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About q.u.q.

q.u.q. is a single player action game with comedy, anime and post-apocalyptic themes. It was developed by motijan and was released on February 26, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Q.u.q. is a surreal visual novel about a somewhat crude girl that wanders a desert.

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Games Like q.u.q.

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Reviews

96%Audience ScoreBased on 580 reviews
story67 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions

  • The game features a distinctive and captivating art style with surreal and evocative visuals that effectively set the tone and atmosphere.
  • The soundtrack is highly praised, complementing the mood with haunting, emotional, and well-composed music that enhances immersion.
  • Despite its short length, the game offers multiple endings and a mix of humor, tragedy, and surreal storytelling that engages and resonates with players.
  • The writing and plot are often seen as vague, confusing, or underdeveloped, with some players feeling the story lacks depth and clarity.
  • Certain gameplay elements, such as obscure choices for endings and lack of clear guidance, can lead to frustration and reliance on external guides.
  • The short game length limits character development and worldbuilding, leaving some players wishing for more content and a fuller narrative experience.
  • story

    157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    43% positive mentions, 55% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The story is a short, surreal visual novel experience that blends abstract, often nonsensical elements with moments of emotional depth, humor, and atmosphere. While its minimalism and ambiguity offer a unique, interpretive narrative appeal, many find the plot underdeveloped and characters insufficiently fleshed out, with some frustrated by its trial-and-error choices and uneven tone. Overall, it captivates through mood, art, and music but may leave players craving a more coherent and expanded storyline.

    • “The story had a good mix between funny duck shrimp moments to the reminiscence of crippling existential dread of unworthiness, trying to overextend capabilities that only solidifies the feeling of inadequacy, succumbing to manipulation and losing your true identity, reaching profound disorientation with overlapping psychological distress of endless suffering.”
    • “A tragic, fleshed-out backstory juxtaposed with a duck carrying a sink is a perfect example of the game’s formula: using the ridiculous to enhance both humor and emotional weight.”
    • “The premise and story itself might be simple, but the writing and execution were engrossing enough to carry the story through, despite its short length and moderate replayability.”
    • “The story itself is nothing to write home about and the game is littered with bad choice endings and some secret ones that further take away from the experience; this game really doesn't take itself seriously enough.”
    • “The story introduces extremely specific things with little effort made to properly integrate them into the world itself, seemingly all under the excuse of it trying to be surreal and mysterious. Yet the game continues to push forward a serious story that demands investment and thought, contradicting the random arbitrary elements that do not cultivate any investment or are compatible with any coherent thought.”
    • “The player is jolted from very random, surreal moments to more serious linear storytelling back and forth in such a stark way that completely spoils both. It does not feel like these two core facets actually coexist in the same world; rather the story is just designed to forcibly alternate between the two solely on the creator's own whim.”
  • music

    130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    63% positive mentions, 37% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's music is widely praised for its emotional depth, atmospheric quality, and strong synergy with the art style, enhancing the overall mood and immersion. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature—haunting, melancholic, and memorable—with some noting its sentimental and nostalgic tones that resonate beyond gameplay. While a few mention minor issues like sound looping, the music is consistently regarded as a major strength that significantly enriches the surreal and artistic experience.

    • “The music, which I rushed to buy after completion because I liked it that much, helps to convey the proper beats, from emptiness and hopelessness to on-the-nose quirkiness and mystery. The music isn't conventionally anything new but is executed very well with range to spare on its key moments and characters.”
    • “The music was surprisingly well-done too, it really has this melancholy, desolate feeling that perfectly matches a world that has lost all hope.”
    • “The soundtrack shifts subtly between reflective, unsettling, and quietly hopeful tones, supporting the mood of each branching path.”
  • graphics

    85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    55% positive mentions, 41% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The graphics are widely praised for their unique, surreal, and often minimalist art style that strongly complements the game's atmosphere and narrative tone. Many users highlight the visuals as a major strength, often describing them as striking, emotionally evocative, and integral to the overall experience. While some note the art can be simple or limited, the cohesive aesthetic and detailed environments consistently receive high acclaim.

