Shrinking Pains

About

Shrinking Pains is a single player action game. It was developed by Bedtime Phobias and was released on April 27, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

You spend a day seeing how many coins you can fit into the hollows above your collarbones. You're losing yourself first in inches, then moments... Will you survive yourself?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 178 reviews

story14 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a beautifully crafted narrative that sensitively explores the themes of mental illness and eating disorders, providing a poignant insight into the struggles faced by those affected.
The art style is visually appealing and complements the emotional tone of the story, enhancing the overall experience for players.
Despite its short length, the game effectively conveys deep emotions and encourages players to reflect on serious topics, making it a worthwhile experience.

The gameplay is very short, with limited choices that often feel inconsequential, leading to a lack of depth in the narrative experience.
Some players found the portrayal of eating disorders to be too bleak and lacking in hope, which may not resonate well with everyone.
The game may be triggering for individuals with personal experiences related to eating disorders, and it lacks sufficient content warnings or resources for those who might need support.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The story of the game is a poignant exploration of the struggles associated with eating disorders, particularly anorexia, and while it is short, it effectively conveys deep emotional themes and personal experiences. Many players found the narrative relatable and impactful, though some criticized its brevity and lack of character depth, suggesting that it could benefit from more detailed storytelling and multiple endings. Overall, the game is recognized for its strong writing and ability to provoke thought about mental health, despite its limitations in gameplay choices and character development.
- “The developers have done an exceptional job of creating a story that, while fictional, feels incredibly real.”
- “This game tells a story about a person with anorexia, it tries to show how much it affects everyday life, relationships, and how living life with it feels like.”
- “Every character is well thought out, and the story is very hard-hitting, even with a short playtime.”
- “The story itself isn't long (5-10 mins), and it's actually quite depressing to think about.”
- “The emotional aspects seemed a little bit surface level and it felt like the storyline could benefit from a bit more detail, I'm not really sure how to describe that better.”
- “Shallow storytelling, hollow characters, pretentious ending.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
37%
10%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style, which features meticulously designed visuals that evoke strong emotions and enhance the narrative experience. While some reviewers note that the graphics can feel unpolished or simplistic, the overall aesthetic—often described as beautiful and immersive—effectively complements the game's themes and storytelling. The combination of unique visuals and a haunting soundtrack contributes significantly to the emotional impact of the gameplay.
- “The art style is stunning, with every scene meticulously designed to evoke emotion and immerse the player in the world of the game.”
- “With striking visuals and an immersive writing style, I'd say this accomplishes what the developer set out to do in a hauntingly beautiful way.”
- “The black on white drawings are effective graphics, and the choices help showcase the daily journey of the anorexic while gentle ambient music fills the background.”
- “Visuals are not nice for your eyes.”
- “The graphics are unique but feel like an unpolished sketch page from a Tumblr blog post.”
- “The visuals and audio are pretty disturbing and unsettling.”
emotional
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game has been widely praised for its ability to evoke deep feelings and provoke reflection on personal experiences, particularly regarding mental health themes. While some reviewers noted that the emotional depth could be enhanced with more detailed storytelling, many found the game's simple art style and music effectively complemented its poignant narrative. Overall, players appreciated the game's concise yet impactful exploration of distressing topics, making it a worthwhile experience despite its brevity.
- “I highly recommend 'Shrinking Pains' to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant gaming experience.”
- “The ending didn't even need text to make me feel overwhelmed and emotional.”
- “It is a short game, which is perfect for the difficult topic that this covers, but it gives you enough time to consider the emotional strains that mental illness places on all characters (friends, family, and yourself) without being overwhelming.”
- “Ten minutes of a boring story that should have been a comic on an Instagram post. I suppose it tries to teach something about emotional distress?”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The gameplay is brief, lasting around 15-20 minutes, and primarily consists of point-and-click mechanics that effectively convey the emotional struggles associated with anorexia. While the game is simple and not particularly challenging, its powerful narrative and artistic presentation make the experience impactful and worthwhile. Players may find themselves feeling trapped, mirroring the themes of the story, which adds depth to the overall gameplay experience.
- “It’s subtle mechanics weave into the visual novel in a deliberate and powerful way.”
- “Creative choice mechanics and interesting characters grab you and pull you in.”
- “Overall, worth the gameplay, but it's an extremely simple game.”
- “Within less than 5 minutes of gameplay, you've completed the game.”
- “It contains distressing and emotional themes but is definitely worth the short amount of gameplay as it gives you a feel of what those suffering with an eating disorder go through in their day-to-day lives.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
13%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the emotional depth and atmosphere, effectively complementing the themes of unease and mental health struggles. While the soundtrack is described as original and fitting, some users noted that the sound effects could be improved and that separate volume controls would be beneficial. Overall, the combination of gentle ambient music and striking visuals creates an immersive experience that resonates with players.
- “Lovely art style with great music choices that help emphasize the unease of the topic at hand.”
- “I think they did a very good job with the graphics, music, and words to set the scene and explain what it is like to live a life without joy, without color.”
- “The music is simple but fitting for the tone of the game, the art is simple but has a level of detail, and the choices you make are simple but have an effect on you in an emotional way.”
- “The music is original, but the sound effects are jarringly sandwiched in.”
- “The black on white drawings are effective graphics & the choices help showcase the daily journey of the anorexic while gentle ambient music fills the background.”
- “The music is simple but fitting for the tone of the game, the art is simple but has a level of detail and the choices you make are simple but have an effect on you in an emotional way.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a profound sense of desolation, loneliness, and dread, effectively immersing players in the struggles associated with mental illness. This emotional depth enhances the overall experience, making the environment feel both haunting and relatable.
- “As someone who has experienced this myself, it really sets an atmosphere and environment of someone who is struggling with mental illness.”
- “There's an atmosphere of desolation, loneliness, and dread that permeates the entire game.”
- “As someone who has experienced this myself, this really sets an atmosphere and environment of someone who is struggling with mental illness.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers moderate replayability, primarily due to the ability to change the partner's gender and explore different story outcomes. Players can enjoy 2-3 playthroughs, each lasting around 15-20 minutes, making it engaging enough to revisit without being overly extensive.
- “It does have some replay value, especially if you want to change the gender of your partner and explore the different outcomes of the story.”
- “I played the game multiple times in a short period, curious to see what endings were available. While there isn't unlimited replay value, there's enough for 2-3 playthroughs, which should take about 15-20 minutes each.”
- “It does have somewhat of a replay value, just to change the sex of your partner and the different outcomes of the story.”
- “I played the game through multiple times in a short period, curious to see what endings were on offer, and whilst there is not unlimited replay value, there's enough for 2-3 playthroughs, which should set you back maybe 15-20 minutes at a time.”