PRIM

About

PRIM is a single player action game with horror, fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by Common Colors and was released on October 23, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "PRIM," Thanatos, the Angel of Death, is preoccupied with his teenage daughter Prim who appears in the Land of the Dead each night. Prim has strange abilities, causing unusual occurrences, and Thanatos must navigate these challenges while also dealing with typical father-daughter issues in this action-adventure game. The outcome of their relationship and the afterlife hangs in the balance.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 170 reviews

story54 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a charming black-and-white art style that enhances its unique atmosphere.
The story is engaging, blending humor and emotional depth, particularly in the relationship between Prim and her father, Death.
Puzzles are mostly logical and enjoyable, with a built-in hint system that helps players progress without frustration.

The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content and exploration.
The card mini-game can be frustrating and feels mandatory for story progression, which detracts from the overall experience.
Some voice acting, particularly for the main character, may be off-putting to players, affecting immersion.

story
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
The game's story is characterized by a blend of humor and melancholy, creating an engaging narrative that explores themes of family and loss through the eyes of Prim, the daughter of the Grim Reaper. Players appreciate the well-written dialogue, charming characters, and beautiful art style, which enhance the emotional depth of the story, despite some critiques regarding its simplicity and predictability. Overall, the narrative is described as touching and enjoyable, making it a standout aspect of the game.
- “This journey gives the game an additional layer of emotional depth, enriching the relationship at the story’s core.”
- “The story is beautifully told and has its emotional and profound moments.”
- “For me, Prim is a story about freedom, family, and the struggle to find your own way - told with charm, wit, and a touch of melancholy that creeps under your skin.”
- “The story is simple, and there aren’t many classic puzzles — you mostly find items to use them on other items.”
- “Not every story has to culminate in saving the world by overcoming insurmountable odds, but the plot in Prim just feels like 'a day in the life' - and a rather ordinary one at that, despite the setting.”
- “Gameplay is very simple, even by point-and-click standards, and the story is okay, predictable, and not very well fleshed out but okay.”
graphics
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning black-and-white art style, heavily inspired by Tim Burton, which creates a captivating and atmospheric experience. Reviewers highlight the unique and charming aesthetic, noting its ability to blend dark themes with whimsical elements, although some mention a lack of detail in certain characters and settings. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's narrative and humor.
- “The game’s stunning hand-drawn aesthetic pulls you right into its wonderfully eerie atmosphere, creating a world that’s both haunting and charming.”
- “Prim is a charming point-and-click adventure that immediately stands out with its stunning black-and-white art style, creating a captivating and atmospheric experience.”
- “The graphics and mood are adorable, the characters are interesting and funny.”
- “The developer is evidently going for a Tim Burton-esque look, and the graphics are stylish enough to carry that off, but other than Prim, Death, and Death’s sister Keres, most characters and settings are low on detail.”
- “The worldbuilding is interesting, the graphics are nice, but everything else is boring and repetitive.”
- “As for bugs or any glitches, I mostly just had some graphical glitches here and there, but nothing game-breaking.”
humor
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark and lighthearted elements that create a unique tone throughout the narrative. Players appreciate the clever writing, witty dialogue, and engaging character interactions, which often include tongue-in-cheek jokes and playful banter. This mix of humor not only enhances the storytelling but also balances the more serious themes of loss and self-discovery, making for an enjoyable and memorable experience.
- “These humorous touches prevent the story from ever becoming overwhelming, creating a distinctive interplay of subtle melancholy and dry humor that defines its tone.”
- “The dialogue is extremely witty and surprisingly funny, making it overall a joy to play.”
- “The designs, the black and white environment, the characters, the story, the humor - the jokes are smart and well placed, often tongue-in-cheek with just the right amount of bite.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
37%
10%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric quality and diverse styles, ranging from soft jazz to orchestral and punk rock, which enhance the emotional depth of the story. While some players found the soundtrack to be forgettable, others appreciated its unobtrusive nature and the care put into its production, particularly noting the live orchestral performance. Overall, the music complements the stunning visuals and engaging narrative, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The music is surprisingly diverse, ranging from soft jazz to orchestral to punk rock, as is appropriate for whatever scene you are exploring.”
- “The story and humour has been amazing so far - also, the soundtrack is *chef's kiss*.”
