Loretta

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 50 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Loretta Game Cover
Although there are flaws in Loretta's gameplay and adventure mechanics, it has a compelling story, brilliant writing, gorgeous graphics, and immersive audio that will make for an enjoyable afternoon playthrough.
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"Loretta" is a single-player mystery point and click psychological thriller game with an intriguing 1940s housewife story. Players are accessory to Loretta's crimes, deciding the depths of her depravity as she seeks revenge on her unfaithful husband. With stunning graphics, players navigate a nightmare of Loretta's creation, deciding if her story remains a web of deceit or escalates into bloodshed.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews
story16 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating and immersive story with well-developed characters, making it a compelling narrative experience.
  • The art style is beautifully crafted, enhancing the eerie atmosphere and overall aesthetic of the game.
  • The soundtrack is excellent, effectively setting the tone and mood throughout the gameplay.
  • The game suffers from a lack of polish in its presentation, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • Many players found the mini-games tedious and unnecessary, feeling they interrupted the flow of the story.
  • The pacing is slow, and some players felt that the dialogue choices did not significantly impact the story, leading to a less engaging experience.
  • story50 mentions

    The story of "Loretta" is praised for its immersive and intriguing narrative, featuring strong characters and a captivating atmosphere reminiscent of post-war America. While many players appreciate the depth and thematic elements, some express frustration with the pacing and limited impact of choices on the overall plot, leading to a sense of repetitiveness in replaying sections. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling storytelling, though it has some inconsistencies and plot holes that detract from the experience.

    • “With a beautiful art style and a story that sticks with you long after the fact, it is hard not to recommend.”
    • “Fantastic story with a dark, brooding and twisting plotline that is very unsettling and will have you constantly on edge.”
    • “Very interesting story that dives into mental illness and historical treatment of women with mental illness.”
    • “The story kind of left me wishing for more; I wasn't really engaged by it.”
    • “The game leads you on with the promise that your choices matter, but you can't alter the direction of the story outside of the bits where you have the option to kill someone.”
    • “While it is, for the most part, well written, there are a fair amount of plot holes and some dialogue aberrations which point to the game not being playtested as rigorously as it should be.”
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics of *Loretta* are widely praised for their beautiful art style, inspired by renowned artists like Andrew Wyeth and Edward Hopper, which effectively creates a creepy atmosphere. The mix of pixel art and high-resolution visuals, combined with a noir-inspired soundtrack, enhances the game's suspense and storytelling. Overall, players appreciate the unique aesthetic, even if pixel art isn't universally favored.

    • “The art style in Loretta is absolutely beautiful, inspired by the works of Andrew Wyeth and Edward Hopper.”
    • “With a beautiful art style and a story that sticks with you long after the fact, it is hard not to recommend.”
    • “I do not always enjoy pixel art style as it tends to leave too much to my lacking imagination, but Loretta manages to straddle the fine line of the art style very well.”
    • “Pixel graphics which you’ll either like or not, and a good accompaniment of music.”
    • “Inspired by the works of Andrew Wyeth and Edward Hopper (of Nighthawks fame), the art style of Loretta is absolutely beautiful.”
  • music15 mentions

    The game's music has been widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, featuring a beautiful original soundtrack composed by Efim Mylnikov that blends classical elements with a 30's/40's radio aesthetic. The use of piano and strings enhances the noir vibe, while sound effects effectively contribute to the unsettling tone. Overall, the music significantly enriches the game's storytelling and mood, making it a standout aspect of the experience.

