Room of Depression

About

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

"Room of Depression" is an adventure game that offers a glimpse into the world of depression through the character Moon. Players will experience Moon's daily life and the unique way depression affects her, with the goal of increasing understanding of the mental illness. The game is donating a portion of its revenue to charity fundraising projects to further raise awareness.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews

story5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game effectively portrays the feelings and struggles associated with depression, making it relatable for many players.
The art style and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall emotional experience of the game.
It serves as a valuable tool for raising awareness about depression and can help those unfamiliar with the condition understand it better.

The inclusion of religious themes detracts from the experience, making it difficult for non-religious players to connect with the protagonist's journey.
The game often feels overly explanatory, treating players as if they lack understanding of depression, which can come off as condescending.
Some players feel that the game simplifies the complexities of depression, failing to capture the full range of experiences associated with the condition.

story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The game's story, centered on the protagonist Moon's journey through depression, is praised for its emotional depth and beautiful art, though some players feel it limits empathy by incorporating religious themes. While the narrative effectively captures the nuances of depression, critiques arise regarding its generalizations and occasional clichés, suggesting a more focused and less didactic approach could enhance the experience. Overall, the storytelling is considered strong, resonating with players who find personal connections to Moon's struggles.
- “A short story about Moon Yuyuet going through depression, but then finally starts to heal.”
- “It's a short, sweet game with beautiful art and storytelling that captures experiences in ways I can't articulate.”
- “I won't deny that I found a bit of myself in Moon's story.”
- “But I wish they hadn't limited the experience so much by involving religion in the story, making anyone not religious unable to empathize with the protagonist and their struggles.”
- “The game does caution the player that this depiction won't align with everyone's experience of depression, but it does a rather poor job of keeping this in mind throughout the story because it keeps referring to depressed people as 'we' (at least in Japanese and Indonesian).”
- “Basically, I think the game would be much better if it focused just on Moon's story as one instance of depression, without trying to generalize things, and let the story tell itself instead of lecturing the player through the tunnel notes.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply resonant, particularly for players dealing with depression, as it evokes strong feelings of empathy and reflection on personal struggles. While some found the experience to be overwhelming or disheartening, others appreciated its educational and introspective nature, highlighting its ability to authentically capture the emotional landscape of mental health. Overall, it is described as a short yet impactful journey that encourages players to connect with their own feelings.
- “As a non-religious person who struggles with depression every day, the message it sends is kind of heartbreaking.”
- “Highly recommended for empathizing and getting to know the emotional life and color palette of a person with this condition.”
- “I can feel all these moments that I've been through and it makes me want to cry because it's so real to me.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The gameplay is primarily focused on storytelling through interactive visual novel mechanics, drawing comparisons to titles like "Florence." While the experience is engaging and unique, some players find certain mechanics, such as slow walking, to be tedious. Overall, the gameplay effectively combines narrative and interactivity, though it may not be the main focus of the game.
- “It makes for very interactive and unique gameplay.”
- “I played it with a friend who is also depressed and we were remarking on how good the mechanics and storytelling gel with each other.”
- “At that, the game succeeds, although it is comparable to picking through a PowerPoint presentation in terms of gameplay.”
- “The mechanics were a little tedious, though, like the slow walking.”
- “It's more or less storytelling through gameplay.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The game's graphics are highlighted for their unique and appealing art style, which many players find lovely and cute, effectively complementing the psychological themes and music. However, while the visuals are praised, some reviewers feel that the overall execution falls short, leading to mixed feelings about the game's impact.
- “Firstly, I'd like to mention that the art style for this game is absolutely lovely and arguably the best aspect of it.”
- “The art style is very cute, and the sullen music complemented the style well.”
- “Look, the art style is very nice and the game represents doing daily tasks with depression in an interesting way.”
- “The execution of the art style is kind of underwhelming.”
- “While the artwork is cute, it ultimately falls short in execution.”
- “The graphics are cute, but they don't quite meet expectations.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its ability to enhance the cozy atmosphere and complement the art style, others find it bland and forgettable, lacking the emotional depth expected for a somber setting. Overall, the soundtrack is noted as a positive aspect by many, contributing to the game's charming presentation.
- “It has beautiful art and music, so that is worth a look through at least.”
- “The soft color palette and music used further add to this game's cozy atmosphere.”
- “The art style is very cute, and the sullen music complemented the style well.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy aesthetic enhanced by a soft color palette, but opinions are divided on its effectiveness in conveying deeper themes, such as depression. While some appreciate the overall ambiance, others find the music bland and lacking the emotional weight needed to support the intended somber tone.
- “The soft color palette and music used further add to this game's cozy atmosphere.”
- “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.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding mechanics somewhat tedious, particularly noting the slow walking speed as a frustrating aspect of the gameplay.
- “The mechanics were a little tedious, like the slow walking.”
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
- “The repetitive tasks required for leveling up make the experience feel monotonous.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with users finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable.