Knee Deep

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 199 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Knee Deep Game Cover
Impressively single-minded in its aim, Knee Deep strips everything back from aesthetics to player agency to fashion a non-linear narrative adventure quite unlike any other. Fans of well-written adventures would do well to not sleep on Knee Deep.
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"Knee Deep" is an interactive narrative game where you investigate a mysterious suicide in a Florida town as three different characters. The game features dynamic storytelling with meaningful choices and consequences, and it utilizes a unique theater-like setting with vivid voice-overs and music. Uncover a swampland conspiracy through realistic conversations and observations.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 199 reviews
story66 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game presents a unique and engaging narrative structure, set as a stage play, which adds an interesting layer to the storytelling.
  • The voice acting and character interactions are well-executed, contributing to a captivating atmosphere and immersive experience.
  • The choices made throughout the game genuinely impact character relationships and the unfolding story, encouraging replayability.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and poor animations, which detract from the overall experience.
  • The plot becomes convoluted and loses coherence in later acts, leading to a disappointing conclusion that feels rushed.
  • Some dialogue choices are vague or misleading, making it difficult for players to understand the intended responses and their consequences.
  • story246 mentions

    The story is presented as a stage play, which adds a unique and intriguing layer to the narrative, though opinions vary on its execution. While some players appreciate the engaging characters and the mystery elements, others criticize the plot for becoming convoluted and unrealistic, particularly in the later acts. Overall, the game is seen as a blend of interactive storytelling and casual gameplay, appealing to those who enjoy narrative-driven experiences despite its flaws.

    • “The premise of the story itself is an interesting one and the idea of everything playing out as some kind of stage production is a unique and clever idea.”
    • “The story is enjoyable and replayable, with just enough variety as a result of your choices.”
    • “Great atmosphere, great story, great acting, and the way it's presented, wow - good show devs. Can't wait for your next piece of work!”
    • “The dialogue is okay, but the plot is unbelievably bad.”
    • “I don't really want to reveal plot points in case anyone decides to play, but what could have been a simple, cool story grows into something totally absurd, with too many un-followable connections and too many characters doing things that don't make any sense.”
    • “This soon becomes incredibly boring and moving from one scene to the next breaks up the flow of the story and detracts from the narrative.”
  • gameplay47 mentions

    The gameplay in "Knee Deep" is largely simplistic, focusing on dialogue choices and minimal interaction, which some players find lacking in depth and engagement. While the game features unique mechanics like report publishing and a theatrical homage, many reviewers note that the gameplay feels nearly non-existent, especially in later acts, with limited consequences for player choices. Despite its shortcomings, some appreciate the laid-back experience and occasional minigames that provide a brief respite from the main gameplay.

    • “The gameplay in and of itself is fairly simple, and I absolutely recommend you play it laid back with a controller.”
    • “The mechanics are no different from anything else in the genre, but by embracing the idea of the player being the director rather than an actor, the more tedious walking from point A to B aspects of the genre are removed, which lets you focus on the story.”
    • “I had a special appreciation for the minigames since while they are hardly unique, they hit the sweet spot of occasionally giving you a break from the usual gameplay, without being so numerous or lengthy as to become tedious.”
    • “Gameplay requires minimal effort as you mostly press just one button.”
    • “The gameplay is non-existent.”
    • “Not much gameplay aside from choosing between different answers, and the choices don't seem to matter that much.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its captivating and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and perfectly complementing the narrative and setting. Many reviewers highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, with some even suggesting it could stand alone as a listening experience. However, there were mixed opinions on the voice acting, with some noting issues like excessive reverb that detracted from the overall sound quality.

    • “The soundtrack is very good; it helps so much with the atmosphere. Each scene has a soundtrack that perfectly explains what's currently happening on stage.”
    • “The music and sound effects were amazing; I had to play about twenty minutes of it without sound, and it felt a lot less engaging that way.”
    • “As I said, the voice acting is convincing, and the music soundtrack is so perfectly matched to the setting and the story parts; no major studio could have done it better.”
    • “While the music was fine (even atmospheric), every single character ('actor') recording sounded like they had reverb on for the entire game.”
    • “The graphics, voice acting, and music are all sub-par.”
    • “Still in Cypress Knee, that strangely familiar Florida town, but now there is a weirdly creepy fair complete with a set of rhyming villagers reminiscent of an off-kilter Broadway musical.”
  • graphics35 mentions

    The graphics of the game are described as a mix of "pretty" visuals, particularly in the sky, and a low-budget aesthetic reminiscent of late 1990s titles. While some players appreciate the quirky art style and immersive VR experience, others criticize the graphics as sub-par, with sparse details and occasional bugs. Overall, the visuals are seen as passable, contributing to the game's unique atmosphere, but they do not meet AAA standards.