    • “The original soundtrack was composed by Efim Mylnikov and it is quite beautiful.”
    • “The soundtrack is particularly excellent - it's a strange mix of classical and 30's/40's radio tunes (think Fallout) that become distorted and almost hypnotic at times.”
    • “The soundtrack is full of piano and swelling strings, invoking that sinister dark alley noir aesthetic.”
    • “The sound effects fill voids in the music that really set an unsettling tone.”
    • “The atmospheric music and sound also help deepen the mood and tone of the game, and the direction of a lot of the scenes are direct homages to classic horror movies and directors.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay of *Loretta* is characterized as a side-scrolling point-and-click adventure that emphasizes narrative and psychological themes, but it suffers from small annoyances and abstract elements that can frustrate players. While the multiple endings offer depth, they may detract from the overall storytelling experience, making it less appealing for those who prioritize gameplay over plot. Overall, the gameplay is solid but may not resonate with all players.

    • “In terms of gameplay, Loretta is a side-scrolling point-and-click adventure.”
    • “Solid gameplay and story throughout.”
    • “I guess it's small annoyances that hurt Loretta's gameplay and story.”
    • “This is essentially more like watching a slow burn pixelated thriller, so if you're a gameplay-over-plot person, this may not be for you.”
    • “Which brings me to the gameplay that relies on multiple endings, and how that can hinder some stories instead of enriching them.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its evocative sound design and haunting soundtrack, which effectively enhance the immersive experience of the post-war American South. Reviewers note the successful blend of pixel art and sparse audio elements that create a suspenseful, Hitchcockian vibe, reminiscent of classic horror films. Overall, the atmosphere is described as mesmerizing and deeply engaging, drawing players into its intriguing narrative without relying heavily on jump scares.

    • “This mix of low and high-res artwork resonates wonderfully with the equally sparse sound design and noir-inspired soundtrack to ratchet up the suspense and atmosphere without resorting to jump scares (although the game does have a few of them, they're well done).”
    • “The atmospheric music and sound also help deepen the mood and tone of the game, and the direction of a lot of the scenes are direct homages to classic horror movies and directors.”
    • “The atmosphere is positively Hitchcockian, graciously carried by excellent sound design, making great use of uncomfortable silences suddenly pierced by icy sharp strings.”
    • “This mix of low and high-resolution artwork resonates wonderfully with the equally sparse sound design and noir-inspired soundtrack to ratchet up the suspense and atmosphere without resorting to jump scares (although the game does have a few of them; they're well done).”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers some replay value despite its short length, but this is hampered by a frustrating experience where players may feel they missed elements due to incorrect interactions. The repetitive nature of unlocking different endings, combined with a static storyline, can make replaying tedious and diminish overall replayability.

    • “There is quite a bit of replay value, although it is a short game to begin with.”
    • “It does increase replayability, but in a frustrating manner, making the player feel like they always missed something.”
    • “Idk how much actual replayability there is with different choices.”
    • “It does increase replayability but in a frustrating manner, making the player feel like they always missed something, not because there's more to a situation but just because they didn't click objects in the right order.”
    • “This has a serious impact on the replay value of Loretta as, due to the story remaining the same, unlocking the different endings gets tedious fast as you have to retread the same scenes time and time again.”
    • “I don't know how much actual replayability there is with different choices.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of "Loretta" to be a double-edged sword; while the atmospheric sounds enhance the game's mood, the repetitive nature of unlocking different endings and retreading the same scenes can quickly become tedious. Additionally, some mini-games may feel monotonous, though they are generally easy to complete without penalty.

    • “This has a serious impact on the replay value of Loretta, as the story remains the same. Unlocking the different endings gets tedious fast, as you have to retread the same scenes time and time again.”
    • “And occasionally the mini-games border on tedious, but they are easy enough to figure out, and the game doesn't punish you for not getting them on the first try.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Reviews highlight the emotional depth of the game, noting how its use of chiaroscuro effectively conveys moral ambiguity, while the bold colors and bright settings can simultaneously mask and reveal the complexities of family life. This duality creates a rich emotional landscape that invites players to explore underlying themes of darkness and concealment.

    • “While the former’s chiaroscuro famously evokes moral ambiguity as every light accentuates the darkness left behind, there’s something to be said about how brash and assertive colors, along with the openness of broad daylight, can be used to conceal what’s behind the seemingly wholesome façade of family life as much as revealing.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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