- “Prim does a masterful job of combining its serious themes with the right amount of humor, and everything about its production, from the artwork and interface to the music and voice-overs, screams excellence, an eye for detail, and a true love for both adventure gaming and storytelling.”
- “Music is quite forgettable except for the sections where you hear certain songs (due to spoilers I can't talk about them).”
- “No earworms to take away, but it’s rare to find a game with such varied musical styles.”
- “The soundtrack is this unobtrusive top-shelf stuff that you could easily hear when the credits roll on the big screen.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay of [b]prim[/b] is characterized by traditional point-and-click mechanics, featuring a blend of light puzzles and a narrative revealed through unique gameplay elements, such as switching between the worlds of the living and the dead. Players can expect around 6-10 hours of engaging gameplay, enhanced by smooth controls, creative mechanics, and a whimsical art style reminiscent of Tim Burton. While the gameplay is generally straightforward, some reviewers noted a desire for more depth in certain mechanics and a tutorial to assist new players.
- “It is a title that will appeal especially to those who enjoy light puzzles combined with the discovery of a story told through unusual mechanics.”
- “The constant switching between the world of the living and the dead is not only thematically fitting but also adds a great layer to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay, inventory and map system, and its lighthearted humor make this game feel very much like a Monkey Island game.”
- “Gameplay is very simple, even by point-and-click standards, and the story is predictable and not very well fleshed out.”
- “A small tutorial would go a long way in helping players understand the mechanics right from the start.”
- “Without them, I would say the game can be finished in about 5 hours of regular gameplay (not speedrun).”
emotional
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a heartwarming and engaging narrative that balances humor with profound moments, particularly in the evolving relationship between the main character and "Daddy Death." Players appreciate the beautiful art, captivating voice acting, and the overall cozy atmosphere, which together create a touching experience that is both spooky and wholesome. While not deeply emotional, the story's charm and character dynamics resonate with players, making it a memorable adventure.
- “This journey gives the game an additional layer of emotional depth, enriching the relationship at the story’s core.”
- “The story is beautifully told and has its emotional and profound moments.”
- “The result is a highly polished, entertaining new coming-of-age story about a wonky father-daughter relationship that will make you laugh and maybe even cry, offering plenty of fun but also connecting on an emotional level.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The atmosphere of Prim is a standout feature, characterized by its charming blend of quirky comedy and lovingly crafted characters set against a stunning hand-drawn black-and-white art style. Reviewers praise the game's ability to create a captivating experience that balances morbidity with playful lightness, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and meticulous attention to detail in sound design and animation. Overall, the game's unique aesthetic fosters a haunting yet whimsical ambiance that deeply engages players.
- “Prim ultimately stands out through its distinctive atmosphere, hovering between lovingly rendered morbidity and playful lightness.”
- “The game’s stunning hand-drawn aesthetic pulls you right into its wonderfully eerie atmosphere, creating a world that’s both haunting and charming.”
- “It’s obvious to me how much care and attention went into it, from its lovely Tim Burton-esque art style to its atmospheric music and (mostly) enjoyable voice acting.”
- “Graphics look really nice; the game is in black and white, which gives it a darker atmosphere.”
- “It has a very unique art style, and the fact that everything is made in black, white, and grey makes the atmosphere of this game even better!”
- “This gives the whole thing an atmosphere that is both melancholic and adventurous.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features beautifully drawn character designs and memorable personalities, enhanced by its striking black and white art style. Players appreciate the strong themes of coming-of-age and self-discovery, contributing to meaningful character development throughout the experience.
- “It's a very delightful game with strong coming-of-age character development as well as self-discovery.”
- “Character design and location are drawn beautifully; all the characters are memorable.”
- “The black and white art is super pretty, and I really like the cartoony character designs.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising smooth performance and minimal bugs, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs after the latest optimization patch; it really enhances the overall experience.”
- “The developers have done an excellent job with optimization, ensuring that loading times are minimal and frame rates are consistently high.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are unacceptably long, even for simple tasks.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report that the game exhibits minor graphical glitches, but these issues are not game-breaking, indicating a generally stable experience.
- “As for bugs or any glitches, I mostly just had some graphical glitches here and there, but nothing game-breaking.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered several stability issues that led to frustrating gameplay interruptions.”