Room of Depression

About

Room of Depression is a single player casual simulation game with romance and drama themes. It was developed by FirePillar2 and was released on May 3, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Same encounter, different world."

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70%

Audience ScoreBased on 277 reviews

story19 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Effectively portrays the daily struggles and emotional numbness of living with depression, highlighting subtle and relatable symptoms such as low energy, disconnection, and difficulty with simple tasks.
Beautifully crafted art style, soothing music, and expressive voice acting enhance the immersive and empathetic narrative experience.
Provides a meaningful and honest perspective that fosters empathy and reflection, making it a useful tool for raising awareness about depression, especially for those unfamiliar with the condition.

The gameplay is minimalistic, repetitive, and can feel slow or boring, particularly the frequent tunnel segments which some players found tedious and frustrating.
The narrative is perceived as surface-level and overly simplistic by some, lacking depth and nuance in its depiction of depression and recovery.
Inclusion of religious themes (specifically Christianity) as part of the protagonist's coping and healing process is controversial; many players felt it was inappropriately emphasized or felt like proselytization, which detracts from the universal appeal and authenticity of the game.

story
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The story offers a calm, authentic portrayal of living with depression through the protagonist Moon’s daily life, focusing on small moments rather than dramatic events, and is praised for its emotional depth and relatability. However, many note that its narrative is somewhat generic, heavy-handed, and overly explanatory, with criticism centered on the prominent religious theme as a "cure," which may alienate some players. While the storytelling is sincere and supported by charming art and voice acting, some feel it tries to generalize one experience of depression and could benefit from a more nuanced and less didactic approach.
- “It doesn’t rely on big events or dramatic storytelling, but instead focuses on the small, quiet moments that really capture what living with depression can feel like.”
- “First of all, the story beautifully blends fragments of real-life experiences, giving you one of the most genuine portrayals of someone going through depression.”
- “The story itself is poignant and grounded, offering a tangible look at daily life through Moon’s perspective.”
- “For a game trying to explore the experience, it falls into a pitfall that is actually mentioned: "Did you think depression was just feeling extreme emotions?" Most of the narrative, barebones as it is, falls into its own trap and only seems to explore the deepest caveats and highest mountains of the story, leaving out nuance of important human experience in its wake.”
- “The game also touches on themes of religion and treatment further down the line, but seems to rush through these aspects and "resolve" the story against its own intentions.”
- “If you are looking for solace and understanding in a game, this is not it; not only is the story terrible since it pushes the idea that mental struggle can only be solved through external factors (religion), it does so very condescendingly with surface-level anecdotes.”
gameplay
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
64%
14%
The gameplay is deliberately minimalistic and slow-paced, focusing on simple interactions and light puzzles that serve to reinforce the game's themes of depression and introspection. While some appreciate its thoughtful narrative integration and emotional authenticity, others find it monotonous, repetitive, and lacking in engaging mechanics, which may limit its appeal to players seeking more dynamic or challenging gameplay. Overall, the gameplay supports the story but can feel sparse and unexciting for those expecting traditional game complexity.
- “Gameplay mechanics are intentionally minimalistic, blending light puzzle elements and interactive sequences with visual novel-style storytelling.”
- “This game's gameplay is simplistic; however, that aids the game so well in showcasing the struggle of depression in a playable format.”
- “The gameplay is easy to follow, the art style is soft and charming, and the music is incredibly sweet; calming, even in scenes of moon’s more intrusive thoughts.”
- “The gameplay is very basic; you are mostly just walking around, interacting with things, and making small choices.”
- “I recognise the meaning and intentions behind the game, as well as what the slow and repetitive gameplay represents; however, I believe that the overly simple gameplay only makes it harder for a player to engage with the game.”
- “Despite this excellent use of the tunnel, its repetitiveness, although fitting with the theme of depression and monotony which the developers want to convey, does not take into consideration the player experience—this also makes the gameplay feel monotonous and boring.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
57%
The game’s graphics feature a soft, charming, and stylized 2D art style that is widely praised for its cuteness and emotional expressiveness, effectively complementing the introspective and sensitive themes. The use of color and visuals contrasts brighter, hopeful scenes with darker, somber areas to reflect the protagonist’s mental state, creating a visually engaging and thoughtful experience. Overall, the artwork is considered the standout aspect, enhancing the storytelling and atmosphere despite some mixed feelings about other elements.
- “Let me just say that I adore the art style, and that was my whole reason for purchasing the game.”
- “The art style and sound design, in my opinion, are amazing. It is simple and cute with brighter colors for the main levels, while the somber and low music showcase how on the outside some people with depression might seem fine. The tunnel areas representing Moon's mind use a drab and dark color scheme with grays and blacks, highlighting feelings of hopelessness.”
- “The illustrations are carefully crafted using a consistent color palette that is easy on the eyes, and the art style conveys everything in a simple yet expressive way.”
emotional
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a deeply emotional, reflective experience that authentically portrays the quiet, enduring struggles of living with depression, often eliciting strong empathetic and tearful responses. Its slow, minimalist interactivity emphasizes embodiment and emotional resonance over gameplay complexity, which may not appeal to all players but offers meaningful insight and comfort for those seeking narrative-driven, emotionally authentic storytelling. While some find its tone heavy or at times uneven, it is widely praised for its honest, touching depiction of mental health challenges.
