Lynne

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 410 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Lynne Game Cover
View game
Get on Steam

Lynne is a short story about the scariest thing in the world - being a teenager.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 410 reviews
story77 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The writing is compelling and effectively conveys the protagonist's struggles with anxiety and self-worth.
  • The art style and soundtrack create a haunting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The game tackles heavy themes of mental health and societal pressure in a relatable way.
  • The ending feels abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered, which may frustrate some players.
  • There is a lack of interactivity, as it is a kinetic novel with no choices to make.
  • Some characters are underdeveloped, and their arcs feel incomplete or disconnected from the main story.
  • story327 mentions

    The story of *Lynne* centers on a teenage girl grappling with anxiety, nightmares, and societal pressures, presenting a dark and introspective character study. While the narrative is linear and lacks interactivity, it effectively conveys themes of mental health and self-identity through minimalist imagery and a haunting atmosphere. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and unresolved plot points, many reviewers found the storytelling compelling and relatable, making it a noteworthy experience for fans of psychological horror.

    • “Lynne tells an extremely well-told story about a teenage girl and all her thoughts, desires, fears, and insecurities.”
    • “Overall, I highly recommend giving this visual novel a read because it will grip you throughout while also acting out possible relatable past events making this a worthy awareness novel; it is also free but I am sure many who have read this already will happily agree they would pay the cost of a cup of coffee for this so if you have yet to indulge in an ebi-hime story what better place to start?”
    • “The story uses a fascinating mixture of psychological horror and the everyday life of a teenager.”
    • “The story is weak, even if well written, and doesn't work that well.”
    • “There's simply too many things in the story that go unexplained, which makes the ending feel rushed and nonsensical.”
    • “The story just ends rather abruptly.”
  • music75 mentions

    The music in the game is a mixed bag, with many users noting its atmospheric and eerie qualities that enhance the storytelling and overall experience. While some found the soundtrack fitting and immersive, others described it as unsettling or even annoying at times. Overall, the music effectively contributes to the game's dark and surreal atmosphere, though opinions on its quality vary significantly.

    • “The soundtrack was phenomenal, and I wouldn't have any other music accompany the story.”
    • “Using descriptive language, some nihilistic characters, almost dream-like visuals and eerily haunting music, Lynne captures that terrifying time in your life when you aren't sure about your place in the world or among your peers, and it does it excellently.”
    • “The music is unsettling, the writing curdles your blood, and the art is great, although sometimes it isn't consistently styled.”
    • “The music uses atmospheric songs for the most part but also uses some electronic-style songs, and both genres are fitting for the game and its atmosphere but aren't anything special.”
    • “The ambient soundtrack was not for me.”
    • “There are often areas that lack commas, areas that drone on, and that music... is just plain awful.”
  • graphics60 mentions

    The graphics in the game are a mix of pixelated backgrounds and colorful character art, creating a striking contrast that enhances the overall aesthetic. While some players appreciate the unique art style and its alignment with the game's dark themes, others find it lacking in detail and variety. Overall, the visuals are described as fitting the narrative's eerie atmosphere, though opinions vary on their quality and execution.

    • “The graphics are surprisingly nice and make use of grainy, drab, pixelated background images that set the scene and contrast well with the colorful, detailed, and nicely drawn character art that is superimposed over the background and really pop on the screen as a result of the contrast.”
    • “The pixelated art style and music, while having no correlation I can see to the content of the story, somehow makes the atmosphere of the plot all the more eerie and suspenseful to go through.”
    • “The artwork layout and storyboards were very well done; I quite enjoyed how the visuals were made to look like an 80s video game!”
    • “To start, the art style in the game is very lazy all around.”
    • “Very poor same picture over and over again that looks like Commodore 64 graphics.”
    • “Unfortunately, besides its neat aesthetic, I think Lynne is a visual novel that can be avoided if you prefer something with more substance.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its dark, eerie, and immersive qualities, effectively capturing a sense of dread and psychological tension. The combination of haunting music, descriptive dialogue, and unsettling visuals contributes to a memorable experience that enhances the storytelling. While some elements, like the text noise, detract slightly from the overall ambiance, the game's ability to evoke unease and suspense is widely recognized as a strong point.

