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Photographs

Photographs Game Cover
77%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
replayability, grinding
77% User Score Based on 81 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCTabletAndroidMac OSPhoneiPadMobile PlatformiPhoneWindows
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Photographs Game Cover

About

Photographs is a single player casual simulation game with a mystery theme. It was developed by EightyEight Games and was released on April 3, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Photographs" is a single-player mystery simulation game with exceptional graphics and music. The game features good mechanics, combining puzzle-solving and narrative to tell a beautiful and wholesome story, all within a condensed three-hour gameplay experience. Players search and solve puzzles to develop scenes and hear stories, resulting in a unique and engaging gaming experience.

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Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
Photographs screenshot
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77%
Audience ScoreBased on 81 reviews
story18 positive mentions
stability1 negative mentions
  • The pixel art and graphics are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the game.
  • The game features a unique blend of narrative and puzzles, with each story providing emotional depth and engaging storytelling.
  • The soundtrack and voice acting are exceptional, adding to the immersive experience of the game.
  • The puzzles often feel simplistic and can detract from the narrative, leading to frustration rather than engagement.
  • The game has pacing issues, with lengthy puzzle segments interrupting the flow of the story.
  • There are concerns about the game's pricing, as it is significantly more expensive on PC compared to its mobile version.
  • story
    118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a collection of poignant vignettes that explore tragic themes, effectively conveyed through well-written narratives and emotional voice acting. However, many players feel that the integration of puzzles detracts from the storytelling experience, as they often interrupt the flow and can be frustratingly simplistic or overly complex. While the stories themselves are impactful and resonate emotionally, the gameplay mechanics sometimes hinder the overall immersion and enjoyment of the narrative.

    • “It's a series of short episodes, each telling a story about a tragedy, eventually tied up by a credits-epilogue sequence that might even make you cry.”
    • “While short, each story is so well written that you feel a real connection to these characters you are learning about and shock over what their decisions have caused for them.”
    • “The storytelling style is neat, too, making use of both narration and observation and reinforcing it all through the puzzles.”
    • “The story slows to a crawl and the puzzles begin to feel like annoying obstacles.”
    • “The puzzles are unnecessary and detract from the story.”
    • “But ultimately this feels like a storytelling session bogged down awkwardly by its gameplay.”
  • gameplay
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity, with puzzles that are generally not too challenging, allowing players to focus on the narrative. While the integration of unique mechanics and storytelling is praised, many reviewers find the gameplay frustrating and lacking coherence, with poorly explained mechanics and a disconnect between gameplay and story. Overall, the game offers interesting ideas but is often let down by tedious and generic gameplay experiences.

    • “I've just crossed the halfway mark, and I have to say that this has been an excellent example of less is more - they chose a visually interesting aesthetic, and then leaned into building a strong connection between the mechanics of puzzle-solving as a means to reinforce the story.”
    • “Amazing how they are able to connect gameplay to story in such a subtle way.”
    • “Each of the 5 short stories has a completely different type of puzzle, and their mechanics change as you progress to reflect the developments in the narratives they accompany.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, this game is dreadful.”
    • “The narration is very well done, the only con is that the gameplay tends to be a little frustrating despite it really representing well how people lived their stories.”
    • “But ultimately this feels like a storytelling session bogged down awkwardly by its gameplay.”
  • music
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and narrative. Composed by Ben Prunty, the soundtrack is described as gorgeous and well-integrated with the game's themes and puzzles, contributing to a relaxing and immersive experience. Additionally, the combination of music, pixel art, and voice acting creates a cohesive and engaging environment that resonates with players.

    • “The soundtrack, the pixel art, and the voice acting (narrators) are all extraordinary.”
    • “I loved the music that played in each story, and I enjoyed how each puzzle theme was centered around the character's story that was being told.”
    • “Everything ties really well together, from the aesthetic, the music, the narrative, to the puzzles that are neatly made so they are part of the stories to make players more involved.”
  • graphics
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the beautifully detailed pixel art and its ability to convey emotion and enhance storytelling. The aesthetic is described as visually interesting and consistent, complementing the game's narrative and music effectively. However, some users noted that while the pixel graphics are a highlight, other aspects of the game, such as gameplay and story depth, may not be as strong.

    • “A very creative and aesthetic game!”
    • “I really like the game's narrative, the heartstring pulling stories, the beautifully detailed pixel graphics complemented and explored with the camera lens mechanics.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous.”
    • “The artwork is meh.”
    • “The only part that held up was the pixel graphics.”
    • “On top of no warning besides 'tragedy puzzle game' in the description for the ending to the first story for a suicide that is very graphic for pixel art.”
  • emotional
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt stories that evoke deep feelings and reflections on regret, with many players finding the narratives to be impactful and moving. However, the inclusion of puzzles detracts from the emotional immersion for some, as they disrupt the flow of the storytelling and lessen the emotional investment. Overall, while the game delivers powerful emotional moments, the balance between gameplay and narrative could be improved.

    • “It's a very emotional game, and often makes you question the regret in your life and the lives of others.”
    • “The stories are heart-wrenching and most definitely have you feeling for the characters making the difficult decisions.”
    • “Each scenario lasts less than an hour, but packs a serious emotional punch as each story unfolds.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many players noting that it offers only a few hours of gameplay and minimal incentive to replay. Suggestions for improvement include adding more levels, higher difficulty options, and achievements to enhance replay value. While some players express a desire to revisit the game, the current structure limits its long-term appeal.

    • “I'd love it if there was an update on some of the puzzles, like if more levels were added so you could get different ones each time you play. If there were options for higher difficulties with more challenging puzzles, it would really enhance the replay value!”
    • “I can see myself playing it again in the future. It would be great if achievements were added to this game too for more replayability because I love completing achievements.”
    • “It takes about 3 hours to finish, although there are some multiple choices near the end, which could potentially add some replay value.”
    • “So this game has 2 hours worth of gameplay with no replayability.”
    • “There's just no replayability, which is sad when the story is about choices.”
    • “It takes about 3 hours to finish, although there are some multiple choices near the end, not sure if they add any replay value.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly after completing the main story, as the repetitive nature of replaying for different endings feels drawn out and not rewarding enough for the effort required. Many express frustration at the prospect of enduring lengthy gameplay for minimal payoff, making the experience less enjoyable.

    • “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worth it.”
    • “Grinding in this game is satisfying, as it allows you to truly develop your character.”
    • “While there are moments of grinding, the progression system keeps it engaging and fun.”
    • “The sequence after completing the five main stories is tedious; the idea of it being a difficult decision is notable, but the rinse and repeat makes it too drawn out.”
    • “I would love to watch the other endings, but playing through the whole game again for each ending would be really tedious and not worth the 5-minute epilogue.”
    • “There's no way I'll sit through 2 more hours of rather tedious gameplay for each ending just to see a short cutscene of 'what ifs'.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its beautifully written story, complemented by a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a relaxing and immersive environment for players.

    • “The focus is on the story, which is beautifully written and supported by an atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “The music is really beautiful and helps create a nice, relaxing atmosphere for the game.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report that while the puzzles can be enjoyable, frequent bugs significantly detract from the experience, leading to frustration when having to replay them multiple times for different characters.

    • “The puzzles are fine, maybe even a bit fun, but not enough for me to play that same buggy puzzle ten times per character; it gets irritating very fast.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Photographs is a casual simulation game with mystery theme.

Photographs is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

Photographs was released on April 3, 2019.

Photographs was developed by EightyEight Games.

Photographs has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Photographs is a single player game.

Similar games include Silence, Stories Untold, Contrast, State of Mind, Assemble with Care and others.