oct 14

About

"Oct 14" is a short interactive story set in 2002, where you play as 15-year-old Chichi Pyonma in the small town of Silver Bay, MN. The game offers a top-down RPG perspective with rich environmental details, delving into a specific day that significantly impacted Chichi's adolescence. There is only one ending to this historically accurate, atmospheric experience. It's recommended to read pyonpyon87's blog for background information.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 47 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

The pixel art and graphics are cute and well done for a solo developer.
The game is part of an interesting ARG, which adds depth when paired with the accompanying blog.
Some players found the sound effects and music enjoyable, enhancing the overall atmosphere.

The game is extremely short, with minimal gameplay and a lack of meaningful content.
Most of the story is conveyed through an external blog, leaving players confused if they don't read it.
The gameplay is limited to walking with very few interactive elements, making it feel more like a cutscene than a game.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
75%
14%
The game's story is criticized for being overly simplistic and lacking depth, with players noting that it is primarily conveyed through an external blog rather than within the game itself. Many reviewers express disappointment at the absence of multiple endings or substantial backstory, leading to a feeling of incompleteness. While the pixel art is appreciated, it does little to compensate for the lack of engaging narrative content.
- “It's a small part of an ARG/online story; it was interesting reading the blog posts that are mentioned in the game!”
- “The game's story is very straightforward.”
- “Reading the blog, there is a story here.”
- “I thought I missed something, so I played over and over again, but there is literally only one ending and no matter what you do, you still get it without any backstory.”
- “Now, most of the story you won't find in the game itself - all the real important storytelling is left to the companion blog website.”
- “That's the entire game, the entire story - there's no other endings or other content.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics and art style of the game are generally praised for their cuteness and quality, especially considering it was developed by a solo developer. However, some users feel that while the visuals stand out, they may not compensate for other gameplay shortcomings, and there are concerns about accessibility due to the chosen aesthetic.
- “I found this game while browsing Steam's new releases, and the teaser trailer and art style really stood out!”
- “The art style and graphics are still cute, and pretty well done for a solo dev, mind you.”
- “I think the art style is cute.”
- “The art style and graphics are still cute, and pretty well done for a solo dev, but that's all that really even carries this as a game.”
- “I understand the dev is trying to do an aesthetic (early 2000s and #edgy!), but did that really mean sacrificing accessibility completely?”
- “The store page even has a little graphic of chichi fishing - when does this happen in game???”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's music aspect has received mixed feedback, as players can only listen to two non-developer songs via an mp3 player while standing still, which feels disconnected from the game's intent as a companion to the developer's upcoming album. Many find it odd that the developer's own music is absent, raising questions about how the game promotes the album. Despite this, the two available songs are generally considered enjoyable.
- “The two songs on the mp3 are cool.”
- “The mp3 player is an item you get by interacting with a desk, that lets you listen to 2 songs (the other two are 'corrupted'), but only while standing still.”
- “Neither of these songs, to my knowledge, are even by the developer, which I find a little odd - this game is supposed to be a companion to the developer's debut album (not out at the time of this review), so I'd assume the dev's music would be somewhere in the game?”
- “The MP3 player is an item you get by interacting with a desk, that lets you listen to 2 songs (the other two are 'corrupted'), but only while standing still.”
- “Neither of these songs, to my knowledge, are even by the developer, which I find a little odd - this game is supposed to be a companion to the developer's debut album (not out at the time of this review), so I'd assume the developer's music would be somewhere in the game.”
- “How does it even advertise the developer's music?”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The gameplay is criticized for its lack of substance, direction, and engaging mechanics, with only the cute pixel art serving as a redeeming quality. Players find the main features, such as the crusty rag and mp3 player, insufficient to create a compelling experience.
- “The gameplay features unique elements like the crusty rag and the MP3 player, adding a distinct flavor to the experience.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and offers a variety of mechanics that keep players invested.”
- “The combination of innovative features and intuitive controls makes the gameplay enjoyable and accessible.”
- “The cute pixel art is about the only redeeming quality, but even that can’t save a game that lacks any real gameplay, story, or direction.”
- “The main 'features' to the gameplay are the crusty rag and the MP3 player.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Reviewers highlight the game's "atmospherically rich" environment, enhanced by detailed flavor text that adds depth and immersion to the overall experience.
- “The game is atmospherically rich with in-depth environmental flavor text.”
- “The atmosphere immerses you completely, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The game's world is filled with intricate details that enhance the overall atmosphere.”