Nepenthe

About

Nepenthe is a single player role playing game with horror and comedy themes. It was developed by Yitz and was released on May 17, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

You wake up with no memory. Your day is starting off great! Nepenthe is a hand-drawn RPG with a terrible sense of humor. Set in the strange world of Carithia, you play as a mysterious bald dude who lost his memory. Yes, you read that right. Meet some very polite monsters, and battle both them and your sense of self-dignity in epic bullet-hell fight scenes!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 131 reviews

graphics30 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The hand-drawn art style is charming and unique, adding to the game's humor and overall appeal.
The game features engaging and funny dialogue, with a quirky sense of humor that resonates with players.
The combat system is interesting and offers a unique take on RPG mechanics, reminiscent of games like Undertale.

The story lacks depth and can feel shallow, with some players finding the endings unsatisfying or confusing.
Movement and navigation can be awkward, making it difficult to identify important items and progress through the game.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and a deeper experience.

graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
43%
5%
The graphics of "Nepenthe" are characterized by a unique hand-drawn art style that many players find charming and nostalgic, reminiscent of childhood drawings. While the visuals stand out and contribute to the game's quirky atmosphere, some users note that the clarity can occasionally be an issue, making it difficult to discern objects on screen. Overall, the art style is praised for its creativity and effectiveness in enhancing the game's humor and storytelling.
- “The fight sequences are fun and differ between each enemy, and the graphics are marvelous.”
- “The characters are all interesting with creative designs that fully embrace the hand-drawn aesthetic.”
- “The art style and the dialogue is fantastic, and if you like to explore like I do you'll have a blast finding all the hidden little items and descriptions for things.”
- “The only reason I don't think this style choice is pointless is because it is used effectively at certain points, especially during ending 2, in which the whole 'drawn on crumpled paper' aesthetic is used to convey a very desolate message.”
- “I love the art style (although sometimes hard to see objects at times); it's fun, creative, and very innovative.”
- “The art style makes me feel like I am back in 2nd grade and all the adventures I drew in my notebook are coming to life.”
story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it charming and humorous, while others describe it as bland and lacking depth. Many appreciate the unique themes of forgetfulness and neglect, as well as the engaging art style, but feel that character development and emotional connection are insufficient. Overall, the narrative offers multiple endings and intriguing details, but opinions vary widely on its effectiveness and engagement.
- “The storyline is really quite beautiful, and I love all the different characters you can interact with.”
- “The story itself is pretty good, if simplistic, and there are a lot of small details to check out along the way should you so desire-- and I highly advise that you do, as some of the game's best moments are found therein.”
- “Nepenthe is funny, interesting, and has a compelling story.”
- “The worst part of the story for me is the endings.”
- “Because the game didn't give us much about the story and the characters.”
- “Seems there's multiple endings, but I felt no connection at all with this story or the characters, so I feel no reason to pursue them.”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
55%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its uniqueness and emotional impact, while others find it mediocre or unremarkable. Many note that the soundtrack primarily features creative commons music, which is generally well-received, though some players express a desire for more variety. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's quirky atmosphere and storytelling, enhancing the overall experience for many players.
- “This game confuses me so much but I absolutely love the music, storytelling, and silly world-building like the depression in the floor.”
- “The music in this is quite unique, with many of the tracks actually managing to send a shiver down my spine.”
- “The soundtrack is wonderful, the humor delightful, and interacting with objects and various NPCs is a real treat.”
- “The music is mediocre but fortunately, it got better on the final boss.”
- “Most of the audio in this is either stock RPG Maker stuff (I recognize the damage sound from several other RPG Maker games), or uses this distorted guitar that I adore, with more 'normal' music filling out the spaces between.”
- “The music is lots of free music from different websites or artists.”
humor
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by its charming hand-drawn art style and witty dialogue, often drawing comparisons to titles like Undertale. While many players find the humor refreshing and amusing, some jokes can be hit or miss, and repetitive elements may lead to boredom over time. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the game, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its quirky and unconventional approach.
- “Unconventional, humorous adventure with odd endings which make you wonder about a deeper meaning.”
- “The dialogue is always humorous and the battle system is a joy to play.”
- “It offers a unique charm with its art style, and keeps you hooked with its story and humor.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The gameplay is a mix of engaging exploration and unique battle mechanics, offering both traditional turn-based combat and a style reminiscent of Undertale and Paper Mario. While many players appreciate the humor and depth of the game, some criticize the combat for being unresponsive and lacking excitement, with a preference for the story mode that eliminates combat altogether. Overall, the game is seen as charming and fun, with a variety of storylines to explore.
- “I didn't know what to expect, but it took way longer than it looked like. I thought it was a quick, simple 15-minute game, but it had such deep thoughts and engaging and fun text that I expected. What I thought was a 15-minute gameplay turned into an hour of just exploring and appreciating all the little fun texts and descriptions.”
- “The gameplay is also neat; you can either choose traditional turn-based combat or have the combat be like Undertale/Paper Mario.”
- “This is a fun and charming game with a nice fight mechanic.”
- “It does not contribute anything to gameplay or story.”
- “I think if it was detached from the Undertale game mechanics and the slow-paced gameplay, there could be a real hit here.”
- “The combat is boring; it's also very similar to the Undertale system of dodging projectiles but done worse, with most of the projectiles popping up without giving you enough time to react. Luckily, there is a story mode which removes combat mechanics from the gameplay, if you prefer that.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game offers some replayability through its three different endings, which encourages players to revisit it despite its short length. However, many users feel that the disappointing nature of these endings diminishes the overall replay value.
- “The game's short length ensures that it doesn't overstay its welcome, and its three endings ensure that it has replayability.”
- “The replay value does not save this game from its disappointing endings and lack of content.”
- “The game lacks the depth needed for meaningful replayability, making it feel stale after the first playthrough.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return, as the experience feels repetitive and uninspired.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly during the escape section of the first ending, to be tedious and frustrating, with some feeling it nearly led them to abandon the game altogether.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making me question whether it's worth continuing.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding in this game is exhausting and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I found the grinding mechanics to be overly tedious, which almost made me give up on the game entirely.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional impact of the game to be profound, with some endings evoking strong feelings such as sadness, while also motivating them to explore different gameplay styles.
- “Although the first ending I got made me want to cry, it also inspired me to play again in another style.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel personal and relatable.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the story; it left a lasting impact that I couldn't shake off for days.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits stability issues, with users reporting occasional crashes and visual glitches.
- “There are some bugs here and there when it comes to crashing and visual glitches.”
- “There are some bugs here and there when it comes to crashing and visual glitches.”