Kindergarten

About

Kindergarten is a single player action game. It was developed by Con Man Games and was released on June 15, 2017. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "Kindergarten" , you play as a kindergarten student navigating through a strange and possibly dangerous school environment. The teacher is suspicious, the janitor leaves a trail of blood, and one of your classmates has gone missing. It's up to you to solve puzzles, uncover the school's secrets, and ensure your survival. Along the way, you can participate in show and tell, play house, and even get poisoned, all while reliving some classic kindergarten experiences.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,590 reviews

humor1.1k positive mentions

grinding64 negative mentions

Hilarious dark humor that keeps players engaged and entertained.
Unique puzzle mechanics that encourage experimentation and replayability.
Memorable characters with distinct personalities and storylines.

Repetitive gameplay due to the trial-and-error nature, leading to frustration.
Lack of a skip function for previously seen dialogue, making replays tedious.
Some bugs and glitches that can disrupt the gameplay experience.

humor
1,098 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Kindergarten" is predominantly dark and absurd, blending shock value with clever writing that often leaves players laughing at the unexpected twists and morbid scenarios. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to juxtapose its cute, pixelated aesthetic with gruesome humor, creating a uniquely entertaining experience that appeals to fans of twisted comedy. While the humor may not resonate with everyone, those with a taste for the macabre will find it both hilarious and engaging, making it a standout title in the puzzle genre.
- “Kindergarten is one of those games that makes you laugh, then immediately question whether you should be laughing at all.”
- “On the surface it looks cute and simple, but very quickly it turns into a dark, hilarious puzzle game full of secrets, absurd logic, and 'wait… what just happened?' moments.”
- “The writing is sharp, the humor is perfectly twisted, and the characters are memorable in that 'I will never forget this child' way.”
- “Obnoxious solutions, unfunny characters.”
- “I found the story bizarrely unfunny; it was tedious and annoying.”
- “The music is dogshit, there is no gameplay, and it's not funny.”
story
993 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
The story of "Kindergarten" is a darkly comedic and intricately woven narrative that unfolds through a series of quests involving various quirky characters, each with their own unique backstories and missions. Players navigate a chaotic school environment, where choices impact the storyline and lead to unexpected twists, often involving morbid humor and shocking outcomes. While the game is relatively short, its engaging plot and the requirement to replay days to complete different character arcs provide a satisfying and immersive experience.
- “The story is surprisingly well written and cleverly stitched together through all the chaos.”
- “I really loved the style of this game and the story; each character has a dark backstory worth the play to find out.”
- “The story is interesting and the jokes are very funny.”
- “I found the story bizarrely unfunny; it was tedious and annoying.”
- “The only downside is that, if you get the wrong set of answers or once all the quests are done, it can get pretty repetitive.”
- “Making progress on a quest line only to realize you made a small mistake in the last room then having to repeat all the other actions again is driving me up a wall.”
gameplay
249 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The gameplay of this title is characterized by a trial-and-error mechanic that encourages players to learn from each attempt, making it both engaging and occasionally frustrating due to its repetitive nature. While the core mechanics are simple, they are complemented by a rich narrative and quirky humor, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players find the gameplay can become tedious over time, particularly with the reliance on dialogue trees and the need to restart days frequently.
- “The trial-and-error gameplay is actually part of the fun—every run teaches you something new, and figuring out how all the pieces fit together is incredibly satisfying.”
- “The gameplay strikes a perfect balance between being challenging enough to keep you engaged, but not too difficult to discourage you from progressing.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but challenging, and you do find yourself starting over days often.”
- “I found the mechanics and general gameplay loop of the game to be rather frustrating and not fun.”
- “While the quirky humor and ridiculous scenarios kept things entertaining, the gameplay quickly became repetitive and felt heavily reliant on trial and error.”
- “The gameplay relies heavily on trial and error, which can result in numerous restarts.”
graphics
