HEADLINER

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 829 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • replayability
HEADLINER Game Cover
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"Headliner" is a single-player adventure game with an ingenious, thought-provoking story, where you are a News Editor deciding which stories get published in a fictional city with genetic modification. The game offers multiple unique endings, highly emotional gameplay, and allows you to curate articles creating your own bias. With an average playtime of 45 minutes and colorblind-friendly design considerations, "Headliner" is proof that games can be art and will make you question media quotations.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 829 reviews
story36 positive mentions
monetization10 negative mentions
  • Engaging concept that explores the impact of media on public opinion and personal lives.
  • Multiple endings and replayability encourage experimentation with different choices.
  • Thought-provoking narrative that prompts players to reflect on their values and the consequences of their decisions.
  • Extremely short gameplay, typically completed in under an hour, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Limited character development and dialogue can make it difficult to connect with family members.
  • The game can feel overly simplistic and binary in its choices, lacking nuance in complex social issues.
  • story181 mentions

    The game's story is a short yet impactful exploration of media influence and personal choices, with players navigating various headlines that affect both societal outcomes and family dynamics. While the narrative offers multiple endings and encourages replayability, many reviewers found it predictable and lacking depth, with some expressing disappointment over its brevity and limited engagement. Overall, the story is seen as thought-provoking but could benefit from more complexity and development.

    • “On my first blind playthrough of the game, the developer achieved the goal of making me reflect upon my actions and feel emotional about the things in the story that intensified and went right/wrong.”
    • “The storyline is engaging, with multiple branching paths that encourage replayability.”
    • “Love the way the story can change and alter just from little choices.”
    • “The story itself is not that interesting, to be honest.”
    • “My biggest qualm is that the storyline is pretty short.”
    • “The endings were severely disappointing in that the satisfaction factor was missing due to the plain goal/option checklist that is displayed in place of a more developed (story-wise) or visually, emotionally or audibly satisfying ending sequence.”
  • gameplay113 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the choice-based mechanics and the impact of decisions on the narrative, reminiscent of titles like "Papers, Please." However, many found the gameplay repetitive and simplistic, with limited mechanics and a short duration that can lead to boredom. Overall, while the game offers an interesting concept and social critique, it struggles with coherence and depth, leaving some players wanting more complexity and engagement.

    • “I enjoyed that every choice had a direct effect on the gameplay, but at times it felt tiresome because there are no actions that are entirely positive--each choice will result in both negative and positive consequences.”
    • “Being in control of selecting headlines while trying to either cause mayhem, further a political or personal agenda, or to create peace, order, and equality gives the player an immersive sense of purpose despite its very limited visuals, story, and gameplay itself.”
    • “For a game of this small scale and type, it has engaging gameplay.”
    • “When myself and a friend played through the game, we agreed on not publishing various articles due to how malicious they were, and were disappointed to learn that the game mechanics do not acknowledge these articles as being particularly 'bad' or even more opinionated than more rational articles.”
    • “The concept is very cool, but the gameplay itself is just boring.”
    • “Game is fun, but repetition kicks in not even near the half of my second gameplay.”
  • replayability87 mentions

    The game offers a mix of replayability, primarily due to its multiple endings and choice-driven narrative, allowing players to explore different outcomes. However, many reviewers note that its short playtime (around 30-60 minutes) limits long-term replay value, with some feeling that once all endings are achieved, the game loses its appeal. Overall, while it has decent replay value for a brief experience, it may not sustain interest beyond a few playthroughs.

    • “The game is pretty short, but it has multiple endings, so there is some replayability.”
    • “High replay value due to different angles and outcomes to see; it doesn't take long either, so it's a nice distraction in between.”
    • “Your choices matter; there are multiple endings, and the replay value is good.”
    • “I did two playthroughs in under an hour... and if I'm being honest, the game doesn't really feel replayable.”
    • “It's a cheap game and worth a play or two, but you could get all the endings in about an hour with no replay value because it's so short and limited.”
    • “I really like the idea behind it; it's super interactive and addicting to try and get all the endings as possible - but once you get them all, you're burnt out and there's not a lot of replay value after that.”
  • graphics79 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users describing them as poor or "meh," often citing a simplistic, low-resolution art style that may not appeal to everyone. While some appreciate the nostalgic and retro feel, others find the visuals lacking and unengaging, suggesting that they detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, several players emphasize that the gameplay and storytelling compensate for the graphics, making the game enjoyable regardless of its visual shortcomings.

