Lydia

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 442 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • graphics
Lydia Game Cover
Lydia is an important game, not just because it broaches an important subject matter, but for how it uses its art direction, music, and storytelling to highlight the issues it's bringing to our attention.
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"Lydia" is a horror point-and-click game with an intriguing story dealing with adult substance abuse from a child's perspective. The game boasts wonderful visuals, awesome music, and an outstanding atmosphere, telling the story of a little girl and her beloved teddy bear as they confront the monster hiding in the shadows, based on the developers' own experiences. The game is similar to "To the Moon" and emphasizes atmosphere and emotion.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 442 reviews
story123 positive mentions
replayability4 negative mentions
  • Lydia offers a poignant narrative that explores the impact of broken families and alcoholism through the eyes of a child, making it a deeply emotional experience.
  • The game's unique art style and haunting soundtrack effectively enhance the storytelling, creating an immersive atmosphere.
  • Despite its short length, the game manages to convey a powerful message about childhood trauma and the complexities of family dynamics.
  • The gameplay is minimal, with little interaction and no significant choices that affect the outcome, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game.
  • Some players found the voice acting to be off-putting or annoying, which detracted from the overall experience.
  • The game may be too emotionally heavy for some players, particularly those with personal experiences related to its themes, and its short duration may leave some wanting more depth.
  • story420 mentions

    The story of *Lydia* is a poignant exploration of childhood trauma, focusing on themes of emotional abuse and the impact of substance addiction within a broken family. Players experience the narrative through the eyes of a young girl, navigating a surreal world that reflects her struggles and fears, ultimately delivering a heart-wrenching and relatable tale. While the game is short and linear, its powerful storytelling, unique art style, and evocative music create a deeply immersive experience that resonates with those familiar with similar hardships.

    • “Lydia is an unforgettable gaming experience that will leave a lasting impression on players, demonstrating the immense power of storytelling in video games.”
    • “It's a powerful story that culminates with the idea that you don't have to forgive those who've abused you, even if they are your family.”
    • “The art, colors, music, speech-audio, and writing all come together beautifully to fully immerse you into an atmosphere so eerily nostalgic that it makes the story even more powerful.”
    • “The story has an erratic storyline that's filled with painfully 2D characters, typos, lazy mechanics, and tries to comment on traumas while managing to not actually go in-depth on anything at all.”
    • “The gameplay elements are light and not very engaging, but the game manages to tell a sad story about a broken family through the lens of a child.”
    • “There are choices throughout the dialogue, but I don't think any of it impacts the story in any way, which is a bit disappointing.”
  • emotional148 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly poignant, tackling heavy themes such as emotional abuse, alcoholism, and childhood trauma with remarkable sensitivity and depth. Players describe it as a heart-wrenching experience that can evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears, particularly for those who relate to the depicted struggles. While the narrative is compelling and beautifully crafted, some feel that the constant focus on misery can diminish the impact of its emotional moments.

    • “The game masterfully captures the emotional complexity of addiction and the ripple effects it has on families, exhibiting remarkable nuance and sensitivity.”
    • “This is a heartbreaking game about toxic families and a girl growing up trying to survive hers.”
    • “You can't help but go on an emotional journey as you play, especially if you've personally experienced the 'monster' in one way or another.”
  • graphics121 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and haunting art style, which effectively complements the emotional and dark themes of the story. Many reviewers highlight the striking hand-drawn visuals, atmospheric backgrounds, and the use of a subdued color palette that enhances the overall mood. While some note that the character details could be improved, the visuals are generally considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's impact.

    • “The art style is so unique and the music was perfectly paired with it!”
    • “This game is beautiful, very simple and yet expressive graphics, together with music it creates atmosphere that breaks the player's heart as it progresses with the storyline.”
    • “Gorgeous artwork mixed with a haunting sound design bring together one of the most poignant, honest indies I'm proud to own.”
    • “Lydia is point and click with an interesting story, okay visuals, and some annoying voices in a depressing atmosphere.”
    • “Art style: I dig the atmospheric background, but I think a little bit more detail should be put on the characters; oh well, this is quite subjective.”
    • “The backgrounds aren't always ultra-detailed, but the surreal perspectives, overall dark tone, and use of graphical filters is consistent throughout.”
  • music82 mentions

    The music in the game has been widely praised for its captivating and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack beautifully complements the unique art style, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players. While some found the music and sound design to be minimalistic, they still acknowledged its impactful role in setting the game's tone and atmosphere.

