Plug & Play

About

"Plug & Play" is an interactive animation by Michael Frei and coded by Mario von Rickenbach, featuring a surreal universe of plugs. This odd yet charming game, which takes 10-15 minutes to play, has won several awards and been praised by critics for its surprising emotional depth. More information can be found at plugplay.ch.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,998 reviews

humor123 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

Unique and absurd art style that evokes strong emotions.
Funny and entertaining, providing a surreal experience.
Short but impactful, leaving players questioning the meaning of relationships.

Extremely short gameplay, lasting only about 10-15 minutes.
Lacks depth and replayability, making it feel overpriced.
The bizarre content may not resonate with all players, leading to confusion.

humor
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is widely described as bizarre, surreal, and often absurd, eliciting laughter through its quirky dialogue and unexpected scenarios. Many players appreciate its unique blend of crude and playful humor, though some find it overly simplistic or crass. Overall, it is considered a short but entertaining experience that appeals to those with a taste for the weird and whimsical.
- “I'm so confused and I don't even know what I just played, but it's hilarious.”
- “The game’s incredible use of humor bears mentioning again, to give credit where credit is due.”
- “At first I was pissed that this game has very little game time, but the end is so funny, unexpected, and hilarious that I laughed my butt off for a solid ten minutes.”
- “Imagine a WarioWare game in which you're not sure if it's supposed to be funny or not.”
- “I would love to make some kind of funny review of this game knowing how weird and original it is, but the fact that I paid about 10 times what this game is worth kind of demotivates me.”
story
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
73%
4%
The game's story is described as a mix of simplicity and depth, with some players finding it heartwarming and engaging, while others criticize its brevity and lack of traditional narrative structure. Many appreciate the unique art style and abstract storytelling, which evoke themes of love, loneliness, and existential reflection, though some feel it lacks emotional impact or coherence. Overall, it presents a quirky, thought-provoking experience that may resonate differently with each player.
- “The story is both interesting and addicting, leaving you wanting more.”
- “A gripping storyline that will make you cry.”
- “Plug & play is a thought-provoking masterpiece that manages to tell a story without saying anything, and also allows you to plug one man's head into another one's buttocks.”
- “The gameplay isn't interesting nor is it thematically relevant to the narrative of the story.”
- “There's no traditional storytelling here as it's all random sequences which make up the entire game.”
- “While the animations are intriguing and the story is pleasantly weird, other than that I cannot recommend this game as the gameplay is tedious and the story just really doesn't make sense.”
gameplay
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
75%
9%
The gameplay of this title is generally criticized for being extremely short, often clocking in at around 10 to 20 minutes, which many players feel does not justify the price. While some appreciate the simplicity and unique mechanics, others find the experience tedious and lacking in depth, with gameplay often described as mindless or overly simplistic. Overall, it seems to prioritize artistic expression over traditional gameplay, leaving players divided on its value and engagement.
- “The game mechanics are very simple and intuitive, and it all plays very smoothly.”
- “A really amazing game with stunning graphics and groundbreaking gameplay; there are interesting characters around every corner and the story is truly heartwarming.”
- “Besides all the strangeness, the game has an astonishing level of gameplay quality including decent physics and animations.”
- “Heads up, some playsets made for toddlers have more gameplay to them than this title.”
- “I got it on sale, otherwise I think I would complain about the lack of content and extremely short gameplay (10 minutes).”
- “Carefully read the description before buying though, because 11 minutes of gameplay is unforgivably too short for the full price, no matter how original the experience.”
emotional
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game has garnered mixed reactions, with many players expressing deep emotional connections and experiences, often leading to tears and heartfelt reflections on love and relationships. While some found the game surprisingly impactful and touching despite its brevity and abstract nature, others criticized its simplicity and lack of depth, suggesting that it may not resonate with everyone. Overall, it appears to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to sadness, making it a memorable experience for many players.
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “This game connects with me on a deep emotional level.”
- “I was not expecting this game to touch me on such a deeply emotional level as it did, but here I am telling you about it.”
graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic and minimalistic art style that many players find captivating and fitting for its surreal and abstract themes. While some reviewers appreciate the unique aesthetic and beautiful animations, others note that the low-quality visuals do not detract from the overall experience, emphasizing that compelling gameplay can exist without realistic graphics. Overall, the game's art style is described as quirky and interesting, appealing to those who enjoy experimental and artistic approaches in gaming.
