Martial Law

About

Martial Law is a game about difficulties that came with Communism in Poland. The story is shown from the perspective of a man who is abandoned because of his low social status. He tries his best to be there for his daughter despite the difficulties.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,123 reviews

story193 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game offers a touching and emotional story set in 1980s Poland, providing insight into the struggles of everyday life during that time.
The pixel art graphics and soundtrack create a charming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
It's a free game that can be completed in about 30-45 minutes, making it an accessible and engaging option for players looking for a short narrative experience.

The dialogue and writing can feel clunky and unrealistic, detracting from the immersion and emotional impact of the story.
The game is very short, which may leave players wanting more depth and exploration of the characters and setting.
Some players found the gameplay to be simplistic, with limited interaction and decision-making opportunities.

story
403 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The game's story is a poignant exploration of life in 1980s Poland, focusing on a father's struggles to provide for his daughter during a challenging time marked by communism. While many players found the narrative touching and engaging, some criticized the writing quality and pacing, noting that it felt simplistic or rushed. Overall, the game offers a brief yet impactful experience with multiple endings, making it a worthwhile play for those interested in historical storytelling.
- “A very touching story with a quest for freedom and toilets.”
- “The story is heartwarming and it is nice to see a strong positive father figure in any media format.”
- “Overall, 'martial law' is a quick little game that uses its setting to tell a heartwarming little story about kindness during hard times.”
- “However, the story and the dialogues made me cringe several times and felt like something a middle schooler wrote in-between classes.”
- “The story wraps up very quickly, does not go into very much detail (which I would have appreciated) and it overall feels quite hastily written.”
- “The art style is cool, but the story and dialogues are really poorly written (and they should be the selling points in that kind of game).”
graphics
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively captures the atmosphere of 1980s Poland and enhances the overall immersion. Many reviewers appreciate the aesthetic quality and the emotional resonance of the visuals, although some note that the graphics are not technically advanced. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, contributing positively to the game's unique experience despite criticisms of the story and dialogue.
- “The graphics are beautiful and the sound is just what this game needed, and the story is good!”
- “Gorgeous pixel art graphics, multiple game endings, and a story that will teach you a thing or two about communism in Poland in the 1980s.”
- “The art style is cool, but the story and dialogues are really poorly written (and they should be the selling points in that kind of game).”
- “The graphics are pixel style but done well.”
- “There are no graphics options at all although the game does seem to use v-sync and recognize my refresh rate.”
- “With a competent writer this could be a memorable indie game, but the only asset here is the graphics.”
music
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing, nostalgic, and atmospheric qualities, often described as a perfect complement to the pixel art and overall aesthetic. Many players appreciate the relaxing and melancholic soundtracks, which enhance the game's emotional depth, although some note that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “The music in this game is probably my favorite part; it's soothing and melancholic at the same time, and I feel I could keep listening to it forever.”
- “The music is great, just some really atmospheric piano music that sets the mood, and the pixel artwork is top notch.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and the pixel art style goes surprisingly well with the commieblock era of communist Poland, very good stuff and a solid 9/10.”
- “The music is pretty at first but gets monotonous fast.”
- “The only downside is the rather poor soundtrack.”
- “The gameplay is also plodding and tedious, and the snow and tinkly piano music do not create an immersive atmosphere to get lost in.”
emotional
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, delivering a touching narrative within a brief gameplay experience. Players frequently describe it as heartwarming and impactful, often evoking strong feelings and reflections on life, particularly in the context of 1980s Poland. Despite its short length, the game effectively engages players emotionally, making it a recommended experience for those seeking a meaningful story.
- “A powerful narrative: in a short time, martial law manages to hook you emotionally.”
- “The story is absolutely 10/10 very emotional, really made me cry.”
- “Overall, 'martial law' is a quick little game that uses its setting to tell a heartwarming little story about kindness during hard times.”
gameplay
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
80%
4%
The gameplay is generally described as short and simplistic, often focusing on choice-making rather than complex mechanics or action. Many players appreciate the emotional storytelling and historical context, but feel that the limited gameplay—typically lasting under an hour—leaves much to be desired in terms of depth and engagement. While some find the casual nature enjoyable, others criticize it for being too basic and lacking in substantial gameplay elements.
- “The gameplay is very easy and despite the fact that the game is very short (20-35 minutes), depending on the choices we make, we have several different endings.”
