Nocturnals
- September 13, 2024
- Cowboy Toad Games
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Nocturnals" is a single-player adventure game with an interesting plot, good gameplay, wonderful visuals, and a wholesome story. As Ted, explore the abandoned town of Ruddleside, solve puzzles, and find collectibles while being accompanied by Diego. Your choices will shape Ted's destiny and determine their fate in this heartfelt journey. However, be aware of the game's bugs. The game was created as a love letter to the developer's partner, making it a unique gaming experience.
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Reviews
- Beautiful art style and music that enhances the overall experience.
- Engaging story with multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- Strong character development and emotional depth, making players invested in the outcomes.
- Game is very short, with a playtime of around 30-60 minutes, leaving players wanting more.
- Lack of options to skip cutscenes or dialogue can make replaying tedious.
- Some players found the voice acting and character reactions to be lacking in depth or realism.
- story212 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, character development, and emotional depth, despite being relatively short, typically lasting around an hour. Players appreciate the multiple endings and the impact of their choices on the storyline, which adds to its replayability. However, some reviewers express disappointment over the brevity and desire for more content, hoping for future expansions or sequels to further explore the characters and world.
“Love this game, the story is well told, barely any bugs, and the voice acting is spot on!”
“You can feel the care put into this world and its characters, and the only downside is now I'm so invested in this story that's over (for now?).”
“The story is amazing and the gameplay makes it so much more immersive.”
“I expected a bit more from this game; I was excited for the story to continue, but the game ended quite soon, which was a bit disappointing.”
“The story is short, but captivating.”
“Overall, I'm kind of disappointed with it; it's a lot shorter than I thought it would be, and the story just reads like a bad fanfic written by a teenager.”
- graphics56 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its unique art style that blends 2D and 3D elements, creating a visually appealing experience. While some noted graphical mishaps and simplicity, the overall aesthetic and character designs were highlighted as charming and immersive, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere. Despite being developed on a low budget, the graphics are considered one of the standout features, enhancing the storytelling and emotional impact of the game.
“This is a beautiful game, story-wise and art style, and it was made with no budget; it's amazing. I beg for a sequel or prequel.”
“The art style is unique, and I enjoyed the combination of 2D and 3D aspects, and I enjoy how much can change in the story based on one simple decision.”
“The graphics are good, and the character development was so cute.”
“I saw random free assets and a lot of trashy visuals.”
“There are a lot of graphical mishaps though and places where you can see something strange, such as looking out the train cart window to see an empty void with a wall, or having half of a bridge/tunnel disappear when you walk too far away.”
“Graphics made this look like a classic 3D game and it's so good.”
- gameplay27 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of Telltale's style, combining storytelling with basic mechanics that allow for some exploration and decision-making. While many players appreciate the immersive narrative and replayability for different endings, there are concerns about the game's short length, with some feeling that it lacks engaging content and interactive elements. Overall, the gameplay is seen as straightforward and enjoyable, but many reviewers express a desire for more depth and length.
“I love this game; it's very storytelling, and I love the mechanics. It mostly reminds me of Until Dawn and The Quarry.”
“10/10 storytelling, 10/10 gameplay, 10/10 characters.”
“The story is amazing, and the gameplay makes it so much more immersive.”
“Ngl this shit was lokey ass, it was like way too short ik it was only 8 dollars but damn they could've given us more gameplay and maybe another chapter.”
“$8 for less than 2 hours of gameplay isn't good.”
“I know the game is advertised as short but I was surprised when gameplay didn't even last 2 hours.”
- emotional21 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players expressing that it evoked strong feelings, including tears of joy and nostalgia. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create deep emotional attachments in a short time, featuring a heartfelt narrative and genuine character relationships, particularly noting its wholesome representation and the impactful choices that lead to various outcomes. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a touching experience that blends heartwarming moments with elements of horror.
“I love this game, it builds up emotional attachment in such a short time.”
“It's such a touching game, where choices will lead to some really nasty outcomes.”
“Nocturnals is a truly beautiful and heartfelt game.”
- music17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its divine soundtrack and ability to enhance the storytelling and atmosphere, particularly in creating a lonely, post-apocalyptic vibe. Many players appreciate the chill and enjoyable nature of the music, although some have noted the lack of audio adjustment options. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's art and emotional depth.