- “Room of Depression is an intimate, emotionally driven indie narrative experience that places players inside the quiet, often invisible struggles of its protagonist, Moon.”
- “From the very beginning, the game establishes that this is not a power fantasy or an escapist adventure, but a reflective journey through the inner world of someone who appears outwardly functional while internally wrestling with emotional weight that colors every aspect of daily life.”
- “As someone who struggles a lot with depression, I feel like this game really represented it well and the story really touched me; I cried like twice. I hope this helps others find some peace and understanding about mental illness, and I would really recommend this game.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
30%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised for its sweet, calming, and somber qualities that effectively complement the art style and narrative. Players find the soundtrack soothing, immersive, and fitting for the game's emotional themes, enhancing the overall atmosphere without overpowering the storytelling. While mostly well-received, a few note it as somewhat repetitive or less impactful, but overall the music is considered a strong and memorable aspect.
- “The art style and sound design as well in my opinion is amazing as, how I interpreted it, it is simple and cute with brighter colors as the appearance for the main levels as well as the somber and low music showcase how on the outside some people with depression might seem completely fine and okay; however the juxtaposition with the tunnel areas representing Moon's mind and showcases her thoughts and feelings, having a more drab and dark color scheme with grays and blacks with only the howling of the wind showcasing just how hopeless and empty some people feel.”
- “The music and ambiance are wonderful—they’re both soothing and immersive, helping you sink deeper into the world of the game.”
- “The symbolism and themes are top quality, the music is amazing, the voice acting is incredibly done, and the art is fantastic.”
- “Another thing that I should talk about is the music, which is very bland and forgettable, plus it doesn't give the somber atmosphere that it should have.”
- “There is a single piece of music that plays the entire time.”
- “The soundtrack remains subdued, often ambient and melancholic, supporting rather than overpowering the narrative.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its immersive and cozy design, with a soft color palette enhancing the experience. However, some find the music bland and not fully capturing the intended somber mood, leading to mixed feelings about its effectiveness in portraying the reality of depression. Overall, the atmosphere contributes uniquely to the game's empathetic and engaging exploration of its themes.
- “Lovely, perfectly matched, helping immerse in the atmosphere.”
- “The soft colour palette and music used further add to this game's cozy atmosphere.”
- “The game's immersive atmosphere and focus on experience make it a unique and engaging game that educates players while providing them with an empathetic view of depression.”
- “Another thing that I should talk about is the music, which is very bland and forgettable, plus it doesn't give the somber atmosphere that it should have.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game offers minimal replayability, with most achievements tied to a single playthrough and limited incentive for multiple sessions. It primarily appeals to players seeking a narrative-driven, emotionally authentic experience rather than those looking for complex mechanics or replay value.
- “No replayability, nor would I recommend this to someone genuinely wanting to learn more about depression.”
- “Replayability - 0/5.”
- “As all achievements in the game are achieved by simply completing the game, I don't believe the game has much replayability.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game runs smoothly on standard hardware and includes modern indie features like controller support and achievements, ensuring good performance. Its optimization effectively supports the emotional experience, enhancing the portrayal beyond what text alone can convey.
- “It runs smoothly on standard hardware and includes features typical of modern indie releases, such as controller support and achievement integration.”
- “The performance conveys hesitation, fatigue, and occasional flickers of hope in a way that text alone might not fully achieve.”
- “In the end, you are still watching a kind of performance; at best, you may feel that the character is suffering and deserves sympathy.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor is noted for its dark and ironic tone, particularly regarding religion, with some users finding it both sharp and amusing. However, its comedic style may not appeal to everyone due to its sensitive subject matter.
- “Funny, considering the number of people who grow depressed because of religion, especially Christianity.”
- “It's funny.”
- “Although the electric chair comment was funny because it's relatable.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect tedious and slow, particularly criticizing repetitive actions like repeatedly walking through tunnels and slow movement during progression.
- “Additionally, the progression system can be tedious at times, particularly when you have to walk through a tunnel every time you move forward in the story.”
- “The mechanics were a little tedious though, like the slow walking.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is hindered by numerous bugs, particularly in interactive elements, causing frustrating delays such as repeated inputs required to progress. This significantly impacts the overall gameplay experience despite these parts not being the main focus.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Room of Depression is a casual simulation game with romance and drama themes.

Room of Depression is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Phone and others.

Room of Depression was released on May 3, 2023.

Room of Depression was developed by FirePillar2.

Room of Depression has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Room of Depression for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Room of Depression is a single player game.

Similar games include and Roger, That Dragon, Cancer, Depression Quest, Sea of Solitude, If Found... and others.

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