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Headliner: NoviNews

Sadly Headliner’s lack of depth, subtlety and nuance undermines the point that it was driving at.
Headliner: NoviNews Game Cover
87%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, replayability
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization
91% User Score Based on 534 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCMac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Headliner: NoviNews Game Cover

About Headliner: NoviNews

Headliner: NoviNews is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Unbound Creations and was released on October 23, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Short media bias adventure where YOU control national news and its impact on your career, society, and family. Control the News, control the Truth. Share your story, and see what the Headliner before you did.

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Games Like Headliner: NoviNews

Looking for games like Headliner: NoviNews? Here are top role playing recommendations, selected from player-similarity data — start with HEADLINER, Yes, Your Grace or Suzerain.

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Reviews

91%Audience ScoreBased on 534 reviews
story62 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions

  • Choices have immediate and significant impact on the world, characters, and public opinion, creating a strong sense of agency.
  • High replay value with many different endings, story branches, and character interactions encouraging multiple playthroughs.
  • Well-crafted narrative and atmosphere with strong writing, engaging characters, and a fitting soundtrack enhancing immersion.
  • Relatively short gameplay per playthrough, relying heavily on replayability which can become repetitive after several runs.
  • Some choices are overly binary or lack nuance, resulting in perceived political bias and simplistic portrayal of complex issues.
  • The pacing and mechanics, including mandatory walking segments and limited article interactions, can feel slow and occasionally tedious.
  • story

    177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    35% positive mentions, 63% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The story in this game is generally praised for its engaging, atmospheric, and thought-provoking narrative that evolves based on player choices, offering multiple branching paths and significant replay value. While some find it short and occasionally repetitive or predictable, others appreciate the morally complex dilemmas and rich character interactions. However, a few reviews mention that the story can feel somewhat linear, lacks depth in certain areas, and may benefit from a longer or more varied narrative to fully satisfy players.

    • “The story kept me hooked from start to finish.”
    • “The game offers a great variety of paths and endings along with a great storyline and well-developed characters.”
    • “It's a high quality story driven indie game where you play the role of the chief curator of a large news channel in Novistan.”
    • “The story spans 14 days and in the second half it simply starts to overstay its welcome.”
    • “In the end, there will be no payoff, revelations, or a clear answer who's responsible for the outbreak that drives the story.”
    • “It's very difficult to intuit how your choices will affect the story, and many of the choices seem to carry the game author's slant on them which doesn't exactly feel satisfying.”
  • replayability

    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    49% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The game offers high replayability through multiple endings, branching story paths, and consequential choices that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some find the gameplay lacks variety or depth after a few runs, most appreciate the game's short sessions and layered narratives that reveal new elements over time. Overall, its replay value is considered a strong selling point, particularly for those interested in exploring different outcomes and story permutations.

    • “The game has very high replay value because a ton of different things can happen depending on your choices.”
    • “The games have a good amount of replay value, encouraging the player to play multiple times to see how many different ways they can twist the narrative.”
    • “Massive amount of replay value to see what changes different decisions cause, and new challenges to face.”
    • “Definitely very interesting and I appreciate the layers you discover after a few runs, though I do think the game lacks replayability considering the concept.”
    • “I find myself wishing for gameplay that is more varied and doesn’t lose steam after the initial days; choices that are more nuanced and don’t feel like constantly being in a 'damned if you do, damned if you don’t' kind of situation; replayability that goes beyond a few memes and easter eggs; characters that are better written and don’t just exist to make certain choices feel more justified; more focus on telling a good story instead of that ESG score; ability to save at will and not just at the start of the day.”
    • “It's a nice game; fairly linear and not as much replayability as you'd expect it to be, depending on how into the story you are.”
  • gameplay

    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    23% positive mentions, 71% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The gameplay centers on a simple, decision-driven mechanic of approving or rejecting news articles, which effectively shapes the narrative and world, making initial playthroughs engaging and impactful. However, its simplicity leads to repetitiveness and limited depth over multiple playthroughs, with some players desiring more nuanced choices, varied mechanics, and longer content. Overall, while the mechanic is accessible and well-integrated with the storytelling, the gameplay can feel lightweight and loses momentum after initial runs.

    • “The main mechanic, that of the titular headlining, is very easy to get the hang of, and the subsequent portrayal of consequences in the media is fantastically impactful.”
    • “The core gameplay of selecting news stories and seeing how that affects the world/people around you is solid, the story is well-paced, and at a ~2.5 hours it didn't feel too long or too short.”
    • “Simple but fun mechanics that trigger different turns of events that can help but also destroy the characters' lives.”
    • “After all, the gameplay can be described as approving articles and then walking around town to see the outcome of your choices, and it gets quite repetitive after a while.”
    • “I find myself wishing for gameplay that is more varied and doesn’t lose steam after the initial days; choices that are more nuanced and don’t feel like constantly being in a "damned if you do, damned if you don’t" kind of situation; replayability that goes beyond a few memes and easter eggs; characters that are better written and don’t just exist to make certain choices feel more justified; more focus on telling a good story instead of that ESG score; ability to save at will and not just at the start of the day.”
    • “The actual gameplay of just approving/rejecting news articles is boring.”
  • graphics

    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    42% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 8% negative mentions

    The graphics are generally praised for their vibrant, stylish, and fitting art style that complements the game's narrative and atmosphere, marking a clear improvement over earlier entries. While some note simplistic or blocky elements and minor inconsistencies, the visuals effectively convey the dystopian setting and engage players, often enhanced by a well-matched soundtrack. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point that supports immersion, even if not highly detailed or complex.