    • “Its eerie atmosphere matches perfectly its events and its story leaves you on the edge of your seat as it progresses.”
    • “I really liked the atmosphere of the game, so haunting and yet familiar ground.”
    • “Disturbing imagery coupled with outstanding yet atmospheric music really makes the dream sequences haunting and memorable.”
    • “The game presents this miserable atmosphere pretty well.”
    • “Both the stress meter along with the narrative, music and images build an oppressive, fearful atmosphere filled with something wrong.”
    • “The dialogue is very descriptive as you go through the game, even adding detail to the many spooky parts, leaving an uneasy atmosphere for me while playing (which is very good for a horror game, props!).”
  • emotional17 mentions

    Players describe the game as deeply emotional, with a unique art style that enhances the unsettling yet wholesome atmosphere. Many found themselves relating to the protagonist's struggles, leading to intense feelings of empathy and even tears, while the game's narrative effectively captures the complexities of mental and emotional challenges. Overall, it is praised for its powerful storytelling and ability to evoke strong emotional responses, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “I had never felt more emotionally connected to a game in my entire life, and I totally recommend it if you have an hour to spare.”
    • “Excellently written and quite heartbreaking.”
    • “I really liked reading Lynne because I can relate to so much of her struggles emotionally but also because it was just plain interesting to read.”
  • gameplay13 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized as a kinetic visual novel with no interactive choices, leading to a passive reading experience that some players find unsatisfying. Reviewers express a desire for more engagement, suggesting that the inclusion of choice mechanics could enhance the narrative and emotional investment in the story. Overall, the lack of traditional gameplay elements detracts from the overall gaming experience.

    • “The stress mechanic especially would be more interesting coupled alongside choices of some sort, and the ability to control the story would give me more reason to care about what happens to Lynn.”
    • “I understand it wanted to be its own story, but I think some kind of choice mechanic would have really improved the experience.”
    • “It is supposed to be read through without much interaction or gameplay mechanics whatsoever.”
    • “The gameplay is that of a kinetic visual novel where you have no choices in the game and merely read along with the story.”
    • “As far as the 'gaming experience' goes, it doesn't have gameplay at all.”
    • “There is no traditional gameplay nor are there any choices to make.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often requiring repetitive actions like spamming keys to progress through text-heavy sections. This can lead to a sense of boredom, particularly with certain characters, making the experience feel laborious.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “The novel itself is a bit tedious to read, as you will be spamming your enter key or mouse left button to pass through the single-word screens at various points.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I find characters like Lynn boring and tedious.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development is perceived as promising, particularly in relation to Lynne's insecurities; however, many reviewers feel that the supporting characters lack depth and individuality, often serving merely as reflections of her fears. Overall, there is a consensus that more attention is needed to enhance the complexity and distinctiveness of the characters.

    • “The character development sounds really good and seems to fit perfectly with Lynne's insecurities.”
    • “No, my bad review is strictly directed at the story and character development.”
    • “More time needs to be devoted to character development.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The game's humor is noted for its occasional unexpected moments, though it suffers from repetition, as some jokes are reused multiple times. Players found amusement in awkward descriptions, which sometimes distracted from the overall experience.

    • “There is also one line of unexpected humor in the game, but it falls victim to repetition as it is used three times throughout the short game.”
    • “Or maybe it's because I spend too much time laughing at the occasional awkward description instead of being drawn in.”
    • “The funny thing is, it didn't occur to me that it was also made by Ebi-Hime until the credits.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game has limited replayability due to its linear story, which does not encourage players to revisit it after completing the main narrative.

    • “The story is linear; there is no real replay value.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
    • “The lack of branching paths makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The reviews indicate a critical view of the normalization of standardized testing and its correlation with academic performance, suggesting that these practices may not accurately reflect an individual's potential or success in life.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy primarily revolves around microtransactions, which have received mixed feedback from users. While some appreciate the optional nature of these purchases, others feel they can create an imbalance in gameplay or detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
    • “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “The monetization model is overly aggressive, making it hard to progress without spending money.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Lynne

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News