Snapshot

About

Snapshot is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Studio Madeleine Chai and was released on March 24, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Magic and science. Past and future. But what of the present?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Snapshot is a free kinetic novel that offers a quick and easy 100% achievement, making it ideal for completionists and achievement hunters.
The writing is described as beautiful and introspective, exploring themes of aging, memory, and the importance of living in the present.
The game features well-done voice acting and visually appealing watercolor-style backgrounds, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

Many reviewers criticize the lack of meaningful gameplay, describing it as more of an e-book than a game, with tedious clicking through poorly written dialogue.
The plot is often deemed boring and underdeveloped, leaving many players feeling disconnected from the characters and story.
Some players found the experience disorienting and felt that the game did not reach its potential, with unresolved storylines and a lack of engagement.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing due to its themes of science versus magic and family dynamics, while others criticized it for being poorly written and difficult to engage with. Many felt that the plot had potential but ultimately fell short, leaving unresolved storylines and failing to evoke strong emotional connections. Overall, while some appreciated the immersive elements and reflective nature of the narrative, others found it lacking in depth and coherence.
- “On one hand, I was intrigued by the story - the girl who grew up in a magical family choosing science over magic, and the nature of the family dynamic - and the concept of taking pictures of the past was intriguing.”
- “Scene transitions, music choices, sound effects, and the interactive component are done in a way that makes the story immersive and enjoyable.”
- “For its first visual novel on Steam, Studio Madeleine Chai has really come out with a wonderful story and I look forward to any future works.”
- “Just like no proper writing or game development happened with this e-book trashware, there's nothing in the way of plot that has any value, either.”
- “I feel like the plot contained many elements that I typically enjoy, but, like other reviewers, I found it hard to absorb what I was reading, and I felt like the game didn't reach its potential; I also cannot say that I enjoyed playing through the story, though I also did not dislike the experience either.”
- “This is a nice visual novel if you're looking for some more perfect games in your library, but the plot was just too boring.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay in this visual/interactive novel is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking through poorly written dialogue, which detracts from the overall experience. While some users find it emotionally stirring, the lack of engaging mechanics leads to a low struggle rating, indicating a disappointing gameplay experience.
- “Struggle rating: ★☆☆☆☆ – emotionally stirring, but mechanically smooth.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “However, there is a bit of gameplay involved.”
- “Now that I've gone over the story and gameplay, I'll move onto my critique.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are generally described as nice, with a pleasing art style and visuals that enhance the overall experience.
- “The general art and visuals are stunning.”
- “The graphics are incredibly detailed and immersive.”
- “The vibrant colors and intricate designs truly bring the game world to life.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features no in-game purchases, indicating a fully free-to-play experience without additional monetization strategies.
- “In-game purchases: none”
- “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that there are no paywalls, allowing everyone to enjoy the game equally.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is considered low, indicating that players may not find sufficient motivation to revisit it after completing it once.
- “Replayability is low.”
- “The game lacks incentives to play through again.”
- “Once you finish the story, there's little reason to return.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game enhances immersion and enjoyment through well-chosen soundtracks, effective sound effects, and seamless scene transitions, contributing to a captivating storytelling experience.
- “Scene transitions, music choices, sound effects, and the interactive component are done in a way that makes the story immersive and enjoyable.”
- “The soundtrack adds a rich layer to the overall experience, enhancing the emotional depth of the game.”
- “The music perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an engaging atmosphere that keeps players invested.”
- “The music choices feel limited and repetitive, lacking the variety needed to keep the experience engaging.”
- “The soundtrack doesn't match the intensity of the gameplay, often falling flat during key moments.”
- “While there is a soundtrack, it fails to leave a lasting impression and feels forgettable.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized as quietly contemplative and genuinely heartbreaking, with players finding the emotions to be very real. While it is emotionally stirring, the gameplay mechanics are noted to be smooth, resulting in a low struggle rating.
- “Quietly contemplative and a little heartbreaking by the end — the emotions feel very real.”
- “Struggle rating: ★☆☆☆☆ – emotionally stirring, but mechanically smooth.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or even 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”