New Meaning

About

New Meaning is a single player action game. It was developed by Brave Lobster Studios and was released on August 16, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In New Meaning you play as Luke Wilson, or do you? Luke is a struggling teenager trying to shed some light upon a dark lonely world, will you help him or will you aid his departure into depression? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.

Genres & Tags

Free to Play

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 67 reviews

story7 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game presents a poignant tale that addresses the harsh realities of mental illness and suicide, resonating deeply with players.
The artwork and music are well-crafted, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.
Many players found the game to be a powerful experience that encourages discussions about mental health and the importance of seeking help.

The game is extremely short, with a linear storyline that offers little to no replayability, leaving players feeling unsatisfied.
Despite being marketed as a 'choose your own adventure,' the choices made by players have minimal impact on the outcome, often leading to a predetermined ending.
The writing is criticized for being poorly executed, with many players finding the dialogue shallow and the overall narrative lacking depth.

story
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its linearity and lack of meaningful choices, leading to a feeling of deception regarding player agency. While some found the narrative engaging and appreciated its themes, particularly around mental health, others felt it was rushed and shallow, failing to deliver on its deeper intentions. Overall, the story is described as both gripping and flawed, with a notable plot twist that surprised some players despite the overall dissatisfaction with its execution.
- “Although very short, it has a gripping story with interesting characters.”
- “Amazing story and fantastic artwork.”
- “I love the game's message throughout the story and it relates close to home for me.”
- “This was a painful experience for me; the storyline is weird and cringe, and the romance part was probably the cringiest part.”
- “The game is a 'choice' game, but none of the choices you make have any impact on the story itself. No matter what you do, the story is fixed one way and isn't very long at that.”
- “With a very forced and linear plotline, I would not recommend this game at this time.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant art style and excellent sprite work, while others find them mediocre and not on par with high-profile titles. Overall, the artwork is appreciated for its ability to convey the game's themes, though some players feel it conflicts with the narrative tone.
- “This game is very good, great graphics, art, and music with excellent writing and it really gets the point across.”
- “Amazing story and fantastic artwork.”
- “The artwork is amazing in this game and there is a lot of vibrant colors throughout the game.”
- “Graphics are mediocre.”
- “It has a good message with no way to change the fate and that made it hard to play, feeling like your character is causing an inevitable death of a high schooler is hard to take.”
- “I love the art style and everything about this game, but I do wish it had more than one ending.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as excellent and well-suited to the game's atmosphere, while others find it merely okay and in need of improvement. Overall, it is described as cute and fitting, with a blend of eerie and soothing elements, but opinions vary significantly on its quality.
- “This game is very good, great graphics, art, and music with excellent writing and it really gets the point across.”
- “The music is also very cute and suits the game nicely.”
- “Music - 4/10 (it's okay but not great)”
- “The music is eerie, but soothing, and yeah there is still some more work to do here, but the concept is very interesting and the characters are easy to go along with.”
- “Music is...okay?”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay of this visual/interactive novel is criticized for being minimal and largely consisting of poorly written dialogue, leading to a lack of engagement and replayability. However, some players appreciate the game's mechanics for effectively illustrating the complexities of depression, despite the overall execution being seen as a missed opportunity.
- “If I can get that invested in a fictional character in under 30 minutes of gameplay, what does that say about how hard I would fight if it were my friend, my parent, or my child facing such a decision?”
- “It is interesting how they used a game mechanic to make the person understand how the thought processes work in depression and shows that depression is not that easy to just 'snap out of' because it's a mental illness, not a 'phase' like some people might have called it in the past.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “This game is a sad waste of potential with meaningless gameplay that has zero replayability.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “Visual novels and e-books can be tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you've ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or even 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature). Now, translate that into a format where the words dribble out, and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged. It often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real sense of progress.”
- “I find the grinding mechanics to be a major drawback. It turns what could be an exciting adventure into a monotonous chore that drains the fun out of the experience.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its unexpected and often unintentional comedic moments, such as the absurdity of needing only 14 copies of a book to meet global demand and the amusing appearance of characters like David. Players find themselves laughing at the juxtaposition of the game's sad themes with its humorous elements.
- “The funny thing is, if you wanted to print this book, you'd only need to print 14 copies to satisfy the entire world's demand for it.”
- “I burst out laughing when I saw David's sprite appear onscreen.”
- “For a story meant to be sad, it's so unintentionally funny.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with players noting that it is very short and offers only one ending, contrary to what the store description suggests.
- “The character development is incredibly short, with only one ending despite the store description hinting otherwise, making the experience feel flat.”
- “The characters lack depth and growth, leaving players feeling disconnected from their journeys.”
- “There is minimal character progression, which makes it hard to invest in the story or care about the outcomes.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally impactful, with some experiencing deep feelings such as sadness and joy. The combination of intense moments, like a character's tragic fate, alongside wholesome interactions with friends, contributes to a memorable emotional experience. Overall, the game elicits strong emotional responses, making it highly recommended.
- “Not gonna lie, at the end I cried.”
- “I made Luke kill himself, lol. This game was great, 10/10. Played with friends and it is a very wholesome game. Would recommend.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users expressing disappointment over its meaningless gameplay that fails to offer any incentive to play again.
- “This game is a sad waste of potential with meaningless gameplay that has zero replayability.”
- “I was very displeased to find there was zero replayability.”