Mothered

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 189 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
Mothered Game Cover
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"Mothered" is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with a splendid story and marble visuals. As Liana, you return home to find your mother replaced by a mannequin, leading to a dense and tense atmosphere over 7 in-game days. The game features a gradual reveal of its narrative and the possibility of breaking a mysterious cycle. Content Warning: sickness, abuse, and death.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 189 reviews
story positive mentions
grinding negative mentions
  • The game features a masterfully crafted atmosphere that is both engaging and unsettling, making it a standout in psychological horror.
  • The story is deeply intriguing and thought-provoking, with multiple endings that encourage replayability to uncover all its secrets.
  • The audio design and music significantly enhance the overall experience, contributing to the game's eerie and immersive environment.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, particularly the apple-picking segment, are frustrating and can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The game is relatively short, which may leave some players feeling that it doesn't provide enough content for its price.
  • Certain puzzles and tasks can feel obscure or tedious, requiring multiple playthroughs to fully understand the narrative and achieve all endings.
  • story77 mentions

    The story is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and unique presentation, often described as haunting and immersive, particularly in the context of horror. Many players appreciate the need for multiple playthroughs to fully grasp the narrative and uncover its secrets, while some find the gameplay simplistic yet fitting for the storytelling. Overall, the narrative is considered exceptional, with twists and a compelling atmosphere that keeps players engaged and guessing throughout their experience.

    • “Absolutely stunning series of games that I would recommend to anyone who loves story-focused horror.”
    • “The story is exceptional and while the gameplay can be overly simplistic, it works wonders with the story.”
    • “It will keep you guessing throughout your gameplay while the tense, immersive atmosphere tells a twisted and unnerving story.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but the story is confusing and the gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
    • “The story never really became something interesting, although it had the potential to.”
    • “If it just told a single story or made the optional tasks to unlock different endings make any amount of logical sense, then this would have been better.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging, creepy, and immersive qualities, often described as unsettling and psychologically intense. Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound design and music, which significantly enhance the overall experience, while the unique visual style contributes to a haunting ambiance. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates players and elevates the storytelling.

    • “Absolutely incredible atmosphere that is legitimately terrifying despite being so simple.”
    • “The uncanny valley effect is definitely strong and every time you see her, you just get a sense that something is incredibly wrong, really helps bring the atmosphere to intense heights.”
    • “Extremely immersive storytelling, very enjoyable atmosphere to inhabit and just stylistically unrivaled.”
    • “The uncanny valley effect is definitely strong, and every time you see her, you just get a sense that something is incredibly wrong. It really helps bring the atmosphere to intense heights.”
    • “Just purely unsettling psychological horror and a very surreal atmosphere.”
    • “Glad this game didn't rely on cheap jumpscares; instead, it has an intense atmosphere that really makes the player feel anxious.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a distinct retro-VHS aesthetic that effectively contributes to its atmospheric and narrative depth. While some players appreciate the stylized visuals and charming design, others note technical issues like glitches and frame drops, which can detract from the experience. Overall, the unique art style and intentional effects resonate well with fans of analog horror, despite not meeting modern graphical standards.

    • “The graphics and atmosphere are so cool and unique, but the story for me shines the most.”
    • “The visuals were one of my favorite details: this was clearly inspired by and pays a very good tribute to the whole aesthetic of retro VHS and analog horror series (think of Gemini Home Entertainment or Midwest Angelica to get the idea).”
    • “The visual look of the game is also stylized and the blur they use on the geometry creates this look that reminds me of the pre-rendered visuals of old point-and-click games like Myst or Riven, which is a very good fit for a game like this.”
    • “The game features graphics that are between realistic and pixel-textured; the bed covers are glitched, and every time the mother moves her right hand, it glitches with the dress she's wearing.”
    • “Given the graphics, the glitches, and the fact that it's a looping game, it should be $4 tops.”
    • “Def not a game for everyone though, it has PSX graphics and is more of a narrative/horror game.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it initially confusing and overly simplistic, while others appreciate its alignment with the story's themes. Critics note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and tedious, particularly with its walking simulator elements and branching storylines, yet many agree that it effectively supports the game's immersive atmosphere and narrative twists. Overall, while the mechanics may not be mechanically complex, they contribute to a unique and thought-provoking experience.

