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Playing Kafka

Playing Kafka Game Cover
95%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, replayability
95% User Score Based on 117 reviews

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Playing Kafka Game Cover

About

Playing Kafka is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by Charles Games and was released on May 21, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

The definitive Kafka videogame There are things that often fail on nothing but themselves. Is there even a way out? Playing Kafka is a narrative adventure full of impenetrable schemes, insidious plot twists and conversations that slip out of hand. Based on Kafka’s life and his work, developed with Kafka experts. Can you manage to win an unfair trial? Is the job even real? Can you escape your f…

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Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
Playing Kafka screenshot
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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 117 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game beautifully captures the absurdity and themes of Kafka's works, providing a unique and immersive experience.
  • The art style, voice acting, and overall presentation are highly praised, contributing to a captivating atmosphere.
  • As a free game, it offers a concise introduction to Kafka's literature, making it accessible for both fans and newcomers.
  • The gameplay is often criticized for being linear and lacking meaningful choices, leading to a feeling of frustration and disappointment.
  • Some players feel that the game fails to adequately convey the depth and complexity of Kafka's writing, resulting in a superficial experience.
  • The interface and mechanics can be awkward and confusing, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • story
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a condensed adaptation of Franz Kafka's works, primarily focusing on "The Trial," "Letter to His Father," and "The Castle," which may confuse players if not closely followed. While it offers a stylized point-and-click experience with minimal player choices that have little impact on the narrative, it effectively captures Kafka's themes and atmosphere, making it a recommended experience for those seeking a laid-back storytelling approach. However, some players feel the game could benefit from deeper exploration of the source material and more substantial player agency.

    • “It's a nice free game with a lovely atmosphere and great adaptations of Kafka's novels: 'The Trial', 'Letter to His Father', and 'The Castle' - in a point-and-click story-driven format.”
    • “'Playing Kafka' is an exceptional narrative experience that stands out for its lovely story and captivating voiceovers.”
    • “Just like the original Kafka novels, the story and atmosphere weigh heavily on your shoulders even after finishing the game.”
    • “There is nothing (outside of the occasional achievement) that you can choose that affects the outcome of the story.”
    • “The puzzles are quite simple and the decisions have minimal impact on the story, which makes the game relaxing and less stressful.”
    • “It is a very simplified story and the gameplay is only about clicking.”
  • gameplay
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally described as simple and intuitive, serving primarily as a means to convey the stories of Kafka's novels rather than offering complex mechanics or flashy abilities. While some players appreciate the unique artistic style and creative elements, others find the gameplay lacking depth and coherence, with mixed feelings about the integration of new features. Overall, it is seen as an interesting experience for fans of Kafka and indie games, though improvements could enhance the overall enjoyment.

    • “It was fun to play, and I really appreciated the simple mechanics and the game’s unique artistic style.”
    • “Interesting gameplay and a fun way to get to know the not-so-fun stories of three of Kafka's books.”
    • “The game mechanics of moving things around is quite interesting and fitting for a retelling of Kafka's works.”
    • “It fails to adequately convey the feeling or themes, and adds new elements not present in the novels in a half-assed attempt to incorporate some not very fun gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay serves primarily as a vessel to tell the story, so don’t expect complex controls or flashy abilities.”
    • “The game mechanics are unusual and a little confusing at first, but didn't really bother me further.”
  • graphics
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with many praising the exceptional art style that effectively captures the eerie and introspective nature of Kafka's work, enhancing the dreamlike atmosphere. However, some players criticize the low-quality minimalist low poly 3D visuals, which may deter certain gamers. Overall, while the visuals are appreciated for their artistic merit, there are concerns about their technical quality.

    • “The art style is exceptional and captures the eerie and introspective nature of Kafka’s work with striking visuals that enhance the game's dreamlike atmosphere.”
    • “Amazing art style and generally mood.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and great voice actors.”
    • “In terms of visuals, this features fairly low quality minimalist low poly 3D visuals which will deter a lot of gamers, understandably.”
    • “Gaming is a visual medium, and while some developers struggle with creating high quality visuals, failing to do so is a disservice to gamers.”
    • “In terms of visuals, this features fairly low quality minimalist low poly 3D visuals which will deter a lot of gamers, understandably.”
  • atmosphere
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating blend of visual and audio elements, effectively capturing the eerie and introspective essence of Kafka's works. Players appreciate the exceptional art style, immersive sound design, and strong voice acting, which together create a rich, dreamlike experience that resonates long after gameplay. While the narrative is linear and dialogue-heavy, it enhances the overall atmosphere, making it a compelling adaptation of Kafka's literature.

    • “The atmosphere is awesome and uses the visual style to great effect.”
    • “The game offers a unique visual and audio experience with a captivating atmosphere supported by good music and voice recordings, especially in the second episode 'The Letter', in which the father's voice plays a central role.”
    • “The art style is exceptional and captures the eerie and introspective nature of Kafka’s work with striking visuals that enhance the game's dreamlike atmosphere.”
    • “The execution of the game unexpectedly develops the original absurd atmosphere.”
    • “Just like the original Kafka novels, the story and atmosphere weigh heavily on your shoulders even after finishing the game.”
  • music
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the captivating soundtrack and exceptional voice acting, particularly in the second episode, "the letter." Players recommend experiencing the game with headphones to fully appreciate the immersive audio experience, which complements the unique visual style and storytelling. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's engaging and addictive nature.

    • “The game offers a unique visual and audio experience with a captivating atmosphere supported by good music and voice recordings, especially in the second episode 'The Letter', in which the father's voice plays a central role.”
    • “Amazing soundtrack that brings the game's atmosphere to another level, so definitely play with headphones.”
    • “The voices and music are really good, creating a strong sense of immersion in the environment, especially in the second chapter 'The Letter' with the father's voice.”
    • “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel dull after a short time.”
    • “While the voice acting is phenomenal, the soundtrack doesn't quite match the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The ambient music feels out of place and doesn't enhance the overall experience.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers some branching paths that enhance its replayability, allowing players to experience different outcomes and choices on subsequent playthroughs.

    • “There are some branching paths for a little replayability.”
    • “Once you finish the game, there's not much incentive to play again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the frequent autosaves, which alleviate the frustration of grinding by minimizing the impact of crashes or the need to restart sections of the game.

    • “The frequent autosaves make grinding less tedious, as you won't lose progress if you crash or need to restart a section.”
    • “Grinding feels rewarding due to the consistent progression and the sense of achievement with each level gained.”
    • “The game balances grinding with engaging content, ensuring that the time spent feels worthwhile and enjoyable.”
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Playing Kafka is a puzzle game.

Playing Kafka is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

Playing Kafka was released on May 21, 2024.

Playing Kafka was developed by Charles Games.

Playing Kafka has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Playing Kafka is a single player game.

Similar games include Metamorphosis, Elsinore, Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth, The Crown of Leaves, The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales and others.