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Get on Apple Store"Kids" is a single-player point-and-click game with great gameplay, good graphics, and a fitting soundtrack. Created by Michael Frei and Mario von Rickenbach, the game allows you to control and interact with crowds in a unique, award-winning animation. Play time is between 15-30 minutes, and it is co-produced by Playables, SRG SSR, and Arte, with publication by Double Fine Presents for mobile and computers.
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Reviews
- The game features unique and captivating art style, with fluid animations and a mesmerizing soundtrack that enhances the experience.
- KIDS offers a thought-provoking exploration of themes like conformity and peer pressure, encouraging players to reflect on deeper meanings.
- Despite its short playtime, the game provides a quirky and entertaining experience that can be enjoyed multiple times.
- The gameplay is very limited and repetitive, with many scenes feeling recycled, leading to a lack of engagement over time.
- With a runtime of around 20 minutes, many players feel the game is overpriced for the amount of content it offers.
- Some players find the lack of a clear narrative or goal frustrating, describing the experience more as an interactive art piece than a traditional game.
- gameplay31 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as unique and experimental, focusing on simple mechanics and interactive animation rather than traditional gaming challenges. Players engage with various scenes featuring whimsical interactions, but many reviews note the brevity and lack of depth, often describing it as more of an artistic experience than a game. While some appreciate the smooth execution and thought-provoking themes, others find the gameplay limited and repetitive, suggesting it may be best suited for those seeking a brief, surreal experience rather than a robust gaming challenge.
“The game is split up into different scenes, each presenting a horde of kids, and you have to figure out what sort of mechanic or interaction will get you to the next scene.”
“A very thoughtful game with great style and a lot of fun gameplay mechanics.”
“It is 20 minutes long, with fluid, fun and simple gameplay.”
“There is very little gameplay here, a fact that the store page does not hide with its accurate characterization of 'interactive animation.'”
“Just watch this whole game on YouTube, nothing changes when you play it yourself; it will be the same gameplay.”
“The gameplay is really simple and, on the surface, there doesn’t seem to be a story.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and minimalist art style, often described as hand-drawn and reminiscent of the developer's previous work. Many reviewers appreciate the clean, fluid animations and the overall aesthetic, which is both mesmerizing and thought-provoking. However, some players noted issues with eye strain due to the high contrast and simplistic visuals, suggesting that while the graphics are appealing, they may not be suitable for everyone.
“I love the art style.”
“Graphics are clean and crisp, and the animation is fluid.”
“Nice fluid animation, great art style, everything looks and moves very naturally.”
“All white graphics + large monitor + 20 fps = severe eye strain and headaches.”
“Even if it doesn't have something to do in itself, the graphics are a constant wallpaper and the peaceful connection you feel is incredible.”
“Very odd, mesmerising and sometimes hypnotic graphics and sound.”
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of substance and impact, with many reviewers noting that it feels more like an interactive art piece than a narrative-driven experience. While some appreciate the underlying themes of repetitiveness and conformity, others find the storytelling shallow and unengaging, often describing it as a series of animations without a clear message or purpose. Overall, the narrative is seen as underwhelming, failing to deliver a compelling or innovative storyline.
“A delectable story of friendship, love, and betrayal.”
“The art presented is very highly thought out and presents several ideas for the players to consider throughout their short yet incredible journey through the plot of kids.”
“You can see this as either a load of physics-fiddlers, or you can view the various stages as simple storytelling; the experiences of children the world over.”
“This could have easily been a short film and nothing would have changed, since the very few options you have in the game have zero impact on the story, like near the end, which of the three paths do you want to send your kids down, since they end up in the same place either way.”
“It doesn't tell a story, it doesn't have a message, it isn't beautiful and it is so boring to play.”
“While this game is an achievement in design, the subtle and behind-the-lines story is sadly not as good as the first game.”
- music15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting and beautiful qualities, often compared to choral pieces reminiscent of "Neon Genesis Evangelion." Reviewers appreciate the calming and somber atmosphere it creates, enhancing the game's surreal and artistic visuals. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's unique experience.
“If you are into a weird arty game with nice animation and strange children's choir music, this is it!”
“A short, surreal and creepy game – kids reminds me a lot of the abstract sequences towards the end of the Evangelion series; complete with very similar sounding choral music.”
“I loved the calming experience of the game coupled with some somber music.”
“Its unsettling and ephemeral visual and musical beauty can only be compared to something like a small but exquisite meal, as the desire for seconds is unbearable.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its randomness and absurdity, often drawing comparisons to WarioWare with its short, quirky scenes. Players find it entertaining and funny, enhanced by strong sound design and a unique visual style, while also delivering a poignant moral message. Overall, the blend of suggestive humor and chaotic interactions with AI characters contributes to a hilariously engaging experience.
“There's something inherently very funny about messing with huge hordes of AI characters.”
“It's a bit like WarioWare in that each scene is very short and weird, but with a more singular thematic focus and messing with the crowd is frequently very funny.”
“Unique, funny, and some oddly suggestive humor.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a captivating blend of operatic elements and a sense of eerie familiarity, creating a mood that is both engaging and unsettling. Players appreciate the excellent sound design and fluid animations, which enhance the overall experience of mild discomfort and strangeness.
“It has a good mood and atmosphere to it.”
“Operatic atmosphere and singing.”
“If you liked that one, you'll like [i]kids[/i] too, as you'll find in it the same oddly familiar strangeness, the mild discomfort of knowing you're somehow dealing with something else than what's being shown, the simple controls and fluid animations (even better than before), the excellent sound design, the whole [i]unheimlich[/i] atmosphere.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players have praised the game for its profound emotional impact, often feeling more moved by it than by higher-priced titles. Many highlight its deep life lessons and express a strong emotional response, with some even describing it as tear-inducing and thought-provoking. Overall, it resonates deeply, leaving players with feelings that are difficult to articulate.
“A great game with such deep and emotional lessons about life.”
“This game made me want to cry.”
“I do not understand what I played, but it made me feel something I can't comprehend yet.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including frame rates dropping below 20 fps even on high-end systems. Many scenes, particularly those with white backgrounds, suffer from significant lag, while animations perform better in darker settings. Overall, the game appears to be better suited for mobile devices rather than PCs.
“A mouse would be better, but this game seems optimized for a mobile device with a touchscreen.”
“The worst part of all is the performance.”
“I don't know what monkey optimized this game, but it ran at sub 20 fps at times for me, and I've got a beast of a computer.”
“The game has major performance issues in 95% of the scenes with a white background; the animation is completely smooth during the black scenes.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with users noting that it lacks the engaging interactivity and content to justify its price, especially given its short runtime. While some find it worth trying at a discounted price, overall, it does not offer the same replay value as other titles in the genre.
“It's artsy and at times visually stimulating, but the interactivity isn't enough to warrant the $3 price tag, especially at its sub-30-minute runtime with no replayability.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and lacking meaningful interactivity, leading to a less engaging experience despite the short playtime. The overall tone is perceived as pretentious rather than thought-provoking, contributing to the sense of monotony.
“Unlike plug & play, the game was mostly tedious to play through, even if it was only 15 minutes to complete.”
“There's not enough meaningful interactivity; some of the scenes feel tedious, and the overall tone feels more pretentious than thought-provoking.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as feeling like a cash grab, especially in comparison to the developer's previous title, which was better received.
“I loved their first game, but this isn't anywhere near the quality, and to be honest, it seemed like a cash grab.”
“The monetization in this game is excessive and feels like it's designed to exploit players rather than enhance the experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls; it really detracts from the enjoyment of the game.”
