Stories Untold

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,958 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Stories Untold Game Cover
Stories Untold was born from a creation of last year’s Ludum Dare game jam. Created over the course of two days, No Code’s The House Abandon stood out as something frighteningly atmospheric, unique and wonderfully metafictional.
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"Stories Untold" is a narrative-driven experimental adventure game, combining text-adventure, point-and-click, and horror elements in 4 interconnected stories. It offers 80s retro aesthetics with innovative gameplay and tense psychological horror, engaging players in a unique anthology of visual storytelling. Try the free demo "The House Abandon" for a taste.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,958 reviews
story816 positive mentions
grinding88 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique blend of text-based adventure and modern gameplay mechanics, creating an engaging experience.
  • The storytelling is compelling, with a well-crafted narrative that ties together the four episodes in a surprising way.
  • The atmosphere is immersive, with excellent sound design and visuals that enhance the horror elements.
  • The text parser can be frustratingly strict, requiring very specific commands that can lead to confusion and delays in gameplay.
  • Some puzzles, particularly in the third episode, are tedious and difficult to read, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and replayability.
  • story1,931 mentions

    The story in "Stories Untold" is a compelling blend of horror and mystery, presented through four interconnected episodes that gradually reveal a deeper narrative. While some players appreciate the unique storytelling mechanics and atmospheric tension, others find the plot predictable or the gameplay frustrating, particularly in the later chapters. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging narrative and emotional depth, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its conclusion.

    • “The story is very engaging and told in a unique way.”
    • “A very well made story that is best experienced blind.”
    • “Great game with an interesting gameplay and great, though very sad, story.”
    • “I have no idea what the story was trying to tell me.”
    • “I'm a story-first, gameplay-second kind of person, and I'm telling you, don't pick it up if you hope to experience a good story.”
    • “The final episode tries to justify the whole thing but the given framing device actually makes no sense when you think about it: why do they need the pudding when they already have the proof?”
  • gameplay628 mentions

    The gameplay in "Stories Untold" is a unique blend of text-based adventure mechanics, puzzle-solving, and point-and-click elements, with each of the four episodes introducing different gameplay styles that keep the experience fresh. While some players appreciate the innovative approach and atmospheric storytelling, others find the mechanics frustrating and tedious, particularly in later chapters where the gameplay can feel repetitive or overly reliant on specific commands. Overall, the game is praised for its narrative depth and immersive atmosphere, but opinions on the gameplay's execution vary widely, with some players recommending it for its creativity and others cautioning against its potential frustrations.

    • “Great horror game with an interesting variety of gameplay mechanics and a compelling story that starts a bit confusing but concludes with a very sad, chilling and realistic twist.”
    • “The gameplay is essential to the story and the story is told through the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty fluid, for the most part, though it does demand some very specific commands at times, especially in the last story, and some things in the text-based parts seem to come out of nowhere.”
    • “Gameplay can be frustrating with a lot of trial and error, and the game is not optimized with huge frame dips, but the story and presentation make up for its weaknesses.”
    • “The problem is, while the house abandon is a unique and effective little narrative horror game, the three newer episodes aren't quite up to the same level in terms of story or gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay becomes repetitive, non-specific, and boring.”
  • atmosphere443 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Stories Untold" is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively blending retro aesthetics with a creeping sense of dread. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke nostalgia while maintaining a tense, psychological horror experience without relying on jump scares. The sound design, visuals, and storytelling work together to create a captivating atmosphere that keeps players engaged throughout its episodic structure.

    • “This was really atmospheric and one of the most individual games I have played for years.”
    • “The atmosphere is perfectly eerie and I love the slow reveal of the twist at the end; you may not see it coming, but on the second round, you can see how it is perfectly set up and still is amazing if you know about it all already.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic and I love the puzzle aspect of it.”
    • “The atmosphere created by this game is simply astounding.”
    • “The atmosphere is heavy and eerie and there's one or two scarier moments but it's not much, really.”
    • “The thick atmosphere and the pace at which the cryptic plot is explored are some of the strongest assets of the game.”
  • graphics303 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, atmospheric design that effectively captures a nostalgic 80s aesthetic, reminiscent of "Stranger Things." Many reviewers highlight the impressive production values, including detailed visuals and sound design, which enhance the storytelling experience. However, some players noted issues with readability and performance on lower-end systems, suggesting that while the graphics are generally well-received, they may not be optimized for all configurations.