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that, while simplistic and occasionally glitchy, effectively complements the dark humor and themes of the gameplay. Many players appreciate the unique aesthetic, noting that it enhances the overall experience despite its retro feel, though some criticize the visuals as outdated or lacking in quality. Overall, the graphics are seen as fitting for the game's quirky narrative, with a mix of cute and grotesque elements that contribute to its appeal.
- “The colorful pixel art and cheerful aesthetic create a striking contrast with the game's darker storyline.”
- “The pixel art style works perfectly and contrasts nicely with the dark subject matter.”
- “The charming art style, shocking humor, and several ways to get through a Monday are definitely worth $5.”
- “The graphics are downright atrocious, with character models that look like they were drawn by a five-year-old with a crayon.”
- “The title often looks a little outdated due to the recycled animations and pixel art style.”
- “If you hate trial and error games where you find yourself constantly restarting the game because you realized you did something wrong, very difficult tasks and 'bad graphics' then this is not the game for you.”
grinding
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
11%
85%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, with many players noting the frustration of having to replay sections to achieve specific outcomes or collect items like the monstermon cards. While some find the overall experience enjoyable and rewarding, the necessity of grinding for money and the lack of dialogue skipping contribute to a sense of monotony, particularly during multiple playthroughs. Overall, players recommend the game for its fun elements but caution that it requires patience due to its grind-heavy nature.
- “I love all the kindergarten games 1 - 3, but on the second one, there are outfits that I really liked. However, in Kindergarten 3, there are no outfits. It's really fun if you're not grinding it.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's tedious as hell and it discourages choosing interesting dialogue if you suspect it will fail the current quest, because you know that afterwards you have to once more grind through everything you've just done in order to choose the 'right' option.”
- “Going through the same dialogue is very tedious; it makes you wait for the text you've seen like 20 times already to unfold again just to get past it. You are going to see characters say the exact same thing over and over, and the lack of a skip mechanism is awful.”
- “The loop can be kind of boring, and it's a bit tedious to go through everything again just to do one thing differently.”
replayability
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
10%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its high replay value due to multiple story paths, endings, and character interactions that encourage repeated playthroughs. However, some reviewers noted that once all content is completed, the replay value diminishes significantly, leading to a lack of incentive to revisit the game. Overall, while it offers a fun and engaging experience with various choices, its long-term replayability may be limited for some players.
- “Beneath the game's bright colors and cartoony character designs lies a disturbing narrative filled with conspiracies, child disappearances, murder plots, and a surprisingly deep level of replayability.”
- “Your decisions have lasting consequences, leading to multiple story paths and endings that encourage replayability.”
- “The best part is that characters say different things depending on what you've done in the day, providing lots of replayability.”
- “After completing every character’s story and seeing the ending, the game didn’t have much left to offer for replayability.”
- “Not very much replay value after completing the full game.”
- “Zero replayability.”
music
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its upbeat and catchy nature that complements the whimsical and dark themes, while others find it repetitive and monotonous, leading to boredom over time. Many appreciate the music's ability to enhance the overall experience, though there are calls for more variety in the soundtrack to prevent it from becoming stale. Overall, the music is seen as a fitting, if not entirely perfect, aspect of the game.
- “The music is similarly straightforward, with looping tunes that vary in tone from whimsical to ominous depending on what’s happening.”
- “What really seals the deal is the soundtrack – it's the cherry on top of this wacky sundae.”
- “I absolutely love how this game makes itself seem like a cute game with its 8-bit art style and cute music, yet has such dark humor.”
- “The music is rather repetitive, which adds to the repetitive nature of the 'groundhog day' style of mechanic loop, so I didn’t find this category great.”
- “The music is dogshit, there is no gameplay, and it's not funny.”
- “The only con to this game that I can think of is the music gets old fast but turning it down fixes that.”
emotional
