Ministry of Broadcast

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 96 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
Ministry of Broadcast Game Cover
An odd combination of George Orwell's 1984, puzzle platforming and comedy, which doesn't blend as well as you'd hope. As good as the setting is, it doesn't make up for the rigid platforming or out of place jokes.
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"Ministry of Broadcast" is a single-player cinematic platformer set in a dystopian world. You play as a contestant on a reality TV show, forced to compete in dangerous challenges for a chance to reunite with your family. The game features narrative-driven gameplay, political satire, and challenging puzzles.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 96 reviews
story18 positive mentions
gameplay4 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in its dystopian world.
  • Clever puzzles and humorous dialogue keep the gameplay engaging and enjoyable, with a unique blend of dark humor.
  • The platforming mechanics, while challenging, provide a rewarding experience for players who enjoy precision-based gameplay.
  • The controls are often clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay and frequent deaths.
  • The story execution is underwhelming, with a lack of depth and coherence that fails to fully engage players.
  • Repetitive platforming sequences and unskippable cutscenes can make the game feel tedious and drawn out.
  • story41 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its intriguing themes and humor, while others criticize it for being confusing, bland, and poorly executed. Many found the narrative to lack coherence and depth, leading to a lack of investment in the characters and plot as it unfolded. Overall, while there are elements of creativity and potential, the execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a story that fails to engage players fully.

    • “The storytelling is so good.”
    • “It balanced a story that never tells all but tells enough to make you really care about the main character, while being peppered with a lot of fun and dark humor.”
    • “The storyline is very intriguing and I foresee a massive twist coming up.”
    • “By the time I got to the end, I was completely uninvested in the story or its characters and just wanted salvation from my suffering, which shouldn't be how you want your players to feel after playing your game.”
    • “The story was all over the place in terms of focus with references to 1984, Twin Peaks, and Monkey Island, but leading to no larger point or revelation.”
    • “A narratively bankrupt game, with terrible controls and a horribly executed storyline that fails to capture any of the actual interesting elements or themes from Orwell's 1984.”
  • gameplay25 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the clunky movement mechanics and unresponsive jump controls, which detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the puzzle-solving elements and creative mechanics, others find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in excitement, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game struggles to balance its platforming and puzzle aspects, resulting in a gameplay experience that varies significantly in quality.

    • “The gameplay is made up strictly of difficult platforming and fairly complex puzzle solving that requires outside-the-box thinking.”
    • “The gameplay does feel very versatile, and it isn't strictly a puzzle game as there is action and some 'finger shooting' on behalf of the protagonist (you'll see what I mean when you play it).”
    • “Perhaps the best aspect of this game is just the creativity and mechanical side to the puzzles; you have to think outside of the box to solve them.”
    • “Firstly, the movement mechanics make the puzzle platforming part of this game (which is most of the game) a miserable grind.”
    • “In addition to this, the ice mechanic adds nothing to the game except for a slightly amusing cutscene near the end, but is an otherwise infuriating rather than challenging or interesting addition.”
    • “But the gameplay is incredibly boring and the dialogue/story is bland and uninteresting.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its dark and clever wit, while others find it falls flat or feels forced. Many reviews highlight the presence of funny characters and dialogues, as well as creative and unexpected comedic elements, but opinions vary on the overall effectiveness of the humor. Overall, the game is noted for its attempts at humor, though reactions range from enjoyment to disappointment.

    • “It balanced a story that never tells all but tells enough to make you really care about the main character, while being peppered with a lot of fun and dark humor.”
    • “Clever game with snarky, funny, thought-provoking commentary.”
    • “Not only is 'Ministry of Broadcast' an excellent platformer with smooth controls, great pixel art and animations, it is also utterly hilarious.”
    • “Sluggish platforming, unfunny humor, and just not very enjoyable overall.”
  • graphics15 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and stylized visuals, effectively capturing a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 16-bit games. Players appreciate the beautiful art style and atmospheric settings, which complement the gameplay and soundtrack, although some note that the controls can be clumsy at times. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.

