Little Brother Jim

About

Little Brother Jim is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Tonguç Bodur and was released on September 6, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Little Brother Jim is a narrative-driven game that follows Paul as he reminisces about his late brother Jim on a walk up to a hill they used to visit. Along the way, Paul discovers magical mailboxes containing notes from Jim, which reveal his love for a challenging jeep parking video game. The game allows players to switch between Paul's journey and the jeep parking levels, with the option to skip levels after a few fails or notes. It is recommended to take your time and pay attention to the details for a richer gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully emotional storyline that explores themes of grief and connection.
The environments are visually stunning and varied, enhancing the overall experience.
The soundtrack is well-composed and adds warmth to the gameplay.

The driving segments can feel monotonous and may detract from the overall experience.
Some players found the mailbox letters difficult to read due to poor formatting.
The two gameplay styles (driving and walking) feel disconnected, leading to a jarring experience.

story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The game's story, which unfolds through letters and interludes between parking simulator levels, explores themes of grief, memory, and familial connection, transitioning from whimsical beginnings to a bittersweet conclusion. While the emotional depth and pacing are praised, some players found the storytelling mechanics—particularly the reliance on notes and occasional grammatical issues—frustrating. Overall, the narrative is considered touching and well-crafted, enhanced by the game's music and visuals, though some felt it could have benefited from more content and interaction.
- “I thought this would be a simple little parking game, but it turned out to be a surprisingly emotional story about grief, memory, and connection. I especially love the music and the environments; they add so much warmth to the experience.”
- “Throughout, you will be presented with notes that develop the actual story, and as it progresses, what starts as whimsy and fond memories slowly turns to wistful longing and sadness, but ends on a hopeful note.”
- “In between the parking levels, there is a beautiful story about family, love, and the brevity of life.”
- “One problem is that the story is told through notes, and comma usage is just all over the place, which makes it a pain to read at times.”
- “This is due to the fact that it is a very short game and there is a statement in the credits which undermines the whole perception of the story as you are led to believe it is a true story but it is in fact fiction which really ruined it for me.”
- “The story doesn't explain it very well.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, with a variety of dedicated tracks that complement the game's themes of grief and connection. Reviewers highlight the relaxing and beautiful soundtrack, which, along with the sound effects, contributes significantly to the game's ambiance. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, adding warmth and depth to the narrative.
- “I thought this would be a simple little parking game, but it turned out to be a surprisingly emotional story about grief, memory, and connection... I especially love the music and the environments; they add so much warmth to the experience.”
- “The music was all stellar with dedicated guitar tracks and dedicated keyboard tracks in a variety of playstyles.”
- “✧ Music stops at certain points.”
- “The sound effects and music in both parts of the game are relaxing and funny in some instances.”
- “The walking sim is beautiful and accompanied by a peaceful, pretty soundtrack.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its unexpectedly deep emotional narrative centered on themes of grief, memory, and connection, enhanced by warm music and environments. While some players felt the emotional impact was inconsistent, many appreciated the genuine portrayal of loss and the balance of sadness and hope throughout the story. Overall, it offers a poignant experience that resonates with players on an emotional level.
- “I thought this would be a simple little parking game, but it turned out to be a surprisingly emotional story about grief, memory, and connection. I especially love the music and the environments; they add so much warmth to the experience.”
- “The letters feel genuine and real; the story is well made and emotional.”
- “It works too because the emotional paradox of sadness and hope accompanying the loss of a loved one would only be convoluted by anything more grand.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay features a mix of driving and parking minigames, adding variety and extending playtime, though some players may choose to skip these sections. The mechanics are likened to a quirky blend of a surgical operation game and a walking simulator, offering unique interactions and movement options, including a convenient autowalk feature. Overall, the gameplay is described as diverse but can feel disjointed due to the contrasting sections.
- “This time, however, he mixed it with a driving/parking minigame which is kind of fun and gives the game more gameplay than usual.”
- “I also completely skipped most of the parking levels, but they likely add another 1-2 hours of gameplay.”
- “I have no choice but to review this as two separate games, as the two gameplay sections have nothing in common.”
- “As far as the gameplay mechanics go, imagine you are playing a game of operation, only with a van instead of tweezers, and you have taken just as much diazepam as the doctor in Surgeon Simulator.”
- “In terms of gameplay during the walking levels, you can walk, run, jump once, toggle walk (aka autowalk, aka the best feature possible in a walking simulator), look around, and interact with padlocks.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The graphics received positive feedback for their quality and distinct art styles, with many reviewers appreciating the departure from typical designs. Overall, the visuals were highlighted as one of the standout features of the game, alongside its music.
- “They also had two different art styles.”
- “In a sense, I like that the graphics in these levels are such a stark departure from the normal style.”
- “As I said, it has nice graphics, pretty sound, and awesome soundtracks!”
- “The game suffers from inconsistent art styles that clash with each other.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
- “Character models are poorly designed and lack detail, making them unappealing.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its quirky concept, such as a bear driving, and the amusing sound effects and music that enhance the experience. While the parking simulator aspect is seen as funny, it can also be perceived as somewhat tedious, contrasting with the more engaging walking simulator elements that tie the game together effectively. Overall, the humor is appreciated, though its execution varies in impact.
- “Which is pretty funny in concept, but the walking simulator part of the game almost immediately tells you why the parking simulator part is there, and ties everything together immaculately.”
- “The sound effects and music in both parts of the game are relaxing and funny in some instances.”
- “There was direction with the walking portion and the driving game was coded very well (plus I love bears, so seeing that a bear was driving made me laugh).”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its strong alignment with the overall theme, enhancing the immersive experience for players.
- “The atmosphere of the game is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
- “The sound design and visuals create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich and engaging atmosphere that pulls you in.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is criticized as a low-quality asset flip, perceived as a cash grab despite its $5 price tag.
- “While it may look like some kind of game, this is just a garbage asset flip cash grab with a $5 USD price tag on it.”