Rainswept

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 207 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Rainswept Game Cover
Rainswept has an interesting plot, well-written characters and a distinctive visual style, although a few bugs and overly simplistic gameplay do let it down a bit.
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"Rainswept" is a narrative-driven detective game where players assume the role of Detective Michael Stone, investigating a suspicious double homicide in a small town. By examining the victims' past and interviewing locals, players uncover the truth behind the couple's relationship while also confronting Stone's own haunting past. The game also features a secondary storyline that allows players to experience key moments in the victims' relationship. Through exploring the town and interacting with characters, players piece together the story behind the tragic event.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 207 reviews
story97 positive mentions
stability14 negative mentions
  • The story is compelling and emotionally engaging, tackling heavy themes such as mental health, trauma, and relationships with sensitivity.
  • The art style and atmospheric music create a beautiful and immersive experience that enhances the narrative.
  • The characters are well-developed, with rich backstories that make the player care about their fates.
  • The gameplay is mostly linear with minimal puzzles, which may disappoint players looking for a more interactive experience.
  • There are technical issues, such as clunky animations and occasional bugs that can disrupt immersion.
  • Some dialogue feels repetitive or wooden, and the ending may leave players feeling unsatisfied due to unresolved plot points.
  • story305 mentions

    The story in "Rainswept" is a poignant and emotionally charged narrative that explores heavy themes such as loss, mental health, and relationships, often resonating deeply with players. While the gameplay is minimal and linear, focusing more on dialogue and character interactions, many reviewers appreciated the rich subplots and character development that enhance the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and execution, the compelling storytelling and atmospheric presentation make it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.

    • “What I think made me really enjoy the experience was the many little subplots you can find in the town; most did not affect the story at all, but seeing how you can affect their little story and seeing how their story went throughout the days felt very cozy and felt like something that only a video game as a medium can do.”
    • “The story is amazing, though, and I genuinely feel that it changed how I view the world.”
    • “Rainswept is a truly beautiful, poignant, and melancholic story that can easily be overlooked at first glance.”
    • “Unfortunately, I was left rather unmoved by the story, both as a character drama and a mystery.”
    • “The biggest problem of the game is the main storyline, because the plot of a tortured detective beating himself up over the death of his wife is rather cliché.”
    • “The story got so stretched that the ending felt very fast and I didn't really understand it completely.”
  • graphics85 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that enhance the storytelling. While some players found the minimalist design charming and evocative, others criticized the graphical quality, particularly during animations and close-ups, noting glitches and rough edges. Overall, the visuals are described as captivating and fitting for the game's tone, despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “Awesome art style with stunning visuals, well crafted and interesting characters, gripping story, strings you along despite the rather linear storyline, little touches here or there that make certain interactions so much more enjoyable.”
    • “The atmosphere and the graphical style is kind of beautiful at times, and its gorgeous color palette and picturesque scenery is emphasized by fitting music that doesn't overwhelm you while playing.”
    • “Rainswept has beautiful graphics, an exceptional soundtrack, a poignant story, and an interesting mystery.”
    • “The visuals are bad, outright horrible in some aspects.”
    • “Rainswept suffers from quite a few graphical glitches that, while not game-breaking or detrimental, were distracting.”
    • “The graphics are nothing really special; I would consider this partially as amateur art, yet somehow it matches into the game.”
  • music80 mentions

    The music in the game has been widely praised for its atmospheric and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the visuals and narrative. Many reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to evoke feelings that align with the game's themes, with some expressing a desire for even more musical content throughout. Overall, the score by micamic is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive quality.

    • “The music creates an atmosphere that entrances you fully and you'll find yourself staring at the wonderful visuals like paintings at a museum.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, evocative, gloomy, perfectly fitting the atmosphere conveyed by Rainswept.”
    • “The music is beautifully done by micamic, who also worked on The Cat Lady.”
    • “The music was well done, but there were a few stretches when the game was in total silence, and they felt out of place as the rest of the game has at least some ambient noise to it.”
    • “A stunning art direction lends Rainswept its own distinctive style, while the soundtrack is rather depressing, but fitting for the game.”
    • “While it excelled at pulling you in with the backgrounds, music, and some story aspects like Chris and Diane’s relationship, it also suffers from ending confusion and feeling rushed at times.”
  • atmosphere52 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of art, music, and storytelling, creating an immersive experience that resonates emotionally with players. Many reviews highlight the unique aesthetic, cozy small-town setting, and evocative soundtrack, which together enhance the overall mood and depth of the narrative. Despite some graphical limitations, the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of place and emotion is consistently noted as a standout feature.

    • “The dream sequences gave the atmospheric vibes of night in the woods, yet it manages to establish its own unique aesthetic.”
    • “The atmosphere and the graphical style is kind of beautiful at times, and its gorgeous color palette and picturesque scenery is emphasized by fitting music that doesn't overwhelm you while playing.”
    • “The soundtrack and sound effects add to the cozy small town atmosphere.”
    • “The only issues were some minor video glitches here and there and the quality of animations throughout the game (which is subpar and could even be funny but that exactly what could hamper the game’s tragic atmosphere).”
    • “There's just one condition you gotta tick off to like this game -------> you gotta love reading and get into the game atmosphere.”
    • “A small town, a strange suicide (murder?!), an atmosphere of mystery and understatement, we saw all this before, but the creators managed to find their own notes that make the story fascinating and sensual.”
  • gameplay42 mentions

    The gameplay in "Rainswept" is largely criticized for being minimal and simplistic, often described as akin to a walking simulator with very few interactive elements or meaningful choices. While the story and character development are praised for their emotional depth, many reviewers feel that the lack of engaging gameplay mechanics detracts from the overall experience. Players seeking a rich narrative may enjoy the game, but those looking for substantial gameplay will likely be disappointed.