    • “I like the art style, kind of nostalgic, and the music fits, an overall retro feel.”
    • “Amazing game, don't let the graphics drive you away.”
    • “The graphics are simple yet attractive, and the controls feel intuitive and fluid.”
    • “Poor graphics and not a lot of story going on.”
    • “It's about 20 minutes long and has terrible graphics.”
    • “The visuals of the game are a bit rough and the game overall is rather short and simple, especially when compared to the vastly improved sequel, but I can still appreciate it for being the first of its series.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    The game successfully evokes a range of emotions, prompting players to reflect on their choices and the consequences of their actions, particularly in high-stakes scenarios. However, some players feel that the emotional depth is undermined by underdeveloped character interactions and disappointing endings that lack narrative satisfaction. Overall, while the game aims to be emotionally impactful, it struggles with execution in certain areas, leaving players feeling both moved and frustrated.

    • “On my first blind playthrough of the game, the developer achieved the goal of making me reflect upon my actions and feel emotional about the things in the story that intensified and went right or wrong.”
    • “I have finished this game and got my player killed by rioters, which made me feel angry and sad because no choices were presented for escaping that situation.”
    • “...but for an era that is already well aware of how finicky the consequences of news can be, the story that this game told with its very talented and reusable attention to detail was that the consequences of news can be finicky and emotional.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game is generally appreciated for its nostalgic and retro feel, complementing the art style and storytelling. However, some users find it repetitive and reminiscent of tracks from other games, leading to mixed reviews with an average rating around 6/10. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the immersive experience, it may not stand out as particularly original.

    • “I like the art style, kind of nostalgic, and the music fits, creating an overall retro feel.”
    • “The art style and soundtrack enhance the immersive experience, making it a thought-provoking and intriguing game for those who enjoy interactive storytelling and moral dilemmas.”
    • “I got this game after watching some videos and really enjoy the artwork, the music, and the way it tells the story.”
    • “Cons... the family scenes and music are a bit repetitive.”
    • “Music: 6/10”
    • “Music that we have already heard in many games.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game appears to rely heavily on early access and influencer marketing, which may create a disconnect between player expectations and the actual gameplay experience. This reliance on external advertising and the potential for spoilers could negatively impact sales and replayability, as players may feel a sense of powerlessness that contradicts the game's promotional narrative.

    • “This severely limits the number of story reveals and ultimately means sales of the game as well as replayability will be hampered by spoilers coming from YouTubers (despite the free advertising).”
    • “Obviously, strategically produced pre-release/early access advertising using these YouTubers is key.”
    • “Yes, a game advertising itself as about manipulating a country through media control made me feel powerless.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious and repetitive, particularly during specific tasks like family suppers. While some acknowledge it can feel grindy at times, there are no achievements tied to this grinding, which may lessen its appeal.

    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
    • “The game feels a bit grindy at times, yet it keeps me engaged.”
    • “While it can be a bit grindy, the progression is satisfying.”
    • “The part about the family suppers is tedious and repetitive.”
    • “Grinding achievements: no”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its chaotic and absurd outcomes resulting from players' decisions, which many find hilarious. Reviewers appreciate the blend of fun and philosophical commentary on media's societal impact, with some enjoying the freedom to embrace a mischievous playstyle. Overall, the game is described as "hilariously fun" despite its brevity.

    • “Hilariously fun but short game with interesting philosophical thoughts on media and its effects on society!”
    • “This is funny as hell, I never go for being bad normally but in this game I'll go 'full speed, t-bone accident, burn everything' bad...mostly... (I am a bit friendly with my loving husband occasionally...the unmodified can burn in hell though, with our neighboring country!)”
    • “I liked that I could see the effects of my daily publication decisions in the streets, some of which I thought were funny and usually ended with chaos.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a simplistic art style that aims to create a specific mood, though the use of color often feels out of place and detracts from the intended ambiance. Some users have noted a resemblance to the atmosphere of "Papers, Please," suggesting a blend of tension and minimalism. Overall, while the art style serves a purpose, it may not fully achieve the desired atmospheric effect.

    • “When there is color, they always stick out and don't give off the atmosphere they should.”
    • “Reminds a bit of the 'Papers, Please' atmosphere.”
    • “Obviously, the overall art style in its simplicity is necessary and not of consequence other than to set an atmosphere.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The optimization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with players expecting a deeper engagement in curating news and making impactful decisions akin to "Beholder." However, many feel that the game falls short of these expectations, lacking the complexity and depth in performance management that they anticipated.

    • “Kind of like 'Beholder', where your job performance and decisions will severely influence your private life, but with a different theme and angle.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its instability, with multiple users reporting bugs that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, there are concerns that prolonged gameplay could lead to boredom.

    • “It was a little buggy, and the gameplay might get boring if it was longer.”
    • “Buggy trashware”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that character development in the game is lacking, with many users noting minimal effort in character design, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “There was very little effort put into the character design at times.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth.”
    • “I found the characters to be one-dimensional and uninteresting.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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