If Found...

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,541 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • gameplay
If Found... Game Cover
Sometimes life is all about finding the right connections.
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In "If Found...", you erase journal entries to uncover the story of Kasio, a young person returning to their Irish hometown and grappling with personal struggles and relationships. The game's innovative format combines hand-drawn art, interactive elements, and atmospheric sound to create a unique and immersive narrative experience. Delve into Kasio's past and present as you navigate their journey towards self-discovery and acceptance.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,541 reviews
story511 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience.
  • A heartfelt and relatable story about identity, acceptance, and the LGBTQ+ experience.
  • Unique gameplay mechanic of erasing to progress the story, which adds depth to the narrative.
  • Gameplay can feel repetitive and tedious due to the erasing mechanic.
  • The sci-fi subplot may feel disconnected from the main narrative.
  • Some players may find the story too short and lacking in interactivity.
  • story1,282 mentions

    The story of *If Found* is a poignant and deeply personal narrative centered around a transgender woman named Kasio, exploring themes of identity, acceptance, and the complexities of family relationships in 1990s Ireland. The game employs a unique erasing mechanic to reveal the story, which resonates emotionally with players, particularly those within the LGBTQ+ community, while also offering universal themes of self-discovery and belonging. Despite some critiques regarding its pacing and the integration of a sci-fi subplot, the overall storytelling, art, and music create a compelling and immersive experience that many players find touching and relatable.

    • “It's a profoundly moving game that teaches a significant lesson—a universally relatable message and a compelling story.”
    • “This masterpiece is a great story about understanding and expressing oneself just as much as it is about empathizing with others and being willing to love someone for who they are.”
    • “The story is wonderfully poignant and well told, the dialogue is flawless and the characters are all fantastic.”
    • “The game doesn't really introduce us into his story at the beginning, but tries and fails to do so in later chapters.”
    • “The story is unbelievably linear with the first 80-90% of the game not having choices at all and the last 10-20% providing choices, but they only adjust what you read, not any meaningful outcome.”
    • “I didn't like the eraser mechanic as well, being too slow and disconnected from the storytelling metaphors in my opinion.”
  • emotional452 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "If Found..." is overwhelmingly powerful, with numerous players reporting that the game made them cry multiple times due to its deeply personal and relatable narrative. The story, which explores themes of identity, acceptance, and familial relationships, resonates particularly with LGBTQ+ individuals, offering a cathartic experience that many found both heartbreaking and uplifting. The game's stunning visuals and evocative soundtrack further enhance its emotional impact, making it a memorable and touching journey for players.

    • “This game is incredible; I cried so many times playing it. It was a truly heartbreaking experience.”
    • “The narrative is emotionally impactful, touching on themes of family, friendship, and the struggles of coming to terms with one's identity.”
    • “If found is a beautifully told, emotional story of finding your identity while longing to fit in, set in mid-90s rural Ireland.”
  • gameplay378 mentions

    The gameplay of *If Found* primarily revolves around a unique erasing mechanic that allows players to uncover the narrative by literally wiping away layers of the story. While this mechanic is creatively tied to the themes of memory and identity, many players found it repetitive and at times physically taxing, leading to mixed feelings about its overall engagement. Despite its simplicity and limited interactivity, the gameplay effectively complements the emotional depth of the narrative, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate story-driven games.

    • “The erasing mechanic is both a really interesting and creative way to play, but is also low key painful because it feels brutal to erase kasio's memories and the faces of the people she loves.”
    • “The gameplay is simple yet incredibly effective.”
    • “The link between story and gameplay is genuinely so well executed, and if the subject matter interests you at all, pick it up.”
    • “The gameplay is really lacking.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game but felt the mechanics were too repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay was a bit tedious, because you basically do nothing but erasing and my wrist started to feel the non-stop jiggling motions.”
  • music349 mentions

    The music in the game has been universally praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, with many reviewers highlighting its beautiful composition and fitting integration with the visuals. The soundtrack, featuring contributions from notable artists like 2mello, is described as diverse and impactful, effectively capturing the game's emotional highs and lows. Overall, the combination of music, art, and narrative creates a compelling and immersive atmosphere that resonates deeply with players.

    • “The music is absolutely incredible and it added so much to this game.”
    • “The story is accompanied by a beautifully evocative soundtrack by the wonderfully talented 2mello, and interwoven with fragments of a metaphorical sci-fi story adding depth and bold visual flair to an already beautiful game.”
    • “The music, drawings, and dialogue are all beautifully done.”
    • “As my taste in electronica leans more towards guitar-heavy stuff, I have to say I didn't care for the soundtrack at all.”
    • “Found the soundtrack jarring instead of blending with the story.”
    • “The art is pretty, the visuals are eye-catching... the music is all over the place, from ethereal to punk-ish to electro-whatever.”
  • graphics271 mentions

    The graphics of "If Found" are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which effectively conveys deep emotions and enhances the narrative experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful color palettes, intricate textures, and the unique erasing mechanic that adds an interactive layer to the visuals. Overall, the game's aesthetics are described as breathtaking and integral to its storytelling, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.

