KinitoPET
- January 9, 2024
- troy_en
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"KinitoPET" is a single-player horror simulation game with an interesting plot and exceptional game mechanics, set in a world of Everlasting Fun. You can adopt Kinito, a virtual friend and personal assistant with adaptive technology, sensational visuals, and exceptional music. However, beware of bugs and a hidden dark secret as you explore this dense atmosphere and wholesome story. Note: game is designed for Windows 10 and may have issues with other versions.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- story169 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of Kinitopet receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its unique and immersive narrative elements, while others find it generic and lacking depth. Many appreciate the innovative storytelling techniques and the nostalgic references to early internet culture, but some criticize the plot for being predictable or confusing. Overall, while the game offers intriguing moments and creative scares, its story may not satisfy those seeking a deeply engaging narrative.
“Kinitopet is a great game for those who enjoy metatextual horror; it has a lot of great moments, great scares, a pretty good story, fun easter eggs, and best of all, 3D pinball.”
“The story is super interesting; I love how interactive some of the aspects of this are and how they affect gameplay later.”
“Experiencing it for the first time with no spoilers was amazing as I saw things appear on my second monitor that everyone else couldn't; having Kinito remove himself from the actual game and become a part of my computer was so sketchy and cool, and the general storytelling of the game was just phenomenal.”
“The story is weak and generic.”
“My only complaint is that the plot makes absolutely no sense.”
“Sadly, the story aspect of this game left a lot to be desired.”
- humor104 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and absurd elements, particularly through the character of Kinito, a funny axolotl that engages in comical antics while also introducing a sinister twist. Players find themselves laughing at the unexpected interactions and dark humor, often enjoying the blend of comedy and horror that keeps the experience entertaining. Overall, the game's humor is described as both silly and engaging, making it a standout feature that enhances the gameplay.
“Kinitopet is a funny and cute extension (though obviously a virus lol), but it takes a sinister turn.”
“Seeing Kinito tweak out when I didn't call him my 'best friend' was funny as hell.”
“I was laughing in places where I should have been scared.”
- gameplay87 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its unique mechanics and immersive experience that cleverly integrates the player's computer into the horror narrative. However, others have criticized it for being short, lacking depth, and experiencing technical issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. While many appreciate the innovative approach and atmosphere, the execution and length of gameplay have left some players wanting more.
“This game is really novel in how it uses your computer for its gameplay, and it does a really good job blurring the lines between the game and your actual hardware.”
“Kinitopet stands as a testament to the power of innovative storytelling and immersive gameplay in the psychological horror genre.”
“Great experience, creative solutions in the gameplay.”
“At some points, I thought this was a parody game on the genre, and honestly, if it is, my congratulations. But it does seem to be a genuine horror game, and I think all the horror mechanics it attempts fall completely flat.”
“This game wouldn't open for me after crashing. I had to delete all my progress just for it to boot again. The encrypted files wouldn't decrypt because the mechanic refuses to work if the files are anywhere near Steam files. I wasted two hours just figuring out how to actually make it work.”
“The gameplay was unique, but to top it all off, the secret ending is a lot of work for literally no reward (not even a video with some lore or a new gameplay segment, it's just a 3D render of some dolls).”
- music76 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its emotional impact and catchy melodies, with many players highlighting the end credit song as a standout moment that evokes strong feelings. The soundtrack is described as beautiful and engaging, enhancing the overall experience of the game, while some users noted technical issues with audio playback. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its charm and emotional depth.
“The end credit song is a banger.”
“The ending music is super charming too; I've found myself listening to it repeatedly; it's super catchy.”
“The song at the end is really heartwarming, and in principle, all the soundtracks in the game are amazing.”
“The issue that I had was the fact that any sound my PC was generating was turned up, and not just the game - the music I had on, the Discord call I was in, etc. This review simply served as a warning to people with sensory issues that this will happen in the game.”
“Don't open the game again after the bliss ending; it's some creepy ass shit with a red robot looking thing staring at you while some annoying music assaults your ears.”
“The games audio is hard glitched where Kinito would stop talking mid-sentence and music would repeat.”
- emotional67 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has resonated deeply with players, often eliciting tears of both joy and sadness. Many users express a strong attachment to the character Kinito, describing their experiences as heartwarming despite the game's horror elements, with several noting that specific endings and music profoundly impacted them. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to blend emotional storytelling with moments of fear, creating a unique and memorable experience.
“This game deadass almost made me cry happy and sad tears and I'll never be able to explain why.”
“Best game I've ever played; the game was emotional, the lore was perfect, and I will now continue to listen to my new favorite songs.”
“But seriously, what a deceptively heartbreaking meditation on our relationships with software and AI, and a sort of sad game about friendship.”
“If you want cheap scares with a boring story and a text-to-speech that can’t even bother to say your name out loud, then this game will be fantastic.”
- graphics59 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed but generally positive feedback, with many players appreciating the nostalgic 90s aesthetic and the clever use of glitchy visuals that enhance the unsettling horror experience. While some critiques mention the overuse of retro graphics in indie horror games, others highlight the impressive 3D segments and the overall charm of the art style, contributing to a unique and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant aspect of the game's appeal, effectively complementing its themes and gameplay.
“The combination of haunting visuals and atmospheric soundscapes enhances the overall sense of unease, making every moment in the game a spine-tingling experience.”
“This game is absolutely brilliant, the graphics are beautiful and this game is definitely worth your money to play.”