    • “I've always loved Motijan's art style, with each visual carrying emotional weight, every scene featuring minuscule details with intention you wouldn't even notice.”
    • “Absolutely gorgeous visuals and sound, that work together wonderfully.”
    • “The art style is very immersive, and everything from the tone of the story, to the character design, sound effects, tiny tidbits of lore, and drawings fits together completely well.”
    • “The art style, albeit rather similar to visual novels beforehand like Milk, had its very own unique twist with its environments and character designs that felt natural to the world, but none too similar, so it was always nice to see what the next introduced character would look like.”
    • “I'm really a fan of the art style in this game; it's very simple but quite striking and really sells the desolate apocalyptic desert setting and macabre mood.”
    • “I still think it's worth playing, if only to appreciate the visuals and soundtrack - but I can't help but feel like Q.U.Q.”
  • humor

    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    98% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is largely characterized by a blend of absurd, surreal, and dark comedy that resonates well with fans of otaku and offbeat humor, though it may not appeal to everyone. It effectively balances funny, sometimes crude moments with heavy, emotional themes, creating a unique tone that shifts between laughter and introspection. While some jokes can feel cheesy or out of place during serious scenes, the overall mix of humor and narrative depth is often praised for enhancing the game's distinct style and emotional impact.

    • “The protagonist is relatable but beyond that the other characters are so strange, absurd, and funny at times.”
    • “A tragic, fleshed-out backstory juxtaposed with a duck carrying a sink is a perfect example of the game’s formula: using the ridiculous to enhance both humor and emotional weight.”
    • “The humor got me cackling so bad and god, I love this game for that exact side.”
    • “Sometimes the dialogue during serious moments comes off as really cheesy, or gets ruined by a corny joke, and usually when that happens, it's really not funny.”
  • emotional

    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game delivers a unique emotional experience by blending surreal, absurd humor with deeply touching and often tragic moments, enhanced by immersive music and evocative visuals. While its narrative structure and tone may feel disjointed or ambiguous to some, many players found its reflective themes and heartfelt scenes genuinely moving and memorable. Overall, it offers a poignant exploration of emotional depth within a distinctive, artistic framework.

    • “The desert setting, while visually repetitive by design, reinforces the emotional monotony and existential weight carried by the protagonist.”
    • “I was waiting a lot for this game and I love it, I love every ending even though it made me cry a little bit, I love the OST as I expected and I really enjoyed it.”
    • “Just when I started to feel a connection to Hacchi and understand where she was at emotionally, it was already at the very end.”
  • atmosphere

    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    40% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 20% negative mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie, surreal, and dreamlike quality, largely conveyed through its strong art style and immersive music. While some find the writing weak or cringe-worthy, the overall mood remains engaging and evocative, creating a mysterious and emotional experience that resonates with many players.

    • “Honestly, plot is pretty weak by itself, but the endings, humour, references, and general atmosphere save this game from being too flat or boring. In fact, it was really fun. While it partially felt like a waste of my time, I still don't regret playing it.”
    • “A very great game, it's very atmospheric and full of artistic vibe. The story brought a tear to my eye, especially along with the emotional, well-made music.”
    • “The length is too short for you to fully get invested into the world, descriptions are pretty literal and scaled-back; there's some surrealness to it, yet the writing conveys no strong sense of imagery—the atmosphere is purely carried by the art and music.”
    • “It defines the game’s atmosphere: eerie, uneasy, and dreamlike, as though you’re witnessing something that shouldn’t be happening yet pressing forward anyway.”
    • “This simplicity ensures accessibility but also means that the experience hinges entirely on the player’s engagement with the story and atmosphere.”
  • gameplay

    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    27% positive mentions, 46% neutral mentions, 27% negative mentions

    The gameplay is minimalist and short, focusing more on emotional resonance, thematic depth, and exploration of ambiguity rather than complex mechanics or structured storytelling. While some find its trial-and-error choices and lack of character depth frustrating, many appreciate its reflective experience, multiple endings, and memorable atmosphere. Overall, it appeals to players who enjoy obscure indie games with unconventional gameplay.

