Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You

Investigate the lives of citizens to find those responsible for a series of terrorist attacks. But, be warned, the information you supply will have consequences.

87%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

91% User Score Based on 8,391 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You is a single player casual simulation game with drama, mystery, thriller and science fiction themes. It was developed by Osmotic Studios and was released on October 27, 2016. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Orwell: Ignorance is Strength is a single-player mystery simulation game with an interesting plot and excellent gameplay. As the first human researcher of a new governmental security program, you must investigate citizens' online presence to prevent terror attacks, with consequences for the information you supply. The game features phenomenal visuals, a spectacular soundtrack, and a wonderful atmosphere, but some bugs and grinding may be present.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You screenshot

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,391 reviews

story2.1k positive mentions

grinding78 negative mentions

Engaging and thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of surveillance and privacy.
Unique gameplay mechanics that allow players to sift through information and make moral choices.
Multiple endings and branching paths encourage replayability and exploration of different outcomes.

Gameplay can feel linear and hand-holdy, with important information often highlighted, reducing the challenge.
Pacing issues, particularly with slow dialogue and unskippable conversations, can detract from the experience.
Some players may find the story predictable or the characters lacking depth.

story
5,275 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The story of "Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You" is a compelling exploration of surveillance and morality, set in a dystopian society where players act as investigators using a government monitoring system to uncover a terrorist plot. While the narrative is rich with twists and character depth, many players noted that the gameplay is linear and often feels more like an interactive story than a traditional game, with choices that can impact the outcome but are sometimes limited in scope. Overall, the game is praised for its thought-provoking themes and engaging storytelling, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “Set in the fictional state known simply as the nation, the story unfolds in the aftermath of a violent terrorist attack, where fear, public pressure, and political urgency justify the rapid expansion of a system capable of monitoring nearly every aspect of a citizen’s existence.”
- “It’s a quiet masterpiece of moral tension and digital-age storytelling.”
- “The story is captivating and rich, filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.”
- “I was disappointed, as instead of actually investigating something through the system and searching for information pieces by myself, I ended up sitting and reading for the storyline.”
- “The pacing can drag toward the end and the illusion of choice sometimes falters when the story rails you toward specific outcomes.”
- “Your actions affect nothing, and you don't need to look for anything: all the important bits of information get highlighted, all you need to do is drag-and-drop them, which just makes the story go slower.”
gameplay
1,647 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The gameplay of "Orwell" is characterized by its unique mechanics that revolve around data collection and decision-making, primarily through a text-heavy interface where players sift through emails, chat logs, and social media to gather relevant information. While some players appreciate the immersive narrative and moral dilemmas presented, others find the gameplay repetitive and overly simplistic, often feeling more like a visual novel than a traditional game. Overall, the experience is engaging for those who enjoy story-driven content, but may disappoint players seeking more complex gameplay mechanics.
- “The central mechanic revolves around the Orwell surveillance system itself, a sleek but unsettling interface through which you access emails, chat logs, social media profiles, news articles, phone records, and private files.”
- “The gameplay does exactly what it aims to do, make you feel like a government agent.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but the story is engaging, as well as the art.”
- “The gameplay is very boring, which is the main issue here.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but it feels like a tutorial from start to finish.”
- “The gameplay is literally just dragging and dropping information onto the character it is relevant to.”
music
594 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional impact of the narrative, with many reviewers noting its subtlety and effectiveness in creating tension during key moments. The soundtrack features a mix of ambient tracks and dynamic cues that change in intensity when significant information is revealed, contributing to an immersive experience. While some players found the music repetitive, the overall consensus is that it complements the game's themes and storytelling well, making it an integral part of the gameplay experience.
- “The soundtrack is also perfectly suited to the atmosphere.”
- “The music adds so much to the atmosphere of the game, creating a professional sound that turns alarmed and alert when critical information is discovered.”
- “The music is haunting, suits the atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The music was boring and would let you know you would hit a twist before you even read it because it changes song when you click on a page that has a plot twist written on it and has only one song it uses for every single twist.”
- “The music is not memorable in itself, but musical cues when plot twists are revealed in the game are a nice and unexpected touch.”
- “The music changes give the feeling of 'this was a scripted event that I experienced at a designated time.'”
graphics
525 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The graphics of "Orwell" are characterized by a minimalist and utilitarian aesthetic that effectively complements its themes, creating a clean and user-friendly interface. While some players appreciate the unique polygonal art style and its ability to evoke a dystopian atmosphere, others find the visuals simplistic and lacking depth. Overall, the graphics serve the narrative well, though they may not appeal to those seeking high-fidelity visuals.
