Shady Part of Me

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 723 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Shady Part of Me Game Cover
Excellent gameplay, unique ideas, and a strong presentation make for an easily recommendable narrative puzzle platformer.
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"Shady Part of Me" is a narrative-driven game following a little girl and her shadow. Together, they embark on a poetic journey through surreal dreamscapes, overcoming emotional struggles. Players can switch between 2D and 3D gameplay, using light and shadows to solve puzzles and manipulate time. The game's distinct watercolor aesthetic complements its introspective narrative, filled with twists and contemplative challenges.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 723 reviews
story129 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • Visually stunning with impressive art and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the experience.
  • Clever puzzles that creatively utilize the mechanics of light and shadow, providing a unique gameplay experience.
  • Emotionally resonant story that explores themes of mental health and self-acceptance, making it relatable for many players.
  • Puzzles can feel repetitive and may lack challenge for experienced players, leading to a sense of monotony.
  • The story can be vague and open to interpretation, which may leave some players feeling unsatisfied or confused.
  • Voice acting, particularly for the main character, can be grating and detracts from the overall experience.
  • story426 mentions

    The story of "Shady Part of Me" is often described as deep and thought-provoking, exploring themes of mental health and childhood trauma through a unique narrative style that combines visual storytelling and dialogue. However, many players find the plot vague and open to interpretation, leading to mixed feelings about its coherence and emotional impact. While some appreciate the artistic presentation and the emotional journey, others feel the story lacks clarity and depth, making it less engaging as a narrative-driven experience.

    • “The story is deep, psychological; anyone can interpret it differently.”
    • “The story is a beautiful journey of battling with while also working with yourself to try and be the best you.”
    • “Shady Part of Me tells quite a deep, dark story of a traumatic childhood in an easy-to-swallow way.”
    • “Unfortunately, where the game falls apart is its story, which is a significant issue since the game is narrative-heavy.”
    • “The story beats have mostly dissipated and are quite vague now, or I've just lost track of what tiny thread of a story is present.”
    • “The place where the game was lacking for me was in the story, which is very abstract and honestly, to me, pretty much incomprehensible.”
  • music236 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting its emotional depth and atmospheric qualities. Players appreciate the thoughtful integration of music that changes with gameplay mechanics, particularly when switching between characters, creating a unique auditory experience. However, some users express disappointment over the lack of an official soundtrack release, wishing they could enjoy the music outside of the game.

    • “The music is outstanding and sets a perfect audio mood alongside the beautiful visuals; the art of this game is high.”
    • “The music seriously carries it, with beautiful soundtracks that really match the atmosphere they're trying to set in each stage.”
    • “The soundtrack is honestly one of the best indie soundtracks I've heard in recent times, and to be quite honest, a good few hours of my gameplay is actually just me leaving the soundtrack running because it's super chill and pretty calming.”
    • “I felt disappointed that there was no OST release for the game.”
    • “The accompanying music does the job well enough but doesn't stand out like the visuals do.”
    • “In contrast to the thoughtfulness of the gameplay and music, the ever-present story comes across as particularly 'muddy' as well as being slightly pretentious, crudely voice-acted, and doing a grossly inadequate job of discussing mental illness.”
  • gameplay233 mentions

    The gameplay of "Shady Part of Me" is characterized by its unique blend of 2D and 3D mechanics, primarily revolving around the interaction between a girl and her shadow, which creates engaging puzzles that evolve in complexity. While many players appreciate the beautiful art style, soothing soundtrack, and innovative mechanics like the rewind feature, some criticize the gameplay for being repetitive and simplistic, with a linear progression that can feel rushed and lacking depth. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning experience with intuitive puzzles, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more challenging gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay was engaging and the art was undeniably beautiful.”
    • “The gameplay itself felt very creative.”
    • “The light and shadow mechanics are varied and interesting, and I never ran into an issue of the game breaking, glitching, or the shadows behaving in a way you wouldn't really expect them to, which is important for a game like this.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly basic, with the only gimmick being that you switch between the girl and her shadow.”
    • “The gameplay ends up being the same 2-3 things over and over in various flavors of the same thing, which gets boring after about 5-6 hours.”
    • “I have no desire to see the rest of the story, because the gameplay is simply very simplistic and slow.”
  • graphics179 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, which combines hand-drawn visuals with a unique blend of 2D and 3D elements, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that enhances the emotional narrative. Many players appreciate the beautiful, often dark aesthetic that complements the gameplay and story, while the accompanying music further immerses them in the experience. Overall, the visuals are described as breathtaking, with a strong emphasis on artistic quality and emotional resonance, making them a standout feature of the game.