- “Loved the art style and overall simple yet smooth gameplay with a rich story.”
- “Not only is the gameplay good, it gives little historical facts during the gameplay that I was quite interested in!”
- “If you like action and twists, you might be a little disappointed by the passive side of the gameplay.”
- “Cold war propaganda with a lame story; I would say the game is too short, but I do not mind as the gameplay is barely anything and the story going longer would drag.”
- “Since gameplay is almost nonexistent apart from choices between obviously bad and obviously good options, it all comes down to writing which feels like below average... a game trying to be wholesome rather than the roughness of Soviet Eastern Europe.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
33%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning portrayal of emotion and immersive retro aesthetics, effectively capturing the essence of the 80s through pixel art and synthwave music. Reviewers note a heavy, serious tone that evokes feelings of isolation and impending doom, while also highlighting the game's ability to connect players with its historical context. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and engagement, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is a compelling and integral part of the experience, making it a memorable journey through a poignant narrative.
- “A well-crafted retro atmosphere: pixel art and its 80s-style synthwave music transport you directly to that era.”
- “Throughout the game, I was constantly on edge, fearing that the seemingly perfect moment would shatter, as the atmosphere was thick with a sense of impending doom.”
- “Out of money, isolated from society, this atmosphere of cold rainy days, getting drunk.”
- “Unfortunately, that is where that oppressive atmosphere of direct military rule ends.”
- “The graphics are charming, and do capture the atmosphere of oppression as shadowy figures dot the sidewalks by day and the darkness between lamp posts leaves a sense of unease at night.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The game offers a moderate level of replayability, particularly for a free title, with multiple endings and achievements to pursue. However, some players feel that the overall content is limited, leading to a quick completion and diminishing replay value. While it provides a decent experience, it may not sustain long-term engagement for all players.
- “Overall, for a free game, it's not bad and has replay value with its multiple endings.”
- “It also offers a decent amount of replay value through its multiple endings.”
- “There is a little bit of replayability with the multiple endings and the achievements, but overall, it is a very short but sweet experience.”
- “There's no replay value to this; just get all 6 achievements and you're pretty much done.”
- “For anything else, it does not feature enough content and options to be realistically replayable.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this visual novel set in 80's communist Poland is characterized by its quirky and absurd dialogue, such as references to "fish headquarters" and bathtub antics, which provide a lighthearted contrast to the serious themes of the era. Players appreciate the blend of comedy and depth, with multiple funny endings that offer insights into Polish perspectives during the Cold War, making the experience both entertaining and educational. Overall, the game delivers a short yet impactful narrative filled with nostalgic humor.
- “The most bizarre piece of dialogue was, 'I need to go to the fish headquarters.' and when I bought said fish (to eat), 'I need to put it in the bathtub.' It's somewhat hilarious but it does break a bit of the immersion.”
- “This game's simplicity belies its depth—prepare for a knockout combo of humor and havoc!”
- “Short, light, funny, and educational take on communism in Poland.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized, with players noting that it requires an excessive time commitment, often feeling tedious and unengaging. Many find the experience to be monotonous and lacking in enjoyment, comparing it unfavorably to oppressive systems. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant detractor from the game's overall appeal.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Easy for achievement farming, but otherwise it's as much fun as Soviet-style communism.”
- “The gameplay is also plodding and tedious, and the snow and tinkly piano music do not create an immersive atmosphere to get lost in.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Reviews on stability are mixed, with some users reporting a "buggy mess" while others find the game to be largely bug-free. Overall, the stability of the game appears to be a significant concern for many players.
- “The game is a buggy mess.”
- “Frequent crashes make it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and glitches throughout my gameplay.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Overall, the game's performance is generally praised, running well on capable systems, but users with weaker hardware, particularly on Linux, experience significant frame rate drops in demanding areas. The addition of a jump mechanic has been questioned, especially given the performance issues on lower-end devices.
- “Performance-wise, the game ran fantastically, although I am not overly shocked by the visuals.”
- “Regarding optimization, I have a weak laptop running Fedora, and in high-level locations, I get 12 FPS instead of the usual 50.”
- “About optimization: I have a weak laptop on Fedora, and in high-level locations, I get 12 FPS instead of the usual 50. So why did you add a jump in this game?”
- “The optimization is terrible; I can't even play on lower settings without significant lag.”
- “I expected better performance, but the game runs poorly even on mid-range hardware.”

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

1-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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