Kathy Rain

Kathy Rain: Director's Cut offers an intriguing mystery and lovely pixel art, for a game that still holds up five years after its initial release, though the Director's Cut doesn't add much of substance.

92%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, replayability

92% User Score Based on 2,197 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Kathy Rain: Director's Cut" is a point-and-click detective mystery set in the 90s, where you play as a journalism major investigating her grandfather's mysterious death. Collect clues, analyze evidence, and interrogate suspects to uncover a local mystery and confront your troubled past. With cinematic remastering and new puzzles, help Kathy follow her grandfather's trail of secrets and solve the enigma that haunts her hometown.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,197 reviews

story904 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Engaging story with strong character development and a nostalgic 90s vibe.
Logical puzzles that are mostly straightforward, making for a smooth gameplay experience.
High-quality voice acting and beautiful pixel art that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.

The ending feels rushed and leaves many plot points unresolved, which may disappoint some players.
Some puzzles can be overly simplistic, lacking the challenge that seasoned adventure game players might expect.
The protagonist's edgy personality may not resonate with all players, making her less relatable.

story
1,928 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The story of "Kathy Rain" is a linear narrative that follows a young journalism student investigating her grandfather's mysterious death, intertwining supernatural elements and personal themes. While many players found the story engaging and reminiscent of classic detective tales like "Twin Peaks," some criticized its latter half for becoming convoluted and straying into less coherent territory. Overall, the game is praised for its strong character development, voice acting, and the emotional depth of its narrative, despite some unresolved plot points and a somewhat abrupt conclusion.
- “The story incorporates supernatural elements, including visions and dream sequences, which play a significant role.”
- “The story is engaging and emotionally moving.”
- “Kathy Rain is a great example of a solid point and click story narrative game.”
- “The story just felt very threadbare; we don't get to know much about characters due to the shortness of the game, nor did we get any depth to it despite a lot of heavy topics like suicide, addiction, abortion, institutionalization, etc. coming up at times.”
- “The final chapter does suspend belief in its logic, reveal, and overall resolution of the story.”
- “The story started out strong but it ends in a confusing and weak way.”
graphics
482 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The graphics of "Kathy Rain" are characterized by a nostalgic pixel art style reminiscent of classic 90s point-and-click adventures, drawing comparisons to games like Monkey Island and the Blackwell series. While many players appreciate the charming retro aesthetic and vibrant colors, some express a preference for more modern visuals, noting that the pixelated graphics may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the visuals effectively complement the game's atmosphere and storytelling, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
- “The pixel art style is perfect for this game.”
- “The graphics are pixel-shaped.”
- “The graphics are wonderful and nostalgic like I said before, and I love the protagonist's snark and sense of humour.”
- “The game is set in the 90s but there's very little in the fashion or aesthetics that give that impression and a lot of the characters just look kind of generic.”
- “It's a shame that the story and the voice overs were so good but the graphics were so poor.”
- “The graphics look a bit dated, a bit like something that my dad used to play on his computer.”
music
323 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
41%
2%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly in setting the mood for various scenes. While some players found the soundtrack memorable and fitting, others felt it was underwhelming or forgettable, with a few noting issues like volume inconsistencies and repetitive tracks. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its nostalgic and immersive feel.
- “The fully-voiced cast lends a lot of personality to this twisting tale, and combined with great music and excellent pixel art, the presentation is easily one of the best parts of the game.”
- “I thoroughly enjoyed this game -- not only because of its storyline and character growth but also because of the soundtrack.”
- “The music is very nice, and the voices are very well done.”
- “I wasn't really able to properly play it due to the underwhelming MIDI music.”
- “The music is just sort of there.”
- “The soundtrack was repetitive and some tracks do not fit the atmosphere.”
gameplay
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
68%
4%
The gameplay in "Kathy Rain" is characterized by its straightforward point-and-click mechanics, featuring a mix of simple and logical puzzles that enhance the narrative without overwhelming players with complexity. While some reviewers noted a few tedious moments and linear progression, many appreciated the nostalgic feel and engaging detective elements, making it a solid choice for fans of classic adventure games. Overall, the gameplay is accessible and enjoyable, though it may lack the depth and challenge sought by genre veterans.
