Fran Bow
- August 26, 2015
- Killmonday Games HB
- 10h median play time
Come for the artwork and soundtrack, stay for the compelling mystery. Fran Bow slips a bit on the details, but its charm wins out.
Get on SteamFran Bow is a creepy adventure game following Fran, a young girl with a mental disorder. After her parents' death, Fran is sent to a mental institution, where she escapes to search for her beloved cat, Mr. Midnight. Throughout the game, Fran's hallucinations and vivid imagination shape the surreal, hand-drawn world she explores.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Linux
PlayStation
Tablet
Xbox
Reviews
- story3,309 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Fran Bow" is a dark and intricate narrative that explores themes of trauma, mental illness, and the surreal experiences of a young girl navigating a twisted reality after the murder of her parents. Players are drawn into a hauntingly beautiful world filled with emotional depth, unexpected plot twists, and a blend of horror and whimsy reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland." While the storytelling is compelling and rich, some players find the plot convoluted and the ending unsatisfying, leaving room for interpretation and speculation.
“It's a story filled with emotion, and I can't recommend it enough.”
“Great story, impressive balance between horror and heartwarming.”
“The way that Fran Bow tells a story is impressive, balancing both the innocence of a child with the darkness of what has happened to her in her life.”
“The story is convoluted and overstuffed with dialogue, leading to a lack of coherence that ultimately detracts from the overall experience.”
“The story becomes convoluted and overstuffed with dialogue, leading to a lack of coherence that ultimately detracts from the overall experience.”
“The story is a convoluted mess that failed to execute on a great premise.”
- graphics1,177 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Fran Bow" are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, which blends dark, whimsical elements reminiscent of Tim Burton's work with a childlike innocence. Players appreciate the hand-drawn visuals that create a haunting atmosphere, effectively complementing the game's psychological horror themes. While some users noted limitations in resolution and simplistic cutscenes, the overall aesthetic and attention to detail in character design and environments contribute to a deeply immersive experience.
“I love the art style of this game; it is disturbing and beautiful at the same time and works perfectly with the story being told, which is a dark twist on Alice in Wonderland.”
“The art style is incredibly charming; Mr. Midnight is the most adorable thing I've ever seen. There's a perfect balance between endearing and disturbing.”
“The graphics are unique and very beautiful; the dialogues are very well-crafted and bring individuality to each character.”
“My only complaint was being unable to access higher resolutions, so the graphics felt more dated than I'd hoped, but the art style is delightfully grim.”
“Graphics can be a bit disturbing, but there is a trigger warning about that.”
“The low budget in development shows, the graphical quality of the backgrounds and characters are poor, the inventory can be a trudge to navigate through as you have to click on use, look, and combine on the junk you carry around like this is an adventure game from the late '80s.”
- gameplay555 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Fran Bow* is primarily a point-and-click adventure that incorporates unique mechanics, such as switching between two realities using pills, which adds depth to puzzle-solving. While many players appreciate the creative puzzles and engaging story, some find certain mechanics frustrating or tedious, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. The game is praised for its artistic style and atmosphere, but the gameplay can sometimes feel repetitive or lacking in clarity, particularly in later chapters.
“The supernatural elements are intriguing and charming, and the mechanic of swapping between worlds to solve puzzles is super fun to play.”
“The mechanic of using two different worlds is fun.”
“The gameplay is simple yet effective and the story and dialogue are incredible.”
“The longer the game goes from chapters 1 and 2 part one, the worse the dialogue and general gameplay gets.”
“But as a player, a lover of puzzle games no less, the gameplay left a lot to be desired and caused me to leave the game mid-chapter due to frustration.”
“There were no clear objectives, items I knew I would need to pick up weren't allowed to be for arbitrary reasons, solving puzzles went from using the pill mechanic with clear thought and understanding of the goal to clicking around the whole screen until something popped up that made no sense story-wise.”
- music428 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in "Fran Bow" is widely praised for its ability to enhance the game's eerie atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its haunting and immersive qualities. The soundtrack complements the unique art style and narrative, creating a captivating experience that draws players into the unsettling world of the game. While some found the music repetitive or not particularly memorable, the overall consensus is that it effectively sets the mood and contributes significantly to the game's emotional depth.
“The music, sound effects, story, literally everything!”
“The game's hand-drawn art and atmospheric soundtrack create an immersive experience that's both unsettling and intriguing.”
“The soundtrack is gorgeous and immersive, carrying over emotion and perfectly framing the scenes.”
“So almost everything in this game is mediocre or bad, even the music is some kind of copy of Alice in Wonderland.”
“All in all a mediocre point and click adventure game that has original visuals, okay music but the story is very boring so I can't recommend this game.”
“The music is simple, yet sets the mood well.”
- atmosphere356 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Fran Bow" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, combining stunning hand-drawn art with a fittingly eerie soundtrack that enhances the game's unsettling narrative. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and intrigue, making it a standout experience for fans of atmospheric horror. The unique blend of whimsical and dark elements creates a captivating environment that draws players into its psychological depths, making it a must-play for those who appreciate rich storytelling and artistic design.
“Its combination of a compelling narrative and a genuinely creepy atmosphere makes this game a masterpiece of the genre, and a must-play for anyone who appreciates horror stories with depth and a beautiful art style.”
