Miniatures

About

Miniatures is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Other Tales and was released on November 14, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Inside an old wooden box lies four curious items: a toy lizard, a captured moth, a screwdriver and a seashell. Each one has its own story to tell… Step into four hand-drawn memories and discover the mysteries lurking beneath the seemingly calm surface. Explore one story at a time, or play them in a single sitting, in this solo-play adventure about the stories we tell ourselves and how …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 180 reviews

story22 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Beautiful hand-drawn art and sound design create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience.
Each of the four short stories offers a unique emotional journey, blending cozy and unsettling themes that resonate with players.
The game is a refreshing, artistic experience that can be completed in one sitting, making it perfect for those looking for a quick yet impactful narrative.

The game is very short, typically taking only 30-50 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
There is minimal gameplay and interactivity, making it feel more like an interactive storybook than a traditional game, which may not appeal to all players.
The lack of replayability and divergent storylines means that once completed, there is little incentive to revisit the game.

story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The game is described as an "interactive storybook" featuring four distinct, visually striking stories that explore themes of isolation, family, and loss, each with its own unique art style and emotional tone. While the gameplay is minimal and lacks complexity, the environmental storytelling and artistic presentation create a captivating experience, though it is very short and offers little replay value. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate artistic, narrative-driven experiences rather than traditional gameplay.
- “Each story has its own art style, and the transitions from warm and cozy to dark and surreal are handled really well.”
- “A beautiful little collection of tales, showing how imaginative and unique video game storytelling can be.”
- “Its nostalgic, hand-drawn visuals and spot-on sound effects bring the story to life, while the interactive storytelling immerses you in each moment.”
- “However, if you are looking for a quirky story-led game that actually leads you somewhere and where your choices actually matter, this is not the game for you.”
- “There are no divergent storylines, the puzzles are incredibly simple, the stakes are very low, there isn't really much narrative to speak of, and there is no real replay value.”
- “I wouldn't even call it a game, it was just some visual storytelling bullsh*t.”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
40%
7%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which varies between each of the four short stories, creating a visually compelling and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful, whimsical, and sometimes unsettling visuals that enhance the narrative, along with effective sound design that complements the artwork. While the game is noted for its short playtime, the unique and creative graphics leave a lasting impression on players.
- “The hand-drawn visuals are beautiful and full of character.”
- “Gorgeous game with beautiful, hand-drawn graphics and interesting, thought-provoking short stories.”
- “The art style is stunning and I love the soundscape!”
- “Judging from the colourful, straight out of bedtime story books for children aesthetics, I expected a more cozy narrative approach.”
- “Awful - there's no game or story here, and such a jarring art style.”
- “If I really had to nitpick something, in the moon game there were 2 or 3 sections that looked too similar, so out of the 4 games I wasn't as invested in it because the aesthetic was not as striking, or at least didn't have as much variety.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay is characterized as minimalist and primarily focused on environmental storytelling rather than traditional mechanics, with most interactions limited to point-and-click or click-and-drag actions. Players can expect a brief, 30-40 minute experience that emphasizes artistic expression and emotional narratives over replay value or complex gameplay. While some appreciate the unique, dream-like quality of the game, others may find the lack of substantial gameplay elements a drawback.
- “Very creative and experimental artwork and gameplay!”
- “Four objects lead you into four poetic picture book-style short stories, each with a different art style, and simple but engaging game mechanics.”
- “A lovely collection of short story games that are emotionally impactful with different styles of gameplay.”
- “It’s a one sitting experience with no replay value, no hidden mechanics, and no real branching paths.”
- “The gameplay itself - and I'm stretching the definition of the word with its usage here - is plain with a very limited set of actions: basically click on things to interact with them and to progress the story.”
- “The gameplay is almost non-existent.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its collection of short stories that evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy to profound melancholy. Players appreciate the heartfelt narratives and stunning visuals, noting that the tales often explore personal and sometimes unsettling themes, particularly around family issues. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to deliver impactful emotional experiences that linger long after play.
- “Each of the four tales is a bite-sized emotional journey.”
- “Amazing piece of art, original gameplay, emotional stories and a kind of experience that will last after playing it.”
- “Each chapter is very profound, excellent for those looking for touching narratives where you can feel the heart put into it from the devs. It made me feel everything from the childlike joy of imagination to dread, sorrow, and everything in between!”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and suitability, enhancing the overall atmosphere with a mix of eerie and cheerful tones that complement the storytelling. While some users noted the sound design as minimal, they appreciated the curated soundtrack and its ability to evoke emotions, contributing to the game's immersive experience. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, despite the game's short length.
- “The music and ambiance sounds were nicely chosen and curated for the stories.”
- “What is there is beautiful -- the art is absolutely stellar and the music is nice and accompanies the rest of the game well.”
- “The only thing that really bothered me was the music, occasionally.”
- “There is a certain feeling of unease, without reaching levels of unsettling, and I felt the game underscores creepy in some of the stories, especially in combination with the soundtrack, which sometimes is eerie and ominously looping and other times deceptively gleeful.”
- “Would I recommend it? I love the art style and the music, but the devs tagged it themselves as short, so it is what it is.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich, dream-like quality, enhanced by exceptional sound design and artistic visuals. Reviewers appreciate the simplicity of the narratives, which allow for an immersive experience that feels both unique and ethereal. Overall, the combination of art, sound, and storytelling creates a captivating environment that draws players in, despite the narratives themselves being less profound.
- “The game manages to generate unique and dreamlike atmospheres in each of the stories; I have to say that my favorite is the sand castle.”
- “But the sound design is where the game really pulls you into its atmosphere.”
- “The art style, narrative, sound design, and atmosphere build a strange, dream-like experience where nothing is outright said, but you get the picture of what's happening regardless.”
- “The art and the soundscape create a very special atmosphere.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game offers minimal replayability, as it is designed for a single sitting experience with no hidden mechanics, branching paths, or divergent storylines. Players note the simplicity of the puzzles and low stakes, leading to a lack of incentive to replay once completed. Overall, it is a short experience with little to no replay value.
- “It’s a one sitting experience with no replay value, no hidden mechanics, and no real branching paths.”
- “There are no divergent storylines, the puzzles are incredibly simple, the stakes are very low, there isn't really much narrative to speak of, and there is no real replay value.”
- “Very short though and no replay value.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its diversity, featuring a mix of funny, cute, and deep mini-stories that range from weird and interesting to unsettling yet oddly amusing. This variety contributes to a unique comedic experience that appeals to different tastes.
- “The game features four vastly different mini-stories, some funny, some cute, and some deep.”
- “It's weird, interesting, unsettling, and oddly funny at times.”