M1: A Death in the Desert

About

When M wakes up in an abandoned hotel he has no memory of how he got there. In the bedside draw he finds a list with three names and a gun with three bullets, but what he does with this information is up to you. Embark on a violence-soaked post-apocalyptic adventure where the answers to your questions come at a price. How far will you go to discover the truth?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews

humor1 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features easy achievements and can be completed in a short amount of time, making it accessible for casual players.
The story is engaging with philosophical themes and offers multiple endings based on player choices, providing some replay value.
The soundtrack is well-composed and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game, enhancing the experience.

The game is more of a visual novel than a traditional game, with minimal interaction and a lot of reading, which may not appeal to all players.
There are noticeable grammar errors and awkward writing, detracting from the overall quality of the narrative.
The gameplay is shallow, with many choices feeling inconsequential and the overall experience being very short.

music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a beautifully composed soundtrack by indie composer Falcon Ave that enhances the engaging narrative and pixel art visuals. However, some players noted that the transitions between scenes can disrupt the listening experience due to abrupt changes in the music, leading to moments of jarring silence. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated, its effectiveness may be diminished by the game's pacing and scene changes.
- “Along with having an engaging little tale that's well written, this game boasts an admittedly good looking pixel-based visual style along with a nicely composed soundtrack by indie composer Falcon Ave.”
- “It's one of the most surprisingly relaxing soundtracks I've heard in a post-apocalyptic game, definitely worth the extra small fee of 99 cents being asked to download it via a separate DLC.”
- “Violent and bizarre pixel game (interactive novel) with beautiful compositions, pleasing color scheme, and good music.”
- “I found, however, that I was never really on one scene for long enough to get a full taste of the music.”
- “Also, the OST does not fade in or out, and so a change of scene brings jarring silence.”
- “I think I'm actually even beginning to dislike this soundtrack!”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's story is a quirky and existential post-apocalyptic narrative that explores how choices define our lives, featuring a surreal and disjointed delivery. While the gameplay lacks action, the narrated elements and enjoyable music enhance the overall experience, making it a charming and affordable gem for those seeking an unconventional story.
- “The story and delivery are fun to follow, and that was enjoyable as was the music!”
- “Still, this is a definite example of a small yet still very nice gem in rough that's definitely worth its affordable asking price of $2.99 if you are in the mood for a quirky and enjoyably unorthodox post-apocalyptic story.”
- “The game tags are not accurate; there is no action (at least in the gameplay, there is narrated action in the story).”
- “The story is surreal and disjointed.”
- “This is an existential story; how our lives are defined by our choices.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay is criticized for its lack of action and depth, with players noting that the game tags are misleading. While there is narrated action in the story, meaningful gameplay only emerges at specific narrative forks, leaving much to be desired in terms of engagement.
- “The game tags are not accurate; there is no action in the gameplay, only narrated action in the story.”
- “Gameplay finally arrives when you reach a fork in the narrative.”
- “Gameplay is not deep.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are criticized for being rudimentary and largely static, with minimal animation limited to basic visual changes during events like character deaths. Overall, the visual presentation lacks detail and dynamism.
- “The only animation consists of some graphical changes when things happen, e.g., when someone dies.”
- “The graphics are very crudely drawn and are almost entirely static.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by quirky dialogue and eccentric characters, blending lightheartedness with elements of existentialist philosophy in its post-apocalyptic setting.
- “From there you engage in a trek filled with intrigue, a bit of existentialist philosophy, some quirky humor, and dialogue with the very eccentric residents of this game's post-apocalyptic world.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game offers a straightforward experience with good replay value, making it enjoyable to revisit.
- “Short and simple, with a decent replay value.”
- “The game offers multiple paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique.”
- “With various character builds and strategies, I find myself coming back for more.”
- “The game lacks the depth needed for true replayability.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The limited choices and outcomes make replaying feel redundant.”