“Very aesthetic and I love the whole 90's feel about it.”
“I say this, despite experiencing the game with lag and glitchy graphics.”
“There are several gameplay sections that are rendered in 3D environments that break the flow of gameplay and look pretty okay, completely discordant with the rest of the game's art style but they're fine.”
“Though, one thing I kind of want to point out is that the horror for this game isn't exactly that kind where it would give you a gazillion jumpscares, make your heart race with a terrifying chase, or make you feel disgusted with some horrifying-looking monster visuals... instead, I think the correct term of horror for this would definitely be 'unsettling'.”
- stability24 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with players reporting numerous glitches, bugs, and occasional crashes that detract from the overall experience. While some users note that these issues are not game-breaking, they still hinder enjoyment and immersion, making it difficult to recommend the game without reservations. Overall, the game is playable but marred by technical problems that need addressing.
“Inoffensive enough game for how quick it is, but the cavalcade of glitches, softlocks, and game crashes really hold it back from being something I would recommend to anyone.”
“I know this is a great game but I couldn't get 20 minutes into it without genuine glitches or the game actually crashing and having it be a struggle to fix.”
“While the game is amazing and has nice little spooks, the game's 'secret ending' run tends to get super buggy. I'm not sure if it's by design or not; however, in this run, it gives you codes you have to decrypt with an in-game description, and after doing this, it asks for those codes after putting in the 'delete_all' code and says the game's own codes are wrong after copying and pasting, so I'm not sure what's up with that.”
- atmosphere22 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by haunting visuals and sound design that create a tense and unsettling experience. Many players appreciate the unique charm and psychological depth it brings, although some feel that the horror elements can detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively engaging players and contributing to a spine-tingling experience.
“Such a unique, engaging, and atmospheric little game.”
“The combination of haunting visuals and atmospheric soundscapes enhances the overall sense of unease, making every moment in kinitopet a spine-tingling experience.”
“The game's strength lies in its ability to create a tense atmosphere through these gradual and unsettling changes.”
“Not knowing what to expect from the atmosphere is where the scariest parts are.”
“In other words, this game really nails the coffin in psychological horror, the story, the scares, the atmosphere.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 35 % negative mentions
Players consistently express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time to progress. The lack of autosave features exacerbates the issue, leading to potential loss of progress and further compounding the tedious experience. Overall, many feel that the grinding detracts from the enjoyment and engagement of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game doesn't autosave except for at specific parts, so if your game crashes or you have to quit, you could lose a lot of progress depending on where you were at, and some of the parts of this game are very tedious.”
“Having to restart the game a billion times is not good game design; it's tedious.”
“I can either spend hours doing tedious nonsense or watch a YouTube video about it, and neither is a good use of my time or an engaging narrative.”
- replayability17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it offers limited replay value after experiencing all the endings, others appreciate the hidden secrets and achievements that encourage additional playthroughs. Many describe it as a one-time experience akin to an interactive movie, with a few noting that it could benefit from more replayable content. However, a subset of players highlights the presence of easter eggs and variations that enhance replayability, making it worthwhile for those who enjoy exploring every aspect of the game.
“There are tons of secrets I have yet to seek out, so there is some replayability.”
“Has insane replay value with all the easter eggs and little changes I encountered. Overall, I think buying this for the price it's at currently is an absolute steal.”
“There's some replay value added if you want to 100% it as well, but it's totally optional.”
“It's a very good and sort of short horror game that matches up with the small price of the game, the only big issue I have with it is the fact that it's not very replayable; it is sort of a one-and-done game and serves no replayability.”
“It's just a cute one-time experience, but I don't see how it's replayable.”
“On another note, if I had three wishes, I'd use all three to give more replayability to this game.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with users noting performance issues, particularly on Windows 11, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game is enjoyable and offers fun elements, its lack of optimization for various systems limits the ability to fully appreciate key moments and gameplay.
“The optimization in this game allows for smooth gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs on my system, making it enjoyable without any lag.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the game, ensuring that even lower-end PCs can run it effectively.”
“I'm playing this on my mother's Windows 11 laptop. There are some issues, but that's because it is not optimized for Windows 11. It's fun, but for $6, it's a little high considering how little you can do. It's not really scary, but it's a horror game. Once you finish it, there is more to do, such as trying different things and playing pinball or Minesweeper. I do highly recommend it.”
“Pretty good game, definitely put me on edge. However, some of the meta horror falls flat, possibly because it's not optimized for every computer. Still, it's fun.”
“Sadly, I wasn't able to really enjoy the most popular scenes because of my PC's performance.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its unique design and storytelling, particularly highlighting the character Kinito, who is likened to Bonzi Buddy but stands out due to his distinctive speech quirks. While the game effectively balances a soft play experience with elements of suspense, some players express a desire for deeper character exploration and a more suspenseful atmosphere.
“This game is perfect! As someone who's very timid, it offers a soft play experience. The storytelling and character design for Kinito are great!”
“Kinito himself definitely reminded me a little of Bonzi Buddy with the TTS voice, but the little quirks he has in his speech make him more unique. His character design, along with his other pals, is also very distinctive.”
“I wish there was something like this that was more suspense-based, with better character design and fewer cheap jumpscares.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I wish there was more focus on character growth; it feels like they remain static throughout the game.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evolve, which makes the story less engaging.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy effectively enhances the game's immersive experience by incorporating old fake ads that contribute to the authenticity of the Kinito world.
