Progressbar95
- September 8, 2020
- Igor Uduslivii
- 24h median play time
Get on Steam"Progressbar95" is a humorous single-player arcade game with a nostalgic 90's aesthetic. Experience simple yet addictive gameplay through various mini-games, puzzles, and creative modes. Unlock systems, discover secrets, and customize your PC, while taking care of a digital pet and exploring the old internet. The game is filled with bugs and jokes, providing a fun and entertaining experience.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Captures the nostalgic feel of old operating systems, especially Windows XP and 95.
- Addictive gameplay with a variety of mini-games and unlockable content.
- Great for casual play and a fun way to pass the time.
- Can become repetitive and grindy over time, especially when trying to unlock everything.
- Some performance issues reported, particularly on Steam Deck and MacOS.
- Minor bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay experience.
- gameplay86 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its nostalgic appeal, simple mechanics, and a variety of mini-games that keep the experience engaging, though some players find it repetitive over time. While it effectively emulates vintage computer systems and offers a casual, addictive experience, opinions vary on its depth and long-term enjoyment, with some criticizing it for being overly simplistic or grindy. Overall, it caters well to fans of retro gaming and those seeking a light-hearted, nostalgic experience.
“The gameplay loop is enjoyable time and time again; there are all kinds of different modes too, including a minesweeper mode which I really like.”
“Good time killer with a lot of content; it emulates operating systems and computer configurations very well, starting from the first ones to the modern ones. The gameplay is very simple but it becomes challenging as you progress, with different mechanics based on the OS you are running. There is a lot of variety, and I really like that.”
“A seemingly simple concept made great thanks to an insane attention to detail and addictive gameplay.”
“Honestly, the gameplay is boring.”
“While the game is charming without a doubt, the gameplay is abysmal and it manages to kill the overall experience.”
“The gameplay is extremely basic, with its difficulty only from the ever-increasing speed of the drops rather than any intellectual challenge.”
- graphics64 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic retro aesthetic, effectively capturing the look and feel of older operating systems like Windows 95 and earlier. Players appreciate the attention to detail, including pixelated graphics and iconic sound effects, which enhance the immersive experience. However, some users have reported technical issues, such as graphical glitches and crashes, that detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The game looks and sounds awesome, and matches the aesthetics of the original Windows and Mac operating systems quite well, and is very nostalgic.”
“The attention to detail is impeccable, from the pixelated graphics and iconic sound effects to the familiar user interface elements.”
“The aesthetic is great, it nails the retro Windows feel in the first few operating systems you get, and sticks just as well to the modern feels as the game progresses.”
“Screen was flashing graphical parts of the game so bad that it locked up my whole computer!”
“I have too many problems with this game that aren't fixable (graphical glitches, crashing at startup).”
“Every time I tried to run it so far it caused my MacBook Pro to crash; it did the Mac equivalent of a blue screen, and it even messed with all the visuals on my desktop like it was a virus.”
- grinding40 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its excessive grinding, with many players feeling it requires an unrealistic time commitment to progress. While some find it a decent way to pass the time, the repetitive nature and lack of engaging content lead to boredom and frustration, especially when pursuing 100% completion or significant upgrades. Overall, the grinding aspect detracts from the enjoyment, making it a tedious experience for many.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This game is also just grinding with nothing interesting in between and no clear indication what you get as a reward for some things.”
“The fun will wear off from this game after about an hour and a half, leaving you with nearly a full 24 hours' worth of just grinding the same minigame over and over again.”
“It becomes way too grindy way too fast which is a problem when none of the game modes are fun for more than 9-5 minutes, and all that you ever unlock is cosmetics.”
- story36 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a significant story, with many users noting that it feels more like a collection of achievements and missions rather than a cohesive narrative. Some mention minimal story elements, but overall, the consensus is that the storytelling is either absent or poorly developed, leading to a lack of engagement.
“A dreadfully horror and story-rich game, expand your computer's capabilities and complete progress bars!”
“It kinda has a story but whatever”
“I tried to like it, but the fetch quest mechanics of the game just drags on way too long.”
“Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in progressbar95 is widely praised for its clever computer-related jokes, nostalgic references to older operating systems, and quirky mini-games. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend retro graphics with comedic elements, making it both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the humor enhances the chaotic gameplay experience, contributing to its charm and appeal among retro fans.
“One of the standout features of Progressbar95 is its quirky sense of humor.”
