Keepsake

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 133 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Keepsake Game Cover
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"Keepsake is a single-player fantasy point-and-click game with phenomenal graphics and an ingenious soundtrack. Embark on an emotional journey with Lydia, a magic academy student, as she searches for her best friend Celeste and unravels the mystery behind the disappearance of the scholars. The game, originally released 10 years ago, has been revived on Steam, inviting new players to experience this unforgettable adventure."

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 133 reviews
story64 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • Keepsake features a beautiful and immersive art style, with stunning pre-rendered backgrounds that create a magical atmosphere.
  • The game offers a compelling and emotional story, with interesting characters and a well-crafted narrative that keeps players engaged.
  • Puzzles are varied and challenging, with a helpful hint system that allows players to skip difficult puzzles if they prefer to focus on the story.
  • The game suffers from frequent crashes, particularly in certain areas, which can lead to lost progress if players do not save often.
  • Navigation can be tedious due to a lack of fast travel options, resulting in excessive backtracking through the large and maze-like academy.
  • Some puzzles are poorly explained or illogical, leading to frustration and reliance on the hint system or external guides.
  • story126 mentions

    The story of "Keepsake" is often described as beautiful and emotionally engaging, with a bittersweet narrative centered around themes of loss and personal growth. While some players appreciate the intriguing plot and character development, others criticize pacing issues and a lack of connection to certain characters. Overall, the game is recommended for its compelling storytelling, stunning visuals, and challenging puzzles, despite some dialogue and narrative shortcomings.

    • “I remember playing this game nearly 15 years ago when I was young and playing it today, the game still holds the emotion, mystery, and enthralling story.”
    • “A lot of love and dedication have obviously gone into the making of this game, whose gorgeous graphics, emotional coming-of-age story, rich imagination and originality, interesting puzzles and mini games of varied difficulty, fantastic soundtrack and beautiful, if bittersweet ending touchingly referencing the little prince, make for an unexpectedly pleasant discovery.”
    • “The story is so beautiful and the storytelling is perfect.”
    • “Story and writing are also suffering from pacing issues.”
    • “Too many dialogues interspersed in the walking, that make you hate your companion. The overarching story is fairly boring, doesn't really go anywhere for a long time, and wants you to care about characters you, as a player, have no connection to.”
    • “There needed to be much more work put into the plot to make it shine properly.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and artistic style, with many reviewers noting that they have aged well despite being from the early 2000s. The detailed environments and imaginative design create an aesthetically pleasing experience, although some character models appear stiff and navigation can be challenging due to cinematic camera angles. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's emotional storytelling and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The graphics in this game are beautiful and aged quite well, although the character models look a little stiff.”
    • “A lot of love and dedication have obviously gone into the making of this game, whose gorgeous graphics, emotional coming-of-age story, rich imagination and originality, interesting puzzles and mini games of varied difficulty, fantastic soundtrack and beautiful, if bittersweet ending touchingly referencing the little prince, make for an unexpectedly pleasant discovery.”
    • “Back when I first played Keepsake all the way in 2006, I remember this game stole my breath away with its amazing visuals, heart-breaking story, and music that sends shivers down your spine.”
    • “The graphic element comes with a caveat – camera angles and the massive size of the academy, which combined make moving through the school an overwhelming experience.”
    • “The graphics: while the overall art direction and the sheer imagination in every last screen of Keepsake are truly awe-inspiring, the graphics never let you forget that this game was made in 2006.”
    • “Artwork is pretty but low-res, voice acting is good.”
  • music45 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with compositions ranging from soothing melodies to immersive symphonic pieces. While some players noted issues with volume inconsistencies, the soundtrack is generally considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the emotional depth and immersive experience of the game. Overall, the music is described as memorable and evocative, making it a standout feature for many players.

    • “In combination with the great music, they create a breathtaking atmosphere.”
    • “The music is pleasantly varied – everything from harpsichord melodies to mood-setting piano tracks with layered chorus, to fantasy film-inspired slow-build up tunes that can be heard across the academy.”
    • “The music was one of the high points in the game; it’s very relaxing and does a nice job setting the tone even if it doesn’t play all the time.”
    • “The music is too jarring and loud at times.”
    • “Volumes change repeatedly and sometimes the background music suddenly jumps in volume and you can't hear any dialogue.”
    • “Some annoying music and one stereotypical character that is incredibly annoying.”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by engaging puzzles and a clear goal, but it suffers from slow pacing and occasionally confusing mechanics. While the hint system is helpful, players may find themselves lost due to dated navigation and cumbersome exploration in expansive environments. Overall, the experience is enjoyable, though it could benefit from modernized controls and a fast travel option to alleviate excessive backtracking.

