I Saw Black Clouds

New FMV game brings the drama but stumbles in final act

57%Game Brain Score

story, music

graphics, replayability

63% User Score Based on 346 reviews

Critic Score 51%Based on 9 reviews

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I Saw Black Clouds is a single player action adventure game with horror and thriller themes. It was developed by Ghost Dog Films and was released on March 30, 2021. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"I Saw Black Clouds" is an interactive psychological thriller game, where player's choices impact the narrative. The story revolves around a young woman, Kristina, who starts seeing black clouds over people's heads, indicating their impending death. As the game progresses, Kristina uncovers dark secrets, facing moral dilemmas that challenge her sanity. The game features a unique art style and atmospheric soundtrack, creating an immersive and haunting experience.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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63%

Audience ScoreBased on 346 reviews

story86 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game has a nice suspenseful thriller vibe, with a dark atmosphere that enhances the experience.
There are multiple endings and a variety of choices that can lead to different story paths, providing good replayability.
The acting is generally decent, particularly from the lead actress, and the cinematography has some standout moments.

Many choices feel inconsequential, often leading to the same outcomes regardless of player decisions.
The story can be disjointed and confusing, with abrupt scene transitions that disrupt immersion.
Technical issues such as poor audio blending and awkward editing detract from the overall experience.

story
384 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
66%
12%
The story of the game is described as disjointed and confusing, with many players feeling that their choices have little impact on the overall narrative. While some appreciated the multiple story paths and plot twists, others criticized the execution, citing poor pacing, unclear character motivations, and a lack of coherence. Overall, the narrative offers intriguing elements but suffers from significant flaws that detract from the experience.
- “I enjoyed the plot and the game also throws you a massive plot point about midway through that will piece a lot of what's going on together, which I think I really enjoyed as it started to make sense and really throws a new perspective on the story.”
- “All in all, the story was entertaining, and having a quite different story at the second playthrough (with the same characters but in different roles) was refreshing, saving this FMV from the 'nanard' category.”
- “There are lots of branches to the story, lots of different ways of discovering what's going on and it can be genuinely unnerving at times; I touched about 1/3rd of the scenes in the first playthrough so I am looking forward to diving back in and seeing just how different things are.”
- “The plot is absolute disjointed nonsense, the cause and effect of your choices is obscure, the dialogue is inane and delivered over hours of joyless monotone, editing is nonexistent, basic direction like blocking and sight-lines are all over the place, the cinematography and camerawork is basic, and the subject matter (rape, suicide and mental illness!) is handled about as sensitively as a goose stuck in a toilet.”
- “The story was generally muddled and confusing.”
- “Many of the choices in the game don't seem to actually change anything in the story.”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
76%
8%
The music in the game is noted for its imaginative and original compositions, particularly the song "Oh Baby" featured in bar scenes, which enhances the atmosphere. However, many reviewers criticize the abrupt cuts and resets in the audio during scene transitions, which disrupts immersion and tension, making the experience feel choppy and disjointed. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, the execution in relation to scene changes detracts from the overall impact.
- “It is not really a very scary game; there are some jumpscares, but it is more about the thrilling pressure of the unknown, and this is done pretty well with the story and music.”
- “Other elements that stood out for me were the music, which I thought was imaginative and original. I especially liked the song 'Oh Baby' that appears in the bar scenes.”
- “The soundtrack is very good once more; there are literally hundreds of decisions to be made, four different endings with very different paths leading towards those endings, and around 570 scenes to discover.”
- “A lot of scenes use that ominous, gradually increasing musical tone to build tension, but if (within the same scene) the camera quick cuts to another POV, the audio resets!”
- “Many times when making a choice, the transition to the next scene isn't seamless - there's a noticeable change in the music that kind of takes you out of the story for a moment.”
- “The editing is done so poorly that when you make a choice, the background music doesn't even connect.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and cinematic quality, effectively enhancing the storytelling through well-crafted locations like Dominique's house and the old mental asylum. However, some players noted that certain gameplay choices detract from the experience, leading to moments of stagnation that can disrupt the otherwise engaging atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully creates a creepy and unsettling environment that resonates with players, despite some pacing issues.
- “Not a game for the faint of heart; it certainly has some topics that could make people uneasy. Overall, I really enjoyed this game. I got creeped out a lot, and the atmosphere of the game was amazing.”
- “Everything is shot so well that you can feel the atmosphere of what is happening in detail.”
- “A great atmosphere is set up and sustained in this game, not wasted like you see in countless films.”
- “The scenes do drag on a little bit (though some of it is for atmosphere), but combined with the choices-that-aren't-really-choices problem above, it's noticeable like when you're walking through the mental institution that nothing really happens for a good while until finally one thing happens and you leave.”
- “Some choices are well embedded in the story and atmosphere (at the therapist's office) just to be ruined by bland choices like turning left or right, followed by going left or right, etc.”
- “The scenes do drag on a little bit (though some of it is for atmosphere), but combined with the choices-that-aren't-really-choices problem above, it's noticeable like when you're walking through the mental institution that nothing really happens for a good while until finally one thing happens and you leave.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The graphics in the game are described as disjointed and inconsistent compared to previous titles from the developer, with noticeable glitches and awkward transitions that disrupt the visual experience. However, the game does convey a strong British aesthetic, which may resonate well with fans of British television. Overall, while the visuals are deemed decent, they fall short of expectations and can detract from the overall immersion.
