FRAMED Collection

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 415 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
FRAMED Collection Game Cover
A great little pair of puzzle games here. Nothing new for owners of the iOS and Android versions, but if you don’t already have them, this is definitely worth a play.
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"The Framed Collection is the compilation of the the critically acclaimed, multi-award winning, noir-puzzle games Framed and Framed 2, where you re-arrange panels of a comic book to change the outcome of the story. Change the Order, Change the Outcome. The games have been completely overhauled and redesigned for the platform and given extra love and care for our PC players to enjoy the high qual…

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 415 reviews
story41 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features innovative mechanics that allow players to rearrange comic panels to change the story, providing a unique and engaging puzzle experience.
  • The art style is visually stunning, with a noir aesthetic complemented by a jazzy soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
  • The puzzles are generally well-designed, offering a satisfying challenge that encourages creative thinking and experimentation.
  • The game is relatively short, with a total playtime of around 2-4 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Some puzzles can feel overly simplistic or rely on trial and error rather than logical deduction, which can be frustrating.
  • There are occasional technical issues, such as crashes or unclear mechanics, that can detract from the overall experience.
  • story156 mentions

    The story in the "Framed" series is primarily conveyed through innovative visual storytelling, utilizing comic book panels that players rearrange to progress the narrative. While the plot is generally simple and sometimes vague, it effectively captures a noir aesthetic and engages players through clever puzzle mechanics. Overall, the storytelling is minimalistic, relying on imagery rather than dialogue, which may leave some players wanting more depth but still provides an enjoyable experience.

    • “The comic book style is simply stunning, and the way you rearrange the frames to change the story is pure genius.”
    • “At its core, this is a puzzle game where players manipulate comic book panels to alter the sequence of events and progress the story.”
    • “Despite the absence of traditional storytelling elements like voice acting or lengthy cutscenes, it manages to captivate players through its evocative imagery and clever use of visual storytelling techniques.”
    • “I was looking for a game with spies as a premise and this game does deliver with a minimal story demonstrated through animations and little details, but not story-heavy like I hoped.”
    • “The story isn’t explained enough for me to care about any of the characters and while I do kind of understand the endings especially after you beat the second game, I’m unsure of the overall story.”
    • “Generally though, the suggested story is so vague it's hard to really care for any of the characters or the situations they face, with places the entirety of the focus on the puzzle solving.”
  • gameplay123 mentions

    The gameplay of the Framed collection is characterized by its innovative mechanics that involve rearranging comic panels to solve puzzles, creating a unique and engaging experience. While the first game introduces fresh and fun elements, the sequel has been criticized for lacking new mechanics and becoming repetitive. Overall, players appreciate the stylish presentation and the challenge of the puzzles, though some note the short playtime and simplicity of the mechanics as potential drawbacks.

    • “The game has interesting mechanics and gameplay that was quite fresh and fun for me.”
    • “Framed stands out for its unique approach to puzzle gameplay; 10/10, I’d recommend savoring it like a fine wine.”
    • “The game seamlessly integrates trial-and-error gameplay with strategic thinking, encouraging players to experiment with different panel arrangements to uncover the optimal solution.”
    • “Uninspiring gameplay.”
    • “At first this game looks alright and you can have some laughs at the outcome of failed attempts to solve your so-called 'puzzle'; however, the more you fail, the more you will have to redo it, and with confusing mechanics, the problem is that the game does not inform the player which piece is placed correctly.”
    • “However, the second game, while also good, suffers a little from not adding anything new as it repeats the same ideas and, as far as I noticed, does not have any new twists to the gameplay, which makes playing the two games directly one after another feel a bit like a drag.”
  • music104 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its smooth jazz soundtrack, which effectively enhances the noir atmosphere and immerses players in the experience. While many reviewers appreciate the stylish integration of music with gameplay and visuals, some note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's artistic design and storytelling.

    • “The jazz soundtrack sets the perfect mood, and the narrative, though minimal, keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “The jazzy background music adds to the effect, giving the whole thing a classic noir movie feel.”
    • “The music really brings out the mood, the puzzles are brilliant... and, without a single word, this game tells a great story with some mind-blowing twists that leave you wide-eyed... a must-try for puzzle lovers!”
    • “The music gets repetitive really fast.”
    • “The soundtrack was okay but had to turn it off because it got very repetitive.”
    • “In one part of the game, the music kept randomly going out...”
  • graphics71 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique noir aesthetic, drawing inspiration from classic comic books, which creates a visually striking and immersive experience. The minimalist art style, complemented by a smooth jazz soundtrack, enhances the overall atmosphere, making it feel like a stylish, interactive comic. While some users noted minor glitches and a lack of depth in the story, the combination of appealing visuals and engaging gameplay makes it a recommended experience for puzzle enthusiasts.