    • “The story is exceptional, and while the gameplay can be overly simplistic, it works wonders with the story.”
    • “I enjoy the inspect mechanics very much and find the style is very unique and easy to play.”
    • “It will keep you guessing throughout your gameplay while the tense, immersive atmosphere tells a twisted and unnerving story.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but the story is confusing and the gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
    • “I don't have the patience for repeated gameplay; 'branching storylines' (going back to day 1 and doing the same objectives, hoping for something to change).”
    • “The gameplay loop was a bit confusing at first, and I wish the apples were a bit easier to see or that whole part was just a bit different (if you are colorblind or see differently, good luck, I'm sorry) but I never got frustrated and it didn't take too much away from my experience.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and set the mood, particularly during tense moments, with many tracks effectively amplifying the horror elements. While some players noted that certain songs can become grating over time, the overall composition is considered exceptional and integral to the game's experience. Many reviewers recommend the game primarily for its outstanding soundtrack.

    • “The music is great at setting the mood, and this developer is very good at playing with the environment.”
    • “The music is great, especially the creepier tracks, so when things turn tense, the music definitely sends chills down your spine.”
    • “Everything from the creepy ambience to the music all meshes well.”
    • “The soundtrack makes you dizzy, your skin crawls away and suddenly...”
    • “The only minor negative is that the song that plays during the mornings does get pretty grating fast, but overall it's still great stuff.”
    • “Some music gets grating if you get stuck.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally impactful, particularly due to its melancholic soundtrack and character interactions that foster a deep emotional investment. The combination of evocative music and character dynamics creates a sense of discomfort and nostalgia, enhancing the overall emotional experience.

    • “Waking up in the morning with 'As You Left It,' the beautifully melancholic track playing, reminded me a lot of Lisa's theme from Silent Hill. It made me somewhat emotional.”
    • “If you often find yourself emotionally invested in games because of the characters and how they treat you and how they feel, I think this game is something worth experiencing.”
    • “The graphics aside, it has replay value and made me feel rather uncomfortable.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be tedious, particularly noting that certain tasks, like apple picking, detract from the overall experience. While the atmosphere and design evoke positive comparisons to Undertale, the gameplay's repetitiveness is seen as a significant drawback.

    • “The atmosphere was amazing, but the gameplay and blurry vision made it tedious for me to get through.”
    • “Yet, so much of it, from the design to the dialogue (rather monologue), reminded me heavily of Undertale. I have to say, Undertale did it better. I say this as someone who played through Undertale several times, and yes, parts of it did become tedious, but never as tedious as parts of Mothered, despite the latter being much shorter in duration.”
    • “Because of the tedious parts, like the apple picking.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed, with some players experiencing significant graphical glitches, particularly with character animations and textures, while others report a smoother experience with only minor lag towards the end. Overall, the presence of glitches suggests that the game may not meet expectations for stability, especially given its graphical quality.

    • “The game features graphics that are a mix between realistic and pixelated; the bed covers are glitched, and every time the mother moves her right hand, it glitches with the dress she's wearing.”
    • “Given the graphics, the glitches, and the fact that it's a looping game, it should be priced at $4 at most.”
    • “I didn't encounter any bugs or glitches during my playthrough, although I did experience some lag issues at the very end of the game.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    While the game offers a great experience and unsettling atmosphere, many users note that its replayability is limited, though this does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Great experience and unsettling atmosphere; however, there isn't much replayability, but that does not detract from the game whatsoever.”
    • “The game is enjoyable, but once you've completed it, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “While the story is captivating, the lack of different endings or choices makes replaying feel redundant.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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