Shinrai: Broken Beyond Despair

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 112 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Shinrai: Broken Beyond Despair Game Cover
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In "SHINRAI: Broken Beyond Despair" , ten friends gather for a Halloween party at a remote mountain resort, only to find themselves trapped with a murderer. As they investigate and unveil the killer's identity, their journey reveals the horrors that despair can bring. This interactive visual novel offers choices that impact your detective rank and story outcome, with multiple endings based on your decisions.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 112 reviews
story19 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The mystery is well-crafted with logical clues and satisfying twists that keep players engaged.
  • Characters are distinct and develop throughout the story, making players care about their fates.
  • The game successfully combines humor and suspense, creating an enjoyable atmosphere despite a slow start.
  • The beginning is slow and may deter players, with excessive exposition and forced humor.
  • Some character dialogue can feel cringeworthy and overly reliant on anime tropes.
  • The art style may not appeal to everyone, and the music can become repetitive.
  • story97 mentions

    The story is a classic murder mystery that unfolds with a mix of engaging twists and character-driven narratives, though it suffers from a slow start and some underdeveloped characters. While the writing is praised for its detail and flow, some reviewers noted issues with character relevance and pacing, leading to mixed feelings about the overall impact of the plot. Despite these criticisms, many found the mystery compelling and the character arcs rewarding, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

    • “You are treated with the feeling that is the hallmark of a fantastic mystery story - overwhelmed, but with enough breadcrumbs to construct some idea of what is going on, only to have your assumptions challenged again and again.”
    • “The writing is very detailed and flows well; the characters are well written and distinct from one another, and the plot contains a lot of twists and turns and mysteries to ponder.”
    • “It’s a very nicely crafted murder mystery story with enough twists and turns to keep you entertained, but the conclusion makes sense and it’s satisfying to reach.”
    • “While the mystery at the heart of this story was fine, it was not interesting enough to make up for everything else.”
    • “I didn't especially care for any of the characters; the prose style (at least of the English translation) was stiff and repetitive; moments of humor were really, really bad--perhaps they simply don't translate well--and the pacing of the story was rather slow.”
    • “On the negative side, the story is very slow to build, with key revelations and motivations unfolding in a large exposition dump at the end.”
  • music26 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as beautiful and effective, particularly during tense moments and in atmospheric settings, enhancing the overall experience. However, many users noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive, with some tracks looping frequently and a lack of variety. While it may not reach the memorable heights of other titles like Danganronpa, the music remains enjoyable and contributes positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “The music is at its best in the mountain resort's creepy dark environments the characters often find themselves in, where uncertainty is in the air, and anything can jump out to surprise them.”
    • “I knew the music was effective when I would brace myself for a potential jump scare!”
    • “The overarching mystery was well crafted, abetted by charming characters, colorful artwork, and an atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “Most of the background music is meh.”
    • “The music seemed to be short and loops often.”
    • “The soundtrack I found a bit lackluster, and I kept wondering if it was a problem with my notebook, but I could always notice the music/sound effects looping, and it broke the immersion a little bit.”
  • graphics24 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players finding the art style charming and fitting for the narrative, while others criticize it as amateurish and unappealing. Despite its simplistic visuals, many agree that the artwork effectively conveys the game's atmosphere and character emotions, enhancing the overall experience. Ultimately, the art style is seen as a matter of personal taste, with some players appreciating its unique charm while others feel it detracts from the game.

    • “For an indie game, the writing and artwork is great.”
    • “Once you dive into the game, the artwork morphs into something endearing, giving the characters a distinct charm.”
    • “I quickly warmed to the artwork, as it is expressive, unique and fits the game well.”
    • “The artwork doesn't fit at all; it's not even an acquired taste.”
    • “The art can be pretty ugly at times, and in the case of [spoiler]kotoba's death[/spoiler], incredibly graphic for the style.”
    • “As someone who judges games a lot by their design, the art style almost made me pass on this game.”
  • gameplay19 mentions

    The gameplay in this visual novel primarily revolves around reading and making choices to progress the story, complemented by a user-friendly interface. Players engage in light investigation mechanics, including clue-finding and presenting evidence, reminiscent of titles like Ace Attorney and Danganronpa. While the gameplay is generally well-received for its balance of interactivity and narrative, some players feel it could benefit from more challenging elements and deeper exploration of its mechanics.

