Good Bones

About

Good Bones is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by RETCON Games and was released on October 21, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"Good Bones" is a point-and-click mystery game by RETCON Games, where you move into a haunted house to escape grief after your spouse's death. As you explore the house with your daughter, you encounter a ghost and must uncover her identity and cause of death, making choices that could either help or harm your family. The game emphasizes the importance of careful decision-making to avoid further tragedy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features an emotional and well-written story that explores complex themes of grief and domestic violence, resonating with players.
The point-and-click mechanics are engaging, allowing players to interact with a variety of objects and uncover flavor text that adds depth to the experience.
The art style and chill lofi music create a cozy atmosphere, making it a suitable game for casual play during a relaxed afternoon.

The game is short and lacks substantial content, leading to repetitive gameplay where players must click on numerous objects without clear direction.
The writing is often criticized for being cheesy and melodramatic, detracting from the serious themes it attempts to address.
Technical issues, such as vague hints, poor flag-setting, and a lack of meaningful choices, hinder the overall experience and frustrate players.

story
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The story is a poignant exploration of grief, centered around a mother and daughter helping a ghost confront an abusive past, blending emotional depth with moments of levity. While some reviewers noted a disconnect between the story's serious themes and its lighthearted dialogue, many praised its well-written narrative and the engaging point-and-click mechanics that allow for multiple endings and rich interactions. Overall, the game is recognized for its heartfelt storytelling and inclusivity, making it a compelling experience for fans of the genre.
- “I knew going into it it was a story about grief, but I didn't expect to get chills at times and feel so much about these characters I meet so briefly.”
- “A heartstring-pulling story about a mother and daughter dealing with their grief as they help a ghost deal with an abusive past.”
- “The style and the story don't seem to fit together.”
- “A major emotional moment would happen between them as a story beat, and then you'd click on an object that prompted goofy joke dialogue.”
- “The nature of the story gets incredibly serious incredibly fast, and then takes a pretty dark turn, but you've still got the chill lo-fi music playing even in the middle of a horrifying crisis.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a deeply emotional narrative that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, with well-crafted character writing that resonates with players. While many found themselves moved by the story, some expressed frustration over punitive mechanics for dialogue choices, which detracted from the overall emotional experience. The soundtrack further enhances the emotional depth, making it a touching and inclusive journey.
- “I found myself emotionally moved at times.”
- “It is incredibly well written and such a heartbreaking story.”
- “A very emotional story with a great soundtrack.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The music in the game is characterized by chill lo-fi beats that effectively convey a sense of melancholy and coziness, complementing the emotional narrative. However, some reviewers felt that additional tracks could enhance the atmosphere, particularly during more intense moments of the story. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, adding depth to the game's unique blend of spooky and serene vibes.
- “A cozy point and click game with chill lo-fi music and spooky vibes!”
- “A very emotional story with a great soundtrack.”
- “The nature of the story gets incredibly serious incredibly fast, and then takes a pretty dark turn, but you've still got the chill lo-fi music playing even in the middle of a horrifying crisis.”
- “Two or three more tracks in the soundtrack so you could actually communicate the tone that goes along with 'you're investigating a mysterious death' would have added a lot to the game.”
- “The music is also a highlight -- it's filled with a variety of lo-fi beats that perfectly capture the feeling of melancholy and chill.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The gameplay is characterized by engaging point-and-click mechanics and a story-driven approach, blending visual novel elements with seek-and-find tasks and puzzles. While some users noted minor logical errors that briefly interrupted the experience, these issues were generally considered manageable and did not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment. However, there are contrasting opinions, with some describing the gameplay as frustrating.
- “I love the point-and-click mechanics and the story-driven aspect.”
- “It's a great little cozy visual novel with point-and-click gameplay.”
- “The gameplay should be studied as a method of torture.”
- “There are a couple of minor logical errors with flags that occurred about 1/3 of the way through the game, but they didn't stop my gameplay, were only relevant for about a minute, and seem easily fixable.”
- “Has a mix of visual novel storytelling, seek-and-find gameplay, and some puzzles.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The graphics in "Good Bones" are described as decent, featuring static images typical of Ren'Py games that change with character emotions, but lacking actual animation. The vibrant visuals and cute art style are complemented by chill lofi music, creating an engaging atmosphere that many players appreciate. Overall, the artwork and aesthetic choices are well-received, enhancing the visual novel experience.
- “It swaddles you with vibrant visuals, chill lofi beats, and quirky characters.”
- “The game's artwork and scanlines are a match made in heaven.”
- “Art style and music are solid.”
- “Good Bones is a fairly short visual novel with some puzzles along the lines of 'find what you need to get past the next gate.' The graphics are pretty okay, but as it is a Ren'Py game, that means 'static images that change with character emotion,' no actual animation.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers some replayability through multiple save options, allowing players to explore different choices. However, many users feel that the overall replay value is limited, primarily revolving around achieving a good or bad ending, with little incentive to replay beyond that.
- “Having multiple saves really encourages replayability.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game received mixed reviews; while some players appreciated the comedic elements, others felt that the attempt at a Reddit-style humor missed the mark. Overall, the humor resonated with some but failed to connect with others.
- “Loved the sense of humor.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has been praised for its impressive optimization, especially for a first-time developer, as it runs smoothly without crashes or significant performance issues, and any bugs present are minimal and easily overlooked.
- “Additional kudos to a first-time developer releasing a finished title that doesn't crash, doesn't have crazy performance issues, and the bugs are so minor you'd miss them if you weren't looking.”