State of Mind

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 537 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
State of Mind Game Cover
State of Mind's setting and story, once they get going, do a lot to really sell the game. Some fun puzzles and a fantastic art style help too. This is a world I want to spend more time in.
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"State of Mind" is a thrilling game set in 2048 Berlin, where technology has taken over public sectors and surveillance is ubiquitous. The protagonist, Richard Nolan, wakes up in a hospital to find his family missing. As Richard investigates their disappearance, he becomes embroiled in a global conspiracy threatening humanity's future. The game explores the dichotomy between a dystopian reality and a digital utopia.

  • 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

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 537 reviews
story277 positive mentions
gameplay27 negative mentions
  • Engaging and thought-provoking story that explores themes of transhumanism and the impact of technology on humanity.
  • Unique low-poly art style that creates a distinct atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Decent voice acting and a well-crafted soundtrack that complements the narrative.
  • Gameplay is mostly linear with minimal interactivity, often feeling more like an interactive movie than a traditional game.
  • Many choices feel inconsequential, leading to a lack of meaningful impact on the story's outcome.
  • Controls can be clunky and frustrating, detracting from the overall immersion in the game.
  • story649 mentions

    The story of "State of Mind" is a complex and engaging narrative set in a cyberpunk future, focusing on themes of transhumanism and the implications of technology on humanity. While many players found the plot intriguing and thought-provoking, especially as it unfolds, others criticized its slow pacing, predictability, and numerous plot holes. Overall, the game is described as more of an interactive story than a traditional game, with limited player choices impacting the narrative, making it appealing primarily to those who enjoy story-driven experiences.

    • “The story is intriguing and interesting as well.”
    • “The story kept me hooked until the end.”
    • “The gameplay is rather calm in some parts, but with a subtle thriller-esque feeling from the first minute; from the moment the game starts, the story had me hooked.”
    • “Without a novel and surprising story to tell, this is just boring.”
    • “There are way too many plot holes and conveniences; it is very predictable to the point where you understand what is going on before characters do, so all the big reveals just fall flat.”
    • “The story is convoluted, but it doesn't make it good.”
  • graphics182 mentions

    The graphics of the game feature a unique low-poly art style that evokes a cyberpunk aesthetic, which some players find charming while others consider it off-putting. While the environments are often praised for their beauty and atmospheric design, character models can appear less detailed and expressionless, leading to mixed feelings about their effectiveness in conveying emotions. Overall, the visuals are seen as a distinctive choice that complements the game's narrative, though they may require some adjustment for players accustomed to more realistic graphics.

    • “The graphics in this game are superb.”
    • “Absolutely gorgeous graphics.”
    • “The art style is nice, has that cyberpunk vibe, but that's mostly it.”
    • “The graphics have to be the worst offender.”
    • “The graphics (although supposed to look that way) do not look very good at all, the voice acting is subpar, and the movement mechanics are out of date and hurt the game even more.”
    • “I can't really decide if the graphics design is a cool throwback or just bad, but I found it distracting to see what is supposed to be the future with the graphics of my past.”
  • gameplay147 mentions

    The gameplay is predominantly linear and simplistic, often feeling more like an interactive movie than a traditional game, with most interactions limited to walking, talking, and minimal puzzle-solving. While the narrative and visuals are praised, many players find the gameplay tedious and lacking in challenge, with clunky controls and repetitive mechanics detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game appeals to those who prioritize story over gameplay, but may disappoint players seeking engaging mechanics or exploration.

