My Big Sister

About

My Big Sister is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Stranga Games and was released on November 9, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

"My Big Sister" is an RPG-style adventure game following twelve-year-old Luzia and her sister Sombria, who were kidnapped and are now trying to return home. Players must help Luzia solve puzzles and find items to progress through the game's story, with multiple chapters, secrets, and endings to discover. The game is played from a top-down perspective, and Luzia's playful sense of humor features throughout the narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 276 reviews

story109 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

My Big Sister masterfully blends childlike innocence with dark psychological themes, creating a deep and atmospheric experience.
The game features a compelling story with emotional depth, exploring themes of sibling bonds, personal trauma, and the supernatural.
The pixel art style and soundtrack effectively convey emotion and atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.

Some puzzles can feel repetitive and straightforward, leading to occasional backtracking that may disrupt the pacing.
The dialogue and writing can be rough around the edges, with some awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that detract from immersion.
Certain plot points and character motivations may feel confusing or underdeveloped, leaving players with unanswered questions.

story
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The story of "My Big Sister" is a compelling blend of horror and emotional depth, focusing on the complex relationship between two sisters, Luzia and Sombria, as they navigate a surreal world filled with both literal and metaphorical monsters. While the narrative features intriguing twists and rich symbolism, it can also be convoluted and confusing at times, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Overall, players appreciate the emotional core and character development, though some find the plot's complexity detracts from the overall experience.
- “My Big Sister, developed by Stranga and published by GrabTheGames, is a pixel-art horror adventure that blends psychological mystery with an emotional core, offering a story-driven experience that’s equal parts unsettling and heartfelt.”
- “The story centers on Luzia, a quick-witted and sarcastic 12-year-old girl, and her older sister Sombria. Her relationship with Sombria is complicated and touching, built on both love and frustration, which makes the story’s tragic elements more impactful.”
- “The story has a lot of symbolism and Easter eggs from the previous games done by Stranga. There are a handful of colorful characters in this story which have significant backgrounds, making the narrative rich and engaging.”
- “It's not all that well written - the dialogue often sounds kind of amateurish and not well thought out, there's a bunch of spelling/grammar errors, and the connections between different plot areas are... just not that good.”
- “The story initially piqued my interest but the metaphorical and symbolic concepts that were too abstract and either remained unexplained or were flimsily hand-waived, the unlikeable main character, the disappointing endings, and the amateurishly-designed UI and world caused me to lose interest in the game very quickly.”
- “However, near the end the story gets too convoluted and amid all the plot twists it's not always clear who's who and who does what, and this is a bit disappointing when it's finished and we feel there's no meaningful resolutions.”
gameplay
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The gameplay in "My Big Sister" is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, focusing on exploration and puzzle-solving without combat or complex mechanics. While some players appreciate the engaging story and charming visuals, many criticize the gameplay as lackluster and clunky, with easy puzzles and a lack of depth that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the game offers a unique atmosphere and emotional themes that resonate with some players, making it a mixed bag in terms of gameplay enjoyment.
- “The gameplay in My Big Sister is deliberately simple and accessible, allowing the narrative and world-building to take center stage without mechanical distractions.”
- “The game's beautiful art style, engaging gameplay, and well-written story make it a must-play.”
- “The gameplay is almost 'point and click' in that you have to explore your surroundings to find the right items and clues to progress, but in a free roam environment, which is a nice breath of fresh air.”
- “There is no combat, and there are no skill-based mechanics.”
- “The gameplay controls are also pretty clunky and leave a lot to be desired.”
- “The story is good, but the gameplay is pretty lackluster.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The game's graphics feature a minimalistic pixel-art style that effectively conveys emotion and atmosphere, enhancing the dark narrative. While some players appreciate the charm and detail of the visuals, others criticize the limited visibility and lack of modern graphical fidelity. Overall, the art style is polarizing, with many praising its unique aesthetic and emotional depth, while some feel it falls short compared to contemporary standards.
- “Visually, the game adopts a minimalistic pixel-art style, but it effectively conveys emotion and atmosphere through careful use of lighting, shadow, and environmental design.”
- “The game's beautiful art style, engaging gameplay, and well-written story make it a must-play.”
- “The art style is simple but the attention to detail and animations make the world a surprisingly lively place.”
- “The graphics use pixel art, and the main character has an especially cute walking animation, but many areas and details are unfortunately obscured by the lack of light and visibility, which is regrettable since the game is colorful and pleasing to look at otherwise.”
- “The game features ugly retro pixel 'art' which is used as a substitute for modern PC graphics by developers who lack the talent or budget to deliver a product of contemporary quality.”
- “The game doesn't handle 2K or 4K graphics support, and falls far beneath minimum quality standards as a result.”
music
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
40%
7%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, featuring a mix of haunting ambient tracks for horror scenes and catchy melodies that complement the overall experience. Reviewers note that the soundtrack effectively builds mood without being overwhelming, with many tracks standing out as memorable and fitting perfectly within the game's context. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and engaging qualities.
- “The soundtrack complements this well, with haunting melodies and ambient sounds that subtly build mood without being overbearing.”
- “The music is also excellent, with a soundtrack that perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of the game.”
- “Likewise, the music is top notch, catchy and easily crosses the threshold of 'serviceable' to 'memorable', with all tracks doing a great job at invoking mood, be it either sad, uplifting or scary.”
- “The music and art are really cute, but the lag when pressing keys and the menu sometimes locking up completely for seconds at a time makes the game hard to get immersed in.”
- “The songs are fine complements to the game but don't stand out on their own.”
- “The music is composed of creepy ambient music for the 'horror' scenes and folk music for everything else.”
emotional
