If Found...

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 766 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
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 766 reviews
story253 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and music that enhance the emotional experience.
  • A heartfelt and relatable story about identity, acceptance, and the struggles of being a trans person.
  • Unique gameplay mechanic of erasing to progress the story, which adds depth to the narrative.
  • The erasing mechanic can become tedious and may lead to hand fatigue.
  • Some players may find the story's pacing uneven, particularly towards the end.
  • Limited interactivity may not appeal to those looking for more traditional gameplay.
  • story638 mentions

    The story of *If Found* is a deeply emotional and poignant narrative centered around a transgender woman named Kasio, exploring themes of identity, acceptance, and the complexities of family relationships in 1990s Ireland. Players engage with the story through a unique erasing mechanic that metaphorically reflects the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and the struggle to reconcile her past. While the narrative is praised for its heartfelt representation and beautiful art, some players found the sci-fi elements and gameplay mechanics to detract from the overall experience.

    • “The story is wonderfully poignant and well told, the dialogue is flawless and the characters are all fantastic.”
    • “It's a beautiful story told from a unique perspective that instantly feels incredibly important to the medium.”
    • “If found is a beautifully told, emotional story of finding your identity while longing to fit in, set in mid 90's rural Ireland.”
    • “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.”
    • “The only real bone I have to pick is that the sci-fi bits toward the end feel a little out of place, especially since by that point I was so utterly invested in kasio and what was happening with her that the other storyline only served to detract from the experience for me and break immersion.”
  • emotional225 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with numerous players expressing that it made them cry multiple times due to its deeply touching and relatable narrative. Many reviews highlight the game's exploration of themes such as identity, acceptance, and personal struggles, particularly resonating with LGBTQ+ players. The combination of beautiful art, music, and heartfelt storytelling creates a powerful emotional experience that leaves a lasting impact.

    • “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.”
  • gameplay188 mentions

    The gameplay of *If Found* primarily revolves around a unique erasing mechanic that serves as a means to progress the narrative, revealing layers of the story as players erase elements on the screen. While this mechanic is praised for its thematic depth and emotional resonance, many players find it repetitive and physically taxing over the course of the game. Overall, the gameplay is simple and minimalistic, often described as more of an interactive visual novel than a traditional game, with some players wishing for additional mechanics to enhance engagement.

    • “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 erasing mechanic is super unique and I think it makes the game feel more interactive than a normal visual novel.”
    • “The gameplay is really lacking.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game but felt the mechanics were too repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay itself is quite simple but the story felt powerful.”
  • music173 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, often described as a standout feature, complements the game's themes of self-discovery and emotional struggle, creating a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players. Overall, the combination of stunning art and a powerful soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's impact, making it a memorable experience for many.

    • “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 art, music, and story are beautifully woven together to create an immersive, compelling experience that was emotionally touching and cathartic.”
    • “The art is pretty, the visuals are eye-catching... the music is all over the place, from ethereal to punk-ish to electro-whatever.”
    • “Found the soundtrack jarring instead of blending with the story.”
    • “The soundtrack, I found, was fitting though forgettable, but I don't think this is a serious issue, as it excels in what it focuses on to such a degree where it could be dead silence and I would still love this title, so I won't factor that into my rating at the end.”
  • graphics135 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which effectively conveys deep emotions and enhances the storytelling experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful color palettes, intricate details, and the unique erasing mechanic that adds an interactive layer to the visuals. Overall, the combination of captivating artwork and a fitting soundtrack creates an immersive atmosphere that resonates with players, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “Some of the most stunning visuals in any game I've played.”
    • “Beautifully done visuals, design, and storytelling that all fit perfectly with the soundtrack.”
    • “The artwork is beautiful and has a cute, sketchy illustrative style, a little rough maybe, but very charming.”
    • “The writing doesn't remotely match up to the artistic level of the visuals.”
    • “Visuals are the main focus of the game and they are really amazing.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game, primarily centered around the repetitive erasing mechanic, to be tedious and somewhat exhausting, especially during longer play sessions. While the engaging story and beautiful visuals provide some relief, many reviewers noted that the constant need to erase the screen can detract from the overall experience, particularly in the latter parts of the game. Despite its short playtime, the grind can feel excessive, leading to mixed feelings about the game's 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.”
    • “Though there are some sections that make beautiful use of the eraser mechanic, many of the sections, and most specifically the diary portions, started to feel tedious and repetitive towards the end.”
    • “A good story, but the constant need to erase the screen to progress becomes incredibly tedious.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and immersive qualities, enhanced by a captivating story, stunning visuals, and a magical soundtrack. Players feel a strong connection to the themes of self-discovery and belonging, with the unique artistic style and attention to detail in the portrayal of settings, particularly in western Ireland, contributing to an unforgettable experience. Overall, the combination of narrative, art, and music creates a beautifully engaging atmosphere that resonates deeply with players.

    • “The mechanic is absolutely brilliant as it conveys emotions and atmospheres without having to directly state or display them.”
    • “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.”
    • “An amazing game with great artistic style and unique atmosphere.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability due to its short playtime of 1.5-2 hours and a lack of branching pathways, though its engaging story and character interactions provide some incentive to revisit. Players can pursue achievements and collect missable diary entries, but these elements may not justify the price for those seeking extensive replay value.

    • “The story it has to tell and the characters whose interactions we see and document are beautiful and engaging.”
    • “While there is some replayability in the form of achievements and missable diary entries, this is limited.”
    • “Although there isn't much replayability unless you're going to 100% the game, 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 give replay value, but the story it has to tell and the characters whose interactions we see/document are beautiful and engaging.”
    • “Which, in my opinion, compensates for its short playthrough (approximately 1.5-2 hours depending on how quickly you read or take 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.”
    • “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.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development in "If Found" is praised for being compelling and engaging, effectively enhancing the captivating story despite some repetitive gameplay elements. The art style further complements the narrative, making the overall experience worthwhile for players.

    • “The game features a wonderful art style, a compelling story, and great narrative character development.”
    • “Despite the repetitive nature of having to delete everything from the beginning to the end, the captivating story and character development are engaging enough for players to overlook it.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a delightful blend of heartwarming and hilarious moments, effectively balancing poignant storytelling with comedic elements. The inclusion of Irish language and slang adds depth to the characters and enhances the overall immersion, making the humorous aspects even more relatable for players familiar with the culture.

    • “A visual novel with some truly gorgeous graphics, fantastic songs, and a story that both made me laugh and cry.”
    • “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.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users have reported occasional bugs with the erasing mechanics, such as unintended erasure of text and premature progression before completing the desired actions.

    • “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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