Missed Messages
- May 30, 2019
- Zephyo
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Missed Messages" is a narrative-driven horror game with romance elements, lasting 15-30 minutes per playthrough. The game features original art and story, with themes surrounding life, death, and memes. It contains mature content warnings and offers 4 different endings. Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux systems.
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Reviews
- story2,912 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Missed Messages" is a poignant exploration of mental health, friendship, and the impact of seemingly small choices on the lives of others. While the narrative is relatively short, it resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong emotional responses and reflections on personal experiences. Many reviewers express a desire for a longer, more fleshed-out storyline, but appreciate the game's beautiful art and music that enhance the storytelling experience.
“The story is heartfelt and makes you vulnerable in many different ways.”
“Missed Messages tells a moving story that touches on deep themes in a respectful and authentic way.”
“Through a poignant blend of dialogue choices and immersive storytelling, 'Missed Messages' offers a heartfelt reflection on the importance of connection in an increasingly isolating world.”
“The story is way too short as well, it makes you think the story may expand using the choices you make but in the end, it's only for getting to know the characters.”
“I wish you would expand on this storyline.”
“The art style is definitely pretty but the story is lacking, the gameplay could've been longer.”
- graphics1,787 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Missed Messages" have been widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, often described as beautiful, cozy, and reminiscent of watercolor paintings. Many players appreciate how the visuals complement the game's emotional narrative, enhancing the overall experience. However, some reviews note that while the art is captivating, the game can also contain graphic depictions of sensitive topics, which may not be suitable for all players.
“The art style is absolutely breathtaking, which initially drew me in-- completely oblivious to the fact that a fifty-minute gameplay would eventually lead me to ponder about my own life afterwards.”
“The art style is stunning, and the story is just very well written, with believable responses.”
“The artwork is beautiful, the soundtrack is awesome, everything about it is just stunning.”
“The art style is very basic, very same facey (one character was Chinese? you couldn't tell though.) Junji Ito was credited as inspiration but you really couldn't tell if he actually had any effect on the work.”
“The trigger warning is not to be dismissed; there are graphic images of self-harm and suicide.”
“My only criticism is similar to everyone else's, the trigger warnings at the beginning of the game do not accurately forewarn of how graphic the content is.”
- emotional1,718 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Missed Messages" is overwhelmingly impactful, with players frequently expressing deep connections to the characters and story. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears, as it tackles heavy themes such as mental health, depression, and the importance of connection. The combination of beautiful art, relatable dialogue, and poignant music enhances the emotional experience, making it a memorable and heartfelt journey for players.
“I don't think any other game I've played has had such an emotional impact in so short a time.”
“Everything was absolutely gut-wrenching and almost unbearably sickening… in a good way, of course, which compliments the emotional aspect of the story very well.”
“The story is heartfelt and makes you vulnerable in many different ways.”
“The art is good, but the story is boring.”
“I felt no emotional connection to the characters.”
“The game tried to be emotional, but it fell flat.”
- music1,533 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Missed Messages" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and emotional impact, with many players praising the lo-fi soundtrack that complements the game's themes of mental health and relationships. While some found the music repetitive or occasionally jarring, the overall consensus highlights its ability to enhance the storytelling and create a deeply immersive experience. The combination of beautiful artwork and a fitting soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's emotional resonance, making it a standout feature for many players.
“The accompanying soundtrack features ambient sounds and soft melodies that evoke a sense of introspection, further immersing players in the emotional landscape of the story.”
“The art is incredible, the soundtrack is perfect, and parts of this game are so gut-wrenching.”
“The music is beautiful and the artwork is stunningly gorgeous.”
“Annoying music which if you wanted to mute, you would have to turn it off in settings every time you open the game.”
“The music is really annoying, and the game is trying to deliver a deep message but with shallow characters and very weak motives, I find the game annoyingly 'quirky' and overall super shallow.”
“The music just doesn't really fit this game.”
- gameplay261 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is characterized by its simplicity and brevity, typically lasting around 30 minutes to an hour, with a focus on dialogue choices that significantly impact the narrative. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and beautiful art style, others criticize the limited gameplay mechanics and short duration, suggesting a desire for more content and complexity. Overall, the game effectively conveys its themes through a straightforward, choice-driven experience that resonates emotionally with players.
“This mechanic reinforces the idea that communication is often fraught with complexities, and the game adeptly illustrates how a single message or the lack of one can lead to a cascade of emotional consequences.”
“Its unique choice gameplay immerses players in a captivating story of human connection and self-discovery, leaving a lasting impact.”
“The gameplay is simple but emphasizes the story even more.”
“The gameplay is very short but the graphics, audio, and the entirety of how everything is set up is perfect, and I hope to see more stuff like this.”
“The gameplay is not that interesting because you only have limited options and a very short gaming timespan.”
“While missed messages doesn't have the most complex gameplay - it hardly has any gameplay beyond some simple clicking and a handful of choice paths - the story it tells and the way it engages you is more effective, more emotional, and more true to life than scores and scores of other adventure/narrative games.”
- atmosphere171 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning art style and fitting soundtrack, which together create an immersive and emotionally resonant experience. Players appreciate the balance of cozy and melancholic tones, effectively enhancing the narrative's exploration of relationships and mental health themes. Overall, the game's unique aesthetic and atmospheric elements draw players into a deeply engaging and reflective journey.
