Stillwater

About

Stillwater is a visual novel with 7,000 words & two endings.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 106 reviews

story24 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The art style and visuals are stunning, creating a beautiful and atmospheric experience.
The characters are well-written and engaging, with a charming dynamic that draws players in.
Despite its short length, the game offers an intriguing story with multiple endings, making it a worthwhile experience.

The story feels too short and could benefit from more depth and exploration of character backstories.
The gameplay is quite linear, with only one significant choice leading to two endings, which may leave players wanting more interactivity.
Some players found the writing to be amateurish, with issues in sentence structure and clarity that detracted from the overall experience.

story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The story is generally well-received, praised for its intriguing mix of mystery and horror, engaging characters, and beautiful art style, though many reviewers note its brevity and linearity. While some find the narrative simplistic or lacking depth, others appreciate its emotional impact and the connections between characters. Overall, it offers a cozy yet dark experience, leaving players wanting more from the characters and plot.
- “The characters within this story are very well written and seeing their interactions with one another is true entertainment and puts a smile on my face.”
- “I became invested very quickly and I wish there was an expansion to this story to explain the situations the characters experience in the house and what happened to Louis.”
- “Every element of it just meshes perfectly with the others, and the story is engaging the whole way through.”
- “The writing also exudes the characteristic try-hard vibe of an amateur writer trying to write above their level, focusing more on impressing the readers with their literary genius than just telling the damn story.”
- “However, the story is needlessly cryptic and heavy-handed.”
- “However, the story was set up to be bigger than it actually ended up being.”
graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
35%
8%
The graphics of Stillwater have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful and unique art style, which enhances the game's atmosphere and character presentation. Players appreciate the charming visuals and immersive effects, although some critique the protagonist's design and the writing quality. Overall, the game's artwork is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “Stillwater is beautiful -- from the music, ambiance, and art style.”
- “The artwork and atmosphere is outstanding; and it's clear to tell how much love was put into this game, especially after reading the afterword.”
- “The art style is gorgeous and so is the touching story.”
- “It's just a shame that the professional-grade graphics, visual effects, and overall game design are brought down by terribly amateurish writing.”
- “It's a free game, so I can't complain too much, but the store page says that this is a polished remastered version of the game, which makes me wonder if it was only visuals that were polished up.”
- “The characters looked emotional in general, but the art style felt rather unique and very pretty.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the visuals, contributing to a captivating experience. While some players noted a desire for more background music, the existing soundtrack effectively evokes nostalgia and fits the game's tone. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and art creates a standout ambiance that elevates the storytelling.
- “The art, the story, the music, everything about this game makes it stand out compared to other story clicker games.”
- “The visuals, music, and atmosphere are all top-notch.”
- “Amazing music, cool art, endearing characters, and brilliant writing.”
- “I think I just missed some background music, but even the silence (or just background sounds) were enough to create a good scary environment.”
- “The music (yeah I know it's royalty free, it's got that RPG Maker soundtrack going, but that just gave me some nice nostalgia) -- my only complaint is how short it is!”
- “Although it's pretty predictable, the music sets the atmosphere, and the characters are likable.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its mysterious and engaging qualities, with top-notch visuals and music that enhance the overall experience. While some reviewers note the game's brevity, they emphasize that the well-crafted atmosphere effectively conveys the story and immerses players in its dark, intriguing world. Overall, the attention to detail in the artwork and sound design contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The horror is subdued and not really 'scary' but the atmosphere is so well-done and suits a mystery perfectly.”
- “Upon playing the remastered version, I can safely say that the team at Studio Clump have once again excelled at crafting an atmospheric and engaging mystery game.”
- “The horror is subdued and not really 'scary', but the atmosphere is so well-done and suits a mystery perfectly.”
- “Where the game really shines is in its atmosphere.”
- “The music sets the atmosphere, and the characters are likable.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its lovable characters and heartwarming banter, particularly between Hugo and Noah, which contributes to its emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the unique and beautiful art style that complements the touching story, making it a recommended experience for those seeking a fun yet somewhat emotional gameplay.
- “The characters are really lovable, and the banter between Hugo and Noah is just heartwarming to experience.”
- “I heavily recommend this game to anybody who wants a really fun, short, somewhat emotional game to play!”
- “The art style is gorgeous, and so is the touching story.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its stunning designs and sprites, highlighting how these visual elements enhance the overall atmosphere of the game. The incorporation of small horror scenes adds depth to the characters, making them more engaging and memorable.
- “The character designs and sprites in this game are absolutely stunning, and the small horror scenes really impressed me.”
- “The sounds, the music, the atmosphere, the character design, the art!”
gameplay
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
The gameplay is characterized as a straightforward visual novel experience, though some players feel the storyline is too brief and express a desire for a deeper exploration of the characters' dynamics and backstories.
- “The simple visual novel gameplay allows for an engaging experience, though I found the storyline a bit short. I would have loved to delve deeper into Hugo and Noah's dynamic and expand on Hugo's backstory.”
- “The gameplay is overly simplistic, and the storyline felt too short; I would have loved to delve deeper into Hugo and Noah's dynamic and expand on Hugo's backstory.”
- “The mechanics are repetitive and lack depth, making the overall experience feel monotonous.”
- “I found the pacing of the gameplay to be uneven, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”