    • “I love the aesthetic.”
    • “The choice of graphical style is quirky, but fits seamlessly into the tone of the story as it's written.”
    • “The gasps of the audience echo your own, the questions running through the characters' minds echo your own; it's an extremely well-written game, with great graphics and a great atmosphere.”
    • “The story is ridiculous, as are the characters, and the graphics and animations aren't those of a AAA game.”
    • “The graphics, voice acting, and music are all sub-par.”
    • “I didn't like this at all and after 20 minutes had the impression that randomly mashing the trackpad would probably complete the game. Add to that pretty sparse graphics and shadowy, nondescript characters I could only see the outline of; it soon became very tedious.”
  • atmosphere30 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its chaotic yet cozy feel, reminiscent of shows like Twin Peaks and The X-Files, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that complements each scene. Players appreciate the immersive experience created by audience reactions and the unique visual style, which evokes a theatrical ambiance. Overall, the combination of strong writing, engaging settings, and a melancholic tone contributes to a captivating and unsettling atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The soundtrack is very good; it helps so much with the atmosphere. Each scene has a soundtrack that perfectly explains what's currently happening on stage.”
    • “The gasps of the audience echo your own, the questions running through the characters' minds echo your own. It's an extremely well-written game, with great graphics and a great atmosphere.”
    • “Great atmosphere, great story, great acting, and the way it's presented—wow! Good show, devs. Can't wait for your next piece of work!”
    • “Really accomplishes atmosphere and story; the length is decent as well (I'm halfway through Act 1 at almost 3 hours).”
    • “Southern locations, melancholy atmosphere, and allusions to theater all make appearances here, but it still is very much its own game with a storyline that is more grounded than kr0.”
    • “+ Visual style: the game looks great and has an original feel thanks to the stage-like atmosphere.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as wacky and often funny, particularly when players choose specific character options that enhance comedic moments. However, some jokes feel repetitive and can detract from the overall experience, with a mix of strong writing and occasional filler that undermines the narrative's direction. While the game successfully incorporates black humor and self-referential jokes, it struggles to maintain a consistent tone throughout the storyline.

    • “It's quite wacky, but it's also very funny - especially if you select the three main character's specific options (weird, belligerent, cynical).”
    • “+sense of humor: the game isn't afraid to poke fun at itself.”
    • “The characters of this game are also wonderfully written and funny.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable with enough variety from choices to warrant multiple playthroughs, others feel that the lack of meaningful choices and incentives diminishes the desire to replay. A few users noted that unless one has a poor memory, the replay value is minimal.

    • “The story is enjoyable and replayable, with just enough variety as a result of your choices.”
    • “But as your choices do make differences, there is a certain replay value.”
    • “- Replayability: few of the choices truly seem meaningful and there is little incentive to play again after the first time.”
    • “Replay value virtually nil unless you have a very bad memory.”
    • “There even appears to be some replayability.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Reviews on the grinding aspect highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the inclusion of minigames that provide a refreshing break from standard gameplay, others find the overall mechanics repetitive and tedious. The lack of engaging graphics and character design further contributes to a sense of monotony, with some players feeling that the gameplay can be completed with minimal effort. Overall, the balance between engaging content and tedious elements remains a point of contention.

    • “I didn't like this at all and after 20 minutes had the impression that randomly mashing the trackpad would probably complete the game. Add to that pretty sparse graphics and shadowy, nondescript characters I could only see the outline of, it soon became very tedious.”
    • “The mechanics are no different from anything else in the genre, but by embracing the idea of the player being the director rather than an actor, the more tedious walking from point A to B aspects of the genre are removed, which lets you focus on the story.”
    • “I had a special appreciation for the minigames since while they are hardly unique, they hit the sweet spot of occasionally giving you a break from the usual gameplay, without being so numerous or lengthy as to become tedious.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The reviews suggest that the game's optimization allows players to feel in control of the narrative, as the performance adapts seamlessly to their decisions, enhancing the overall experience.

  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from stability issues, particularly characterized by frequent buggy animations that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The animations are incredibly buggy.”
    • “The animations are incredibly buggy.”
    • “The animations are incredibly buggy.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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