- “A solid point-and-click detective adventure with lovely pixel art and mostly satisfying gameplay and puzzle solving.”
- “Gameplay is quite excellent for a point and click adventure.”
- “The gameplay is streamlined and you don't get bogged down with travel or long animations, so the story keeps a nice tight pace.”
- “The gameplay felt a bit dull and tedious at the beginning, but I decided to give it a shot anyway - I learned to enjoy it very much, as it was very simple and non-invasive, so you could focus on the story.”
- “But that said, the gameplay is extremely linear, to the point where it felt like a middling fanfiction rather than a game with interaction.”
- “The gameplay could feel a bit tedious, when having to go through every single scene again to locate that one little thing that you hadn't clicked on or asked about to be able to trigger an event/new day.”
atmosphere
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, drawing comparisons to iconic works like "Twin Peaks" and "The X-Files." Reviewers highlight the effective use of pixel art, atmospheric music, and strong voice acting, which together create a haunting and engaging environment that enhances the storytelling. While some found the conclusion lacking, the overall ambiance and emotional depth of the game left a lasting impression on players.
- “The atmosphere is amazing.”
- “The writing is inspired, the structure and design deftly executed; and the wonderful pixel art, music, sound design and voice acting all work together to create an absorbing atmosphere and engaging overall gaming experience.”
- “Great story, writing and atmosphere.”
- “I really didn't like how the game finished the story since I felt it was not very fitting for the atmosphere the game set in the beginning.”
- “The soundtrack was repetitive and some tracks do not fit the atmosphere.”
- “If asked, I’d have trouble recalling any of the game’s themes or musical motifs, but whilst playing I wasn’t troubled by a poor atmosphere or misuse of music, so whilst not memorable it plays a more than adequate role in fleshing out the tale.”
humor
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of dark, sarcastic, and quirky elements, often delivered through witty dialogue and engaging character interactions, particularly from the protagonist, Kathy. Players appreciate the balance between humor and the eerie atmosphere, with many noting that the writing is sharp and frequently funny, enhancing the overall experience. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, the majority agree that it adds depth to the characters and keeps the narrative entertaining.
- “Kathy Rain is beautifully written: crackers dialogue, deep characterisation (and growth), and a somewhat sad story infused with real humour and empathy—the game is funny when it tries to be funny, which isn't a joke-a-minute a la the LucasArts adventure games or pre-'Walking Dead' Telltale.”
- “The biting humor of Kathy was great, and it was her 'devil may care' attitude towards everything that shaped so much of the feel of the game.”
- “The lead's sarcastic personality is funny without going too far over the top and the mystery is engaging, particularly the way the various threads come together.”
emotional
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
6%
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it deeply engaging and touching, particularly in its exploration of generational trauma and personal struggles. However, others felt that the pacing and emotional moments were rushed or forced, leading to a lack of genuine connection with the characters. Overall, while the story offers heartfelt and poignant moments, it may not resonate with everyone due to its uneven emotional delivery.
- “The story is engaging and emotionally moving.”
- “It took me on an emotional ride with captivating characters, story, setting, and music.”
- “Kathy is not just a rock-n-roller, cig smoking, motorcycling punk chick; she is a raven-haired cape crusader with a deep emotional story that was fun and dreamy to explore and discover.”
- “The story was boring and failed to evoke any emotional response, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The soundtrack did not enhance the experience, leaving the emotional impact flat and unmemorable.”
- “I couldn't bring myself to play again because the emotional depth was lacking and the characters felt one-dimensional.”
character development
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
56%
9%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that it is rushed and lacks depth, particularly for the protagonist, Kathy, who does not seem to undergo significant growth despite the narrative's potential. While some appreciate the character design and the exploration of Kathy's inner struggles, others argue that the limited timeframe of the story (taking place over just four days) constrains meaningful development. Overall, while there are moments of character exploration, many players feel that the execution falls short, leaving them wanting more from the characters' arcs.
- “It's one of those games where everything fits together, from game design to character development.”
- “There is also clear character development when she starts questioning her past and life choices in the second half of the game.”