- “There's a strong British feeling to this game - the setting, the surroundings, even the lighting and aesthetics of the scenes and the manners of acting will probably be more familiar to those who are used to British television.”
- “The acting and visuals are decent, and the story is kind of interesting.”
- “But this game is worse than others by this developer in the fact that much of the game's visuals seem disjointed.”
- “There’s almost always a hard cut on the visuals and even a short glitchy pause, a stutter in the audio (soundtrack and background noises as well) during the transitions.”
- “The acting & visuals are decent & the story is kind of interesting.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as very dark and unconventional, lacking the campy elements found in other FMVs. While some players found it to be one of the most hilarious experiences, others were confused about its genre, questioning whether it was meant to be a horror-detective or a humorous game. Overall, it seems to elicit strong reactions, with some enjoying the comedic aspects while others find the tone ambiguous.
- “Not scary in the slightest... one of the most hilarious things ever made.”
- “And my friend and I absolutely loved laughing at it every step of the way.”
- “Several endings, a funny plot, and the play of actors... (what?)”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple parallel storylines and a large number of video clips, with players reporting that they have only seen a fraction of the content after multiple playthroughs. However, some users note that this complexity can lead to awkward cutscenes and inconsistencies. Overall, while there is ample opportunity to explore different narrative paths, players are advised to enjoy the experience rather than expect a flawless execution.
- “There are about 600 video clips and so far I’ve played through the game twice and only seen 355 scenes… so lots of replayability.”
- “The same characters appear in different roles, etc. The game is longer than the others because it has some replay value.”
- “Having different parallel storylines is great for replayability but inevitably creates bad fittings and strange cutscenes.”
- “Being able to tab through scenes which have already been watched is very helpful for replayability and allowing people to concentrate on what changes they might be making to the story.”
- “In that way there is some replayability, but again, don't expect too much, just enjoy the ride.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it captivating and heartbreaking, particularly praising the depth of the main character's portrayal and the strong emotional impact of the ending. However, others criticize the story as boring and the acting as poor, suggesting that the emotional journey may be undermined by a lack of meaningful player choices. Overall, it appeals to those willing to engage with its emotional themes despite some clichés.
- “This is an excellent and emotionally captivating movie, one of the best ones I've played.”
- “If you're prepared to go on an emotional journey, then you should like this game.”
- “Especially the main character is played with emotional depth.”
- “The story is boring and the acting is poor.”
- “The story is boring and the acting is poor.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The gameplay is primarily limited to making scattered and often nonsensical dialog choices, reminiscent of old interactive DVD movies, which may disappoint players seeking more engaging mechanics like quick-time events. Overall, the lack of meaningful interaction and poor implementation of gameplay elements detracts from the experience.
- “This can be a deal breaker for those looking for a bit more engaging gameplay, such as quick time events (QTEs).”
- “It's just gameplay.”
- “The only gameplay interaction is some scattered, nonsensical dialog choices.”
- “The gameplay is reminiscent of old interactive DVD movies where you just click a choice and the story continues.”
- “[Confusing and often nonsensical storyline, many useless choices, filming is very amateurish, poor implementation of gameplay elements]”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates solid technical stability with no major glitches; however, players have noted issues with ambient sound inconsistencies and a buggy decision-pause mode. Additionally, the narrative suffers from plot holes and continuity errors, detracting from the overall experience despite the game's good intentions.
- “Technically the game works well, no major glitches; however, the break between decisions takes you a bit out of the experience as the ambient sound stops and changes volume at times.”
- “The mode that has the game pause at decisions seemed a bit buggy.”
- “This shouldn't be a bad thing, but the story has too many plot holes and incomprehensible glitches: characters mention others you haven't talked about; you run away from one place in perfect condition and in the next scene you come out bleeding. I've played through the game twice, and I'll probably play it several more times to discover all the endings, but I think it's a shame that a game with such good intentions has so many seams.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews present a stark contrast in opinions regarding the voice acting in the game, with some users criticizing the performances as overacted and lacking authenticity, while others praise the actors for delivering a wonderful performance. This division suggests that optimization in terms of character portrayal may not meet all players' expectations.
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game is so demanding that it may require a second life, suggesting that the effort needed to progress can be excessive and potentially frustrating.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”

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51%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

I Saw Black Clouds is a action adventure game with horror and thriller themes.

I Saw Black Clouds is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iPhone and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing I Saw Black Clouds.

I Saw Black Clouds was released on March 30, 2021.

I Saw Black Clouds was developed by Ghost Dog Films.

I Saw Black Clouds has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

I Saw Black Clouds is a single player game.

Similar games include The Complex, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, The Suicide of Rachel Foster, Erica, Tokyo Dark and others.

I Saw Black Clouds

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