Penny Black

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A text only dating simulator, created using BBC Basic for Windows!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews

story11 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a charming and engaging narrative with multiple endings, encouraging replayability.
It's a free, text-based interactive fiction game that evokes nostalgia for classic gaming experiences.
The writing is well-crafted, with relatable characters and humorous moments that enhance the overall enjoyment.

The game lacks a save feature, which can lead to frustration if progress is lost due to technical issues.
Some players found the gameplay overly simplistic and felt it didn't offer enough depth compared to other text adventures.
There are technical problems, such as the game not closing properly, requiring users to force quit through task manager.

story
23 mentions
48 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple yet charming, allowing players to engage their imagination while making decisions that influence the narrative. While some players appreciated the hidden choices and the nostalgic feel of a text-based adventure, others found the plot somewhat predictable and desired more options. Overall, the story is seen as enjoyable and immersive, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of interactive fiction.
- “The story is interesting, the hidden choices give you a reason to try a lot of things before actually answering with the available answers.”
- “Give it a try even if you are not the biggest fan of the interactive fiction genre; appreciate this piece of work as effort was taken to write a very detailed and immersive story.”
- “I thought that I would witness some deal-breaking plot twist that would just pulverize my brain.”
- “Like a well-polished game jam which rewards you at a base level and has an arbitrary score system which beats the purpose of non-linear storytelling.”
- “The story is simple and charming with enough description to give you a good idea of what is happening, but still leaves some of the story to the imagination.”
music
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its nostalgic quality, reminiscent of older titles, providing a delightful experience for players, even those unfamiliar with the era. However, there are concerns about the volume levels during live events, which can overshadow dialogue and other important audio elements.
- “The soundtrack that is present at times is great.”
- “It's like stepping back into a time machine for older games and seeing what kind of music might have been used.”
- “I wasn't born in that era, but it's nice to hear this type of music occasionally in games.”
- “The music feels like a throwback to older games, but it doesn't quite capture the charm.”
- “The music is reminiscent of MS-DOS era soundtracks, which may not appeal to everyone.”
- “During the live stream event, the music was excessively loud, making it difficult to understand the commentary.”
gameplay
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as basic and lacking in engaging design, suggesting that without compelling mechanics and visual appeal, the simulator fails to leave a lasting impression on players.
- “If you do not necessarily have a good design and addictive gameplay, this simulator will not leave you indifferent!”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features a charming blend of humor and wit, with cute moments and well-crafted jokes that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the descriptive scenes that complement the comedic elements, making for an engaging and entertaining dating game.
- “A smart little dating game with cute and funny moments.”
- “The scenes are descriptive and the jokes are funny.”
graphics
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of reading games, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the experience.
- “This game has a retro aesthetic that is visually appealing and fun for people who enjoy reading games.”
grinding
1 mentions
200 % positive mentions
-400 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a negative emotional aspect, criticizing the game's mechanics that reduce relationships to a scoring system, which many find dehumanizing and detrimental to the overall experience. This approach contributes to a poor reputation for the game, as it undermines genuine emotional connections.