Instants

About

Instants is a single player action game. It was developed by Endflame and was released on June 7, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Instants is a heartfelt single-player casual game where you solve chronological photo puzzles to uncover a family's emotional story across generations. Customize albums with artistic elements as you progress, creating unique keepsakes. With a nostalgic narrative and an adorable furry companion offering help, it delivers a touching and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Casual

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

story9 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features a charming and wholesome story that unfolds as players arrange family photos, creating an emotional connection to the characters.
The art style is cute and visually appealing, complemented by relaxing music and satisfying sound effects that enhance the cozy atmosphere.
Players enjoy the creative freedom in decorating scrapbooks with various stickers, washi tape, and other collectibles, making it a delightful experience for fans of casual and creative gameplay.

The gameplay can feel short and simplistic, primarily revolving around sorting photos in chronological order, which may not provide enough challenge for some players.
The user interface can be clunky, with some interactions requiring multiple clicks, which detracts from the overall experience.
Players who are not interested in scrapbooking or decorating may find the game less engaging, as the core mechanics focus heavily on these elements.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
57%
11%
The game features a heartwarming and wholesome story that unfolds as players arrange family photographs, allowing them to piece together memories in a cozy and reflective manner. With effective narrative design and minimal text, the storytelling is conveyed through visual cues, creating an emotional experience that emphasizes the beauty of small moments. While some players noted that early decorating unlocks could diminish later enjoyment, the overall consensus is that the gentle, personal storytelling enhances the gameplay, making it a delightful and relaxing experience.
- “The plot is absolutely amazing, and caught me by surprise.”
- “It will take around 2-4 hours to complete and boasts effective narrative design and an endearing storyline, as well as simple but satisfying gameplay, charmingly cute visuals, and relaxing audio.”
- “I love how you are made to piece together the story based on the photos, and how even with a minimal amount of writing, you are still able to understand what each memory is telling you.”
- “This is a boring, short game with clunky mechanics and cliché modern storytelling.”
- “I expected it to have a little more story-wise (similar to how unpacking does) but that's okay.”
- “None of the storytelling is heavy-handed; the emotional arcs are understated and conveyed almost entirely through visual cues.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game "instants" is praised for its heartwarming and wholesome narrative that unfolds as players compile family photo albums, fostering a deep emotional connection to the characters. Its gentle storytelling, conveyed through visual cues and nostalgic moments, creates a relaxing and sentimental experience that resonates with players who appreciate themes of family and memory. Overall, it offers a cozy and emotionally rich journey that emphasizes the importance of familial bonds.
- “I felt really attached to the family by the end, and it was so wholesome and spans generations.”
- “The little stories in each chapter reflect the deep bonds and love within Maya’s family, creating an emotional and heartwarming journey for the player.”
- “It's a wonderful game to play if you want to relax while enjoying a sweet, wholesome story.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The gameplay of the game is primarily focused on sorting photos in chronological order, which some players find enjoyable yet simplistic, leading to a short overall experience of 2-4 hours. While the narrative and visuals are praised, the scrapbooking elements lack depth and engagement, leaving players wanting more from the decorating mechanics. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate diary-style gameplay and emotional storytelling, but may disappoint players seeking more challenging or varied mechanics.
- “It will take around 2-4 hours to complete and boasts effective narrative design and an endearing storyline, as well as simple but satisfying gameplay, charmingly cute visuals, and relaxing audio.”
- “I very much enjoyed playing this game and found myself getting quite engrossed in the different aspects of the gameplay and narrative.”
- “For players who enjoy diary-style games, puzzle-lite mechanics, or titles built around quiet emotional beats, Instants offers a warm and memorable experience.”
- “The game can be really short if you’re not into journaling - the entire gameplay is really just sorting pictures by chronological order, which was pretty easy.”
- “This is a boring, short game with clunky mechanics and cliché modern storytelling.”
- “Could do more with the scrapbooking element, since it was basically just stickers and washi tape, and you’re not really enticed by anything to decorate (no gameplay mechanic).”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
67%
25%
The music in the game is characterized by a collection of relaxing lo-fi tracks that enhance the cozy atmosphere, making it ideal for unwinding. Players can interact with various elements to customize their music experience, including a music player and album stickers, which adds a personal touch to the gameplay. Overall, the soothing soundscapes contribute significantly to the game's charm and immersive environment.
- “The music gives a cozy atmosphere and feelings of love and warmth.”
- “The music is very chill to listen to, which is exactly what a cozy game should have.”
- “In regards to the music, there are various lo-fi, relaxing tracks that you can listen to, perfect as you're playing the game.”
- “With simple puzzles, a narrative told through photos and letters, relaxing music, and plenty of options for decoration, it's a lovely way to unwind after a long day.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The graphics are characterized by charming, cute visuals that create a homemade aesthetic, reminiscent of a scrapbook with textured paper and playful elements like stickers and polaroid-style borders. The art style is visually appealing and easy on the eyes, enhancing the overall relaxing experience of the game. Users appreciate the personalization options for stickers, which add a unique touch to the visuals.
- “Each page you create resembles a lovingly crafted scrapbook spread, complete with textured paper, polaroid-style borders, transparent tape, stickers, and washi patterns that evoke a homemade aesthetic.”
- “The art style is easy on the eyes.”
- “The visuals are charming, and some of the photos are genuinely sweet and funny.”
- “The visuals are charming, but they lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and do not meet the standards of current gaming technology.”
- “While the art style is easy on the eyes, it ultimately lacks depth and variety.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the repetitive clicking required, with many expressing a preference for quicker interactions. Additionally, there is a lack of engaging achievements related to grinding, which further diminishes its appeal.
- “Having to click multiple times felt tedious; I'd prefer quick taps instead.”
- “[b]Grinding achievements:[/b] no”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a nostalgic and cozy ambiance, enhanced by heartfelt music that evokes feelings of love and warmth, making the experience of arranging photos and crafting scrapbooks for your in-game family particularly immersive.
- “Arranging photos, adding stickers, and crafting scrapbooks for your in-game family, all while soaking in the nostalgic atmosphere.”
- “The music creates a cozy atmosphere filled with feelings of love and warmth.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by charming visuals and genuinely sweet, funny moments captured in the photos, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience.
- “The visuals are charming, and some of the photos are genuinely sweet and funny.”