Retention: A Love Story

About

Retention: A Love Story is a single player action game. It was developed by Noah Scarborough and was released on March 1, 2021. It received neutral reviews from players.

A short puzzle game with a big story to tell. Dive in to reveal the mysteries of Amy's past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

45%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

graphics1 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features interesting stylization choices and decent voice acting, showcasing the effort put in by the development team.
The concept of exploring themes like Alzheimer's and dementia is compelling and resonates with many players.
Despite its flaws, some players found enjoyment in the game and appreciated the ambition behind the project.

The game is plagued by numerous game-breaking bugs and clunky controls, making it frustrating and unplayable for many.
There are no save states, only checkpoints that do not persist after exiting the game, leading to repeated frustrations.
The graphics and overall presentation can be nauseating, detracting from the overall experience and enjoyment of the game.

story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The story of "Retention: A Love Story" is criticized for being underdeveloped and unengaging, with a protagonist that fails to resonate with players. While the game features an interesting concept and animation, the overall narrative is overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics and technical issues, leading many to feel that the effort to uncover the story is not worth the experience.
- “From a playability perspective, 'Retention: A Love Story' would have been more enjoyable if the development team stripped away some of the puzzles in favor of a simpler, more story-driven game.”
- “The protagonist is not very likable, and it makes it hard to become invested in their life's story.”
- “At this point, I don't see myself playing through the game for a third time just to learn the ending of the story.”
- “There are at least 2 game-breaking bugs, where the only fix is to close the game and start all over again, and after the second one, I just couldn't force myself to get through it again for the story, which just feels miserable even without the Alzheimer's angle they're going for.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics have been criticized for being nauseating, making the game difficult to enjoy for some players. This negative visual experience detracts from the overall gameplay, overshadowing any potential story elements.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its exploration of profound themes, with many players finding it to be one of the most moving titles released last year, similar to the impactful experiences offered by "Before I Forget."
- “Last year, 3-Fold Games explored similar themes in 'Before I Forget', and for many, it was one of the most emotionally moving titles released that year.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's stability is severely criticized, with players reporting game-breaking bugs that hinder enjoyment, even for those who typically tolerate flaws in other titles.
- “Normally, even if a game is 'bad' or buggy, I'll still play it and find reasons to enjoy it, but the bugs here are just completely game-breaking.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
- “I encountered so many glitches that it ruined my overall experience.”