    • “Excellent game, amazing music, spectacular graphics with very vibrant characters that you want to care for.”
    • “The graphics, although simple, are gorgeous!”
    • “Huge improvement over the original; this one has graphics and you actually meet people and see how your news affects their lives!”
    • “It's a visual novel without the visuals.”
    • “The sidescrolling graphics are kinda... meh, but it's fine.”
    • “The graphics are improved due to use of Unity engine but the art could have been way better, I think.”
  • music

    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    51% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 9% negative mentions

    The game's music is widely praised for perfectly complementing its mood, theme, and visuals, featuring a diverse and atmospheric soundtrack blending electronica, jazz, and lounge styles. Many reviewers describe the music as amazing, immersive, and integral to the storytelling, though a few found certain in-game radio tracks annoying. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances the game's artistic and emotional impact.

    • “The music deserves special mention, as Headliner: NoviNews features a seriously groovy soundtrack that fully complements the visual style.”
    • “The soundtrack is genuinely exquisite, and there is nothing bad to say about it.”
    • “The music is absolutely amazing and goes with the plot perfectly.”
    • “While there's nothing that stands out as fantastic about the game's sounds, the music that plays on the radio is annoying, and anyone who purchases a radio for their apartment for the sake of having their pad fully dressed up will be leaving the music off.”
    • “While there's nothing that stands out as fantastic about the game's sounds, the music that plays on the radio is annoying, and anyone who purchases a radio for their apartment for the sake of having their pad fully dressed up will be leaving the music off.”
    • “About music, incomparable, but with some some of them.”
  • atmosphere

    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    77% positive mentions, 23% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game excels at creating a deeply immersive and atmospheric experience, blending a moody techno-noir aesthetic with dynamic, impactful storytelling that reflects player choices. Its setting feels melancholic and thought-provoking, enhanced by fitting audio and art direction, though occasional outdated slang may slightly disrupt immersion. Overall, the atmosphere is highly praised for its depth and ability to evoke intrigue and emotional engagement.

    • “Gorgeous, atmospheric, and insightful.”
    • “The setting is deeply atmospheric and melancholy, with a fitting soundtrack.”
    • “The overall art direction is pitch perfect, with its techno-noir color palette, stylized backgrounds, and moody atmosphere all mixing seamlessly to bring the two-dimensional city to life.”
  • humor

    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is praised for its funny, absurd, and on-point comedic elements, often blending dark, tragic situations with hilarious twists. Players appreciate the variety of jokes, alternate endings, and witty interactions that add depth and replayability, though some wish for more quirky dialogue or hidden humorous features to enhance the chaotic fun. Overall, the humor effectively engages players in a unique and entertaining narrative experience.

    • “It strikes a nice balance between funny, absurd, and on-point.”
    • “Super fun game, well made and humorous.”
    • “The game is divided into days, with a fixed number of chances to influence society and interact with the other characters before the story ends, usually in a way that's depressingly, yet hilariously, tragic.”
  • emotional

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The emotional impact of the game varies among players, with some finding it a deeply touching and morally challenging experience that evokes strong feelings and regret over choices. However, others feel the social interactions lack emotional depth, and certain repetitive elements detract from the intended mood. Overall, the game excels in creating an emotionally heavy narrative for those engaged by its story and characters.

    • “It is a great exercise in morality, haven't had such an emotional reaction to games in years.”
    • “This game wants to be a touching interactive story and nothing else, and it succeeds at it.”
    • “The characters also have conflicting interests, so you will not be able to help all of them in the same playthrough, and if you're like me you'll definitely feel how high the stakes are the more emotionally invested you get with them.”
  • grinding

    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in this game is often described as tedious and slow, especially for completionists aiming for 100% achievements that require multiple playthroughs. The lack of features like a "skip dialogue" button and faster movement exacerbates the monotony, making the process feel boring and lacking in meaningful content despite occasional entertaining moments.

    • “For completionists, getting 100% achievements can get tedious since you need to complete the game several times.”
    • “Here the game instantly becomes tedious.”
    • “It's tedious, boring, and lacking meaningful content.”
  • character development

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, -50% neutral mentions, 50% negative mentions

    The character development is appreciated for its charming and well-designed characters, but players feel the game would benefit from longer, more complex storylines and deeper interactions to enhance the overall experience.

    • “I feel that the game can be improved with longer stories featuring more character development and a more complex network of interaction.”
    • “The character designs are cute and well drawn, which adds a disarmingly charming counterpoint to all the dire events unfolding around them.”
    • “While I enjoyed its art style and music, I feel that the game can be improved if there are more to do as a headliner in the office, longer stories with more character development, and a more complex network of interaction.”
  • optimization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The game offers a good experience overall but suffers from poor optimization, which may affect performance on some systems.

    • “It is a really good game, but I've found that it isn't optimized well.”
  • stability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, with players experiencing smooth performance free of bugs, microstutters, freezes, or crashes. Overall, it provides a seamless and reliable gameplay experience.

  • monetization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The monetization system is frustrating for users, as earning sufficient money is difficult and is compounded by intrusive fake ads and restrictive demands from in-game characters, leading to a negative experience.

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Play Times

4h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Headliner: NoviNews is a role playing game. Common tags for Headliner: NoviNews include politics, indie, alternate history, 2d, educational and others.

Headliner: NoviNews is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Headliner: NoviNews.

Headliner: NoviNews was released on October 23, 2018.

Headliner: NoviNews was developed by Unbound Creations.

Headliner: NoviNews has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Headliner: NoviNews for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Headliner: NoviNews is a single player game.

Similar games include HEADLINER, Yes, Your Grace, Suzerain, Beholder, Beholder 2 and others.