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Mothmen 1966

A straightforward recreation of 1980s computer adventure games through the lens of pulp fiction. Mothmen 1966 is a brief, but enchanting, paranormal experience that has real love for all aspects of its fusion.
Mothmen 1966 Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, character development
90% User Score Based on 210 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Mothmen 1966 Game Cover

About

Mothmen 1966 is a single player action adventure game with romance, mystery, thriller and historical themes. It was developed by LCB Game Studio and was released on July 14, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Mothmen 1966" is a pixel art adventure game based on pulp fiction, set during the Leonid Meteor Shower in 1966. A young couple, a gas station owner, and a paranormal investigator become entangled in a conspiracy involving otherworldly creatures and mysterious men in black. This game is the first in the new Pixel Pulps series, combining exceptional writing with stunning illustrations.

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90%
Audience ScoreBased on 210 reviews
story68 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions

  • The pixel art and overall aesthetic are stunning, creating a captivating atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
  • The writing is engaging, with well-developed characters and a unique narrative that blends horror and pulp fiction elements.
  • The game features interesting mini-games, such as the solitaire, which add variety to the gameplay experience.
  • The game is very short, often leaving players wanting more content and a more satisfying conclusion.
  • Some puzzles and interactive elements feel clunky and can detract from the overall experience.
  • There are issues with the lack of impactful choices, as many decisions lead to similar outcomes or instant deaths without significant narrative changes.
  • story
    166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Mothmen 1966" is a unique blend of horror and pulp fiction, featuring engaging characters and a captivating narrative that intertwines cryptid lore with themes of generational trauma and complex relationships. While the writing and pixel art are praised for their quality, some players find the plot convoluted and the pacing rushed, leading to an abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, the game offers a fun, atmospheric experience, though it leaves some narrative threads unresolved and may not fully satisfy those seeking a deeper storyline.

    • “With beautiful pixel art and an evocative yet strange story filled with generational family trauma, civil war trivia, and cryptids, Mothmen stands out as an experience like no other.”
    • “The writing and art blend perfectly to create a great story that is both creepy and engaging, making you want to read more.”
    • “Mothmen 1966 manages to blend a creepy yet fun tale into the visual novel formula, with a sprinkle of choose-your-own-adventure and puzzles to create a retro story that is truly enjoyable.”
    • “The story just abruptly ends.”
    • “The characters are all basically unlikable, the relationships are needlessly complicated, and the plot itself is hanging on by a thread.”
    • “The story is fine until a specific point near the end, where it takes a completely out-of-nowhere turn that made me say out loud, 'wait, what the fuck just happened?' The ending is extremely unsatisfying, and is more a point where the story decides to stop than an actual ending.”
  • graphics
    87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art and nostalgic retro aesthetic, effectively enhancing the storytelling and atmosphere. Many reviewers praised the vibrant color palettes and artistic style, which evoke a sense of nostalgia while maintaining a modern appeal. However, some noted that the retro design can occasionally hinder user interface interactions, but overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature of the game.

    • “The visuals are very good, as is the OST, perfect for those who want a real sense of nostalgia, coupled with the pulp horror theme—it's perfect!”
    • “The best thing about this game are the graphics; beautiful art style, almost like paintings, and the color palette is really captivating.”
    • “An atmospheric retro pulp adventure with fantastic visuals and sound.”
    • “I admit I wasn't sure about the graphics at first, and there are also some issues with the technical side on an ultra-wide screen (opening the menu froze the pictures and a restart was necessary; after beating the game, the 'exit' option was outside of the view window).”
    • “While the aesthetics of Mothman 1966 are charming at first, I found myself disappointed having kept an eye on this game since its original announcement.”
    • “The brief interactive interludes do not hold up to the polish of the writing, soundscapes, and graphics of Mothman 1966, but LCD Game Studio have a chance to update those mechanics when the next episode, Varney Lake, comes out later this year.”
  • atmosphere
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in lcb's games is consistently praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by stellar pixel art, engaging sound design, and well-crafted narratives. Reviewers highlight the ability of these games to create a captivating and often eerie ambiance, making them best enjoyed in a quiet setting. Overall, the combination of artistic visuals and atmospheric soundscapes contributes to a compelling gaming experience that draws players into the story.