    • “The graphics are so beautiful and the game is unnervingly calming to play despite the themes.”
    • “Stunning pixel graphics, an outstanding (and very complimentary soundtrack), along with a highly intriguing dystopian, Orwellian-esque setting.”
    • “Game is great, art style is awesome, mood is superb, brings out old games nostalgia.”
    • “If you've played Uncanny Valley, you'll already have a feel for the graphics here, and much of the way the levels are designed.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, effectively capturing a dystopian, totalitarian vibe reminiscent of a Soviet-era setting, enhanced by snow effects and pixel art design. Players appreciate the blend of engaging narratives, humorous dialogue, and a mix of music that, while inconsistent, contributes to the overall ambiance. The combination of clever puzzles and a darkly comedic tone further enriches the immersive experience.

    • “There's also a good amount of atmosphere present, and the world truly does feel dystopian and under totalitarian control; the snow effects also add a great touch, bringing a bit of a USSR vibe to the whole game.”
    • “But the overall atmosphere, nice art, fresh theme, cool story and especially all those funny characters with their hilarious dialogues makes this game something you should check out.”
    • “The best atmosphere since Prince of Persia and Another World, combined with lovely Tetris-like pixel art design.”
    • “Just with these elements, the game has lost its principal value; the oppressive atmosphere (which '1984' has).”
    • “But I really think that actually adds more to the atmosphere of this dystopia.”
    • “The whole point of conversation in the game will always be on the bright side of life to build up a dark atmosphere in gameplay.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities, particularly its retro-futuristic synthwave elements that complement the visuals and setting. However, others find it inconsistent, with complaints about it being too quiet or migraine-inducing at times. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the experience for many, it may not resonate with all players.

    • “The soundtrack adds in just enough retro-futurism to make the setting feel both old and futuristic, which is one of the great wonders of what the synthwave genre can accomplish.”
    • “Stunning pixel graphics, an outstanding (and very complimentary soundtrack), along with a highly intriguing dystopian, Orwellian-esque setting.”
    • “The music is hit or miss or usually quiet but for the same reason it adds a crucial part to the atmosphere so it's actually a good thing for the most part.”
    • “Complete garbage. I'd rather use a cheese grater... the music is migraine-inducing and the controls feel like swimming in cement.”
    • “Animations are good but don't reflect well with the movement; the sound is horrible at times, and not having separate music and sound sliders is just baffling.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to significant input lag and unreliable controls, which make navigating challenging sections tedious and often infuriating. The trial-and-error nature of the platforming, combined with poor checkpointing, leads to a frustrating experience that tests players' patience.

    • “Trying to avoid a rabid dog or trigger-happy soldier, or trying to make a precise jump becomes tedious when there's an entire second of delay between pressing a button and having the character finally react on-screen.”
    • “The controls are excruciating and the checkpointing is teeth-grindingly, controller-smashingly rage-inducing.”
    • “But the insanely unreliable controls and the obnoxious slog of the game's tedious, trial-and-error platforming sections will likely try the patience of anyone who isn't looking for a blast from the past.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game features moments that evoke genuine feelings, hinting at a deeper narrative potential. However, some players feel that the overall execution falls short, suggesting a novice attempt despite the presence of engaging storytelling and atmospheric elements.

    • “[Challenging, rewarding platforming, clever puzzles, atmospheric pixel art, an engaging, emotional narrative].”
    • “There were some really great moments that made me feel for a second that this could be something more.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers feel that the game's replayability is lacking, as it misses opportunities for a more engaging new game+ mode or creative twists that could enhance the experience.

    • “I think the replay value could have been there if there was some sort of twist for a New Game+ mode, maybe involving his wife or something, but sadly there is nothing creative in that department.”
    • “After finishing the game, I felt no urge to play it again. The story doesn't change, and the side quests are repetitive.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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