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"My Big Sister" is a pixel-art horror adventure that masterfully intertwines unsettling themes with a deeply emotional narrative centered on sibling relationships and the burdens of youth. Players resonate with the well-developed bond between the sisters, Lucy and Liss, as they navigate loss and support each other through dark and whimsical moments, creating a heartfelt experience that lingers long after gameplay. While some emotional beats may feel abrupt or heavy-handed, the game's unique visuals and poignant storytelling make it a compelling choice for those seeking a touching and introspective journey.
- “My Big Sister, developed by Stranga and published by GrabTheGames, is a pixel-art horror adventure that blends psychological mystery with an emotional core, offering a story-driven experience that’s equal parts unsettling and heartfelt.”
- “Despite its horror label, My Big Sister is not about jump scares or gore (though some disturbing imagery is present), but rather about an emotional undercurrent that explores what it means to be a sibling and the weight that young people often carry in the face of overwhelming situations.”
- “My Big Sister is a heartwarming and emotional game that tells the story of two sisters, Lucy and Liss, who are dealing with the loss of their parents.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by dark, witty dialogue and playful banter, particularly from the main character, Luzia, who balances her youthful innocence with a mature sense of sarcasm. While many players appreciate the clever wordplay and comedic interactions, some found certain moments of humor to be mismatched with the game's darker themes, occasionally breaking immersion. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its somber narrative, creating a unique experience that resonates with players.
- “Luzia, the main character, has a lot of good dark humor being a little girl but matured.”
- “It is a fantastic experience that balances a tone of dark themes with light-hearted humor and clever wordplay.”
- “My big sister has the right amount of creepy and funny with witty dialogue and an interesting and likable cast of characters.”
atmosphere
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The atmosphere of "My Big Sister" is widely praised for its effective blend of childlike innocence and dark psychological themes, achieved through minimalistic pixel art, careful lighting, and environmental design. While the game may not deliver traditional horror elements like jump scares, it creates a creepy and immersive experience that captivates players through its storytelling and music. Overall, the atmosphere is described as chilling, intriguing, and occasionally humorous, enhancing the game's emotional depth and engagement.
- “My big sister is a deep and atmospheric pixel horror that masterfully blends childlike innocence with dark psychological themes despite its small budget.”
- “Visually, the game adopts a minimalistic pixel-art style, but it effectively conveys emotion and atmosphere through careful use of lighting, shadow, and environmental design.”
- “The music and atmosphere just felt right and you keep on going to find out the truth.”
- “The music also helps create a scary and eerie atmosphere, but yeah, not gonna lie, as I said in the beginning.”
- “It's not heart-pounding horror; there are no jumpscares, and in general, due to the art style, you aren't going to find hyper-realistic horror here. But if you let yourself get invested in the story and you get lost in the atmosphere, it is very creepy.”
- “Chilling game you'd never expect to deliver the type of atmosphere it resonates, created by a very creative team.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game offers decent replayability due to multiple endings and hidden achievements, appealing to completionists. However, some players find the confusing endings detract from the overall replay value. The engaging storyline and charming art style also contribute positively to the game's replayability.
- “Multiple endings plus the achievement descriptions don't tell you how to get them, so it has some nice replayability.”
- “The storyline is creepy-cute, the art style is adorable, and the game itself is fun and replayable.”
- “Good replayability: multiple endings with a few secrets here and there.”
- “My only complaints are that the ending(s) is/are very confusing and there isn't much replay value.”
- “However, there are lots of achievements for any completionists out there, so replayability is an option with this game.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marred by frequent glitches, slow transitions, and issues with the saving system, which can lead to frustrating experiences such as freezing during cutscenes and save menu access. While players find the gameplay enjoyable overall, these technical problems detract from the overall experience.
- “There's glitches - sometimes you have to rewalk an area before something becomes interactable, even if it was meant to be given the plot. The transitions between areas are really slow, the save game animation often freezes and becomes (even) slower. When you skip a cutscene, the screen freezes in place and there's no option to have different save files, which is something I would normally expect in a game with several different endings.”
- “- The saving system is awkward considering how buggy the game can be.”
- “Sometimes it freezes up on me before it reaches the menu.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some achievements can be easily obtained through exploration and revisiting areas, those related to the six endings are considered tedious and often require a guide. Many users report feeling the need to take breaks due to the repetitive nature of the grinding, particularly when pursuing specific achievements. Overall, while grinding exists, it is not deemed excessive, as most achievements can be completed in the final chapter.
- “After the first 90 minutes, I had to stop playing every 20-30 minutes thereafter and had to force myself to finish the game, which only tends to happen to me when hunting for achievements that require grinding.”
- “The achievements found throughout the game are easy to get if you do some extra exploring and return to previously-visited areas to speak with NPCs again after advancing the story, but the achievements related to the six endings are tedious to get without a guide.”
- “Some of them are a bit tedious, but as far as I can tell, you can get all of them in the last chapter.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The character development in the game is highlighted as a strong point, particularly focusing on the sister's journey and her emotional connections with others, which adds depth to the narrative. While the story is praised for its solid twists, some players express mixed feelings about the character designs. Overall, the character arcs contribute significantly to the engaging storyline.
- “Solid story with great character development and many twists.”
- “Not too crazy about the character designs, but I'd give that long-armed lady a hug. Some puzzles are easy, while others will take a while to figure out, and then you'll kick yourself for not figuring them out sooner. But it's cute enough.”
- “The whole story revolves around the sister's character development, her choices, and how they are entangled with the emotions of others.”
- “I'm not too crazy about the character designs, but I'd give that long-armed lady a hug. Some puzzles are easy, while others will take a while to figure out, and then you'll kick yourself for not figuring them out sooner. But it's cute enough.”