“The illustrations and music manage to create a special atmosphere that envelops you in every moment, as the narrative explores the importance of relationships and being present for others.”
“The art is gorgeous and atmospheric.”
“The atmosphere provides a calm backdrop to what seems like events that could actually happen; I love the romantic dialogue as being sincere and heartwarming.”
“There is a melancholy that permeates the atmosphere at all times... until suddenly dread rises from the pit of your stomach upon noticing a single missed text message, leaving you (and the player character) haunted by the consequences in subsequent playthroughs.”
“The atmosphere surrounding suicide and self-harm is disturbing, as it should be.”
“Although I believe the story was written by an ape, the art style is a saving grace and even though it's really nothing new, it makes the game playable and adds more atmosphere than the writing ever could.”
- humor62 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of relatable, millennial wit and dark, poignant moments, effectively balancing lightheartedness with serious themes. Players appreciate the clever writing, witty dialogue, and humorous interactions, which often evoke laughter amidst the game's deeper emotional explorations. While some find the humor to be well-placed and charming, others feel it can occasionally miss the mark, leading to mixed reactions on its effectiveness.
“The humor was also really well placed; it isn't overdone at all, a perfect amount is used.”
“The dialogue made me laugh several times; clicking everything you can interact with gives you a lot of little jokes about the objects that I love.”
“This game balances humor and serious tones really well!”
“Not funny, cried.”
“The memes are not funny and normie.”
“Okay, not funny.”
- replayability53 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game features high replayability due to its multiple endings, which encourage players to explore different outcomes and perspectives on the characters' struggles. While some players note that the experience may feel repetitive after the first playthrough, many appreciate the emotional depth and artistic elements that make revisiting the game worthwhile. Overall, it offers a solid replay value, especially for those interested in unlocking all achievements and experiencing the various narrative paths.
“The game's multiple endings offer different perspectives on the characters and their struggles, encouraging replayability and deeper reflection on the themes presented.”
“There are 4 achievements to be unlocked, each reflecting the 4 choices available throughout the story, adding replayability leading to alternative ending finales based on each choice made.”
“I felt every bit of this through and through, and for how short it is, there is so much replayability for a really deep and sorrowful hour experience.”
“Short and not very replayable; the game averages about 30-60 minutes per walkthrough, so as a completionist, you get about 7-8 playthroughs max, usually less to get all endings. You can play the same game for about 30 sessions to see all the dialogues and small details, but aside from that, you will only find yourself going back to missed messages when you really want to play the whole storyline again.”
“While I found this visual novel to be rather short and a bit lacking in replayability, it was absolutely worth the download.”
“I would highly recommend this game as it's eye-opening and quite honestly one of the best games I've ever played, even if it has little to no replayability; a good game you should only have to experience once to realize it's a good game.”
- character development25 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of depth and memorable personalities among the characters, which diminishes emotional impact. While the character designs and visual art are praised for their expressiveness and beauty, several reviewers feel that the short length of the game limits meaningful character growth and attachment. Overall, while some appreciate the simplicity and humor, the consensus is that the game falls short in delivering substantial character development.
“The character designs are simple yet expressive, allowing players to focus on the interactions and underlying emotions of the story.”
“Great visual art style, lovely flags, sweet character designs... as far as visuals for a visual novel goes, it holds up strongly.”
“A wonderfully short game; character development so short and sweet you’ll almost feel bad for finishing it.”
“No character development, so nothing hit hard.”
“Lack of personality and character development: none of the characters have a personality that stands out. When you have only three characters to work with and none of them are even slightly memorable, then you have messed up and need to go back.”
“I don't really feel that the character development or attachment is as touching as other reviews might say.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extensive, often requiring significant time investment—some even jokingly suggest needing a "second life" to complete it. While some enjoy the challenge of grinding for multiple endings and achievements, others note that it can feel excessive or tedious at times.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Since I prefer grinding for all achievements, especially on short games, I had to go for a discussion page to try to find out how to get the last 2 achievements.”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is marked by a mix of minor visual and audio glitches, occasional dialogue loops, and some freezing issues that can disrupt gameplay. While many players found these glitches to be non-game-breaking and manageable, there are reports of more significant problems, such as crashes and loading failures, that detract from the experience. Attention to detail is appreciated, but the presence of these issues suggests a need for further testing and refinement.
“❌ Contains an influx of glitches, bugs, and crashes.”
“Also, there were some typos and graphical glitches that could have been easily fixed by testing for a week or two, especially given the small scope of the game.”
“Well, I watched a YouTuber play this, wanted to explore different endings, but it doesn't load, freezes, and stops responding when I try to play.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-optimized, featuring a concise frame and smooth performance, though some users have reported minor stuttering issues, particularly with character hair and environmental elements during specific scenes. Overall, it is praised for its solid performance and visual appeal.
“This amazing game (I'd rather call it a masterpiece actually...) has a concise frame and highly-optimized level.”
“Don't usually play this type of game, but it's very solid, runs smoothly, and looks nice. 5/5.”
“The game is unoptimized.”
“There seems to be stuttering going on at May's hair (in the first scene) and the entire upper part of the left wall when the lights are blinking (in the second scene).”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that players feel misled by advertising, suggesting that the monetization strategy may not align with the game's actual content. However, some appreciate the game's positive contributions to mental health awareness, indicating a mixed reception regarding its overall value.
“Was tricked into buying this game by misleading advertising.”
