Memoranda

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 69 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Memoranda Game Cover
A point and click adventure game with a touch of magical realism.
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"Memoranda" is a single-player, mystery point-and-click game with magic realism elements, where you explore a quiet town filled with unusual characters who are all losing something vital. The game is inspired by the surreal short stories of Haruki Murakami, featuring beautiful hand-drawn graphics, ingenious music, and a thought-provoking plot about a young woman forgetting her own name. The game aims to immerse you in a memorable adventure of discovery and self-realization.

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

Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews
story16 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous art style and animation that creates a visually stunning experience.
  • Quirky and original characters that contribute to a magical atmosphere.
  • Interesting story elements inspired by Haruki Murakami, which may appeal to fans of his work.
  • Puzzles are often illogical and confusing, requiring frequent use of walkthroughs to progress.
  • The story lacks coherence and fails to provide satisfying resolutions to its plot points.
  • Voice acting and dialogue can be awkward, detracting from the overall immersion of the game.
  • story81 mentions

    The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its quirky and surreal elements, while others criticize its disjointed narrative and lack of coherence. Many found the writing to be confusing and illogical, leading to frustration with the gameplay, although some appreciated the artistic style and thematic references to Haruki Murakami's works. Overall, while the story has intriguing concepts, it often feels incomplete and fails to deliver a satisfying or cohesive experience.

    • “What a beautiful ending and what a brilliant story.”
    • “I give this a major thumbs-up for story, art, ambiance, production values, everything like that... and a major thumbs-down for the actual gameplay.”
    • “The story is quirky and whimsical and makes little sense, which means the puzzles also make little sense and I had to check walkthroughs more than once.”
    • “The world building doesn't make any sense, the story doesn't make any sense, the dialogue is totally disjointed and never makes any sense... in short, this is some of the worst writing ever perpetrated.”
    • “Unfortunately, while the game is a great love letter to the source material that inspired it, it doesn't do a great job at turning that material into a cohesive story or building its own tension.”
    • “From the story that really does not make much sense or give any real sense of satisfaction at the end, to the awkward voice acting of the lead character, and the disappointing nature of most puzzles, what seemed like a great concept fades away from the memory quite soon after completion.”
  • graphics36 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style and beautiful hand-drawn visuals, creating an inviting and charming atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the unique and colorful palettes that enhance the overall aesthetic, although some note that the graphical quality is undermined by frustrating puzzles and a subpar interface. Overall, the art direction is considered one of the standout features, making the game visually appealing despite its gameplay shortcomings.

    • “Stunning graphics!”
    • “The game immediately sets an inviting ambiance with its perfectly charming art style and overall professional quality.”
    • “To which I could add a subpar interface (requiring massive keyboard input in what is supposed to be a point-and-click), rotten animation (of otherwise pleasing graphics), some illegible texts, and a main voice actress who can't articulate her words (making subtitles a must).”
    • “I do suggest weighing your thoughts between if visuals or the puzzles are why you are going to play this, as both cancel the other one out when analyzing the whole game.”
    • “Aesthetically, the colorful palettes and exquisite textures make every scene in the game so lively and picturesque.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in Memoranda is widely praised for its soothing and immersive qualities, complementing the game's beautiful art and unique graphics. Reviewers highlight the lovely soundtrack, professional voice acting, and harmonious sound design, which together create an enchanting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. The combination of ambient music and engaging sound effects contributes to a captivating journey through the game's magical realism.

    • “It's a beautiful journey, as the whole game is accompanied by a lovely soundtrack that does a great job of setting the mood.”
    • “The music and art are lovely, giving it an off-kilter storybook feel, and I'd definitely be interested in more games with this art style.”
    • “The soundtrack is wonderful, bringing in small and ambient parts but also delivering heavier moments when needed.”
    • “The soundtrack, sound effects, and voice acting are all professionally done.”
    • “The art, music, background sounds, and especially the voice acting were all soothing.”
    • “Emotionally, the soothing background music and light-hearted dialogues with affectionate voice acting build up an immersive atmosphere for the players.”
  • gameplay13 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the aesthetic and narrative integration, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and reliant on pixel-hunting. Many found the puzzles challenging but frustrating due to illogical leaps and a lack of clear hints, which can disrupt the flow of the game. Overall, while the mechanics are intuitive, the short length and high price point have left some players feeling underwhelmed.

