Plug & Play

About

Plug & Play is a single player casual puzzle game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Etter Studio and was released on March 5, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,587 reviews

humor155 positive mentions

replayability8 negative mentions

The game is very artistic and visually appealing, with a unique hand-drawn style.
It evokes a range of emotions, from humor to discomfort, making it a memorable experience.
The absurdity and surreal nature of the game provide a thought-provoking commentary on relationships and human connection.

The game is extremely short, taking only about 10-15 minutes to complete, which many players feel is not worth the price.
There is minimal gameplay and interactivity, making it feel more like an interactive animation than a traditional game.
The content can be seen as overly bizarre or inappropriate, which may not resonate with all players.

humor
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is widely described as bizarre, absurd, and often crude, eliciting laughter through its surreal and unexpected scenarios. Many players appreciate its unique blend of playful and dark humor, though some find it too short for its price. Overall, it offers a quirky comedic experience that resonates well with those who enjoy unconventional and offbeat humor.
- “I.... don't know what the heck I just played.... but I can't stop laughing, so it was worth it.”
- “This game is just a lot of fun to play and has a great sense of humor.”
- “It's funny and extremely weird.”
- “Imagine a WarioWare game in which you're not sure if it is 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
145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
77%
3%
The story of "Plug & Play" is characterized as a unique blend of interactive and atmospheric storytelling, often described as surreal and abstract, with themes of love, rejection, and conformity. While some players appreciate its emotional depth and artistic visuals, others criticize its brevity and lack of traditional narrative structure, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. Despite its short duration, the game manages to evoke a range of responses, from delight to confusion, making it a thought-provoking experience for many.
- “It's a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling, drawing players deeper into its enchanting world with each passing moment.”
- “Plug & Play is a masterpiece of interactive storytelling that defies categorization.”
- “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.”
- “And don't get me wrong, I love story-driven emotional games, but you can't just throw a few black and white images together for 10 minutes, slap on some very simple metaphor for life and love and relationships, and expect to actually bring out real emotional responses from people.”
- “The game has a very ambiguous and vague way of telling its story.”
- “There's nothing really to it, which is why this game is mainly focused on story and animations than anything else.”
gameplay
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
78%
8%
The gameplay of this title is characterized by its simplicity and minimalism, often described as engaging yet frustratingly short, typically lasting around 10 to 20 minutes. While some players appreciate the unique and thought-provoking experience it offers, many criticize the lack of depth and content, feeling that the price does not justify the brief gameplay duration. Overall, it seems to serve more as an artistic expression than a traditional game, with mechanics that can feel tedious and repetitive.
- “The gameplay itself is deceptively simple yet endlessly engaging.”
- “Its captivating visuals, thought-provoking narrative, and engaging gameplay combine to create an experience that is as unforgettable as it is enjoyable.”
- “The game mechanics are very simple and intuitive, and it all plays very smoothly.”
- “Heads up, some playsets made for toddlers have more gameplay to them than this title.”
- “I paid 3 bucks for 11 minutes of gameplay!!!???”
- “The gameplay isn't interesting nor is it thematically relevant to the narrative of the story.”
emotional
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game has garnered mixed reactions, with many players expressing that it evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to sorrow, often leading to tears. While some reviewers found the emotional depth surprising and impactful, others criticized its simplicity and questioned the authenticity of the emotional responses it elicits. Overall, the game is described as a bizarre yet touching experience that resonates on various emotional levels, despite its short duration and abstract storytelling.
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “The ending made me cry.”
- “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
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The game's graphics are characterized by a minimalistic and surreal aesthetic that captivates players with its unique blend of simplicity and imagination. While some reviewers appreciate the artistic approach and find the visuals beautiful, others note that the simplistic style may not appeal to everyone, particularly those seeking high-quality graphics. Overall, the art style effectively complements the game's themes and narrative, creating an engaging experience despite its unconventional presentation.
- “The game's surreal aesthetic is a visual feast for the senses, with each scene bursting with color and imagination.”
- “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.”
- “A great art style and stunning graphics.”
- “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.'”
- “A pretentiously vague point-and-click game with the aesthetic (and content) of your below-average indie animation festival submission.”
- “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
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
45%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for its excellent composition and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its unique and fitting integration with the visuals. The soundtrack ranges from minimalistic to operatic, effectively capturing the emotional depth of the gameplay and leaving a lasting impression on players. While some found the music captivating, others felt it could become repetitive, yet overall, it is considered a standout feature that elevates the gaming experience.
- “The soundtrack and sound design of the game are excellent, and create a unique atmosphere.”
- “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.”
- “The music is minimal but works with the game perfectly.”
- “Basic visual.. weird music.. easy gameplay.. 5-10 minutes of gameplay is all you need...”
- “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.”
replayability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
50%
29%
The game's replayability is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting its extremely short playtime of around 10-12 minutes and a lack of meaningful content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While a few users mention some enjoyment in sharing the experience with friends, the consensus is that the game offers little to no replay value, making it difficult to recommend for anything beyond a minimal price. Overall, it seems best appreciated as a one-time experience rather than a game to revisit.
- “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.”
- “There is no replayability and no way to lose.”
- “Overall, the game took me 12 minutes to finish with little to no replay value.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its exceptional soundtrack and sound design, which enhance its immersive storytelling and unique aesthetic. Players appreciate the blend of humor and eeriness, as well as the striking hand-drawn visuals that contribute to a rich, surreal environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both enchanting and bizarre, effectively drawing players into its captivating world.
- “The soundtrack and sound design of the game are excellent, and create a unique atmosphere.”
- “It's a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling, drawing players deeper into its enchanting world with each passing moment.”
- “Everything goes towards the nice atmosphere it creates.”
- “A bit of humor with an eerie atmosphere.”
- “What I mean by duality is that the game seems so casual, not serious at all at first glance, and the choir gives it a kind of dramatic alien atmosphere that does feel very serious.”
- “Anyway, it's indeed an interesting game with a bizarre and absurd atmosphere.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
63%
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and lengthy, with some players finding it a bit grindy at times. While it may appeal to those who enjoy repetitive gameplay, many reviewers feel that it detracts from the overall experience, making it less enjoyable for others.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's a bit grindy at times.”
- “It can feel like one long, tedious grind.”
- “one long, tedious grind”
- “the gameplay is very simple and almost tedious and annoying at times.”
- “tedious gameplay”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its creative character designs and engaging dialogue, which together contribute to a moving and immersive experience. The attention to detail enhances the overall depth of the characters and their interactions within the surreal landscapes.
- “The dialogue and character development were very moving.”
- “From the quirky character designs to the surreal landscapes, every detail is a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship of its developers.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users generally express concerns about stability, with many reporting bugs that affect gameplay. While some players find the game relatively stable, others experience frequent issues that detract from their overall experience. Overall, stability appears to be a mixed aspect, with room for improvement.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, particularly for its interactive performance art elements, suggesting that it runs smoothly and effectively enhances the overall experience.