    • “Some of the most stunning visuals in any game I've played.”
    • “The visuals are beautiful with amazing color palettes and great contrasts.”
    • “Words hardly do justice for how impressive the visuals are, especially considering how there's a lot of contrasting imagery in tone and subject, and that the game still manages to make it all cohere.”
    • “The writing doesn't remotely match up to the artistic level of the visuals.”
    • “The game straddles a thin line between game and artwork, so those more interested in the game side of things may find it a little light on gameplay.”
    • “The art is pretty, the visuals are eye-catching, but the music is all over the place, from ethereal to punk-ish to electro-whatever.”
  • atmosphere21 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and immersive qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and stunning visuals. Players feel a strong connection to the story of self-discovery and belonging, with the unique artistic style and portrayal of life in Western Ireland contributing to a rich, engaging experience. Overall, the combination of narrative, music, and art creates a memorable and heartfelt atmosphere that resonates deeply with players.

    • “You can feel them so close due to both the story and the execution (including that OST which is pure magic); they create this beautiful atmosphere of which you feel part of as you explore the story about self-discovery, growth, belonging, and friendship.”
    • “The atmosphere is excellent, both the weather and the portrayal of life in Western Ireland.”
    • “Stunning yet minimal illustrations effortlessly express each character and scene; a strongly written cast effectively comes to life; music and sound design enrich the atmosphere of each page of the story, creating a sharp portrayal of the emotional complexities in young adulthood.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game, primarily centered around the repetitive erasing mechanic, is often described as tedious and can lead to physical discomfort over time. While some players appreciate the engaging story and beautiful visuals that accompany the gameplay, many feel that the constant need to erase the screen detracts from the overall experience, especially as the game progresses. Despite its short playtime, the repetitive nature of the mechanics has led to mixed feelings about its value.

    • “The gameplay was a bit tedious, because you basically do nothing but erasing (and writing later on) and my wrist started to feel the non-stop jiggling motions.”
    • “A good story, but the constant need to erase the screen to progress becomes incredibly tedious.”
    • “Though there are some sections that make beautiful use of the eraser mechanic (especially when paired with the game's stunning visuals/sound design), many of the sections, and most specifically the diary portions, started to feel tedious and repetitive towards the end.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability due to its short playtime of approximately 1.5-2 hours and a lack of branching pathways, making it feel steep in price for what it offers. While the engaging story and character interactions are immersive, replay value mainly comes from achievements and missable diary entries, which may not be enough to entice players to revisit the game.

    • “The story it has to tell and the characters whose interactions we see/document are beautiful and engaging.”
    • “While there is some replayability in the form of achievements and missable diary entries, this is limited and as such the price tag feels a little steep for the short playtime.”
    • “It has a very well-executed story that is immersive.”
    • “Time-wise, 'If Found' is relatively short and there aren't many branching pathways that provide replay value. However, the story it has to tell and the characters whose interactions we see/document are beautiful and engaging.”
    • “While there is some replayability in the form of achievements and missable diary entries, this is limited. As such, the price tag feels a little steep for the short playtime.”
    • “Which, in my opinion, compensates for its short playthrough (approximately 1.5-2 hours depending on how quickly you read or take time to look around and admire the scenery/story). However, there isn't much replayability unless you're going to 100% the game; it has a very well-executed story that is immersive.”
  • character development4 mentions

    "If Found" is praised for its compelling story and strong narrative character development, which effectively engage players despite the repetitive gameplay mechanics of deleting content. The art style further enhances the overall experience, making the character arcs memorable and impactful.

    • “If Found has a wonderful art style, a compelling story, and great narrative character development.”
    • “Although it is repetitive having to delete everything from the beginning to the end, the captivating story and character development themselves are engaging enough for players to look past it.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as both heartwarming and hilarious, effectively balancing poignant and emotional moments that resonate deeply with players. The inclusion of Irish language and slang enhances the comedic elements and overall immersion, making the experience particularly relatable for those familiar with the culture.

    • “Many moments in this game are poignant, emotional, and powerful, which brought me to tears on several occasions, while others are heartwarming, and even downright hilarious. Don't forget to click the bottom left of your screen if you can't understand the scraps of Irish language and slang peppered throughout the game; they added a lot to the character and immersion of the game for me as someone from Ireland myself.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The stability of the game is marred by occasional bugs in the erasing mechanics, which can lead to unintended actions such as erasing the next line of text prematurely or not allowing players to erase everything they intend to.

    • “Sometimes the erasing mechanics were a little buggy, like erasing the next line of text or moving on before it allows me to erase everything I want to.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

86% average critic score

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