“The storytelling is great accompanied with an amazing soundtrack that puts you into the game.”
“First off, I love the soundtrack of this game along with the artwork; it really sets the atmosphere of a lonely, ominous post-apocalyptic world.”
“The music and sounds are brilliant and fit with each scene perfectly.”
“But played prom music in the middle of the night.”
“Diego also plays music very loudly during the middle of the night, possibly luring both the nocturnal monster and one of the girls to you.”
“That being said, the only complaint I have for this game is the fact there is no setting to adjust audio in the game, only turn off the music, and an option for this in the future for other possible games would be great.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings, with some reviews noting up to eight different outcomes influenced by player choices. However, the similarity between the endings and the inability to skip cutscenes can detract from the experience, making repeated playthroughs feel somewhat tedious. Overall, while the game is short and engaging, its replay value is enhanced by the narrative depth and varied choices.
“This game has multiple endings which expect you to go through multiple playthroughs for its replay value.”
“The six endings also make the game very replayable.”
“It's a very short, very sweet, and quite replayable game that scratches that Telltale itch I've had lately.”
“It gives the game replayability with it having several endings, but the endings are very similar to each other and you can't skip the cutscenes or do much to speedrun through the game.”
“A short narrative game that's about an hour (tops) for a playthrough and has six endings to find to encourage replayability (there's no options to skip stuff you've seen so it can get a bit stale seeing the similar scenes again and again).”
“Replayability: there are supposedly 8 different endings to the game but I only really bothered to get one, so I can't say much on them. However, from what the game shows, it does seem like all the choices you make have a pretty big impact on exactly which ending you get, which suggests the replayability is pretty significant.”
- stability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing significant bugs early on, while others report minor issues like camera warping. Overall, it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, and despite the bugs, many users still find the game enjoyable and promising for future updates.
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
“The game got stuck less than 10 minutes in. I tried reloading multiple times; I can only assume the rest of the game is a buggy mess as well.”
“It was good, but a bit buggy.”
“Just a little buggy with the camera warping while moving around, but thankfully not a big deal, and I'm sure it'll be fixed soon.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its unorthodox voice acting and quirky art style, which many players find engaging and entertaining rather than off-putting. The combination of dark humor and absurd situations, such as exaggerated gore and witty one-liners, adds a unique charm that enhances the overall experience. Players particularly appreciate the dry British humor, which contrasts effectively with the game's intense moments.
“I saw a few videos reviewing this game saying how the voice acting was unprofessional or the transitions weren't very clean, but honestly I didn't find that to be a problem at all - anytime the voice acting wasn't 'realistic' it was simply funny and more engaging.”
“The gore was detailed enough to provide that initial shock, but still fun enough to not have to balk at it - like watching Ted get decapitated and just hearing Mia go, 'oh sh!t.' It's hilarious, much better than hearing some ugly shriek which is what would be considered 'realistic.'”
“And the voice actors are spot-on...the dry British humor while we're running for our lives is everything <3”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the lack of options to skip cutscenes and dialogue, which makes replaying for 100% completion cumbersome. The inability to start new games from specific points further exacerbates the grind, leading to a frustrating experience for those looking to explore all choices.
“My only complaint is that for a 'choices matter' type game, there is no cutscene skipping and you can only start new games from the beginning, which makes 100%ing the game more tedious than it needs to be.”
“There doesn't seem to be a way to skip cutscenes or dialogue, so playing through multiple times can get tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the character development for its charm and cuteness, often highlighting the appealing art style and character designs as a significant aspect of their enjoyment.
“I'm in love with the art style and character designs, so they're going to be my hyperfixation for a while.”
“The graphics were great, and the character development was so cute.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is profoundly enhanced by its haunting soundtrack and striking artwork, effectively conveying a lonely, ominous post-apocalyptic world. The emotional depth of the characters and their evolving relationships adds significant meaning to the experience, making the short yet impactful story highly recommendable.
“I love the soundtrack of this game along with the artwork; it really sets the atmosphere of a lonely, ominous post-apocalyptic world. The characters and their relationships, as they progress or regress, give the game deep meaning as you venture into an empty world. The story, albeit short, is one of the best I have seen and evokes strong emotions for these characters. What has been achieved in this short game is truly impactful; I would definitely recommend it.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the potential for a rich setting, the game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
“The environment is dull and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience and makes exploration feel tedious.”