    • “I really liked the fact that this made the gameplay reflect the story, and hence become part of the narrative itself.”
    • “It completely changed the way I looked at the gameplay and what was expected of me.”
    • “But the whole gameplay is pixel-hunting and nothing more.”
    • “The gameplay can be around 3 to 5 hours, but the puzzles make it last longer.”
    • “Although the gameplay is nothing more than the typical 'examine, collect, combine, and talk' interactions in point & click games, making progress can be really hard from time to time due to the leaps of logical reasoning and the lack of straightforward hints, which can really hinder the continuous flow of experience and wear down the players quickly.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its magical and immersive qualities, enhanced by soothing music and a unique aesthetic that resonates with fans of Murakami. While the game features interesting puzzles and a variety of characters that contribute to its charm, some players find the voice acting and dreamlike logic of the puzzles to be off-putting. Overall, the polished presentation and engaging environment make it a memorable point-and-click adventure, despite some criticisms regarding its pacing and coherence.

    • “Interesting puzzles, magical atmosphere, and many different characters which don't have much to say yet still add to the magical aspect of the game world.”
    • “It's very polished and highly atmospheric.”
    • “Emotionally, the soothing background music and light-hearted dialogues with affectionate voice acting build up an immersive atmosphere for the players.”
    • “Fans of Murakami's work may enjoy this game thanks to the references and atmosphere, but in all other aspects, it is meaningless, boring, and tedious.”
    • “However, the weird voice acting (I enjoyed the main character's slight lisp, but I found her tone off with the game's atmosphere) and the 'dreamlike' logic of the puzzles got me wanting to just get it over with.”
    • “It advertises as a game where you go around in a seaside town trying to piece together a girl's memory and does well in bringing that atmosphere.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, "Memoranda" demonstrates solid optimization, with minimal stuttering or pauses during gameplay. Some users noted occasional audio stuttering in voice acting, but these instances were brief and not significantly disruptive.

    • “Memoranda performed pretty well, having almost no stuttering or pauses in normal circumstances.”
    • “I only came across some audio stuttering in the voice acting here and there, and even then it wasn't too bad as it only lasted for a word.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is polarized; while some players find the soothing background music and affectionate voice acting create an immersive atmosphere, others criticize the poor voice acting, confusing puzzles, and a lackluster story that detracts from emotional engagement.

    • “Emotionally, the soothing background music and light-hearted dialogues with affectionate voice acting build up an immersive atmosphere for the players.”
    • “The game masterfully captures the essence of human emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the characters and their journeys.”
    • “Every choice I made felt significant, and the emotional weight of the story left a lasting impact on me long after I finished playing.”
    • “The voice acting is very poor, making it hard to connect emotionally with the characters.”
    • “The puzzles are confusing and the hints are unhelpful, which detracts from the overall emotional experience.”
    • “The story is dull and fails to evoke any real feelings, leaving the player disengaged.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game has minimal replayability, leading some users to question its full price; however, it may be worth trying at a discounted rate, especially for fans of point-and-click adventures.

    • “The replayability value is zero, so I don't think the full price is really worth this game, but if you see it on sale and like point-and-click adventures, it's worth a try.”
    • “Replayability value is zero, so I don't think the full price is really worth this game, but if you see it on sale and like point-and-click adventures, it's worth a try.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is criticized for being tedious and boring, with some players feeling that it lacks meaningful engagement outside of its references and atmosphere.

    • “Fans of Murakami's work may enjoy this game thanks to the references and atmosphere, but in all other aspects, it is meaningless, boring, and tedious.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and unfulfilling, making progress feel more like a chore than an achievement.”
    • “I found myself stuck in a repetitive loop of grinding that drained all the fun out of the gameplay.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is enhanced by distinctive designs and a captivating soundtrack, creating an immersive experience in a world of magical realism. The combination of these elements contributes to a rich narrative journey that resonates with players.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
    • “Each character evolves in a way that feels organic and meaningful, making their journeys truly engaging.”
    • “The depth of character backstories and their growth throughout the game adds layers of complexity that enhance the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

55% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
3-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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