    • “The graphics in Stories Untold are phenomenal for an indie game, and this is coming from the same people that worked on Alien Isolation, which gives off similar vibes.”
    • “The graphics are almost triple-A quality, which is impressive because this is an indie studio.”
    • “The visuals really help out the game, and the sound design is fantastic.”
    • “The graphics are really terrible and fuzzy at these parts too.”
    • “The last two chapters feel especially amateurish compared to the first two, with tedious, frustrating mechanics, ugly visuals, and generally questionable designs.”
    • “I had a couple of crashes in episode 3, which combined with the fact there are no checkpoints was annoying but knocking the graphics down fixed this (though I have a powerful rig).”
  • music160 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its high quality and atmospheric impact, effectively capturing an 80s synthwave aesthetic reminiscent of "Stranger Things." Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's emotional depth and horror elements, although some note that certain tracks can become repetitive. Overall, the combination of engaging sound design and nostalgic music significantly contributes to the immersive experience of the game.

    • “Great soundtrack and direction, feels very lush for what ultimately amounts to 2-3 hours of actual play.”
    • “The soundtrack and visuals are incredible, leaving you with such feelings as unease, sorrow, panic, doubt, and paranoia.”
    • “The synth-driven music, the early technology, everything.”
    • “The soundtrack gets repetitive in certain scenarios, being little more than a short music loop.”
    • “It also has issues with sound - if you turn the sound down so the opening music doesn't blast your ears off, you can't hear any of the voice acting - as in, not that you can't make it out, but that you wouldn't know it was happening at all if you didn't have the subtitles switched on.”
    • “The music was minimal but apt, accompanying sound effects that were used to help create some genuinely creepy moments.”
  • grinding89 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the game's grinding aspect is characterized by tedious puzzles and slow-paced gameplay, particularly in the later chapters. Many players found themselves frustrated by the repetitive mechanics and the need for specific inputs, which often led to a lack of engagement and enjoyment. While some appreciated the story and atmosphere, the overall sentiment suggests that the tedious elements detracted significantly from the experience.

    • “The whole text-based format suits me as I'm interested in the story, not tedious gameplay and running around killing things or trying to not be killed.”
    • “Frequently I got stuck without knowing what to do, which brought the game to a grinding halt on numerous occasions.”
    • “The last two chapters were very tedious and made it a chore to play through.”
    • “It's a boring, linear, uninspired, tedious game that forces you to do repetitive, mundane things and incorporates these into the story in the most awkward way possible.”
  • emotional56 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a powerful and often unsettling narrative that elicits strong feelings of satisfaction, frustration, and heartache. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from gut-wrenching moments to a deep connection with the story and characters, often feeling invested and affected long after gameplay. The combination of innovative storytelling, immersive sound design, and challenging puzzles contributes to an emotional rollercoaster that resonates with players, making it a memorable experience.

    • “Get ready for an emotional gut-punch of a game.”
    • “The story is so unbelievably insane and heart-wrenching that it makes the $9.99 price tag look almost too good to be true.”
    • “Emotionally compelling and genuinely disturbing story in a unique and mysterious package.”
    • “The riddles are not riddles but more like bad cooking recipes; you slowly uncover a boring story in tedious steps.”
    • “Boring story, good rendering.”
  • replayability53 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its very limited replayability, with many reviewers noting that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to play again. While the initial experience is often described as enjoyable and worth the price, the lack of alternate endings or significant secrets diminishes its long-term value. Players recommend purchasing it on sale due to its short length and minimal replay potential.

