Ministry of Broadcast

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.

74%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, replayability

77% User Score Based on 127 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

Ministry of Broadcast is a single player platformer game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Fuchs+Dachs and was released on January 30, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 127 reviews

story27 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging narrative that combines dark humor with a dystopian theme, reminiscent of Orwell's 1984.
Visually, the pixel art style is beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
The puzzles are clever and provide a satisfying challenge, rewarding players for their problem-solving skills.

The controls are clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during precision platforming sections.
The story can be confusing and lacks clarity, making it difficult for players to fully engage with the narrative.
Repetitive gameplay mechanics and unskippable dialogue can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a tedious experience.

story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The story of "Ministry of Broadcast" is a mixed bag, with some players praising its intriguing themes and dark humor, while others criticize its confusing narrative and lack of character investment. Inspired by Orwell's "1984," the game attempts to explore dystopian elements but often falls short due to repetitive gameplay and inconsistent storytelling. Overall, while the visuals and writing have their merits, many reviewers feel the story fails to deliver a cohesive and engaging experience.
- “A must-have and must-play for those who enjoy 2D pixelated graphics retro platformers with a rich story.”
- “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.”
- “I really wanted to give this game a chance and get through it to see if at least the story and world-building panned out, even if the gameplay itself was disappointing, but I honestly wish I hadn't.”
- “By the time I got to the end, I was completely un-invested 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.”
- “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.”
gameplay
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
80%
9%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic platforming mechanics and creative puzzles, while others criticize the clunky controls and unresponsive jumping, which detract from the overall experience. Many players noted that the game offers a memorable atmosphere and multiple endings that enhance replayability, but the execution of gameplay mechanics often feels frustrating and poorly polished. Overall, while the visuals and narrative elements are appreciated, the gameplay itself is seen as a significant drawback for many players.
- “While the game itself isn't that long (~8h of gameplay, maybe more with all the collectibles and achievements), the overall atmosphere and soundtrack makes it quite memorable, and the multiple endings feature brings replayability.”
- “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.”
- “Now, regarding the mechanics, the game indeed does have some hard-to-master controls and jumps in the beginning, and the world itself is designed in such a way that accidental death is almost inevitable sometimes.”
- “This crap and badly made platformer is a thematic ripoff of 'Papers Please', but the gameplay is a slow, plodding 'narrative platformer', which just means all the fun aspects of precision platforming have been removed and replaced with plodding, unskippable, badly written dialogue.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly boring and the dialogue/story is bland and uninteresting.”
humor
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
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 effective use of dark humor intertwined with the gameplay, though the platforming elements often detract from the comedic experience. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of humor and storytelling, appealing to those who enjoy a dystopian theme, but may not resonate with everyone.
- “Humorous, dark, and fun platformer with light puzzle elements.”
- “The dark humor was right up my alley.”
- “Not only is 'Ministry of Broadcast' an excellent platformer with smooth controls, great pixel art and animations, it is also utterly hilarious.”
- “The platforming is super unfunny and the jokes are just bad.”
- “I reset so many times trying to pause; it was not funny.”
- “Sluggish platforming, unfunny humor, and just not very enjoyable all in all.”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
39%
9%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a stylized pixel art aesthetic that appeals to fans of retro platformers, with many praising its beautiful visuals and nostalgic charm. However, some users criticize the lack of resolution options and the simplistic nature of the graphics, feeling that it falls short of modern standards. Overall, while the pixel art is generally well-received, opinions vary on its execution and the game's graphical limitations.
- “A must-have and must-play for those who enjoy 2D pixelated graphics retro platformers with a rich story.”
- “Stunning pixel graphics, an outstanding (and very complimentary soundtrack), along with a highly intriguing dystopian, Orwellian-esque setting.”
- “I really enjoyed this game - slick graphics, catchy storyline, and a big portion of good humor.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “Graphically, it's simplistic, with pixel art, and very few options.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
48%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly through its retro-futuristic synthwave style. However, some players criticize the lack of audio separation options and repetitive tracks that can become grating over time. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's ambiance, its execution may not satisfy all players.
- “Brilliant sound design and music.”
- “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.”
