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Gods Will Be Watching

Gods Will Be Watching is certainly a unique experience, but that doesn't make it an interesting one. It relies too much on random chance and does nothing to compensate for the frustration that will cause. Unless you enjoy punishment you might want to avoid.
Gods Will Be Watching Game Cover
52%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
95% User Score Based on 1,873 reviews
Critic Score 57%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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Gods Will Be Watching Game Cover

About

"Gods Will Be Watching" is a point-and-click thriller centered around tough decisions and moral dilemmas, as players navigate hostage situations, wilderness survival, and more in an interstellar struggle. Every choice is crucial, and the consequences affect both the lives of your team and those you're sworn to protect, with no clear-cut right or wrong choice. The game challenges players to consider the weight of their actions, as they balance the needs of their team with the greater good.

Gods Will Be Watching screenshot
Gods Will Be Watching screenshot
Gods Will Be Watching screenshot
Gods Will Be Watching screenshot
Gods Will Be Watching screenshot
Gods Will Be Watching screenshot

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,875 reviews
story465 positive mentions
grinding93 negative mentions

  • Unique and challenging gameplay that combines resource management with moral dilemmas.
  • Engaging story and well-developed characters that evoke strong emotions.
  • Beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • Punishing difficulty that often relies on RNG, leading to frustration and repeated playthroughs.
  • Lack of clear instructions and mechanics, making it hard for players to understand how to progress.
  • Repetitive dialogue and cutscenes that can become tedious after multiple failures.
  • story
    1,287 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Gods Will Be Watching" is a complex and engaging narrative that intertwines themes of morality, sacrifice, and survival within a sci-fi setting. Players navigate through a series of challenging scenarios that require tough decisions, often leading to emotional and ethical dilemmas, although some critics note that the gameplay mechanics can detract from the storytelling experience. The addition of a free DLC epilogue further enriches the narrative, providing deeper character backgrounds and tying up loose ends, making the overall story a significant draw for those willing to endure the game's difficulty.

    • “The story itself was engaging science fiction with a fun setting, very show don’t tell.”
    • “The story is truly amazing even though I'm not very far into it yet.”
    • “The psychological and emotional depth this game is able to give to its characters through such a succinct (yet masterfully narrated) story, overall the characters themselves, the bits of humor, the sci-fi setting, and all the choices and emotional involvement... there are so many things to praise about this little gem.”
    • “The story is very light and the gameplay quite simple text with light animations, if you like this games or not,.. mhh after all game is good made and kinda solid for the decision thing, the story is too light the gameplay too repetitive but for a one-time feeling is a good game.”
    • “The grinding breaks the flow of the story and makes you care less and less about the characters, when I guess the developers meant for you to feel empathy towards them.”
    • “The story does, in fact, get around to explaining why this occurs but it happens so late in the game that I worry most players will have given up long before then.”
  • gameplay
    581 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Gods Will Be Watching" is characterized by its challenging resource management and trial-and-error mechanics, often leading to frustration due to its reliance on randomness and lack of clear guidance. While some players appreciate the unique integration of gameplay with moral dilemmas and narrative depth, many criticize it for being overly punishing and repetitive, with a steep learning curve that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game presents a mixed reception, where its innovative concepts are overshadowed by gameplay that feels tedious and unrefined.

    • “The gameplay features an emphasis on decision making and time management puzzles.”
    • “The gameplay is very much based on odds and planning your choice of action.”
    • “The gameplay is smart puzzles that make you focus on the odds and the sacrifices that you'll have to make to either increase your odds to pass the chapter.”
    • “The gameplay is atrocious.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and tedious, especially with an evil RNG.”
    • “The gameplay relies too much on luck, and ultimately leads to frustration and wasted time.”
  • graphics
    269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a distinct pixel art style that many players find charming and fitting for its narrative, though opinions vary widely. While some praise the visuals as beautiful and evocative, others criticize them as outdated or poorly executed, with issues like screen flickering and difficulty in character recognition. Overall, the aesthetic is appreciated for its artistic choices, but it may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer modern graphics.