    • “The visuals and the cinematic are indeed breathtaking as the description of the game says.”
    • “The hand-drawn visuals and hauntingly beautiful atmosphere perfectly complement the game’s emotional narrative.”
    • “The graphics are beautifully breathtaking.”
    • “The graphics aren't anything to write home about.”
    • “Graphics are a bit drab on the color front, but I did very much like the art style and animations (the world sometimes completely changes around you, for instance).”
    • “While the graphics are relatively simple, the whole style of the game is just great.”
  • atmosphere65 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its haunting beauty, enhanced by hand-drawn visuals and a captivating soundtrack that complements the emotional narrative. Reviewers note that while the story may be vague, the atmospheric elements effectively evoke a range of emotions, creating a gripping and immersive experience. Overall, the combination of art style, sound design, and mood contributes to a unique and memorable atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The hand-drawn visuals and hauntingly beautiful atmosphere perfectly complement the game’s emotional narrative.”
    • “A fantastic puzzle game with great music, chilling atmosphere, and a very thought-provoking story.”
    • “The visuals and sound are superb and create a unique atmosphere that's simultaneously dark and bleak, but also calming and comforting.”
    • “But I really wish there was an explanation at the end of what happened to the girl, why she's in the room filled with voices and a scary atmosphere.”
    • “Visually, the game is gorgeous in a sense, but the colors are muted and the atmosphere is melancholy.”
    • “There is barely any timed action, so the stress level is one out of ten, just because of the slightly creepy atmosphere.”
  • emotional58 mentions

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, with players experiencing a range of feelings from pain to joy as they navigate a touching narrative about overcoming struggles. The hand-drawn visuals and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the emotional journey, although some reviewers felt the story lacked clarity and depth at times. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt experience intertwined with engaging puzzles.

    • “The hand-drawn visuals and hauntingly beautiful atmosphere perfectly complement the game’s emotional narrative.”
    • “The messages in the game were highly relatable and either painful or touching, depending on the message.”
    • “It's a truly moving and heartwarming game.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive walking and repetitive tasks to achieve 100% completion. The need for a walkthrough and the drawn-out nature of certain elements contribute to a sense of monotony, making the experience feel slow and laborious at times.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This is all very slow and tedious.”
    • “3.5 hours to finish the game and the rest is AFK card farming.”
    • “Verges on tedious at times: downsides are excessive amount of walking for the sake of walking, and a drawn-out storyline that doesn't quite work.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to players who enjoy uncovering all secrets, but it may not sustain long-term interest beyond the initial playthrough. While it can be completed in about five hours, the lack of diverse gameplay elements may deter some from replaying.

    • “Though I just wish it had replayability; that's the only downside to all puzzle games.”
    • “The game will take you about 5 hours to finish, with some replayability if you want to find every single secret.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game features a charming and well-crafted sense of humor, enhanced by its beautifully animated environments and engaging voice work that delivers comedic moments. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and the amusing elements woven into the gameplay.

    • “A relaxing game, a nice sidescroller with a self-coop part, beautifully animated, the environment is detailed, funny, and well created.”
    • “The voice work is decent and funny at times.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game is praised for its seamless integration of Hannah Murray's captivating performance and an impressive soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate how these elements work together to create an immersive atmosphere.

    • “Hannah Murray's performance brought the characters to life, and the soundtrack blew me away the instant it started dancing along with the gameplay.”
    • “Loved the music and the wonderful performance of the voice actors.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development in the game is enhanced by whimsical designs and seamless world transitions, effectively complementing the narrative and the characters' situations within the story.

    • “The art and character design of this game suits the narrative and the situation of the characters in the story.”
    • “Whimsical character designs and neat world transitions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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