    • “The gameplay is rather calm in some parts, but with a subtle thriller-esque feeling from the first minute. From the moment the game starts, the story had me hooked, and even though you are so desperate to rush the story forward in order to find out what happened, it manages to hold you back to explore the scene, making it more and more tense.”
    • “Gameplay is generally the same no matter your choices, but how the story aspect plays out in the end is tweaked a bit based on those choices.”
    • “Overall, this is well worth checking out if you are into sci-fi and enjoy narrative-driven games with casual gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay itself is absolutely boring, just click here and there without any other significant interaction with the environment.”
    • “The gameplay is a non-existent phenomenon in this game.”
    • “Worst of all, the actual gameplay is pretty boring and lacks any real challenges.”
  • music65 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the great soundtrack and ambient sounds that complement the storytelling. While some tracks may become repetitive, the quality of the music and sound design is generally considered high, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience. Overall, the music is seen as one of the standout features, effectively setting the mood and enriching the gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack by Go Zebra Go was an awesome listen, and the tracks really give a soothing background to the dark outlook that the game presents.”
    • “The atmosphere, voice acting, story, and the music & visuals are just perfect.”
    • “The music, characters, and overall thematic elements are fantastic.”
    • “However, gameplay does feel like a chore most of the time - sluggish character control, a lot of unskippable cutscenes and dialogue, a few tedious puzzles and a very repetitive soundtrack.”
    • “However, the audio mixing can't be worse, because either you don't hear the characters speaking because of the background sound or the music plays over the sound.”
    • “I have never seen another story-rich game with good presentation and artwork get let down by its OST as much as this one.”
  • atmosphere33 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and therapeutic qualities, effectively blending sci-fi and film-noir elements. Players appreciate the unique graphics, ambient music, and world-building that create a captivating futuristic environment, despite some criticisms regarding character design and story execution. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience and drawing players into its mysterious and melancholic world.

    • “The atmosphere of the game can be definitely felt, and despite simple graphics, it was really immersive to me.”
    • “Amazing atmosphere with wonderful futuristic world design.”
    • “Great atmosphere, characters, and music.”
    • “If you like the sci-fi/futuristic atmosphere (or at least what you think you will get when buying this game) then please spend your money on a better game in this genre (Remember Me, Observer).”
    • “They are in fact not so low quality, and the low poly appearance of their characters and vehicles is a style choice…the more you play it the more you will find about its secrets and see that there’s a reason for the graphics being like that and yet… yes, the characters will still look low quality but you will begin to like them as they are, not because the graphics don’t matter, they do matter, but in the end it does begin to work within the story and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Perfect choice for someone who just feels like playing something chilling and unusual, with a deep atmosphere and a bit of a melancholic mood.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    The optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report smooth performance at 1440p and stable 60 fps on lower-end hardware like the GTX 1060, others experience significant issues such as freezes, poor performance on non-16:9 resolutions, and sub-30 fps in certain scenes. Overall, players on Linux and those using controllers have noted a more seamless experience, indicating that optimization may vary based on system configuration and settings.

    • “Performance-wise, the game ran stable 60 fps on a 1060 everything max with minimal fan usage, so it's well optimized.”
    • “I finished this game on Linux with an Xbox 360 wireless controller and it was a completely flawless experience with no bugs, no performance issues, everything ran great.”
    • “The optimization, performance, and everything is top-notch, and playing the game feels really great because everything is just super smooth.”
    • “I also had a couple of technical annoyances to deal with, some freezes during the respective first conversations after launching the game and the game not really being optimized or even playable on non-16:9 resolutions, which resulted in me having to play the game in a window.”
    • “❌ Poor engine performance in certain scenes (sub 30 frames on 1080 Ti).”
    • “Steering seems to be controller-optimized, but WASD + mouse is playable.”
  • stability12 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with users reporting occasional animation glitches and technical issues such as freezing during gameplay, particularly in the early conversations and specific scenes. While some players experienced significant disruptions, others noted smooth performance, especially on Linux systems. The game does include auto-save features that help mitigate the impact of these freezes.

    • “Runs great on Linux with no issues on my PC.”
    • “The game is incredibly stable; I've experienced no crashes or bugs.”
    • “Performance is solid, and I can play for hours without any interruptions.”
    • “I also had a couple of technical annoyances to deal with, some freezes during the respective first conversations after launching the game and the game not really being optimized or even playable on non-16:9 resolutions, which resulted in me having to play the game in a window.”
    • “My specs are above the recommended requirements, my video driver is up to date, and the game keeps hanging/freezing.”
    • “Also, I experienced no less than 6 game freezes during my playthrough.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its difficult choices and a touching ending that resonates with players, particularly those invested in the narrative. While some reviewers noted issues with gameplay mechanics that detracted from emotional immersion, many praised the story's depth and character motivations, emphasizing its ability to evoke strong feelings. Overall, the game is recognized for its impactful emotional storytelling, particularly within the sci-fi and philosophical genres.