    • “A wonderfully satisfying narrative, with a stunning soundtrack and gorgeous visuals.”
    • “The art style on this game is also very interesting, in a way being blocky yet detailed at the same time.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, interesting story, well-written dialogue and an innovative game design with high replayability.”
    • “I want to play this game, but the visuals and flashing screen issue every time I click something makes it unplayable.”
    • “The graphics are trash, but I didn't care, except for when it was hard to make out what certain items were.”
    • “The background music is fitting, but the pixel graphics seem like more of an exercise in hiding the lack of quality rather than understanding and embracing limitations of the medium...”
  • music
    243 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as beautiful, fitting, and even "godly," effectively complementing the game's narrative and emotional weight. However, some players noted that the music can become repetitive during extended gameplay, particularly when replaying levels, which may detract from its impact over time.

    • “A wonderfully satisfying narrative, with a stunning soundtrack and gorgeous visuals.”
    • “The soundtrack is a banger.”
    • “The music makes it even better.”
    • “This game elicited no emotion from me at any point, not even from the soundtrack or potentially charming pixel graphics.”
    • “An interesting story that's poorly executed, no checkpoints or saves during chapters, underwhelming music and characters, and extremely challenging gameplay are just a handful of the problems with this game.”
    • “As much as I enjoyed the art style, narrative, dialogue, and music of the game, ultimately these aspects were all tarnished by the game's design.”
  • grinding
    94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration among players. Many reviews highlight the lack of checkpoints and the reliance on trial-and-error mechanics, which can result in long, monotonous gameplay sessions that detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the challenge and depth of the resource management, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding significantly hampers enjoyment and engagement with the story.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
    • “The grind is real, but the sense of achievement you get from leveling up makes it all worth it.”
    • “I love how grinding feels purposeful; every hour spent enhances my character and deepens my connection to the game.”
    • “A lot of the issues with this game are how tedious it is.”
    • “The game is very tedious and repetitive.”
    • “This game is sadly a tedious, rinse and repeat, trial and error game.”
  • atmosphere
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by a stunning soundtrack and unique pixel art that effectively convey themes of tension, despair, and existentialism. Many reviewers highlight how the combination of art style, music, and storytelling creates a captivating experience, although some note that repetitive gameplay can detract from the overall impact. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, drawing players in with its emotional depth and aesthetic appeal.

    • “The atmosphere of despair and fighting for survival will consume you.”
    • “The way it subtly builds tension and creates an undeniable atmosphere for each scenario is uncanny, and is easily one of the strongest parts of the game.”
    • “Gwbw is incredibly atmospheric with its mixture of phenomenal pixel art and some of the best writing I've seen in a game.”
    • “You already know exactly what buttons to press in order to solve this dilemma, and any emotion or atmosphere the game tries to immerse you with is gone, because you know that you'll be going through this exact same situation again in about 10 minutes, after the RNG decides that you've messed up.”
    • “But ultimately once you’ve finished 'Gods Will Be Watching', the tense atmosphere of not knowing what’ll happen next gets lost during your second and third playthrough.”
    • “The moral choices and brooding atmosphere suck you in and don’t let go, giving the player an uncomfortable, tense, and thrilling rollercoaster of a ride, even if it’s only good for one go around.”
  • emotional
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Gods Will Be Watching" is characterized by its intense and often heartbreaking narrative, forcing players to make difficult moral decisions that evoke strong feelings of empathy and attachment to the characters. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a gripping atmosphere filled with psychological depth, where the emotional stakes are high, and failure can lead to devastating outcomes. While the gameplay can be frustrating and challenging, it ultimately enhances the emotional experience, making it a memorable journey for those willing to invest in its story.

    • “Prepare to make some of the most emotionally painful, twisted, and difficult decisions of your gaming life with 'Gods Will Be Watching.'”
    • “Gripping, high tension, and emotional story coupled with a gruesome and unforgiving group management style gameplay makes 'Gods Will Be Watching' a memorable yet painful experience.”
    • “The game is written in a way that if a character you've known for five minutes dies, it's enough to evoke such a strong emotional reaction from you that you immediately want to restart just so you can fix it.”
    • “I noticed quite a few people have been giving bad reviews because it is too hard with a basic and boring story.”
  • replayability
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability varies significantly among players, with some appreciating the randomness and multiple approaches that enhance replay value, while others find it limited due to its linear story and repetitive gameplay. Many users highlight the enjoyment of achievement hunting and refining strategies as factors that encourage replay, but some feel that once the game is completed, there is little incentive to return. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there are elements that can provide replayability, it may not be substantial for all players.