    • “The gameplay consists mostly of uncovering the story by talking to every town inhabitant and playing through the detective's nightmares or some of the dead couple's past events.”
    • “Rainswept is a murder mystery game set in the small town of Pineview, with very simple mechanics and incredibly light puzzle solving. It doesn't tell the most involved story, but I enjoyed my time with it.”
    • “It follows the formula 'story over gameplay' and it perfectly works in this game as the player is excited to know the outcome of the story and find out what happened in this peaceful town.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly walking back-and-forth and talking to people while piecing together a story behind an unfortunate couple and their deaths.”
    • “There's not a lot of gameplay, but there's plenty of story, intrigue, and emotion.”
    • “Almost nothing to the gameplay, it’s a few steps above that of a walking sim but that’s it.”
  • emotional37 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its deep exploration of troubled characters and impactful storytelling that evokes strong feelings, including sadness and heartwarming moments. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to balance heavy themes with a light-hearted approach, creating an immersive experience that resonates long after playing. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt narrative that emphasizes character development and emotional investment.

    • “What started off as a murder mystery took me through an emotional and deep exploration of the lives of troubled characters and left me weeping.”
    • “Rainswept delivers an authentic, interpersonal, and emotional story which touches on various serious themes whilst maintaining a light-hearted approach where necessary.”
    • “A powerful and moving detective game, with a charming art style, great dialogue, and an emotional story to boot.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game exhibits a range of stability issues, including various graphical glitches and animation problems that can be distracting but are generally not game-breaking. While some players found these bugs irritating, many felt they could overlook them due to the engaging story. Overall, the game could benefit from additional polish, but the stability issues do not significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “You can finish it in one sitting, but be ready for some bugs and glitches.”
    • “Rainswept suffers from quite a few graphical glitches that, while not game-breaking or detrimental, were distracting.”
    • “Choose for story, not the shoddy and buggy gameplay.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as chuckle-worthy, with lovable characters and heartwarming stories that provide moments of levity amidst a serious narrative. However, the awkward and subpar animations can detract from the intended tone, leading to unintended laughter that clashes with the game's tragic atmosphere. Overall, while the characters are engaging and funny, the animation quality may undermine the seriousness of the story.

    • “The characters are lovable and I enjoyed learning their stories; grandpa made me laugh and Chris and Diane's story warmed my heart.”
    • “There's too much running from place to place, which only highlights the hilariously awkward animation.”
    • “Interesting, but you can't help laughing at the character animations.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game is noted for being emotionally engaging and meaningful, with some reviewers highlighting strong twists and turns. However, there are criticisms regarding the pacing, as certain aspects of storytelling and character development feel rushed. The art style, while polarizing, is seen as effective in enhancing the emotional depth of the characters.

    • “It has some decent twists and turns and good character development.”
    • “The character development is strong, the art style is very appealing, and the story is a twist and turn of unexpected events.”
    • “Various instances in storytelling and character development feel rushed.”
    • “I didn't like the art style much, especially the character design.”
    • “Not that the hands-free feeling should matter, because you’re in for much emotional investment and meaningful character development down this road.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability, primarily functioning as an interactive visual novel with a strong focus on character development and emotional storytelling. Players can experience two alternate endings and minor variations in outcomes, but overall, the incentive to replay is mainly to appreciate missed details from the initial playthrough.

    • “The game offers a decent length and replayability.”
    • “While there isn’t that much replayability, there are 2 different endings, along with 2 different outcomes for Officer Blunt, allowing you to see how others react to some of the dialogue choices.”
    • “In any case, don't expect a lot of replay value here--it's essentially an interactive visual novel, focusing a lot on character backstory and emotions.”
    • “The game can be replayed to obtain at least one alternate ending and some very minor changes to the outcome, but I’d say there is almost no replay value in Rainswept, other than revisiting the story in hindsight, savoring the details you probably missed in your first playthrough.”
    • “While there isn’t that much replayability, there are 2 different endings, along with 2 different outcomes for Officer Blunt, and you can see how others react to some of the dialogue choices.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive at times, though there are no specific grind-related achievements to incentivize this gameplay.

    • “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but it adds to the overall experience.”
    • “While it can be a bit grindy, the rewards make it worthwhile.”
    • “I found it a bit grindy, but the progression kept me engaged.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “Grindy achievement(s): no.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its optimization, with players noting that it can be laggy even on systems that meet minimum requirements, particularly highlighting the need for a decent GPU to avoid stuttering. Many users express hope for future improvements in performance.

    • “I didn't expect the game to be laggy on my computer (which, to be fair, cannot run any of the latest modern triple-A titles). I still hope that the game can be optimized better.”
    • “Unlike many adventures, Rainswept needs a decent GPU to run without stuttering.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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