    • “This gameplay is aided by a really nice UI that was extremely easy to figure out and use.”
    • “The gameplay involves some visual novel style choices, some light investigation sequences, and parts where you try to pick the correct suspect or evidence.”
    • “As a visual novel, gameplay in Shinrai ~ Broken Beyond Despair consists primarily of reading, with interactivity delegated to segments wherein the player is prompted to present evidence in order to prove or disprove character deductions.”
    • “The game's mechanics are fine; the 'room search' feature doesn't get much chance to be used, and it's a bit too easy to know what objects are important while searching (unlike in the dialogue and cut-scenes, where a close eye for detail is required).”
    • “This game is a little gem even if not particularly difficult to finish (reveal the mystery) and definitely deserves a place in every fan of visual novels' collection, but for those who aren't used to this kind of gameplay, it could be difficult to appreciate.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it forced and juvenile, particularly in the early stages, while others appreciate the witty dialogue and charming character quirks that develop over time. References to pop culture and relatable speech patterns contribute positively to the humor, making certain characters memorable and amusing. Overall, while the humor may not resonate with everyone, it evolves into a more enjoyable aspect as the game progresses.

    • “Beneath her anti-social behavior lies a cool, calm, and collected girl, providing hilarious scenes when clashed against the game's outlandish personalities.”
    • “There is a lot of witty humor between characters, which is amusing when it needs to be.”
    • “It does what it has to - you grow to like the characters and their funny quirks.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The game offers a wholesome and emotional experience, particularly highlighted by its dynamic characters and impactful true ending that reveals a poignant tragedy. While some players have mixed feelings about the characters' maturity given their ages, the overall narrative is both challenging and heartwarming, leaving a lasting impression.

    • “When you figure out the true ending, it really hits home and can be quite an emotional experience when you realize the true tragedy that's at the heart of this game.”
    • “It's also challenging and heartwarming with memorable characters.”
    • “Definitely not the longest visual novel around, but this game feels wholesome for the low price and dynamic characters.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed, with some players finding it tedious and excessive, suggesting that it requires a significant time investment, while others appreciate that there is minimal grinding involved. Overall, the experience varies widely, with some feeling overwhelmed by the grind and others finding it manageable.

    • “Minimal grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Tedious.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating suspense and well-crafted mystery, enhanced by charming characters and colorful artwork. Players find themselves fully immersed, with the atmospheric soundtrack further drawing them into the experience. Overall, it creates a compelling environment that keeps players engaged throughout the playthrough.

    • “The overarching mystery was well crafted, abetted by charming characters, colorful artwork, and an atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “Tldr: great visual novel; very complex mystery; likable characters; masterful suspense and atmosphere; nice art that will grow on you and even surprise you.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development in the game features designs for Rie and Taiko that evoke a nostalgic 90s aesthetic, which some players find charmingly retro, while others may perceive it as outdated compared to modern, sleek character designs.

    • “The character designs of Rie and Taiko are truly captivating.”
    • “The game has a delightful retro feel reminiscent of the 90s, which adds a unique charm, though I understand that some may prefer more modern, sleek character designs.”
    • “The character designs for Rie and Taiko are quite underwhelming.”
    • “While the game has a delightfully retro feel reminiscent of the 90s, some may find the character designs tacky compared to newer, more polished styles.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, but some users have reported experiencing a few glitches towards the end.

    • “The game had a few glitches at the end, which affected my overall experience.”
    • “There were several stability issues that caused frequent crashes during gameplay.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my progress and made the game frustrating to play.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The reviews do not provide any specific insights into the game's optimization, focusing instead on the composer's performance. Therefore, no conclusions can be drawn regarding the optimization aspect.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
8-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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