    • “The replay value lies not in mechanical variation but in uncovering layers of context and subtle thematic shifts hidden beneath sparse dialogue and minimalist scenes.”
    • “Dude for 3 dollars this game is so worth the experience, it is like an hour and a half of gameplay and in that time it really manages to burn itself into your memory.”
    • “The game clocks out to about an hour of gameplay with all endings and is thoroughly interesting throughout.”
    • “This extravagant start then gives way to an extremely haphazard experience that just does not balance its gameplay elements at all, which explains the arbitrary tone of that introduction.”
    • “Similarly, while the game tries to build up some form of a plot throughout this experience, it abruptly ruins that by introducing stark trial and error gameplay elements via the choice options.”
    • “Given it's a short game, the characters aren't so fleshed-out; which is my only complaint really, besides just wishing the story was touched on more and, along with that, more gameplay.”
  • character development

    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    43% positive mentions, 14% neutral mentions, 43% negative mentions

    The game features stylized and expressive character designs that convey emotion through subtle visual cues rather than detailed animation, creating a unique artistic style. However, players seeking traditional or in-depth character development and clear narrative exposition may find the storytelling lacking in substance. Overall, the character visuals are praised for their creativity and fitting integration into the game world.

    • “The character designs are stylized and expressive despite their minimal detail, allowing emotion to emerge through small visual cues rather than elaborate animation.”
    • “The art style, albeit rather similar to visual novels like Milk, had its own unique twist with its environments and character designs that felt natural to the world, making it exciting to see what the next introduced character would look like.”
    • “The color palette and character designs are great—especially with the stranger's odd look.”
    • “This narrative style may frustrate players seeking clear exposition or traditional character development.”
    • “To those who want a sensible story and character development, however, I suggest reading something of greater substance.”
    • “The art style, albeit rather similar to visual novels beforehand like Milk, had its very own unique twist with its environments, but also character designs that felt natural to the world, yet none too similar, so it was always nice to see what the next introduced character would look like.”
  • grinding

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is criticized for being somewhat tedious, especially when pursuing multiple endings, which may require using a guide and disrupt the story flow. While some players tolerate this for the artistic and narrative qualities, others find the effort to unlock everything not worth the frustration.

    • “My only complaint with this game is the ending/choice system. I felt like it made the player obligated to use a guide, which made it feel tedious and took away from the flow of the beautiful story. I wish this wasn't a problem as it makes it harder to recommend to other people.”
    • “Boasts some decent style but is overall just a messy and tedious experience; one which does not feel worth the trouble of slogging through to witness its full breadth.”
    • “Some endings were a bit tedious to get, but it wasn't too bad.”
  • replayability

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    67% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions

    Replayability in this game stems primarily from exploring deeper narrative layers and thematic nuances rather than mechanical changes, offering a rich experience through subtle story shifts. Additionally, its stylized visual novel format enhances its appeal for multiple playthroughs, making it highly re-playable for fans of the genre.

    • “As a highly re-playable and stylized visual novel in a similar vein to Milk² (although I like this more).”
    • “Replayability is also a factor.”
    • “The replay value lies not in mechanical variation but in uncovering layers of context and subtle thematic shifts hidden beneath sparse dialogue and minimalist scenes.”
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Play Times

4h Median play time
18h Average play time
2-49h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

q.u.q. is a action game with comedy, anime and post-apocalyptic themes. Common tags for q.u.q. include indie, trading, surreal, pixel graphics, dystopian and others.

q.u.q. is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 18 hours playing q.u.q..

q.u.q. was released on February 26, 2023.

q.u.q. was developed by motijan.

q.u.q. has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked q.u.q. for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

q.u.q. is a single player game.

Similar games include Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk, VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, D1AL-ogue, HOPE LEFT ME, Little Misfortune and others.