Saving You From Yourself

About

Saving You From Yourself is a game about gatekeeping for transgender women.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 176 reviews

emotional10 positive mentions

graphics4 negative mentions

The game effectively highlights the challenges and emotional turmoil faced by trans individuals in accessing hormone treatment, making it a poignant commentary on medical gatekeeping.
Despite its short length, the game manages to convey a powerful message about the impact of gatekeeping on mental health and the lengths individuals may go to in order to transition.
Many players appreciate the game's raw and honest portrayal of the healthcare system's failures, encouraging reflection on the experiences of trans people.

Some players feel the game misrepresents the trans experience and perpetuates harmful stereotypes, particularly in its portrayal of the therapist's role and the implications of denying treatment.
The game's simplistic approach and lack of depth in character development leave some players feeling unsatisfied and questioning its educational value.
Critics argue that the game's title and certain dialogues may reinforce negative perceptions about trans individuals, leading to misunderstandings about its intended message.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The game's story presents a critical view of the therapist character, who embodies narcissism and egotism, suggesting that the act of "saving" someone can be more harmful than helpful. It emphasizes the importance of individual agency, illustrating that true happiness comes from personal decisions rather than external control. While some players find the narrative straightforward and lacking depth, others appreciate its commentary on the dynamics of therapy and self-determination.
- “Honestly, I don't have too much life experience with the topics described in this story, so perhaps my input isn't exactly the most relevant, but I think this game is truly exceptional in its presentation.”
- “As the game's story itself shows, only individuals can decide what is truly right for them.”
- “You're supposed to see the gatekeeping as cruel because that's exactly what it is; the therapist player character is the villain of the story, with a monetary incentive to draw out the sessions and collect money while forcing Arle into making sacrifices in the hope of potentially getting what she needs.”
- “The story is awful but the font is even worse.”
- “You're supposed to see the gatekeeping as cruel because that's exactly what it is. The therapist player character is the villain of the story, as they have a monetary incentive to draw out the sessions and collect money while forcing Arle into making sacrifices in the hope of potentially getting what she needs.”
- “As many of the other reviews have pointed out, the dialogue from the therapist player character seems narcissistic and egotistical. It's pretty egotistical to think that you know what's best for someone else, more so than they do, and the way the story unfolds with Arle illustrates that the best possible ending, which leads to Arle's happiness, is to refrain from gatekeeping entirely.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
61%
22%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique hand-drawn art style and effective use of color to convey emotions, while others criticize the overall quality and aesthetic appeal, describing it as jarring and poorly executed. Despite the interesting execution in certain aspects, many users find the graphics lacking in resolution and coherence, leading to a generally negative perception.
- “The graphics are executed interestingly and considering how short the game is, they're great.”
- “Even though the game is extremely short, the usage of colors, the intentionally abrasive font, and the almost dream-like visuals express the situation in a way words can't.”
- “Each page of the game has unique artwork.”
- “The graphics are poor, the resolution of the option buttons is terrible, and I wonder if a moody teenager or even a child made this game given its low quality.”
- “- aesthetically unappealing layout at times.”
- “As a trans person, I'll say that this game is very jarring; aside from the questionable graphics and even more questionable art style, it doesn't really attempt to assign a moral or overarching theme to it.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game elicits strong emotional responses, with players noting its impactful themes surrounding therapy and the consequences of prolonged treatment. However, the use of brief recaps instead of in-depth dialogue can hinder deeper emotional investment. While it effectively provokes discomfort and reflection, some players feel that the game's handling of sensitive topics may not fully resonate due to biases present in the narrative.
- “A really touching game!”
- “The game is very clear that the longer the therapist drags this out for, the more they are hurting their patient emotionally, physically, and financially.”
- “This game made me feel extremely uncomfortable in two out of three of the endings.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The gameplay is primarily a visual novel format that lacks engaging mechanics, relying heavily on poorly written text that detracts from the experience. While it offers multiple routes for replayability, players often find the repetitive nature of clicking through the narrative to be unsatisfying and increasingly uncomfortable. Overall, the gameplay fails to deliver a compelling experience, leaving many feeling it is not worth the investment.
- “It's a visual novel with multiple routes meant to be replayed, but even with that mechanical knowledge, each subsequent run feels increasingly perverse as you draw out Arle's therapy for reasons only the player can answer.”
- “There are no gameplay loops; it's just clicking through badly written e-book text. If the developer was a competent author, this would be a novel on bookshelves in bookstores, and not shoddily self-published on Steam for $100 USD. A waste of money, I might add.”
- “It’s a visual novel with multiple routes meant to be replayed, but even with that mechanical knowledge, each subsequent run feels increasingly perverse as you draw out Arle’s therapy for reasons only the player can answer.”
- “Sounds off from the description, but gameplay makes it obvious that it should not be taken at face value.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report no grinding achievements, indicating a lack of repetitive tasks or challenges that require extensive effort to complete. This suggests a more streamlined gameplay experience without the typical grind often found in similar games.
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features no music, with the developer intentionally opting for silence, as highlighted in the trailer, which some users find off-putting.
- “There is no music, and the trailer video has the developer choosing to ear rape you, saying it's for your own good.”

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