nothing_matters

About

nothing_matters is a single player casual simulation game with horror, drama, thriller and science fiction themes. It was developed by Ka Hin Yuen and was released on June 30, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

A short narrative 'point and click' adventure inspired by the real life experience of a struggling solo indie game developer. A story about everything and hence nothing at all. Discover what truly matters to you.

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 171 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

The game delivers a deeply relatable and thought-provoking experience about indie game development, life, and existential themes, resonating strongly with many players.
It features distinctive visual style, sound design, and detailed presentation that enhance the immersive and artistic feel.
Free and relatively short, the game provides a meaningful, unique experience that encourages reflection and exploration, appreciated especially by fans of indie and psychological games.

The pacing is uneven and some segments feel overly long, repetitive, or preachy, which can lead to boredom or frustration.
The narrative and gameplay elements are sometimes perceived as disjointed or lacking cohesion, making the overall message difficult to grasp for some players.
Certain gameplay mechanics, like minigames or specific segments (e.g., voting or news flooding), may feel tedious, annoying, or inaccessible without prior knowledge.

graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The graphics receive mixed feedback, with some users criticizing the outdated, lackluster 2D visuals in an era dominated by 3D graphics, while others praise the game's art style and captivating, aesthetic visuals that enhance the overall experience. The visual presentation evolves over time, adding more content and mystery as the game progresses.
- “This game undeniably resembles gambling and slot machines... its captivating visuals and enticing sounds create an atmosphere akin to traditional gambling rewards.”
- “If you stick with the game till the end, it will gradually "upgrade" with more visuals and content and mystery.”
- “The game features really lacklustre 2D visuals (does the developer not know 3D graphics became mainstream in the mid-1990s?).”
- “Gamers don't spend thousands of dollars on gaming rigs and the latest 3D graphics cards to play 2D games.”
- “Even mobile phones and game consoles can do 3D graphics now.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The story received mixed feedback, with some users finding it incoherent and underdeveloped, feeling like a disjointed mix of concepts and shock value. However, others praised its depth, intriguing themes, and meaningful narrative twists, appreciating the game’s effort to weave a storyline through its various parts. Overall, the story is seen as compelling but polarizing, with its complexity resonating strongly with some players while leaving others confused.
- “This was truly a great game and is very well put together from story, art style, and twists; it is a great game!”
- “I understand the story, the struggle, and that there's a deeper meaning to it.”
- “Nothing matters... honestly, I'd love to do a video essay on this game because it genuinely tells a very, very good story.”
- “Felt more like a random mishmash of concepts that never really got the attention they deserved, sprinkled with undercooked shock value that might have worked well if the game had a coherent storyline to begin with.”
- “Other meta games show that this isn't just a list of minigames but a game itself by creating a storyline spread across the smaller parts.”
- “And then some ending of the story, and the minigames could once again reflect this.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The gameplay is characterized by a variety of minigames that create an eclectic but authentic experience. While not groundbreaking or highly polished, the gameplay swaps add a refreshing and genuine touch.
- “Liked the gameplay swaps too.”
- “Not because of any sort of incredible gameplay or groundbreaking improvements, but because it was a genuine experience.”
- “Still, the gameplay feels like a big list of ideas, shown through minigames.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's emotional impact is strong, evoking deep feelings that can lead to tears, but some players find its negativity overwhelming to the point of not wanting to continue playing.
- “I cried at one point, so... kudos?”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor is generally very funny, though occasionally it can feel a bit over the top or self-indulgent. Overall, users appreciate its comedic tone.
- “A bit over the top or up its own ass at a few moments, but otherwise I found it very funny.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is frequently criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with lengthy, obnoxious elements that detract from the overall experience.
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music aspect is criticized for being generic and repetitive, conveying common creative struggles that feel unrelated or loosely connected to the game's core theme. Users felt the messages lacked originality and relevance to game design specifically.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere effectively captures the feel of traditional gambling, with captivating visuals and enticing sounds that simulate the excitement of slot machines and rewards.