- “Visually, Orwell adopts a minimalist yet effective aesthetic that reinforces its themes.”
- “The dark and minimalist art style, combined with a haunting original soundtrack, sets the perfect tone for an oppressive world governed by the party.”
- “The art style is clean, and 'mature' but it is still really engaging and fun to play.”
- “The plot is excellent and relevant, and despite having horrifically bad graphics (which is intended), it doesn't actually detract from the experience.”
- “The graphics are simplistic, but they work well.”
- “The graphics made it easy to navigate around the game, making the mechanics for the game very simple as you just had to click and drag certain pieces of information into a data bank, it was simple and easy to get to grips with, it just meant reading and doing a lot of problem solving.”
replayability
438 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
70%
11%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the multiple endings and branching choices that encourage exploration of different narrative paths. However, many reviewers noted that the linearity and short playtime (around 3-5 hours) limit the overall replay value, as subsequent playthroughs often feel repetitive and lack significant new content. While there are opportunities for achievement hunting and varying outcomes based on player decisions, the experience may not warrant multiple runs for everyone.
- “Multiple endings and branching consequences encourage replayability, as players can explore how different ethical approaches alter the narrative.”
- “There are three main endings and a whole lot of different states + achievements, so there’s a surprising amount of replayability, and after two playthroughs I definitely haven’t seen it all.”
- “The choices you make can also have a huge impact on the outcome of the story, which adds replayability to the game.”
- “I don't see myself playing it again as it doesn't seem that there would be much of a replay value, even though the game wants to make you feel that there would. For a less than 5 hours one-time story with nothing really thought-provoking, I still enjoyed it!”
- “Unfortunately, the game has no replayability as it's plot-driven and based on mystery.”
- “The biggest downside is that the game is short and fairly linear; there are only so many branches/possibilities to explore, so once you've exhausted them, there's really not much replay value.”
atmosphere
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, enhanced by a minimalist art style and a haunting soundtrack that effectively captures the themes of surveillance and control. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a tense, dystopian environment that provokes thought about security and privacy, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, the combination of sound design, visuals, and narrative contributes to a compelling and engaging atmosphere that draws players into its world.
- “The atmosphere of the game is excellently executed.”
- “The minimalist art style and tense soundtrack add to the game's unsettling atmosphere, making you question the balance between security and privacy.”
- “The developers have created such an oppressively paranoid atmosphere with the simple interface and nerve-wracking audio cues that it's incredibly easy to be charmed and overlook its relatively short length.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is sober, at times haunting, and at times pulse-quickening depending on what's going on.”
emotional
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players reporting deep immersion and strong connections to the characters, often feeling genuine guilt and conflict over their choices. The narrative's text-heavy nature and impactful soundtracks enhance the emotional experience, leading to moments of distress, reflection, and investment in the story. Overall, players describe it as an emotional rollercoaster that challenges their moral compass and leaves a lasting impression.
- “The writing is sharp and believable, and while the interface is intentionally sterile, it hides an emotional core that sneaks up on you.”
- “This game was an emotional rollercoaster and a great one at that.”
- “It genuinely made an emotional impact on me at the end of the first chapter, and that's rare.”
- “Just a whole lot of clicking back and forth between a few pages to progress in a rather boring story.”
- “Started to put me to sleep trying to find the next blue text to advance the boring story.”
- “Terribly boring story with gameplay that highlights literally everything for you so you don't even need to pay attention in a game about investigation and conspiracy.”
grinding
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
8%
89%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, particularly during multiple playthroughs where players must endure long, unskippable dialogues and similar story routes. While the premise and story are engaging, the mechanics often lead to a frustrating experience, especially for those seeking to achieve 100% completion. Overall, the gameplay can feel like a chore due to the extensive reading and data collection required, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “But the experience isn't tedious as playing the game for the second time gives you some insight into things you might have overlooked during the initial playthrough.”
- “No grinding needed.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Unfortunately, I found my subsequent achievement playthroughs to be quite tedious, since different story routes are basically identical except for minor variations not uncovered until the very end of the chapter.”
- “The only drawbacks for me were 1) you can't skip to the end of calls/texts, which is a bit tedious on your third or fourth playthrough and 2) I still have some unanswered questions about the story.”
- “It's tedious to wait for the conversation to finish when unlocking the achievements and playing other endings, especially the group chat of all characters in the last chapter lasts 10 minutes and you cannot skip at all.”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of irony, self-awareness, and occasional absurdity, often providing a light-hearted contrast to its serious themes. Players appreciate the witty commentary from characters like Symes, as well as the clever writing that elicits laughter amidst moments of tension and moral complexity. While some moments may feel forced or overly direct, the overall experience is engaging, with humor serving to enhance the narrative and player immersion.
