Stonewall Penitentiary
- May 13, 2018
- Storycentric Worlds
- 8h median play time
Get on SteamStonewall Penitentiary is an indie murder mystery adventure, presented in the style of graphic novels, that pays tribute to Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None and horror thrillers like Scream and Saw. As a prisoner in an abandoned prison, you must solve puzzles, make choices, and uncover the truth behind your kidnapping to survive. The game features beautiful 2D point-and-click gameplay, with separate inventory, map, journal, and character screens, and cinematic music. Will you be able to escape and uncover the mystery behind Stonewall Penitentiary?
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a gripping and well-executed mystery with interesting characters and a dark, immersive atmosphere.
- Puzzles are logical and integrated into the story, providing a satisfying challenge without resorting to frustrating 'moon logic'.
- The voice acting and overall presentation contribute to a compelling narrative experience, making it engaging for players who enjoy story-driven games.
- The plot is criticized for being unoriginal and filled with cliché characters and predictable twists.
- Navigation can be unintuitive, leading to confusion and unnecessary backtracking, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Some players experienced technical issues, including bugs and a lack of multiple save slots, which can hinder replayability and exploration.
- story55 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in this game is described as well-executed and engaging, featuring interesting characters and a mix of familiar tropes and original elements. While some reviewers noted that the plot can feel linear and unoriginal, many appreciated the twists, immersive atmosphere, and the integration of puzzles that enhance the narrative experience. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its depth, suspense, and strong voice acting, making it a compelling choice for fans of narrative-driven games.
“The story is well written with great dialogue, and most of the voice acting is great.”
“The story is interesting and has a great pace throughout the game; the puzzles are reasonable and the gameplay is smooth.”
“The story is well-written and engrossing.”
“The plot is nothing remotely original, but it is well-executed and the characters are interesting to learn about, especially the ones who survive longer and the protagonist.”
“So far, so mediocre, but the story is incredibly dumb and unoriginal.”
“The story was very linear; I thought choosing different choices would change the ending or maybe add some more cut scenes.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting their old-school, simplistic style that effectively contributes to the dark atmosphere, while others find them lacking in detail and vibrancy. However, several reviewers appreciate the hand-drawn aesthetic and the immersive quality it brings, particularly in enhancing the game's narrative and mood. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are deemed serviceable and fitting for the game's tone.
“The hand-drawn graphics, coupled with a very professional soundtrack, create an environment that is immersive and downright creepy.”
“And the graphics are outstanding!”
“The dialogue is excellent and the style of the graphics really adds to the experience.”
“Unlike other point-and-click adventure games, this one doesn't boast exotic locations, comical characters or situations, or top-notch graphics.”
“The graphics are just a static scene that you can 'click on things'.”
“The graphics are serviceable, but not very detailed.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click adventure featuring puzzle-solving within intricately designed 2D scenes, though some players find the navigation unintuitive and occasionally claustrophobic. Players explore a prison, interact with characters, and tackle a variety of puzzles, which range from reasonable to quite challenging. The game offers a smooth experience reminiscent of classic first-person graphic adventures, making it accessible for both newcomers and fans of the genre, despite some initial navigation difficulties.
“The story is interesting and has a great pace throughout the game; the puzzles are reasonable and the gameplay is smooth.”
“The gameplay is simple - point and click to navigate the pre-drawn scenes and solve the puzzles - and the puzzles are pretty decent, albeit in places very tricky, and the actual navigation may lack intuitiveness.”
“The gameplay is simple - point and click to navigate the pre-drawn scenes and solve the puzzles - and the puzzles are pretty decent, albeit in places very tricky, and the actual navigation is maybe lacking intuitiveness.”
“Now about gameplay: after what I've written, you might think of a 'Five Nights at Freddy's' scenario, but the truth is this is a first-person adventure. Unfortunately, this new way to navigate has changed from past interactive fiction titles, making it a little strange to use for first-timers as the direction isn't very intuitive. Players will have to 'surf' the screen a lot, but luckily there is a useful map that shows directions in the area. As this is a story-driven game, all events are scripted in a logical order that advances not by time but by discovering and resolving puzzles, which can be really hard.”
“The gameplay is mainly point-and-click with puzzles, all in beautifully made 2D scenes, although the setting itself can be a bit claustrophobic at times.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its appropriateness and ability to enhance the immersive atmosphere, effectively complementing the hand-drawn graphics and the game's dark narrative. Reviewers note that the soundtrack contributes to a creepy and anxiety-inducing environment, while the voice acting further enriches the overall experience. Overall, the combination of fitting music and sound design plays a crucial role in creating a compelling and engaging gameplay experience.
“Great game with an awesome story, graphics, music, characters, and scares!”
“The hand-drawn graphics, coupled with a very professional soundtrack, create an environment that is immersive and downright creepy.”
“The positive thing I can say is that at least it has a good mystery, the graphics are fine, and the sound/music is okay.”
“The music is appropriate for the story and locations.”
“The author gives you a good immersion in the game by showing you creepy hand-drawn scenes, a fitting ambient soundtrack that will make you feel the anxiety of a closed claustrophobic space.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently described as eerie and ominous, effectively immersing players in its setting, particularly within the prison environment. The inclusion of voice-acted dialogue and fitting music enhances the overall experience, making it both atmospheric and engaging for players.
“A really eerie atmosphere that truly engages your mind.”
“The atmosphere of this prison is, in itself, rather ominous.”
“All dialogue is voice-acted, which significantly enhances the atmosphere.”
“In addition, the atmosphere of this prison is, in itself, rather ominous.”
“A really eerie atmosphere and a game that really gets your brain working.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally acceptable, featuring a unique comic book presentation and full voice acting; however, some users expressed dissatisfaction with the main character's voice and the performances of certain supporting characters.
- replayability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's strong replayability due to the significant impact of their choices and character alignments on the outcomes, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different scenarios.
“Each playthrough offers new paths and experiences, making it easy to dive back in and explore different outcomes.”
“With multiple endings and varied character interactions, the game encourages you to replay it to uncover all its secrets.”
“The choices you make and the characters you align with have a definite impact on the outcome, so the game has solid replayability.”
“After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back and play again; the story doesn't change enough to warrant a second playthrough.”
“While the game offers multiple endings, the lack of significant differences in gameplay mechanics makes replaying feel tedious.”