    • “The challenge comes in through RNG, which adds to the replay value as well as frustration.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique to me, even though it's always the same levels and the starting conditions are the same; I still need to figure everything out for that level.”
    • “The game is also very replayable, as there are a number of different approaches you can take to get through each chapter, and if you fulfill certain requirements, you can even unlock concept art and additional background information on the characters.”
    • “Not a replayable game once you've done it all, but it's a storybook game that is worth experiencing once.”
    • “But unless you are an achievement hunter, there is close to no replay value.”
    • “This is another problem: while there is some replayability, the game is extremely short, and your choices end up having little impact on the end.”
  • humor
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it charming and funny, particularly in character dialogue and dark humor elements, while others criticize it for being inconsistent and lacking depth. Some moments, like character glitches and absurd scenarios, provide laughs, but many feel the humor doesn't always land effectively, leading to a frustrating experience rather than a consistently enjoyable one. Overall, while there are humorous aspects, they often feel overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of coherent comedic writing.

    • “One of the best, if not the best, I have ever seen in a video game. The characters are deep, the dialogue is funny and charming. I really want to know more about what's in the universe, what other factions, planets, aliens, etc. there are!”
    • “I was hoping for hilarious evil options like in KOTOR, and there's some of that. The pixel art animations for people who are stressed out are funny, but mostly it's just silly.”
    • “(I spent a lot of time laughing at Shaman for being such a bad hacker). The repetition can be frustrating at times, but doesn't detract from the great story 'Gods Will Be Watching' has to offer.”
  • stability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes and crashes, particularly after completing levels. Many have experienced significant glitches, including texture issues and memory leaks, which can disrupt gameplay and affect overall performance. While some players noted that certain glitches do not severely impact immersion, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from serious stability problems.

    • “Now the game freezes randomly in the middle of levels.”
    • “From what I've experienced, the game freezes and crashes after every level.”
    • “Buggy as hell and made every other program on my computer stop responding while starting it up.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it overly focused on optimization at the expense of experimentation and immersion. Additionally, technical issues such as frequent framerate drops and stuttering detract from the overall experience, indicating that the game is not well-optimized. While players can gauge their performance through statistical comparisons, the reliance on optimization may lead to a lack of meaningful consequences in gameplay.

    • “On the one hand, you can just treat each scenario as an optimization problem, with each character being just a resource to be used up.”
    • “To soothe the tension, the authors provided a nice recap of your performance after each chapter in the form of a statistical comparison of your choices with the other players in the world over time.”
    • “And I thought, if I gradually increase the starting advantage of the AIs, it’ll reach a point that no matter how optimized my play is, my chance of beating them remains at zero.”
    • “Also, you only get a limited number of turns/moves to complete everything that's been asked of you, so it's mostly about optimization instead of experimentation and immersion.”
    • “I find that the framerate dropped constantly and there was a lot of stuttering, even though it's just a little bit of pixel art.”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the engaging dialogue and well-written interactions that enhance the overall experience. However, some users feel that the depth of character development is minimal, suggesting a mixed reception depending on individual expectations. Overall, those who prioritize story and character interactions find it rewarding, while others may find it lacking.

    • “I actually kind of enjoyed this section, just because it was comfortably paced and filled with enough character development and interactions that I was always entertained and engaged. If not with the gameplay, then with the dialogue and characters, which are very well written.”
    • “If you value presentation, story, atmosphere, and character development (there's quite a bit considering how 'short' the game is), then I highly recommend it.”
    • “The dialogues are great and the character design is nice, too.”
    • “The character development... minimal if none at all.”
    • “There is mystery, and character development also.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is tied to its advertising, which emphasizes choice-driven gameplay but lacks clarity on the significant resource management component. While the promotional materials accurately represent the game, players feel somewhat constrained by the choices presented, suggesting that a more detailed explanation of the game's mechanics could enhance understanding and expectations.

    • “They haven't said anything wrong about the game in the advertising, but it's such a new type of game that they could have been more specific and mentioned the resource management aspect in a bigger way.”
    • “Granted, visual cues help with each situation, but with the game giving you freedom to make choices and basically advertising itself as a choice-making game, I feel very pigeonholed.”

Buy Gods Will Be Watching

7h Median play time
9h Average play time
6h Main story
17h Completionist
6-14h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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