    • “What I appreciate the most is that there is replayability, if only so you can note the details and foreshadowing later chapters make clear. You can more or less complete the whole thing in 2 hours, but I argue it's well worth the money and well worth a quick session of spooks either by yourself or with friends watching along!”
    • “Very intense, mysterious, and with a few secret achievements to hunt for a bit of replayability, even though any sane person will be hesitant to put themselves through such curious suspense again.”
    • “Due to the nature of the story, there is even replay value in this game.”
    • “The con is there is not much of a replay value after playing this game through once.”
    • “Out of everything really, the length of this game and its overall replay value is really lacking.”
    • “There's little to no replay value, so once it's finished it will just sit in your library for the upcoming aeons.”
  • optimization28 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting frequent frame drops, lag, and performance issues, particularly in areas with complex lighting and during first-person walking segments. While some players found the game playable despite these issues, many noted that it suffers from bugs and poor resolution optimization, leading to a frustrating experience overall. Despite its narrative strengths, the technical shortcomings detract from the overall enjoyment, indicating a need for substantial improvements in future updates.

    • “While I do commend Stories Untold for supporting 144Hz monitors, it’s a big shame that the game isn’t optimized to maintain that high framerate in its walking segments.”
    • “The game runs smoothly and graphics are top notch.”
    • “Performance-wise, it's a laggy Unity game, but even when it does lag, it doesn't make it unplayable and doesn't truly affect the game in a meaningful way.”
    • “Some areas - especially those with additional lighting effects - are poorly optimized, and might result in drops in framerate.”
    • “It was performance intensive for things that shouldn't have been, some of the design was clunky and contrived, and I hit multiple bugs that would either crash the game and/or inhibit progress—requiring me to restart a chapter entirely.”
    • “The game is also badly developed and even though there is minimal interaction, it is PC-performance demanding for no reason.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly during critical stages and interactions. While a few users experienced no problems at all, others noted freezing, unresponsive controls, and visual glitches that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, with optimization issues affecting gameplay for many.

    • “The game runs smoothly with no bugs or glitches.”
    • “I haven't encountered any stability issues; everything works perfectly.”
    • “The performance is rock solid, providing a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “The game is fun to play, the mechanics are innovative and the way that the protagonist's story is being told is really cool, but the last stage glitches in the second phase and makes you replay the whole stage again.”
    • “Aside from these questionable design choices, the ending of this episode is hampered by buggy controls, broken textures, and nauseating screen shake.”
    • “The in-game computer effectively freezes and you can't do anything, apart from restarting the game.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it unoriginal and not particularly funny, while others appreciate its unsettling blend of discomfort and dark humor. While certain moments evoke laughter, they often coexist with feelings of dread, creating a unique but uneven comedic experience.

    • “It's the middle of the day, I'm in my room with headphones on playing a text game and looking over my shoulder in paranoid fear, laughing in discomfort all the while.”
    • “Made me quite uneasy in certain parts compared to Outlast 2 where I was laughing my way through like I was at an amusement park.”
    • “There are some creepy moments, or maybe more like strong sensations of descending dread, and some humor too.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect is perceived as being effectively communicated through concise and impactful advertising methods, such as advertisements or posters, suggesting a focus on clear and engaging promotional strategies.

    • “The monetization strategy feels more like a cash grab than a fair system for players.”
    • “It's frustrating to see essential features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience and enjoyment.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Users express a desire for a second season that features longer narratives and deeper character development, highlighting the engaging nature of the interactive storytelling that enhances their connection to the characters.

    • “The character development in this game is truly remarkable; I felt a deep connection to each character as their stories unfolded.”
    • “I love how the game allows for meaningful choices that impact character growth, making each decision feel significant.”
    • “The depth of the characters and their evolving relationships kept me engaged throughout the entire experience.”
    • “The character development feels rushed and superficial, leaving me disconnected from their journeys.”
    • “I was hoping for deeper character arcs, but instead, they felt one-dimensional and predictable.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in character development made it hard to feel invested in their growth.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Stories Untold

Play time

4hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3hMain story
3hCompletionist
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 19 analyzed playthroughs

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