    • “Brilliantly atmospheric and fun little story with some stellar pixel art and easy enough achievements... apart from that solitaire one, that can go away.”
    • “A short narrative adventure with tons of style and atmosphere.”
    • “Some sound loops in particular scenes distract from the atmosphere and reading.”
    • “What is amazing is how they managed to create such a creepy atmosphere by only using like 5 colors and a few bleeps and bloops.”
    • “Excellent writing and the art is fantastic, especially with its palette; it really nails the cryptic atmosphere and suspense!”
  • music
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the retro aesthetic and enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while fitting seamlessly into the game's themes, although some note minor issues with volume fluctuations. Overall, the music is described as a charming blend of retro sounds that contribute to the game's immersive and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The pacing is really good and so are the graphics and music.”
    • “The music is a perfect vibe for this style of game.”
    • “Killer atmosphere, music; a certified boss ass game.”
    • “The music is faithful to the era, a series of midis packed with more warbly synthesized sounds than your ear canals have room for.”
    • “My only real criticism is the sound and music, which lean way too hard into the CGA-era PC internal beeper aesthetic.”
    • “The good: the pixel aesthetic is well done, the music is sparse but effective.”
  • gameplay
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is primarily dialogue-driven, typical of visual novels, with some players finding it shallow and lacking in creativity, particularly in puzzles and mechanics. While there are enjoyable minigames and some interesting sequences, many reviews highlight the gameplay as basic and potentially frustrating due to clunky controls and an instant death mechanic. Overall, the experience is described as atmospheric and engaging, but may not satisfy those seeking deeper gameplay.

    • “It has nice minigame-like mechanics that allow the gameplay to vary, and you can also play a cool solitaire directly from the menu screen.”
    • “The gameplay has some interesting puzzles and action sequences.”
    • “This is a perfect, atmospheric, fun pixel adventure with choose-your-own-adventure mechanics, some cool puzzles, and a story that is worth the ride.”
    • “On the other hand, gameplay is shallow and its few puzzles are unimaginative and clunky.”
    • “The instant death mechanic based on failing a scenario is incredibly annoying.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay fails to be anywhere near as interesting, but the package is not without its charm.”
  • grinding
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the visual design is praised, the tediousness of menu navigation and puzzles detracts from the overall enjoyment. Additionally, the intense character dynamics add depth, but the brevity of the game leaves some feeling that it may not be worth the price.

    • “On top of that is this mountain of intense character stuff, where there is always at least one person quietly grinding their teeth with absolutely loathing for someone else, with the pettiest, most poisonous thoughts swirling around them.”
    • “It's extremely short, to the point that even $9 seems a tad much, and the puzzles were tedious at best.”
    • “[occasionally unwieldy controls, tedious puzzles]”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Mothmen 1966 evokes nostalgia and effectively conveys emotional scenes despite its simplicity and limited graphics, demonstrating a thoughtful design that engages players. While it may not be the most profound experience, it successfully entertains and invests players in its various scenarios and outcomes.

    • “Mothmen 1966, however, made me feel very nostalgic for the genre and I really enjoyed the handful of different scenarios and outcomes (deaths).”
    • “I love the simplicity on the surface, but the ability to convey striking and emotional scenes with such a small amount of graphical power shows a real care for the product and a small but noticeable flexing of the muscles.”
    • “Obviously, it's not the deepest or most emotional, but it's enough to entertain and get you invested.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is criticized for being minimal, with players noting a lack of depth and unresolved plot points that detract from the overall experience. While the concept is considered good, the execution leaves much to be desired in terms of character growth.

    • “Buy this only if it's on sale; there is zero character development, and too many unresolved plot threads at the end.”
    • “The character development is lacking, making it hard to connect with the story.”
    • “I was disappointed with the character arcs; they felt flat and unengaging.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Many users feel that the game has limited replayability due to its short length, making the full price seem steep for the experience offered.

    • “I did enjoy this, but at full price, I think it's a bit steep, given the short length and lack of replayability.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is reported to have strong optimization, with users noting a smooth performance and no significant bugs or issues affecting gameplay.

    • “Didn't notice any bugs or other performance hiccups.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as fun and occasionally creepy, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience, even if the story itself isn't particularly groundbreaking.

    • “The story obviously isn't going to blow your mind, but it's a fun, creepy, and sometimes humorous ride.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Mothmen 1966 is a action adventure game with romance, mystery, thriller and historical themes.

Mothmen 1966 is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Mothmen 1966 was released on July 14, 2022.

Mothmen 1966 was developed by LCB Game Studio.

Mothmen 1966 has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Mothmen 1966 is a single player game.

Similar games include Stories Untold, Tales of the Neon Sea, Oxenfree, Yuppie Psycho, Stories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog and others.