SELF

About

SELF is a single player simulation game. It was developed by doBell and was released on January 15, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

A Kafkaesque suspense text-based adventure game. Boundaries between dream, reality, memory, and truth are all diffuse. Could you seize the opportunity to find your father and your Self back in this introspective journey?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

story4 positive mentions

The story is complex and rewarding, providing a satisfying experience as players uncover all the endings.
The game features great surreal aesthetics, with art style and music effectively building mood and atmosphere.
It offers a unique narrative experience with creative mini-games that enhance the storytelling.

The game is considered too short for its price, leading some to recommend waiting for a sale.
Many players found the plot confusing and difficult to follow, with some elements lacking clarity.
The mini-games can feel repetitive and unengaging, with some players expressing frustration over the simplicity of the mechanics.

story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
78%
9%
The game's story is a standout feature, characterized by its complexity and engaging text-based narrative that allows players to make choices that shape the outcome. While many players find the overarching plot intriguing and rewarding, some express confusion over specific plot points and character identities. Overall, the storytelling is enhanced by powerful visuals and sound effects, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy interpretive narratives.
- “The story is really where this game shines; it was super interesting to piece together the overarching narrative, and I found myself feeling compelled to see it to the end.”
- “The story is complex and rewarding, and the storytelling and visualization of this game are fabulous.”
- “It was a refreshing new experience that I really enjoyed; I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting storytelling experience.”
- “My only major gripe with it is that I'm still not sure what exactly the plot is; I know bits and pieces and can largely infer the majority of the rest, but I've still got no clue what exactly happened with the main character's father/who the main character is (is he John? Is he King or is King his friend? Does he even know King?).”
- “The story is... cryptic.”
- “It has some slow repetition to get to the points where the story branches, and the avoidance minigame is largely boring, but these are very minor gripes.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and effectiveness in enhancing the overall atmosphere and mood, contributing significantly to the narrative experience. Reviewers highlight its role in creating a compelling and immersive environment, alongside the game's art style and pacing.
- “Art style and music are used to great effect to build mood.”
- “The music is really good, let me start with that.”
- “Such an interesting little game, with great music, atmosphere, pacing, writing, all the things that matter to craft a compelling narrative experience.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are praised for their great surreal aesthetics, with the art style and music effectively enhancing the overall mood of the game.
- “Great surreal aesthetics.”
- “Art style and music are used to great effect to build mood.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional response characterized by frustration and a sense of isolation, as characters in the game frequently ignore their requests and questions, only to later offer help. This unique emotional experience has been likened to the exasperation of dealing with unresponsive customer service, highlighting the game's ability to evoke relatable feelings of helplessness and annoyance.
- “Everyone else (your mother, king, the clown, the people that speak to you over church bells, the fellow student at school) ignores the requests you make of them and questions you ask them, only to ask you shortly thereafter 'what they can do to help.' It was frustrating, and a unique emotion to be induced by a game - it made me feel like I was on the phone with the customer service department at the local cable company.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, characterized by great music and pacing that enhance the overall narrative experience. Reviewers find it compelling and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Such an interesting little game, with great music, atmosphere, pacing, writing, all the things that matter to craft a compelling narrative experience.”