“The game's hand-drawn art and atmospheric soundtrack create an immersive experience that's both unsettling and intriguing.”
“The atmosphere is gorgeously unsettling, the plot is solid and intriguing, the characters are rich and believable yet you never quite know who you can trust, the pacing is steady, and the twists and turns are sharp.”
“The atmosphere will plunge you into a hopeless nightmare.”
“The atmosphere is just bizarre and unsettling enough, thanks to the brilliant art and music direction.”
“From start to finish, you'll be enthralled by the disturbing and surreal atmosphere.”
- emotional223 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Fran Bow" is widely praised for its intricate blend of horror and heartwarming moments, creating a deeply engaging narrative that resonates with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, from joy to sorrow, as it explores themes of trauma, innocence, and the bond between the protagonist and her cat. The art style and character development further enhance the emotional experience, making it a memorable journey that leaves a lasting impact on players.
“This was an emotional rollercoaster for me; aside from being a nostalgic part of my life, the game is a masterpiece.”
“The story is heartfelt and you feel pulled to fix things for Fran.”
“The devs masterfully blend psychological horror with touching moments of innocence, making Fran an unforgettable character whose journey you can’t help but empathize with, even as she descends into madness.”
- humor111 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark, twisted, and sometimes childish elements, often juxtaposed with heavy themes and graphic imagery. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and the charming, quirky characters, which provide comedic relief amidst the horror, though some feel the humor can be immersion-breaking or overly juvenile. Overall, the game successfully balances its macabre atmosphere with moments of levity, making it a unique experience for fans of dark comedy and adventure games.
“I love this game so much; it's a click and explore horror game with some twisted humor.”
“The bits of humor sprinkled through are delightfully dark.”
“The characters are delightful and the humor of Fran is just amazing.”
- grinding48 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to repetitive puzzles, slow dialogue, and the inability to skip lengthy conversations. Many reviewers noted that the gameplay becomes increasingly monotonous as the story progresses, with some suggesting that watching a playthrough might be more enjoyable than playing. While the game has its charm and unique characters, the tedious mechanics detract significantly from the overall experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The gameplay itself was also tedious, and I was tired of all the clicking in and out of the inventory by the second chapter.”
“The conversations made this game incredibly tedious.”
“Some outdated tedious mechanics of the point-and-click adventure game genre as well as a few bugs may have you rolling your eyes.”
- replayability39 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging enough to revisit multiple times, while others feel it lacks significant replay value due to its short length and straightforward puzzles. Many suggest that taking breaks between playthroughs can enhance the experience, as the story and achievements may offer new insights upon revisiting. Overall, while some players appreciate the potential for replayability, others note that it may not hold up for repeated runs without a significant gap in time.
“Overall, while 'Fran Bow' may be relatively short, its replayability, challenging puzzles, and engaging narrative make it a worthwhile experience.”
“And it has a lot of replayability potential because not only is the story so complex, but it's also very unlikely that you'll get all the achievements in one playthrough.”
“All in all, this is a great game and definitely has replay value so you can do everything the game offers you.”
“I think this game lacks replay value.”
“The biggest problem I see is that this game has no replay value; you can 100% the game on your first run, achievements and all.”
“The biggest flaw of the game, however, is that there is zero replayability.”
- character development29 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and creativity, with players highlighting the unique and visually striking character designs that enhance the storytelling. Many reviews note the effective portrayal of characters like Fran and her interactions with others, such as Itward, which contribute to a compelling narrative experience. However, some critiques mention instances of disjointed storytelling and stilted dialogue, suggesting that while character designs are exceptional, the development can vary in execution.
“The character development was very nicely handled and worked successfully in my eyes.”
“Loved the soundtrack and character designs especially, and I thought they did a great job writing Fran's commentary - it has an authentically childlike charm, but with a very slightly deranged flavor, per the character herself.”
“Adorable yet unsettling art, compelling mystery and dynamic character development.”
“The story is okay, but very disjointed, with zero character development and the dialogue is extremely stilted.”
“- character development”
“At first I originally disliked character design, but after buying it and playing for the very few hours I have, it kinda grew on me.”
- stability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting frequent bugs, particularly in specific chapters, while others note a smooth launch and minimal game-breaking glitches. Overall, while there are occasional glitches, they generally do not significantly impact gameplay.
“The game itself has no glitches or lag issues, from what I've seen, and launches smoothly.”
“Found no glitches or bugs, which is very good.”
“But it's very buggy in the maze area.”
“The game got kinda buggy during chapter 4's first part.”
“It's pretty buggy every now and then, and the gameplay itself is pretty bad.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players report smooth performance and no bugs, others criticize the limited 30fps cap and poor optimization of certain effects, leading to noticeable delays. Additionally, there are calls for a higher-definition version optimized specifically for PC.
“I've played through the game multiple times and never had any issues with bugs or performance.”
“+ runs smoothly in Linux (even on my low-end machine).”
“The game is limited to 30fps, so it feels like it's stuttering all the time if you are not used to it.”
“When you take your pills, the filters and effects are horribly optimized and cause significant delays.”
“If there's one complaint I could make, it's that I wish there were an 'HD' version of the game optimized for PCs.”