- “The aesthetic is also captivating.”
- “It has a simplistic art style that works for the kind of game that it is.”
- “While plug & play is a very short game, it delivers beautiful animation and a fantastically interpretative and metaphorical story told through strange and abstract visuals.”
- “You may be asking, why the low quality graphics, I know what you are thinking, 'unmet, where are the realistic graphics, the ray-tracing, where are the textures that draw you into the game.'”
- “Gameplay and graphics are minimalistic and simplistic.”
- “The art style is weird looking and it just creeps you out at first and then it weirds you out how strange the game becomes in a short amount of time.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
41%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised for its artistic integration with the gameplay, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to adapt seamlessly to different scenes, with a mix of minimalistic, spacey, and operatic elements that complement the visuals beautifully. Overall, the sound design is considered top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “I won’t go into it too much now, but the music changes with each scene so perfectly; it fits the mellowness of the colorful art style very well.”
- “Luckily for us, the music is seriously top notch.”
- “The soundtrack is spacey and sometimes operatic, and the sound effects are clear and appropriate.”
- “The soundtrack is just as minimalistic as the graphics, but has an eerie beauty to it.”
- “Janky in that way that makes you feel uncomfortable, and the discordant music in the background really adds to the awkwardness.”
- “The music and the sound in general do wonders for that overall feeling of not really understanding what's going on in situations that should be really very simple.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The game's replayability is widely criticized, with many users noting its extremely short playtime of around 8 to 12 minutes and a lack of meaningful content to encourage repeated play. While a few players found some enjoyment in showcasing it to friends or experiencing it in altered states, the consensus leans towards minimal replay value, making it difficult to recommend for anything beyond a low price point.
- “I found it had quite a bit of replayability when showing it to unsuspecting friends who had never seen or heard of it before.”
- “I have never seen a game with so much depth and replayability before; the amount of layers this game has is on par with an onion. It will make you cry tears, and like an onion, these tears come out of nowhere and you don't understand them, and you'll have people looking over your shoulder asking why you are crying.”
- “10/10 definitely worth the buy; tons of replayability, was laughing the whole time.”
- “I finished in 8 minutes and it's not very replayable, so don't think I can really recommend this for anything more than a dollar.”
- “It took me 10 minutes to finish the entire game and after you finish the game the first time, there's no replay value whatsoever, so keep that in mind if you're planning on buying this game.”
- “However, even for the modest price, it is incredibly short and has almost no replay value since there are no alternate endings and the different dialogue choices in one scene can all be heard in a matter of minutes.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its hand-drawn, black and white minimal aesthetics that create a mysterious and eerie vibe. Reviewers appreciate the blend of humor with bizarre and surreal elements, resulting in a rich, engaging, and oddly moving experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both simplistic and deeply immersive, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The hand-drawn, black and white minimal aesthetics create a mysterious atmosphere.”
- “It's hilarious, weird, surreal, atmospheric, cheap, and strangely moving—what's not to like?”
- “A bit of humor with an eerie atmosphere.”
- “Plug & Play is a simplistic game that is rich with atmosphere.”
- “It's indeed an interesting game with a bizarre and absurd atmosphere.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
80%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often viewed as tedious and annoying, with some players finding it overly simplistic and lacking depth. While the animations and story have their merits, the repetitive nature of the gameplay detracts from the overall experience for many.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The gameplay is very simple and almost tedious and annoying at times.”
- “While the animations are intriguing and the story is pleasantly weird, I cannot recommend this game as the gameplay is tedious.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report that the game is largely bug-free, indicating a high level of stability. There are minimal issues affecting gameplay, contributing to a smooth user experience.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs, making for a stable experience.”
- “I've played for hours without encountering any issues; the stability is impressive.”
- “The developers have done a great job ensuring the game remains stable, even during intense gameplay.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers highlight that the dialogue and character development in the game are particularly impactful, contributing to an emotionally resonant experience.
- “The dialogue and character development were very moving.”
- “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the overall narrative.”
- “I loved how the characters evolved throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”