Letters: A Written Adventure
- September 6, 2018
- 5am Games GmbH
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Letters: A Written Adventure" is a narrative-driven game where players experience a touching story through letters and words. As the player, you will interact with various letters and objects, uncovering a heartwarming tale of friendship and connection. With its unique gameplay and engaging story, Letters offers a refreshing take on the adventure game genre.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features a unique and creative gameplay mechanic that involves word manipulation, making it a fun and engaging experience.
- The art style is beautiful and nostalgic, enhancing the overall charm of the game and making it visually appealing.
- The story is heartfelt and offers meaningful choices that impact the narrative, providing good replay value.
- The platforming mechanics can be frustrating and feel repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The game is relatively short, which some players feel does not justify the price point, leading to recommendations to wait for a sale.
- There are issues with controls, particularly when using a controller, which can hinder the gameplay experience.
- story124 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its emotional depth and engaging character development, allowing players to make meaningful choices that affect the narrative. While some found the plot simple or rushed, many appreciated the nostalgic and heartfelt themes, as well as the unique mechanics that blend storytelling with gameplay. Overall, the game offers a charming and interactive experience, though some players wished for more gameplay elements to complement the story.
“The story was very well told (with some hard themes but it does come with a content warning) with the puzzle aspect being for the most part well done with a robust hint system should you need it.”
“Everything is executed in loving detail and the background story of the protagonist as she grows up is very engaging.”
“A lovely game that tells a surprisingly deep story in a playful way with unique word-based platform-puzzling.”
“What I am sure of is that there are many bad design decisions in the game and even though the plot definitely kept me curious, literally everything else was unpleasant.”
“I felt like the story moved too quickly, jumping from a 10-year-old with divorcing parents to a 16-year-old with a budding relationship (that can end swiftly if you don't like Alex's pushiness) and career opportunity only to end with that opportunity now finished and Sarah jumping ahead 14 years for the epilogue.”
“And the reason it isn't just a straight-up visual novel is because the story is pretty boring.”
- gameplay80 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of unique and engaging mechanics, particularly in word manipulation and narrative exploration, which many players found enjoyable and innovative. However, several users noted that certain mechanics, such as navigating stairs and backtracking, can become tedious and detract from the overall experience, leading to a desire for more varied gameplay. Overall, while the game offers a charming story and artistic presentation, the gameplay may not appeal to those seeking a more action-oriented experience.
“It’s unique in its gameplay style and I love being able to maneuver and break up words to change the narrative.”
“A short, fun game with interesting game mechanics and a great story.”
“I got really immersed in being in the titular letters, and the main mechanic of word puzzles worked very well for me.”
“It's a very cute game with a lovely art style and some heartfelt writing, yet the gameplay itself is a chore.”
“For the most part, I found myself kicking at random words to try to progress and backtracking through the entire letter; the gameplay was getting in the way of the story, rather than helping it along.”
“It's the most mind-numbing gameplay I've seen in such a highly rated game.”
- emotional24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its nostalgic and heartfelt storytelling, with players forming strong emotional connections to the characters and plot. Its charming art style and clever mechanics enhance the experience, though some feel the gameplay could be more engaging and longer. Overall, it effectively balances lighthearted moments with deeper themes of coming of age and family, making it a recommended choice for fans of wholesome narrative-driven games.
“It's so nostalgic and touching, great work with the story.”
“Moreover, the game still has a very tender and touching plot; it is very easy to imagine yourself in the place of the main character.”
“On the other side, the more serious, a bit awkward or uncomfortable sides of coming of age and family were very well handled, at times a bit frustrating or uneasy, at times very touching.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and beautiful art style, featuring charming watercolor visuals and well-designed characters that enhance the storytelling experience. However, some users have reported technical issues, such as bugs and unresponsive graphics settings, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game's artistic appeal and heartfelt themes resonate well with players who appreciate detailed and whimsical graphics.
“This game is so cute, I do love the art style.”
“Beautiful watercolor-style artwork!”
“A very heartfelt, punny, and nostalgic game with gorgeous artwork (and gorgeous cats!!!) and a nice message about self-love, if a bit short (although there are choices and thus replayability).”
“Very buggy game to play on stream; graphics buttons do not seem to work right, which has led to lag and crashing of the game a lot.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple choices and different narrative routes, encouraging players to explore various outcomes. While the playtime for a single run is relatively short (around 2 hours), the depth of options and achievements available enhances its value, making it a heartfelt and enjoyable experience worth revisiting. Overall, players appreciate the game's emotional storytelling and beautiful artwork, which further contribute to its replay appeal.
“This game is heartfelt and fun to play. I really liked the story and the fact that there were so many options to pick from, which gives this game a lot of replay value.”
“This game has great replay value as there are different routes you can take for different intervals of your life.”
“It is short, but it has enormous replayability due to the different choices you can make and to see what all the words can do.”
“Although a little on the pricey side compared to the time it takes to complete one playthrough (about 2 hours or so), the replay value and the amount of love poured into this game makes up for it.”
“It is short, but it has enormous replayability value due to different choices you can make and just to see what all the words can do.”
“A very heartfelt, punny, and nostalgic game with gorgeous artwork (and gorgeous cats!!!) and a nice message about self-love, if a bit short (although there are choices and thus replayability).”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and relatability, featuring insider jokes that resonate particularly with those familiar with 90s culture. Players appreciate the funny moments and the engaging, often touching resolutions to challenges, which enhance the overall experience. The game combines amusing gameplay mechanics with a thoughtful narrative, making it both entertaining and meaningful.
“It made me laugh, it made me think just enough, it had interesting choices to make and I love that they mattered.”
“Funny gameplay idea, with a lot of great insider jokes for '90s kids.”
“From funny moments and relatable dramatic scenarios, this game not only has a good plot story but also something to learn from.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant but unremarkable, serving its purpose without standing out. It effectively complements the narrative, enhancing the emotional depth of Sarah's journey through different life phases. While some mechanics related to music can feel repetitive, the overall experience is enjoyable and adds a humorous touch to the gameplay.
“The music fits perfectly with the different chapters and phases of Sarah's life and rounds up this cute adventure with an earnest undertone.”
“As a gamer girl from Switzerland who grew up in the nineties and likes metal music, I am in this game and ...”
“I found the background music to be nothing special, but it was pleasant enough that I didn't mind while playing.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, yet they understand its purpose and still enjoy the overall experience.
“The gameplay can get a bit tedious, but I understand why it is the way it is; overall, it's fun.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be highly unstable, with frequent bugs causing significant lag and crashes, particularly during streaming. Users have noted that the graphics controls are also malfunctioning, contributing to the overall instability.
“Very buggy game to play on stream; the graphics buttons do not seem to work properly, which has led to frequent lag and crashes.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its uniqueness, enhancing the overall experience alongside clever puzzles and the freedom of choice in the narrative.
“I enjoyed the game’s unique atmosphere, the clever puzzles, and being able to make my own choices in the story.”
