Gone In November

About

Gone In November is a single player action game. It was developed by Florastamine and was released on August 18, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Gone In November" is a single-player adventure game that explores the theme of depression. As a patient with a terminal illness, you'll experience the character's emotional journey, filled with texting inactive social media accounts, watering cacti, and isolating yourself. The game challenges the player to confront feelings of loneliness and the impact of modern society, where closeness can still feel isolating.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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52%

Audience ScoreBased on 221 reviews

story24 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Gone In November presents a deeply emotional narrative that effectively explores themes of grief and depression, resonating with players who have experienced similar struggles.
The game's minimalist design and soundscape create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the emotional weight of the protagonist's journey.
Despite its brevity, the game offers a poignant reflection on life's fragility, making it a thought-provoking experience for those willing to engage with its heavy themes.

The execution of the story is often confusing, with overlapping text and poor grammar that detracts from the overall experience and makes it difficult to follow.
The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and a lack of options for adjusting settings, which can hinder gameplay and immersion.
Many players find the slow pacing and limited interactivity frustrating, leading to a feeling of monotony rather than engagement with the narrative.

story
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
8%
The game's story is characterized by its fragmented and convoluted narrative, focusing on themes of depression and emotional turmoil, but it often fails to deliver a coherent or engaging experience due to poor execution, grammar issues, and a lack of depth. While some players appreciate the emotional weight and personal resonance of the story, many find it confusing and underdeveloped, leading to frustration rather than connection. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a missed opportunity, with potential that is not fully realized in the game's brief and simplistic format.
- “It belongs to a particular strain of indie storytelling in which the primary conflict exists entirely within the protagonist’s mind, and the player’s role is not to conquer enemies or solve intricate puzzles, but to witness and participate in the slow erosion of emotional stability.”
- “Graphically and mechanically, this game does not have much in the way of both of them; however, what the game lacks in those departments, it 100% makes up for in the story department, crafting an emotionally upsetting story that can leave you drained.”
- “A very well-written story; it feels as if the developer is taking you on a deep dive into his life and thoughts.”
- “The story is too convoluted and it's frustrating to try to piece together nonsense.”
- “The story is piecemeal and poorly structured - making it lose any capacity for evoking emotions.”
- “The unclear parts of the story mar what seems to be a strong beginning, and the intriguing points lack sufficient development.”
graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The graphics in this game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as archaic, bland, and lacking in detail or purpose. While some appreciate the simplicity and artistic choices that enhance the mood, the overall consensus is that the visuals are subpar, with limited customization options and numerous graphical issues. Despite these shortcomings, a few players found the graphics acceptable within the context of the game's narrative and emotional impact.
- “Fun and interesting take on the puzzle genre with satisfying audio and graphics.”
- “Graphically, the game looks pretty solid for a 3D indie title.”
- “The visuals, while basic, are done artfully and enhance the mood.”
- “There's very little interaction with the environment and the graphics are archaic.”
- “There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
- “The graphics are worse than a mid-90s mod.”
emotional
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
11%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a deep exploration of the protagonist's internal struggles, using minimal interaction to emphasize emotional weight over gameplay challenges. Players experience a slow, heavy narrative that often evokes sadness and introspection, with sound design and pacing enhancing the emotional tension. While some critiques mention technical flaws and a lack of clarity, many reviewers highlight the game's ability to resonate on a personal level, making it a poignant, albeit draining, emotional experience.
- “It belongs to a particular strain of indie storytelling in which the primary conflict exists entirely within the protagonist’s mind, and the player’s role is not to conquer enemies or solve intricate puzzles, but to witness and participate in the slow erosion of emotional stability.”
- “In the end, Gone in November is less a traditional game and more an emotional exercise—an invitation to inhabit a mental state most media tends to simplify or romanticize.”
- “A very sad and depressing game... it literally hit me in the heart while playing this game and almost made me cry... life is too short to be sad, but this game sort of reminds me of myself a bit... :(”
- “The story feels unfinished and boring, lacking the depth to engage players emotionally.”
- “The emotional impact is minimal, making it hard to connect with the characters or their struggles.”
- “I expected a rich narrative, but it was over in just a few minutes, leaving no lasting emotional impression.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
76%
14%
The gameplay of "Gone in November" is characterized as a minimalist walking simulator, focusing primarily on movement and text-based narrative rather than traditional gameplay mechanics. While some players appreciate the emotional depth of the story, many criticize the limited interaction, lack of polish, and overall brevity, leading to a mixed reception regarding its engagement and replay value. Overall, the gameplay is seen as sparse and unrefined, with a strong emphasis on narrative at the expense of mechanical depth.
- “Gameplay is your standard walking simulator title, and it does everything pretty well.”
- “Overall, there isn't much gameplay but the story is powerful enough to give a good experience while following someone who isn't as fortunate as the rest of us.”
- “Interaction is limited to movement, observation, and acknowledging internal thoughts, which allows emotional weight—not gameplay challenge—to drive progression.”
- “The gameplay itself was much, much smaller.”
- “The gameplay is mediocre and boring.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The music in the game is generally described as decent and fitting, contributing to the somber and emotional atmosphere, though it lacks variety and can be overshadowed by repetitive sound effects. While some players appreciate the soft, sad melodies that enhance the game's themes, others find the overall sound design lacking, with long stretches of silence and minimal musical cues. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a supportive element rather than a standout feature, with mixed opinions on its effectiveness.
- “Sound design follows the same philosophy: long stretches of silence, faint environmental hums, and occasional musical cues heighten emotional tension without dictating it.”
- “The soundtrack is fitting, and I actually quite like it.”
- “The soft, sad-sounding music is fitting for this game, and the themes it attempts to tackle.”
- “The music is alright, but it is ruined by the footstep noise which is the same all the way through and is like having a loud grandfather clock in your ears at all times.”
- “Unbearable music and sound effects.”
- “The game is far from pretty to look at, music is alright but nothing to brag about.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game's atmosphere is described as dark and depressing, appealing to those who enjoy such themes, but it suffers from poor execution and a lack of engaging elements. Players may find the atmosphere compelling, yet the overall experience is marred by tedious mechanics and low-quality design.
- “The atmosphere makes me feel everything really went to the end.”
- “The game turned into an atmospheric experience where you can click literally anything and everything in your path to try to find a toggle.”
- “The game had a good idea, but very poor execution by developers who don't seem to grasp the importance of a proper atmosphere.”
- “I recommend it if you like depressing themes and a dark atmosphere, but if you don't enjoy walking around and reading a lot in a poorly made game, then don't.”
- “The atmosphere makes me feel like everything really went to the end.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous glitches that hinder gameplay, such as difficulty interacting with objects. Reviewers suggest that the narrative could have been more effectively conveyed through a different format, as the current walking simulator experience is marred by bugs and a lack of engagement.
- “Even though this game has a lot of glitches, for instance the part where you have to decide what to do with the knife placed in the kitchen, it takes a lot of time to figure out the position you have to be in to tap on the knife.”
- “Telling a story about depression and end-of-life issues would have probably been better told through a visual/kinetic novel format rather than through a buggy walking sim.”
- “The gameplay is boring and buggy.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks replayability, yet it leaves a lasting impression that encourages reflection long after playing.
- “It has no replayability but leaves you thinking about it afterwards.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is perceived as lacking, with some users finding it absurd to the point of being unamusing.