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Ladderhead

65%Game Brain Score
graphics, atmosphere
story, gameplay
91% User Score Based on 22 reviews

Platforms

PCPCAndroidAndroidiPhoneiPhoneWindowsWindowsMac OSMac OSMobile PlatformMobile PlatformiPadiPadPhonePhoneTabletTablet
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About

A surreal narrative focused roguelite text adventure. In it you play a man stuck in the same day who has to get to the top floor of an unusual building to find his loved one. Each floor is a perilous mystery to unravel. Each time you die the day resets.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Ladderhead screenshot

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews
graphics2 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The hand-drawn graphics and surreal sound effects create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience.
  • The game features a cleverly designed looped story that keeps players engaged, with intriguing and abstract plot elements.
  • The minimalist art style and soundtrack complement the narrative well, showcasing the developer's creativity and vision.
  • The game lacks player agency, with many responses feeling predetermined, which diminishes the interactive experience.
  • There is a reliance on hints due to a lack of standard text commands, which can frustrate players seeking more freedom in gameplay.
  • Some players found the narrative confusing and felt that the overall experience did not deliver on the promised 'perilous mystery to solve.'
  • story
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is characterized by its surreal and abstract nature, enhanced by hand-drawn graphics and unique sound design that create an immersive atmosphere. It features a looped narrative where players reset upon dying but retain inventory items, leading to a cleverly designed and satisfying experience. Overall, the narrative is stronger and more focused than previous entries, appealing to fans of surreal and detective-like storytelling.

    • “By focusing on a singular story, Ladderhead features a stronger narrative with events and player choices that feel less arbitrary.”
    • “And the storyline is really good too - if you like surrealistic, detective-like narratives, be sure to check this one out.”
    • “The plot is confusing and surreal, but it's also intriguing and, above all, satisfying because it’s cleverly designed.”
    • “It’s a looped story where, upon dying, the day resets, but we keep the items in our inventory.”
    • “The story is more abstract than the previous entry and imbued with more of the developer's original creativity.”
  • graphics
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a captivating hand-drawn and minimalist art style that creates a surreal atmosphere, enhancing the storytelling experience. Coupled with a complementary and minimalistic soundtrack, the visuals contribute to a spellbinding and mysterious aesthetic, reminiscent of its companion piece, "Desert of Vice."

    • “I like the hand-drawn graphics, coupled with the strange sound effects and music; it does a great job at fostering a surreal atmosphere to experience the story in.”
    • “The minimalist art style chosen is spellbinding and mysterious; the soundtrack, although minimalistic, is very complementary to the rest of the game and works very well.”
    • “A companion piece to Desert of Vice, Ladderhead shares many of the same aesthetic choices and design pitfalls of the former.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its hand-drawn graphics and unique sound design, which together create a surreal atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience. While the atmosphere is compelling and worth exploring, some players feel that the overall enjoyment of the game may not meet their expectations.

    • “I like the hand-drawn graphics, coupled with the strange sound effects and music; it does a great job at fostering a surreal atmosphere to experience the story in.”
    • “If the game looks interesting to you, it's probably worth the price of entry to experience the atmosphere.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is described as minimalistic yet highly effective, enhancing the surreal atmosphere created by the hand-drawn graphics and sound effects. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack complements the overall experience, contributing to the game's mysterious and spellbinding aesthetic.

    • “I like the hand-drawn graphics, coupled with the strange sound effects and music; it does a great job at fostering a surreal atmosphere to experience the story in.”
    • “The minimalist art style chosen is spellbinding and mysterious; the soundtrack, although minimalistic, is very complementary to the rest of the game and works very well.”
  • gameplay
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is criticized for its text-based format, which fails to enhance the narrative or provide a compelling experience that justifies its use.

    • “To put it simply, being text-based does not enhance the narrative or the gameplay in a way that justifies the format.”

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