    • “Again spotlight on the hint function: the first hint will tell you what to do, the second will explain the mechanics, the third will give you directions to start from until finally you can choose to skip it altogether.”
    • “As others say, it's gorgeous, the story is quite nice if a bit juvenile and black and white, and the mechanical puzzles are great (and very challenging).”
    • “The goal is often clear, but the mechanics can be confusing to figure out.”
    • “Unfortunately, some gameplay aspects tend to ruin the experience, like the fact that it often leaves you without a clue of where to go next.”
    • “It's an old game, so the gameplay is dated; you have to accept that before playing.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Keepsake" is highlighted by its powerful and touching narrative, which diverges from typical adventure game tropes by presenting a sad and heartfelt journey. Players appreciate the game's beautiful graphics and evocative music, which enhance the emotional depth of the story, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre. Overall, the game is recognized for its dedication to storytelling and the emotional resonance it evokes.

    • “The story definitely is not cheerful; Lydia's journey is rather sad, and moreover, some moments are quite touching.”
    • “A lot of love and dedication have obviously gone into the making of this game, whose gorgeous graphics, emotional coming-of-age story, rich imagination and originality, interesting puzzles and mini games of varied difficulty, fantastic soundtrack, and beautiful, if bittersweet ending touchingly referencing 'The Little Prince', make for an unexpectedly pleasant discovery.”
    • “Back when I first played Keepsake all the way in 2006, I remember this game stole my breath away with its amazing visuals, heart-breaking story, and music that sends shivers down your spine.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the second half where puzzles become more time-consuming rather than challenging. While some appreciate the hint system that alleviates frustration, many feel that the navigation and puzzle complexity detract from the overall experience, making it feel outdated and boring by modern standards.

    • “A beautiful story and some tedious grind.”
    • “Maybe it was a decent game when it came out, but by modern standards it is tedious and boring.”
    • “Unfortunately, in the second half of the game, the puzzles don't so much get harder as more tedious.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its breathtaking quality, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and beautifully crafted pre-rendered backgrounds. Reviewers note that it successfully captures the essence of classic point-and-click adventures while offering a unique magical world filled with challenging puzzles and an intriguing story. Overall, the combination of music, setting, and narrative creates a compelling and immersive experience.

    • “In combination with the great music, they create a breathtaking atmosphere.”
    • “Beautiful, interesting story, particular atmosphere (an empty academy), great soundtracks, challenging puzzles.”
    • “Throughout the evolution of the plot, there are many winks at Argento's visionary thriller, although the general atmosphere and spirit are quite different.”
    • “The pre-rendered backgrounds are really well made and the soundtrack helps to emphasize the magical and mysterious atmosphere in this game.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, featuring amusing character interactions and clever scenarios, such as a wolf companion transforming into a cat. While some jokes may become repetitive, the game includes well-placed comedic moments and humorous glitches that add to the overall experience. However, certain technical issues, like badly aliased elements, can detract from the enjoyment.

    • “So I grew one tree, woke up another, passed the first trial, my wolf companion turned into a cat (how funny was it how he fell over!) and then I was face to face with the second trial after manipulating some Hogwarts-style staircases.”
    • “Very nice sense of humor.”
    • “Despite that, there is some well-placed humor in it.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that while it can be enjoyable, certain sections are nearly unplayable due to performance issues. Despite its age, expectations for smoother gameplay were not fully met, leading to frustration for some users.

    • “After 15.5 hours, I finished the game, immediately using the hint function when things didn't run smoothly.”
    • “It's an old game and I don't expect perfect performance, but it borders on unplayable for some parts of the game.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with multiple users reporting frequent crashes and various glitches, particularly during specific puzzles. While some players noted the absence of severe game-logic bugs, the overall experience is marred by bugs reminiscent of older titles, including memory leaks and visual artifacts.

    • “The game is also buggy and crashed on me multiple times, especially during a stair puzzle.”
    • “It is as buggy as I remember from older days (memory leaks usually), but I found no severe game-logic bugs.”
    • “I encountered several glitches along the way, e.g. during the bridges puzzle and staff roll.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development in the game is praised for its engaging design and the ability to create an exciting narrative that keeps players invested in the story.

    • “+ character development and a story that is exciting to follow”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired.”
    • “There is little to no growth in the characters throughout the game.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game has limited replayability, with some users noting that it lacks significant incentives to play again. However, its low price during sales makes it a worthwhile purchase for fans of point-and-click games.

    • “The replay value is impressive, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
    • “Even if the replayability isn't high, the game is affordable during sales, making it worth a try for fans of point-and-click games.”
    • “There are plenty of choices and paths to explore, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
    • “I don't think there is any replayability value, but it costs pennies on sale, so if you like point-and-click games, I don't see why not...”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

55% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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