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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.
80%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, replayability
91% User Score Based on 185 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5WindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox
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About

"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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
Mothmen 1966 screenshot
+8

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 198 reviews
story63 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The pixel art is stunning and beautifully captures the retro aesthetic, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The writing is engaging, with well-developed characters that add depth to the story, making it a compelling narrative experience.
  • The game features unique puzzles and mini-games, such as the solitaire, which provide a fun break from the main story.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • There are issues with the pacing and abrupt ending, which can feel unsatisfying and leave many plot points unresolved.
  • The gameplay mechanics, particularly the puzzle interactions, can be clunky and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story
    151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Mothmen 1966" is a unique blend of horror and retro aesthetics, featuring three characters whose perspectives shift as they navigate a fast-paced narrative filled with cryptid lore and unexpected twists. While the writing and art are praised for their quality, many players found the pacing rushed and the choices often leading to linear outcomes, diminishing the impact of player decisions. Overall, the game offers an engaging yet brief experience that leaves some plot threads unresolved, prompting a desire for a longer storyline or sequel.

    • “The writing and art blend perfectly to make a great story.”
    • “Mothmen 1966 manages to blend a creepy yet oh-so-fun tale into the visual novel formula, with a sprinkle of choose-your-own-adventure and puzzles to create a retro story that I had a really, really fun time with.”
    • “Mothmen 1966 is a gripping story of how three characters react when thrust into contact with the paranormal.”
    • “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 just happened?' The ending is extremely unsatisfying, and is more a point where the story decides to stop than an actual ending.”
  • graphics
    79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Mothmen 1966" are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and retro aesthetic, which effectively evoke nostalgia while enhancing the storytelling. Reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork, captivating color palettes, and the game's ability to convey emotion through its visuals, despite some technical issues with interface interactivity. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.

    • “The best thing about this game is the graphics; beautiful art style, almost like paintings, and the color palette is really captivating.”
    • “The visuals are gorgeous; I love the neon greens and the old school comic style.”
    • “Great writing and gorgeous retro visuals make it totally worth the price of admission.”
    • “While the aesthetics of Mothmen 1966 are charming at first, I found myself disappointed having kept an eye on this game since its original announcement.”
    • “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).”
    • “The brief interactive interludes do not hold up to the polish of the writing, soundscapes, and graphics of Mothmen 1966, but LCD Game Studio have a chance to update those mechanics when the next episode, Varney Lake, comes out later this year.”
  • atmosphere
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is consistently praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, enhanced by striking visuals, effective sound design, and a compelling narrative. Reviewers highlight the ability of the game to create a mysterious and trippy ambiance, often recommending it for nighttime play. Despite some minor distractions, the overall atmosphere is described as captivating and integral to the gaming experience.

    • “Quite an atmospheric visual novel, best played at night.”
    • “Amazing chilling lore and story, cool dithering-style for the larger illustrations, atmospheric soundtracks and fitting sound effects.”
    • “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.”
    • “The mystery had me intrigued throughout and the dev(s) know how to build atmosphere.”
  • music
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its retro charm, effectively complementing the pixel art aesthetic and enhancing the overall atmosphere. While some players appreciate the nostalgic MIDI and synthesized sounds, others note minor issues with volume fluctuations and a preference for less traditional soundscapes. Overall, the soundtrack is described as fitting and atmospheric, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The music is a perfect vibe for this style of game.”
    • “The charm of its lo-fi, old style graphics, music, and interface can't be ignored either.”
    • “I like that the music and the description alone can make you feel chills in the bones instead of your usual visual jumpscare.”
    • “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.”
    • “I noticed a few odd fluctuations of volume (the menu music was too quiet, while the settings slider showed it all the way to the right). Naturally, I turned it up on my computer just to be blasted with sound when the chapter started.”
  • gameplay
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is primarily dialogue-driven, characteristic of visual novels, but is often criticized for being shallow and lacking creativity in its puzzles. While some players appreciate the inclusion of minigames and D&D-like mechanics, others find the overall experience too simplistic and frustrating, particularly due to clunky controls and an annoying instant death mechanic. Despite these drawbacks, the game is noted for its engaging story and atmosphere, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

    • “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 tedious, particularly due to cumbersome menu navigation and repetitive puzzles. While the visual design is praised, the overall experience can feel short and frustrating, with some users expressing dissatisfaction with the character dynamics and controls.

    • “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.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users note that while the game is enjoyable, its short length and limited replayability make the full price feel excessive.

    • “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

    Overall, users report a smooth experience with no noticeable bugs or performance issues, indicating strong optimization in the game.

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

    The humor in the game is described as a fun and sometimes creepy element that adds to the overall experience, though the story itself may not be particularly groundbreaking.

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

70%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews

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