    • “I really recommend this to everyone who's into sci-fi, post-humanism, philosophical, emotional storytelling.”
    • “These were well put together and even had emotional moments that show us well what motivated each character.”
    • “Cyberpunk and transhumanism are nothing new, and some creations these days don't bring anything new, unique and renovating, but this game overcame this by its highly emotional plot - I could really feel the emotions of the characters as the story was progressing.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting a lack of engaging content to revisit after the initial playthrough. While some mention minor variations in choices and achievements that offer slight replay value, the absence of branching storylines and quick unlocks diminish the incentive to replay. Many reviewers suggest that the game is best enjoyed as a one-time experience, particularly at a discounted price.

    • “I really hope to see more games from this publisher in the future heading in this direction and adding more dynamic elements to allow for even greater immersion and replay value, because the core and the formula are definitely already on the table!”
    • “Has some replay value as there are different choices you can make; the main storyline is almost 8 hours of playtime.”
    • “There's at least some replay value because you can make different choices and get new achievements.”
    • “The replay value also lacks quite a bit, since you can unlock most of the stuff relatively quickly and in total, the story leaves you uninterested the second time around.”
    • “It's a nice casual game to get on sale and play once: since there is no branching in the story, it's not a game with any replayability.”
    • “Story is mostly enjoyable and well paced, but there's very little replay value.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often feeling like a chore due to sluggish controls, unskippable cutscenes, and trivial puzzles. While some enjoy exploring the environment, the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging gameplay and narrative focus, leading to frustration with the grinding elements.

    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but it's part of the fun.”
    • “Grinding can feel a bit repetitive, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the rewards are worth it.”
    • “Overall this is a well-made and interesting interactive movie-style sci-fi game, but the lack of gameplay elements, slow-moving and disjointed plot, unlikeable characters with whom it's difficult to connect and empathize, and lack of narrative focus makes this game quite tedious.”
    • “However, gameplay does feel like a chore most of the time - sluggish character control, a lot of unskippable cutscenes and dialogue, a few tedious puzzles, and a very repetitive soundtrack.”
    • “Unfortunately, the latter part of the game becomes drawn out with an exceptional number of useless scenes and trivial puzzles that make it too tedious to finish.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it weak and lacking depth, while others appreciate the unique character designs that align with the game's themes. Despite criticisms of the character design's anatomical inaccuracies, some players were surprised by the engaging story and cinematic scenes that hinted at potential character growth. Overall, the character development appears to be a point of contention, with opinions varying widely among players.

    • “With stunning cinematic scenes, a fantastic story, and well-written character development within the story.”
    • “I also felt that the game’s unique character designs actually fit the game perfectly, which is honestly kind of weird due to their blocky/polygonal designs.”
    • “You then think, hmmm maybe there's going to be some character development down the road?”
    • “Character development is quite weak; controls are super clunky (keyboard or gamepad), and the story is unclear.”
    • “The character design is absolutely horrendous and anatomically incorrect, with disproportionately long arms and legs.”
    • “Some character designs look pretty bad, but for most characters, it's fine.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as unintentional and shallow, with a story that fails to deliver drama, leading to moments of laughter instead. While some players appreciate the nostalgic vibes reminiscent of earlier titles from Daedalic Entertainment, the overall comedic effect seems to stem from the game's lack of depth rather than intentional humor.

    • “It's funny, but even though story-wise and graphically the two games are very different, I was still getting 'the moment of silence' vibes throughout the game. It's nice to see how far Daedalic Entertainment has come since 2004, and I can't wait to see what's next.”
    • “Without any real challenge, and worse, the story is ridiculous. It is based on transhumanism, but it is so shallow that towards the end it actually made me laugh instead of building drama.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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