Max, an Autistic Journey

About

"Max, an Autistic Journey" is a turn-based RPG that follows the story of Max, a 10-year-old boy with autism. The game aims to provide players with an insight into the everyday challenges faced by those with ASD, using a variety of mini-games and fantastical monsters to represent Max's emotions and frustrations. Through its unique gaming experience, players can learn about autism and gain a better understanding of the condition.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 164 reviews

story12 positive mentions

monetization2 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and heartfelt perspective on the challenges faced by an autistic child, making it relatable and educational for players.
The gameplay, while simple, is engaging and features a variety of mini-games that help illustrate Max's daily experiences and struggles.
The developer's personal connection to the story adds a layer of sincerity and emotional depth, making it a touching experience for many players.

The RPG Maker engine limits the game's technical capabilities, leading to issues such as repetitive combat and occasional bugs that detract from the overall experience.
Some players found the boss battles to be frustratingly difficult and lacking in logical design, which could be discouraging for the target audience.
The game has been criticized for its portrayal of autism, with some elements feeling overly simplistic or misrepresentative of the spectrum.

story
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
75%
5%
The game's story centers on Max, an autistic child, and is inspired by real-life experiences between him and his father, offering a heartfelt yet sometimes preachy narrative about the challenges of autism. While some players appreciate the educational aspects and emotional depth, others criticize the execution, finding the character development lacking and the gameplay mechanics overly convoluted. Overall, the story is seen as both charming and significant, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and engagement.
- “Max's father had a story to tell, and he figured out how to do it the only way he knew how, even if that meant using RPG Maker to do some wild things.”
- “This simple yet unique RPG lets you see the world through Max's eyes: daily obstacles are monster bosses, little challenges are dangerous quests, and small fears become scary nightmarish monsters.”
- “By its broad strokes, Max's story seems true to life: he's not a Hollywood-style autistic savant nor is he sainted because of his disability; he's just a kid with his own unique struggles.”
- “Instead, we have a preachy 'educational' autobiographical story about a parent with a child suffering from autism, with a few crap minigames punctuating the mediocrity.”
- “Second disappointment came at the intro to the story when the parents were reacting to the diagnosis like it was cancer: 'What are we going to do?' How about support your child like you would anyway? There's nothing wrong with being autistic.”
- “If I am to be candid, however, my negative review is derived from the fact that this story relates to a real-life experience between father and son, and said son Max, at ten years old, is being medicated for having attention deficit disorder, a purely mental affliction, which doesn't cause physical harm to a child and instead is related to a hyperactivity personality.”
gameplay
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
52%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by typical top-down mechanics and standard RPG elements, offering a mix of fun mini-games and educational snippets about autism. While some players found the combat repetitive and the graphics lacking, the game's charm lies in its unique narrative and the experience of seeing the world through an autistic child's perspective. Overall, it provides an engaging, if not groundbreaking, gameplay experience that emphasizes its subject matter over mechanical complexity.
- “The gameplay is pretty fun with a variety of easy mini-games to go through.”
- “This game is meant to understand individuals who have autism while enjoying the gameplay along the way.”
- “The little snippets of ASD info intertwined into the gameplay are great little moments of education for those who may not be in the ASD world.”
- “The combat got a bit repetitive, but I think they used the mechanics well; just a couple more fights than I was expecting throughout the game.”
- “I completed the game without ever figuring out how the breathing mechanic worked.”
- “Like most RPG Maker shovelware and asset flips, the game features extremely low-quality copy-pasted 2D retro pixel art, looks awful, and has even worse gameplay.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The music in the game is highly praised, particularly the boss themes, which create a relaxing atmosphere despite the janky battle mechanics. Reviewers appreciate the creative use of remixes and the thoughtful attribution of songs and sound effects, noting that the soundtrack is both beautiful and fitting, with enjoyable easter eggs that enhance the experience. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and emotional impact.
- “Finally, the art, the music, the story, and everything are fantastic.”
- “Music is great and very fitting, with some easter eggs here and there to crack you a smile.”
- “Beautiful soundtrack and such an informative little gem!”
- “The music is like an off-beat chart of copied tunes but some remixes.”
- “The battles are kind of hamfisted and feel janky, but there are instances where you can play a musical instrument, a timed minigame where you attempt to calm down, and a couple of other oddities that make you wonder how in the world the developer figured this out using, again, RPG Maker.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth and heartwarming storytelling, particularly in its portrayal of an autistic child's perspective. Reviewers highlight its touching moments, such as the child's diagnosis and the parents' commitment to providing a loving environment, making it a genuinely captivating and wholesome experience. Overall, it is described as both educational and profoundly moving.
- “This game is probably one of the most emotionally captivating games I've played, and I mean it unironically.”
- “The amount of love you put into creating a game about this autistic child and how he sees the world is really heartwarming.”
- “It even gets deeply emotional, like when he's first diagnosed and his parents promise to give him the best life they can.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the artwork and find the visuals appealing, others criticize the limitations of the RPG Maker engine, noting poor fullscreen display and lack of HD support. Overall, the game is seen as visually decent for an indie title, but not groundbreaking.
- “The visuals are great.”
- “Nice graphics, easy to learn controls, and my daughter who is on the spectrum enjoys playing it.”
- “I loved the artwork and the variety of mini games that break up the main gameplay.”
- “As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism, particularly regarding the intrusive nature of advertisements, which some players find frustrating and disruptive to their experience.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently highlight the game's humor as a standout feature, noting that it is genuinely funny and contributes significantly to the overall enjoyment of the experience.
- “The game itself is really funny.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to be occasionally buggy, leading to stability issues during gameplay.
- “The game is buggy from time to time.”
- “The game is buggy from time to time.”

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30h Median play time

30h Average play time

30-30h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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