- “The story is so clever, and with the art so complete, everything looks pretty realistic. It's just a bit funny that I can't explain how wonderful this game is, even though it's the only one I have played for more than 20 hours.”
- “It's funny to play this game and think about how easy it is to make and operate this kind of surveillance system in our time.”
- “A compelling story full of suspense, drama, and a sprinkle of humor mixed with a very unique art style and sense of choice.”
stability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
4%
83%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous users reporting a variety of bugs and glitches, including freezing, issues with data uploads, and problems with the user interface. While some players noted that the Linux version runs relatively well, many experienced significant technical issues that hindered gameplay, making it difficult to recommend without further updates to address these problems. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and "unstable," impacting the overall experience despite its engaging premise.
- “Runs great on Linux with the native build.”
- “Smooth playing, no glitches.”
- “A game like this has been a long time coming and you have far exceeded other attempts at similar ideas by not only making it emotive and believable but also ensuring that the interface is smooth, bug free, grammatically accurate (thanks for that), and mostly easy to read.”
- “This mechanic is buggy though, and sometimes doesn't show.”
- “Very buggy, I created my first profile and got stuck in a part where something was supposed to show up in the feed on the first day but it simply didn't and there was no way of advancing in the game. I read that you have to restart, and so I created a second profile to get a similar bug even earlier in the game which didn't let me advance through; the page which you need to analyze simply doesn't show up.”
- “At the time of this writing, the game was plagued by a number of technical glitches and problems, but they were not insurmountable.”
character development
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its depth and the ability to create realistic, relatable characters that evolve throughout the story. While some players noted instances of stereotypical development, the overall narrative and character arcs were highlighted as engaging and thought-provoking, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the strong character development and intertwining storylines kept players invested and emotionally connected.
- “I am very impressed with the writing and character development.”
- “The atmosphere that the game creates, the character development as the story goes on, and the like are expertly done; the surveillance that the game encourages you to do shows the targets to simply be real people with their own desires and lives, and while humanizing them, you get the sense of seeing them as something else.”
- “The level of character development is amazing.”
- “Conclusion, good game, not very entertaining gameplay, some of the 'twists' I could see a mile off, good story, good art style, some poor character development, although some good too.”
- “When I first got into this game, I was hopeful that it wouldn't be a flimsy investigative journalism style that left gaping holes in character development in favor of quick story progression.”
- “Beyond that, the art direction is phenomenal and the character development is scary for being a person literally looking on from the outside.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The optimization of the game received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and compatibility with older hardware, while others criticized it for poor optimization and bugs, particularly in the later chapters. Overall, the game runs well for many, but issues with graphics settings and performance hiccups were noted by several users.
- “Game optimization: 10/10, runnable on an old Pentium E5300 and a 9600GT.”
- “The game runs smoothly and for the price of $9.99, it really is worth every penny in the end.”
- “+ looks great, runs smoothly.”
- “Poor optimization.”
- “Lacks performance optimization.”
- “Very unoptimized graphics with no settings.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is heavily integrated into its narrative, featuring realistic in-game advertisements and promotional content for its sequel and DLC, which some players find immersive while others view as intrusive. The use of ads mimics real-world online experiences, enhancing the game's themes of privacy and surveillance, but can also detract from the overall enjoyment due to their frequency and persistence. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as a double-edged sword, contributing to the game's atmosphere while potentially frustrating players.
- “As anyone that has experienced pop-up advertisements online could tell you, this is really annoying over time.”
- “They have an advertisement for their DLC, website, and other products when you try to close the game.”
- “I would liken Orwell to any big-name company out there, collecting information, creating a profile, then using it for advertisements, but this shows what that concept could become.”

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82%Critics’ scoreBased on 7 critic reviews

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5h Median play time

11h Average play time

4-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 85 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You is a casual simulation game with drama, mystery, thriller and science fiction themes.

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

On average players spend around 11 hours playing Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You.

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You was released on October 27, 2016.

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You was developed by Osmotic Studios.

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You is a single player game.

Similar games include Orwell: Ignorance is Strength, Lacuna, Song of Farca, SIMULACRA, Subsurface Circular and others.

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