- “The music completes the package, with some disturbing melodies as well as jaunty tunes when needed... and for added sprinkles - the writing is very tongue in cheek, with some sly comedy throughout.”
- “Which brings me to the one issue - you cannot separate the music from the rest of the audio.”
- “And here it’s been filled with hours upon hours of melodic boring music that keeps repeating the same 10-second segment over and over and starts working on your nerves and it’s by far the worst part of this game.”
- “The music adds absolutely nothing to what is happening onscreen and feels a lot like the backing track to a 20 minute YouTube video essay, totally bland and useless.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
11%
17%
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, effectively blending a dystopian, Orwellian vibe with engaging pixel art and a memorable soundtrack that enhances the experience. While some players appreciate the humor and lightheartedness amidst the oppressive setting, others feel that the writing detracts from the overall tone. Overall, the combination of detailed visuals, thematic elements, and clever puzzles creates a captivating environment that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “The audio really enhances the atmosphere of the game, and if you turn it off, you can really notice the difference.”
- “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.”
- “The pixel art is beautiful and really sets a nice atmosphere, with some great attention to detail.”
- “Just with these elements, the game has lost its principal value; the oppressive atmosphere (which '1984' has).”
- “If you are looking for a serious Orwellian type game, you will have to look elsewhere. This game is basically just a giant joke fest and only has the seriousness you would expect from this type of game towards the end, and even by then, the horrible writing, which feels like it has been done by a child, just kills the atmosphere.”
- “- 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.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Ministry of Broadcast" is mixed; while it features moments of dark humor and an engaging narrative, many players find the experience emotionally exhausting and repetitive. Some appreciate the game's attempt at depth, but overall, it is perceived as a novice effort that struggles to maintain emotional engagement throughout its lengthy playtime.
- “It's possible that another audience might receive the game differently than I did, but after you stop grinning at the story, you begin a new and emotionally exhausting journey through casual manslaughter - and I think the devs still believe that you're smiling along with them.”
- “A wholesome throwback to some of beloved adventure platformers, 'Ministry of Broadcast' adds deliciously dark and dry humor into the mix.”
- “[Challenging, rewarding platforming, clever puzzles, atmospheric pixel art, an engaging, emotional narrative].”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, as it forces them to repeat slow tasks before progressing to more challenging ones. The delayed controls and punishing checkpoint system exacerbate the experience, making the trial-and-error platforming feel like a frustrating slog rather than an enjoyable challenge. Overall, this grinding mechanic detracts significantly from the game's enjoyment, especially for those not nostalgic for outdated design.
- “Game design-wise, they make you repeat very slow, very tedious tasks before the fast, harder tasks that you might fail, just to make you do the very slow, very tedious task a bunch, which just makes the entire game feel like a very slow, very tedious waste of time.”
- “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.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game offers moderate replayability due to its multiple endings and memorable atmosphere, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. However, some reviewers feel that the lack of a New Game+ mode or additional twists limits its potential for extended replay value.
- “While the game itself isn't that long (~8 hours of gameplay, maybe more with all the collectibles and achievements), the overall atmosphere and soundtrack make it quite memorable, and the multiple endings feature brings great replayability.”
- “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's nothing creative in that department.”
- “While the game itself isn't that long (~8 hours of gameplay, maybe more with all the collectibles and achievements), the overall atmosphere and soundtrack makes it quite memorable, but the multiple endings feature doesn't significantly enhance replayability.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of *Ministry of Broadcast* is praised, with users reporting no performance issues and indicating that the game runs smoothly on various systems.
- “I ran into no issues with performance in *Ministry of Broadcast*, and you should not have any problems running the game either.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users criticize the monetization of games made with Gamemaker Studio, often labeling them as retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs, suggesting a focus on profit over quality.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

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4h Median play time

5h Average play time

4-8h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ministry of Broadcast is a platformer game with comedy theme.

Ministry of Broadcast is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Phone and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Ministry of Broadcast.

Ministry of Broadcast was released on January 30, 2020.

Ministry of Broadcast was developed by Fuchs+Dachs.

Ministry of Broadcast has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Ministry of Broadcast is a single player game.

Similar games include Deadlight, Horace, Suicide Guy, The Way, MO:Astray and others.

Ministry of Broadcast

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