Room of Depression

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 117 reviews

story9 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

The game beautifully portrays the experience of depression, allowing players to empathize with the protagonist's struggles.
The art style and music are charming and enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
It successfully raises awareness about mental health issues and encourages players to seek help and support.

The gameplay can feel monotonous and repetitive, particularly with the frequent tunnel sequences that may bore players.
The narrative is overly explanatory, often telling rather than showing, which can detract from the emotional impact of the story.
The inclusion of religious themes may alienate some players and detracts from the game's focus on personal experiences with depression.

story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
70%
8%
The game's story, centered around the character Moon and her experience with depression, receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its emotional depth and artistic presentation, many criticize its heavy-handed narration and lack of subtlety in conveying its themes. Reviewers suggest that the storytelling would benefit from a more focused approach on Moon's personal journey rather than attempting to generalize the experience of depression, which can detract from player engagement. Overall, the narrative is seen as a commendable effort to address mental health, but it often feels more like a lesson than an immersive story.
- “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.”
- “These chapters contain a part of Moon's story of battling depression, being combined with a little mini-game or interactable to display her story.”
- “It's a short, sweet game with beautiful art and storytelling which captures how it is in ways I can't articulate.”
- “I found that while there are good intentions behind the game, it fell short on the plot and gameplay aspect.”
- “The message is very in-your-face and over-explains everything instead of sharing the message through storytelling, which would allow the player to analyze the story themselves.”
- “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.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it monotonous and overly simplistic, particularly due to repetitive elements like walking through a long tunnel. While some appreciate the intentional design choices that reflect the theme of depression, others feel that these choices detract from player engagement and enjoyment. Despite a few clever mechanics and a strong art style, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, making it difficult for players to fully recommend the game.
- “Some of the game mechanics were really clever and impressive.”
- “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.”
- “The game's mission to explain depression is commendable, and it is achieved through the gameplay itself.”
- “I didn't enjoy the gameplay very much.”
- “I recognize 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 it fits with the theme of depression and monotony which the developers want to convey, doesn't take into consideration the player experience - which also makes the gameplay feel monotonous and boring.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
30%
15%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming and unique art style, which many players found endearing and well-suited to the game's themes. While some noted a lack of variety and felt the visuals sometimes overshadowed gameplay, the overall aesthetic, including the color scheme and soundtrack, was highlighted as a strong point. Despite some criticisms regarding execution, the visuals remain a standout feature that resonates with players.
- “Loved the art style and the chosen font, which is an odd thing to like, but the office supply framing hit the spot for me.”
- “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.”
- “Not a big fan of the voice acting; the art style could use a bit of variety.”
- “Its worth it if you snatch it on a sale; the idea and art style are there, but the execution is kind of underwhelming.”
- “While there are good intentions behind the game, I believe that it fell short on the plot and gameplay aspect.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as beautiful and fitting for the game's atmosphere, while others find it bland and forgettable. Many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the charming art style and cozy ambiance, though a few feel it falls short in creating the intended emotional depth. Overall, the music is generally seen as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's presentation.
- “I found the music in the game to be great; I loved the background music, and I would probably add the music to a playlist and listen to it in my free time.”
- “The soft color palette and music used further add to this game's cozy atmosphere.”
- “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.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses; while some players find it deeply resonant and reflective of their own struggles with depression, others criticize its attempts at emotional depth as ineffective or overly self-indulgent. Many appreciate the game's focus on empathy and its educational value regarding emotional experiences, though some feel it lacks engagement and leaves them feeling unsatisfied. Overall, it is seen as a short, contemplative experience rather than a traditional game.
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The game's atmosphere receives mixed reviews; while some praise its immersive portrayal of depression and cozy aesthetic, others criticize the music as bland and ineffective in conveying the intended somber tone. Overall, it is noted for its unique approach to the experience of depression, though it may not resonate with all players.
- “The soft color 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; it doesn't create the somber atmosphere that it should have.”
- “The game's focus on the atmosphere and experience of depression is executed brilliantly, immersing players in a world that is different from the norm.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with users noting that all achievements can be unlocked by merely completing the game, leading to a lack of incentive to play again. Improvements in this area are suggested to enhance the overall experience.
- “As all achievements in the game are achieved by simply completing the game, I don't believe the game has much replayability.”
- “One aspect of the game that could be improved is its replay value.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players found the grinding aspect of the game to be repetitive and tedious, with minigames feeling more like chores than enjoyable challenges. This led to a lack of engagement and motivation, compounded by slow movement mechanics that further detracted from the experience.
- “The gameplay was repetitive and tedious; minigames felt more like chores than challenges, which made it hard to stay engaged and motivated to play.”
- “The mechanics were a little tedious, like the slow walking.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its satirical take on religion, particularly Christianity, highlighting the irony of how it can lead to feelings of depression for some. This perspective adds a layer of dark humor that resonates with players.
- “It's funny.”