- “Overall, I liked the character development throughout the story and even how the mystery and puzzle elements were a bit challenging.”
- “Kathy Rain feels like she’s meant to have some major character development happening, but it doesn’t feel like after everything happens that she’s actually worked through her past issues or shown much growth; she just accepted it enough to get through some tests and come out feeling largely unchanged.”
- “In fact, the game was too short and character development was rushed to the point that when I was confronted with parts that were supposed to hit me right in the feels, I felt nothing.”
- “That means most of the story and character development is actually made in your mind, not by the game itself.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The reviews indicate that while the game features engaging storytelling and atmosphere, it suffers from significant grinding issues, particularly due to slow character movement, backtracking, and tedious puzzle-solving. Many players found the gameplay occasionally dull and repetitive, with some puzzles feeling unnecessarily convoluted or reliant on pixel-hunting. However, some appreciated the simplicity and non-invasive nature of the gameplay, allowing them to focus on the narrative despite the grindy elements.
- “Solving the puzzles still felt very rewarding, though, and most of them weren't tedious or annoying.”
- “There's no tedious haphazard item combination.”
- “Kathy Rain also suffers from common problems of the genre; the main character moves very slowly and since there's a ton of backtracking despite quite a few scenes, it just gets grindy.”
- “There are a rather limited number of locations in the game and the back and forth between them (on the bike) becomes very tedious after a while.”
- “Often enough I got stuck here or there because I didn't know what over-specific action/combination of items I was supposed to use in order to progress, that combined with the slow movement and scene transition makes it just tedious to play.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally positive, maintaining a stable 40 fps even on lower-end hardware, though some users reported occasional stuttering and minor sound issues. The voice acting is a standout feature, with strong performances that enhance the game's narrative and character depth, despite some minor technical hiccups like mouse control issues. Players appreciate the commitment to quality in voice performances, which significantly contribute to the immersive experience.
- “It managed to stay at a constant 40 fps even on my Intel UHD 770 onboard GPU, so at least performance was good.”
- “Nobody half-assed their performance, and it only added to the good base quality of the game.”
- “The actors themselves did a fantastic job at bringing the game’s characters to life; they’re very compelling performances and they make the story feel real.”
- “I experienced a bit of stuttering at times with this game and I'm not exactly sure why, but thankfully it was never unplayable for me.”
- “Minor sound issues with skipping/stuttering dialog.”
- “One performance note though: my mouse kept sticking to the corners of the screen and I had to click to 'unstick it' so I could move around again.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
56%
25%
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many reviewers noting that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to replay it, despite some achievements and dialogue choices offering minimal variation. While a few users mention a higher replay value, particularly for those seeking to unlock all achievements, the consensus is that the game is short and lacks substantial content to encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “It's free, it's awesome, it's replayable and, frankly, despite being set in a fantasy world, it makes more sense than Kathy Rain.”
- “+ high replay value.”
- “The achievements and content give it some replayability, but it is still a pretty short game, so keep that in mind when you decide whether or not to buy it.”
- “Unless you are looking to get all the achievements (some are cryptic), replayability is low.”
- “Replayability is very low as it is a story game and once you play it once I doubt you'll want to give it another shot down the road.”
- “This game is quite decent, but short (about 4 hours to complete, no real replayability).”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
88%
Overall, the game's stability is marked by a mix of minor bugs and glitches, including resolution issues and occasional animation errors, which some players found distracting but not game-breaking. While the controls on Mac were particularly problematic, many users still considered the game enjoyable despite these technical shortcomings.
- “The game runs smoothly without any noticeable glitches, providing a stable experience throughout.”
- “I appreciate how the game maintains a consistent frame rate, making for a seamless gameplay experience.”
- “There were no crashes or major bugs during my playthrough, which really enhanced my enjoyment of the game.”
- “The controls on Mac are horrendously buggy.”
- “Also, the resolution was a bit buggy; sometimes I had to minimize and maximize the game before I could see the whole game.”
- “Aside from Blackwell games, this is one of the best adventure games I've played in years (although Cognition probably would've beat it out if they hadn't had all the horrible Unity graphics freezes).”