieving 100% completion, which can be accomplished in about 1-1.5 hours. While some players find enjoyment in speedrunning and completing achievements, the lack of multiple endings or significant challenges diminishes its overall replay value. Overall, it provides a brief but enjoyable experience with some incentive for replaying.
- “Has a little bit of replayability to collect all the cats and could be fun to speedrun.”
- “A little gem💎 - now because the game is short, the 100% achievement goal is reachable and adds a fun replay value.”
- “It takes 2 playthroughs if you want to get all the achievements, so there is replay value as well.”
- “Despite being a short game, it's unfortunately non-replayable, unless you find all the cats.”
- “I would have liked if there were multiple endings or some kind of replay value; the achievements were a little too easy.”
- “It takes 2 playthroughs if you want to get all the achievements, so there is some replay value.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its whimsical and absurd vibes, coupled with a heartwarming story that delivers a bizarre yet wholesome message. While the puzzles may be easier compared to previous titles in the series, the game still offers a generous amount of heart and thought-provoking symbolism, making it a worthwhile experience. Overall, it is described as a classic point-and-click adventure that resonates emotionally with players.
- “A story standing on its own two feet having a bizarre, wholesome message to give to you, so I definitely suggest you don't miss out on it ;) a classic point and click with a twist, a generous amount of heart and a touch of crazy.”
- “Wholesome little adventure, absolutely worth your time and the fair price.”
- “Second, the puzzles are far too easy by Cube Escape standards, it had the whimsical absurd vibes, sure, but it doesn't compare to the hours-long thought-provoking symbolism and the heart-wrenching endings.”