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is a complex blend of wholesome themes and dark humor, with players noting its ability to evoke nostalgia and laughter while also addressing serious topics like institutional failure and personal struggles. Many reviews highlight the game's heartwarming moments and character connections, despite its absurd and violent undertones, creating a unique emotional experience that resonates with players. Overall, it is described as both entertaining and thought-provoking, balancing lightheartedness with deeper emotional narratives.
- “This is one of my favorite games of all time. Unlike most games, you build an emotional connection to all of the fun-loving characters like Nugget.”
- “The game is gory and inappropriate, and you'll do some very questionable things, but as it progresses, this more moral and emotional core starts to emerge.”
- “Of course it's not perfect, but the story is... well... touching, as well as the ending.”
stability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game "Kindergarten" is currently experiencing significant stability issues, with numerous bugs, glitches, and occasional crashes reported by players. While some users find these issues amusing and manageable, others have encountered game-breaking problems that hinder progress, particularly in early access. Overall, the game's stability is inconsistent, with many hoping for improvements in future updates.
- “The game runs great on the Steam Deck too.”
- “It's virtually bug-free, providing a smooth gaming experience.”
- “A number of glitches caused quests to not progress properly, in one case because I bought a later-necessary item too early for the game to realize I'd already acquired it, so I had to use one of the Steam guides to find out at which specific point the game 'expected' me to do this.”
- “From game-breaking glitches to crashes and freezes, Kindergarten is about as stable as a Jenga tower in an earthquake.”
- “The fourth problem: the game is still kind of buggy. This was written on the 4th of July, so unless they release an update... quite often you will be on a menu to make a decision and you will be able to move the selector but cannot pick any choices... so what you must do is 'restart the room.' Do not restart the day unless you have to, just the room.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The atmosphere of the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its unique blend of chaotic school life and lightheartedness intertwined with darker themes. The presentation, including animation and music, enhances the overall experience, creating an engaging and enjoyable environment that appeals to casual gamers. Despite some execution flaws, the game's intriguing atmosphere and humor resonate well with players.
- “Kindergarten manages to create an intriguing atmosphere that captures the essence of chaotic school life.”
- “However, it is very enjoyable for casual gamers, is a great pixelated game, has an incredible atmosphere, and I would recommend it.”
- “Some solid ideas that aren't particularly well executed, but the presentation is pretty decent and it has its own sort of atmosphere.”
- “The game does fulfill its atmosphere of a cute kindergarten.”
- “Most of the jokes land and the atmosphere of a We Happy Few-esque kindergarten is pulled off incredibly well.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting the contrast between the bright, cartoonish visuals and the dark narrative themes, such as conspiracies and child disappearances. Characters like the principal and Nugget exhibit distinct traits that enhance the gameplay experience, while the engaging dialogue fosters a sense of connection with each character. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and sinister undertones, contributing to a rich storytelling experience that encourages replayability.
- “Okay, this game, in my opinion, has great character development for all the characters, which gave the game the feeling of bonding with each character when you try over and over again to figure out what you missed to complete the mission.”
- “Beneath the game's bright colors and cartoony character designs lies a disturbing narrative filled with conspiracies, child disappearances, murder plots, and a surprisingly deep level of replayability.”
- “Bright playgrounds mask sinister secrets, and the cute character designs hide increasingly twisted motivations.”
- “The character designs are cute and distinctive, and the dialogue is often amusing, keeping the player engaged in the story.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with users reporting smooth performance on Windows 10 and compatibility with older systems. While some bugs are noted due to its early access status, they do not significantly impact gameplay.
- “I experienced no bugs or performance issues.”
- “The game can run smoothly on nearly any computer, honestly.”
- “Of course since it's in early access it has its bugs, but it runs smoothly and the bugs I've run into do not affect gameplay.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is highly praised for its enjoyable gameplay and the absence of in-game purchases, making it a top choice for players seeking a monetization-free experience.
- “It is very fun to play and has no in-game purchases, so this is one of my top picks.”