“I enjoy the humor of this game as well as managing how chaotic later levels become when you're dodging a rain of error blocks while System32 attacks you and fills up half the screen.”
“This hypercasual game is the best one I can name of; it has many funny references and not to mention many callbacks to old OS like Windows 95 or macOS X.”
- music21 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its retro-inspired soundtrack, which enhances the immersive atmosphere and overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the chill and addictive quality of the tunes, with many expressing a desire for a larger selection of songs. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's aesthetic beautifully.
“The retro-inspired music perfectly complements the game's aesthetic, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall enjoyment.”
“It also has a great soundtrack and visuals that make the game enjoyable for hours.”
“Addictive, looks cool, the soundtrack will be stuck in my head forever and I would happily lay down my life for the bin.”
“I would really like it if it had more songs that you can choose from the music player.”
“Shame George doesn't have any other songs on the album, since this is the point where his songs started getting really good... [spoiler]well, except for [i]those 3[/i], but I'll get to them when I get to them.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting significant issues on macOS due to incorrect signing, leading to crashes and graphical glitches. While it runs well on Windows, players experience frequent freezes, UI bugs, and annoying pop-ups that detract from the overall experience. Despite these problems, some users appreciate the game's aesthetic and humor, though the stability concerns remain a major drawback.
“The game runs smoothly on Windows, providing a stable experience overall.”
“Despite some issues on macOS, the game performs reliably on other platforms.”
“The developers are working on stability improvements to enhance the overall gameplay experience.”
“I have too many problems with this game that aren't fixable (graphical glitches, crashing at startup).”
“Game freezes after reaching 100 percent in tutorial; I completed it but all I could do is move my mouse around.”
“This is in addition to several UI bugs and glitches, and trying to exit out nearly crashed my system.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively in its PC version, which is priced at $4.99 and notably free of microtransactions and ads, offering a superior experience compared to the mobile version. While some users appreciate the lack of required purchases for progression, others criticize the mobile version for its heavy reliance on ads and microtransactions, making the PC version a more appealing option for players seeking a smoother and more immersive experience. Overall, the absence of monetization pitfalls on PC enhances its nostalgic value and gameplay enjoyment.
“Fun game to pass the time, much better than the mobile version since there are no ads or in-app purchases.”
“Especially this PC version, as it doesn't have any microtransactions.”
“Played almost all on mobile, very cool to see it here with no microtransactions.”
“It's not nearly as bad as other mobile games due to the microtransactions not being required to get quite far in the game, but it's still a bad business practice.”
“The mobile version is free with ads and microtransactions while the game on Steam is listed with a $4.99 price tag.”
“It is extremely bad, though, compared to this, as it is filled with ads, is a paywall and is literally a game about PCs (playing this game with a mouse makes so much more sense.)”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game faces performance issues on the Steam Deck, despite being labeled "verified," with users noting that the PC version runs better. Players have reported glitches, such as the progress bar not unlocking and occasional slowdowns, although these can be mitigated by turning off shaders. Overall, while there are minor optimization concerns, they do not significantly detract from the experience.
“There are some glitches, like the one with Progressbar 2 not unlocking when it should, and occasional slowdown. Turning off the shader can improve performance, and while I'm not sure if the dead pixels (not actual dead pixels, just an in-game thing to click on for more points) actually appear, they're fairly minor.”
“However, I mostly wanted to review it because, while I do recommend it overall, it runs into performance issues playing via Proton on Steam Deck, despite the 'verified' label, so I want to let fellow Steam Deck players know.”
“Performance-wise, the PC version is better.”
“There are some glitches, like the one with Progress Bar 2 not unlocking when it should, and occasional slowdown (turn off the shader for better performance). I'm not sure if the dead pixels (not actual dead pixels, just an in-game thing to click on for more points) actually appear, but they're fairly minor.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's retro-inspired music significantly enhances its aesthetic, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that elevates the overall enjoyment for players.
“The retro-inspired music perfectly complements the game's aesthetic, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall enjoyment.”
“The haunting visuals and ambient sounds draw you into a world that feels both nostalgic and fresh, making every moment feel significant.”
“The atmospheric design is so well-crafted that it feels like you're stepping into a living painting, where every detail contributes to the overall experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates strongly with older players, evoking nostalgia through its humorous references to classic computer and part names, creating a sense of wholesome fun that appeals to long-time fans of the genre.
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, making it an excellent choice for players seeking a compact experience with substantial value for repeated playthroughs.
“This is a great game if you want a small game that has tons of replay value.”