    • “Although fairly short, this puzzle game collection is worth playing for being unique, challenging, and fun, along with having a cool aesthetic.”
    • “There's a distinctive art style that clearly draws inspiration from classic comic books and film noir, resulting in a visually striking and cohesive aesthetic.”
    • “The graphics are slick, the movement is either done by performance capture or rotoscoping.”
    • “Graphics: the set pieces are all simple, and the characters are 2D shadow people.”
    • “The art style and the music make up for whatever the puzzle design and length lack, but not at full price.”
  • atmosphere21 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stylish noir aesthetic, enhanced by a smooth jazz soundtrack that immerses players in a tense and intriguing environment. Reviewers highlight the combination of striking art direction and atmospheric sound, which together create a captivating experience, despite some critiques regarding the narrative depth. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both engaging and sophisticated, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The game's noir aesthetic is complemented by a smooth jazz soundtrack, creating an immersive atmosphere that's smoother than a spy exchanging briefcases in a smoky bar.”
    • “Though the story is a bit vague at points, the tight exploration of a single idea coupled with fantastic art, music, and atmosphere makes this an excellent use of a few hours.”
    • “The art style with the black silhouette figures in a colorful comic world and the accompanying jazz music set a wonderful atmosphere, where one wants to see the spy escape the detective successfully.”
    • “Art style and puzzles => the noir atmosphere with hideous music while you play with silhouette characters.”
    • “Creates kind of an atmosphere with suspense.”
    • “If they would have pushed the noir atmosphere to Sin City graphic novel's sophistication, then I would have been over the moon.”
  • humor10 mentions

    Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting its enjoyable moments and funny animations that enhance the overall experience. The clever design and storytelling contribute to the comedic elements, with some players finding the steam achievements particularly amusing. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the puzzling adventure, making it a worthwhile experience.

    • “An enjoyable little puzzler with a few funny moments.”
    • “The story line is *chef's kiss*; the Steam achievements are hilarious, but it's definitely worth giving a try for some 1-2 hours of puzzling adventure.”
    • “Several of the player animations made me laugh.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while it features branching paths and multiple solutions that encourage revisiting, some players find it short and lacking in long-term engagement. Achievements add a layer of fun, but overall, the replay value may be limited for those who complete it fully.

    • “There is also a high level of replayability thanks to its branching paths and multiple solutions.”
    • “Figuring out how to get some of the achievements is super fun and it definitely has replayability due to the multi-solution nature of the puzzles.”
    • “Recommended if you want a beautiful but short puzzle with low (or no) replayability.”
    • “Very easy with one or two exceptions, incredibly short even with 100%ing the game (getting all achievements), no replay value.”
    • “It's the Schrödinger's cat of replayability – you won't know until you open the game again.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the puzzles start off enjoyable, they quickly become repetitive and tedious due to the need to re-use panels and navigate similar frames multiple times. Some users describe the experience as occasionally frustrating but still fun overall, indicating that the grind can detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “It can feel a bit grindy at times, but it's part of the experience.”
    • “The grind can be long and tedious, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “The puzzles are fun at first, but quickly become tedious.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “Some chapters might be quite tedious though, but not in a frustrating way.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its sleek black-and-white design and engaging storytelling that effectively avoids common genre tropes. The unique character design and well-crafted narrative enhance the overall experience, making the gameplay both creative and challenging, though some levels may present unexpected difficulty.

    • “The framed collection is noir done right: a slick black-and-white character design with softly colored backgrounds, amazing jazzy music, and affective, well-knit storytelling that diverges from questionable tropes of the genre.”
    • “It has a beautiful art style, unique character design, and a story that will absolutely play with your brain. If you manage to beat all the levels in both parts of the game to get to the ending, you'll find that all the levels feel creative and challenging in a beautiful way.”
    • “The character design is also super straightforward and simple, allowing you to focus on the panel movement and puzzle-solving. This game does a really good job at that!”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving me disconnected from the story.”
    • “I expected more depth from the characters, but they all seem one-dimensional and predictable.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in character progression makes the experience feel linear and unengaging.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally praised, featuring slick graphics and smooth movement achieved through performance capture or rotoscoping. Users report good performance on mid-range hardware, indicating effective resource management.

    • “The graphics are slick, and the movement is either done by performance capture or rotoscoping.”
    • “Overall impressions and performance are impressive.”
    • “Graphics and performance are optimized well, especially with a setup featuring a 970, 4790k, 16GB of RAM, and an SSD.”
    • “The graphics are slick, but the optimization leaves much to be desired.”
    • “Despite having a powerful setup with a 970, 4790k, and 16GB of RAM, the performance is inconsistent.”
    • “Overall impressions indicate that while the visuals are impressive, the game's optimization significantly hampers the experience.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game experiences random freezes that can test players' patience, alongside occasional glitches that detract from the overall experience. While the graphics are vibrant and enjoyable, these stability issues may hinder gameplay.

    • “The game freezes randomly, like it's testing my patience.”
    • “Although the game offers some pleasant graphics and vibrant colors, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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