outside the door
- April 9, 2024
- basandaika games
Get on Steam"Outside the Door" is a visual novel with pixel graphics that presents a series of mysterious stories taking place in an office. As a temp with unexplained circumstances, your task is to listen to visitors' stories and make decisions that will affect their fates, all while dealing with memory loss and a featureless voice on the radio. The game features a gripping storyline, meditative ambient, and an average playtime of 1.5 to 2 hours.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating and atmospheric story that encourages deep reflection on moral choices.
- The minimalist design and charming pixel art create a visually appealing experience that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- Despite its short length, the game offers an engaging narrative with interesting dialogue and a unique twist.
- The English translation contains numerous grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, which can hinder comprehension.
- Player choices have minimal impact on the story, with only the final decision affecting the outcome, leading to a lack of replayability.
- The plot becomes predictable early on, diminishing the suspense and surprise as the game progresses.
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is a concise yet profound experience, blending minimalist design with deep psychological and philosophical themes. While the plot may become predictable at times, the engaging characters and lifelike dialogue keep players invested. With a mix of choices and varied endings, the narrative offers replayability and a unique twist, making it a worthwhile exploration despite its short length.
“This is a novella with a minimalist design, but with a heavy, deep story.”
“Fantastic aesthetic, lifelike dialogue, and a unique story with a great twist.”
“I liked the plot and the mystery slowly uncovering, even though it's probably not that unpredictable, and you can most likely figure it out after the 3rd case, but it was still nicely done, and I always love those types of deeper psychological/philosophical stories, especially combined with the creepy feel.”
“Even though the development of the plot at one point becomes obvious, it is still interesting to watch and listen to the characters.”
“The story is only 2 hours long, but it's interesting.”
“This is like a combo of 'Theory of Fear,' which is one heck of a dark otome game, and 'Papers, Please,' which involves filling in blanks and making decisions with different characters within a story.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their excellent visuals and charming art style, contributing to a fantastic aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. While some reviews note weaknesses in dialogue, the unique story and lifelike elements are highlighted as standout features, making the visuals a significant draw for players.
“Really interesting game, but a bit short; it has a charming art style and a good story, totally worth a try.”
“Fantastic aesthetic, lifelike dialogue, and a unique story with a great twist.”
“Subtle OST that creates a very good environment and overall very interesting visuals.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is consistently praised for its immersive quality, effectively capturing the essence of settings like a stinking interrogation room. Reviewers highlight the art style as complementary to the overall ambiance, enhancing the game's emotional impact.
“Short, but incredibly atmospheric.”
“Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a tense interrogation room.”
“The atmosphere is really nice and fitting for the art.”
“Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a stinking interrogation room.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered satisfactory, featuring a subtle original soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and complements the intriguing visuals. However, some users express a desire for a more original and distinctive score.
“The subtle soundtrack creates a very good environment and overall very interesting visuals.”
“I need the original soundtrack.”
“The music is just alright.”
“I need an original soundtrack.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety of choices and multiple endings that encourage replaying, others feel that only the final choice significantly impacts the outcome, limiting overall replay value.
“I don't fully understand this game, but it offers great choices and replayability. There are varied endings, numerous choices to make, and the ability to change the story with different characters. My ending turned out better than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise.”
“The replayability in this game is fantastic! Each playthrough feels unique due to the diverse choices and multiple endings available.”
“I love how replayable this game is! Every decision I make leads to a different outcome, encouraging me to explore all the possibilities.”
“Despite there being choices, the only one that matters is the final one you make, so there isn’t any replayability, sadly.”
“Once you complete the game, there’s little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an opportunity to explore different outcomes.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by witty dialogue that effectively balances serious moments with genuinely funny exchanges, making it engaging and enjoyable. While there are some translation issues, the overall comedic delivery remains clear and accessible.
“The dialogue is witty, ranging from dead serious to sometimes really quite funny, and is fully understandable, despite some translation issues into English.”
“The humor in this game is spot on, with clever puns and hilarious character interactions that keep you laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game balances humor with serious moments, making the funny parts even more impactful.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character designs are praised for their quality, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the game.