    • “The music is fantastic and just heightened the game’s atmosphere.”
    • “The artwork and music are haunting, and were enough to give me the chills a couple of times without anything actually happening in the game.”
    • “The background art is stunning and the music complements the narrative very well.”
    • “The music and sounds are... well... 'different', they fit the game but the way the characters talk can get annoying pretty fast too.”
    • “Soundtrack: not remarkable, but decent.”
    • “The visuals and music, as well as the sound effects were artfully done, but it's not something that I can say that I 'enjoyed'.”
  • atmosphere54 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, surreal world, emotional depth, and unique artistic design, which together create a deeply immersive experience. The music and sound effects enhance the mood, shifting from warm to oppressive, while the visuals and narrative elements contribute to a hauntingly nostalgic ambiance. However, some players noted that certain voice acting detracted from the overall experience, impacting their enjoyment of the otherwise compelling atmosphere.

    • “The art, colors, music, speech-audio, and writing all come together beautifully to fully immerse you into an atmosphere so eerily nostalgic that it makes the story even more powerful.”
    • “This game is beautiful, with very simple yet expressive graphics. Together with the music, it creates an atmosphere that breaks the player's heart as it progresses with the storyline.”
    • “The atmosphere is very good; it can shift from a warm to an oppressive atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is a 5/10; it's a dark surreal world with emotional moments, but it was ruined by the voices the characters produce while they speak.”
    • “Lydia is a point-and-click game with an interesting story, okay visuals, and some annoying voices in a depressing atmosphere.”
    • “The distressing atmosphere really got to me.”
  • gameplay49 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a simple point-and-click experience with minimal mechanics, often described as a walking simulator or graphic novel. Players can expect a light, story-driven adventure that focuses more on narrative than on engaging gameplay, with interactions being largely limited to clicking on objects and reading dialogue. While the emotional story resonates with some, the lack of depth and challenge in gameplay may deter those seeking a more traditional gaming experience.

    • “Great, simple mechanic, emotional story game with a meaningful purpose, unique art style and worth full price if not discounted.”
    • “I recommend the game only to those people who like gameplay-lite adventures that deal with real-world problems, particularly those of a darker nature like Lidia.”
    • “Short, sweet, and to the point, Lidia makes for a memorable and engaging hour of gameplay.”
    • “My only warning would be that there is nearly no gameplay at all.”
    • “There's not much in terms of actual gameplay, classic adventure game puzzles or challenge for that matter; you're mostly just reading dialogue and moving the character to the next point of interaction.”
    • “If you're looking for actual gameplay, look elsewhere because the interaction is pretty stale and a bit annoying.”
  • replayability9 mentions

    The game "Lydia" has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers rating it a 1/10 in this aspect. Players note that the linear narrative and lack of meaningful choices limit the experience to a single playthrough, although the story and visuals are praised as worthwhile for those seeking an emotionally engaging experience.

    • “There isn't much in the way of replayability, but a well-told story, plus an excellent visual style, make Lydia a worthwhile playthrough for anyone looking for something emotionally dense.”
    • “Replay value: 1/10. It's a short story-rich game, and it's only okay for one playthrough.”
    • “There isn't any replay value, but it is well worth playing, especially if you can get it on sale.”
    • “Lydia is short; I completed it in just under 2 hours, including its one achievement for finishing the game. It is pretty linear and, as far as I can see, has little to no replayability.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by atmospheric backgrounds and creative character design, with animations that effectively align with the protagonist Lydia's identity and aspirations.

    • “The backgrounds are very atmospheric, the character design is very creative and spot on, and the animations perfectly fit what Lydia wants to be.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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