Stranded

36%
Game Brain Score Based on 226 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Stranded Game Cover
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"Stranded" is a single-player Science Fiction Role Playing game with a good story, stellar graphics, and an exceptional soundtrack. As a stranded astronaut on a sun-blasted planet, you must explore and uncover mysteries for survival in this minimal point-and-click adventure that focuses on atmosphere and exploration. Despite its fabulous atmosphere, the gameplay is disappointing.

  • Mac OS
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  • Windows
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

36%
Audience ScoreBased on 226 reviews
story18 positive mentions
gameplay9 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
  • It offers a unique, minimalist experience that encourages exploration and personal interpretation of the story.
  • The game can evoke feelings of isolation and wonder, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate artful storytelling.
  • The gameplay is extremely short, often taking less than an hour to complete, which many players feel does not justify the price.
  • Movement is painfully slow, leading to frustration as players must click multiple times to navigate between screens.
  • There is a lack of meaningful interaction, puzzles, or a clear narrative, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and confused.
  • story98 mentions

    The game's story is often described as minimalistic and vague, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and clarity, making it feel more like an abstract experience than a traditional narrative. While some appreciate the atmospheric visuals and music, they feel the storytelling is insufficient, often requiring players to interpret the events without much guidance. Overall, the consensus is that the story is too short and underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more substance and engagement.

    • “In my eyes, the game is beautiful; its aesthetics, music, and story make up a truly immersive experience.”
    • “The artwork is beyond gorgeous, the soundtrack is phenomenal (the music responds dynamically to your location and does a fantastic job of amplifying the mood at all the critical points in the story), and while there is no text or speech in the game, the very minimalistic story was surprisingly emotive and involving.”
    • “Terse and understated, Stranded offers a minimalist interface and a subtle yet poignant plot that you must deduce yourself by wandering through the small world and observing what happens around you.”
    • “There's basically no story here; it's another game where the entire story is told entirely through visuals, and honestly, I was confused by what I was witnessing.”
    • “The storyline is so scant it's virtually nonexistent, and I wager while many would try to argue their interpretation of the events, the truth seems to be that either there's nothing going on here that isn't readily apparent, or - if there's more to it - you'll have to read what the author says is the deeper story somewhere outside the game because the game doesn't do it.”
    • “Walking simulators are fine, as long as there's a story, which is completely missing in the half hour or so it lasts.”
  • music88 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the atmospheric experience, often described as relaxing, ambient, and reminiscent of lo-fi tracks. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's dynamic nature, which evolves with gameplay, contributing significantly to the overall immersion. However, some players feel that while the music is excellent, it may not be enough to compensate for the game's lack of substantial content or gameplay.

    • “The music is outstanding, and the pixel art provides quite screenshot-able tableaus.”
    • “The music and sound design are also really good, and make for a really immersive and atmospheric experience, that encourages you to explore this alien world.”
    • “The artwork offers a compelling snapshot of an alien planet, set to a beautiful, ambient soundtrack that makes the silent and lonely setting all the more striking.”
    • “Then, not having a menu to turn down the sound meant the tiny music loop was unbearable, and I was unable to save the game.”
    • “The soundtrack has an emotional range spanning from 'sleepy and kind of pleasant' all the way out to 'sleepy and kind of unpleasant'.”
    • “It feels like I bought a music album instead of a game.”
  • graphics61 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the retro art style and beautiful visuals that create an immersive atmosphere. However, some users criticize the outdated pixel art and lack of resolution options, suggesting that while the aesthetics are appealing, they cannot compensate for the game's shortcomings in gameplay and storytelling. Overall, the visuals and music are highlighted as strong points, but they are often seen as insufficient to elevate the overall experience.

    • “The artwork offers a compelling snapshot of an alien planet, set to a beautiful, ambient soundtrack that makes the silent and lonely setting all the more striking.”
    • “The art style, 2D graphics, sci-fi setting, and eerie robots on a dusty planet make for a wonderful atmosphere and this alone would make it easy to immerse yourself within 'stranded'.”
    • “The artwork is beyond gorgeous, the soundtrack is phenomenal (the music responds dynamically to your location and does a fantastic job of amplifying the mood at all the critical points in the story) and, while there is no text or speech in the game, the (very minimalistic) story was surprisingly emotive and involving.”
    • “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
    • “This wouldn't be bad as an ad-supported tablet game, but if you're spending €6 on Steam, there's a lot of other games that are much better value, such as The Dig (which has significantly better graphics/art even though it's from 1995, and it's a proper adventure game).”
  • gameplay43 mentions

    The gameplay of this title has been widely criticized for its lack of depth and frustrating mechanics, with many reviewers noting the painfully slow walking speed and minimal interaction, reducing the experience to little more than mindless wandering. While the visuals and audio are praised, they cannot compensate for the game's shortcomings, which include a very short playtime and a lack of meaningful gameplay elements such as puzzles or decisions. Overall, the game feels more like a visual showcase than a fully realized interactive experience, leaving players disappointed with its execution.

    • “An original story, original visuals, original use of sound, original gameplay, original ideas.”
    • “Again this game will not be for everybody but the only way to find out if it is, is by playing what I felt was a visually pleasing and engaging experience using classic point and click mechanics.”
    • “If you're looking for something with a similar atmosphere and more gameplay, check out The Swapper.”
    • “Visually it's a great looking game, but the gameplay is so horrible that it's not worth playing.”
    • “It has virtually no gameplay - the only thing you can do is move a tiny astronaut around, and that is at such a slow pace that it becomes a chore really quickly.”
    • “No puzzles, no decisions, no gameplay except 'click to walk to the next screen'.”
  • atmosphere42 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Stranded" is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring stunning pixel art, evocative music, and a mysterious alien setting that encourages exploration. While many reviewers appreciate the game's focus on creating a memorable experience through its atmospheric elements, some note that it lacks substantial gameplay and narrative depth, making it more of a short artistic experience than a traditional game. Overall, it appeals to fans of minimalist and atmospheric adventures, though some suggest there are better options available.

    • “The music and sound design are also really good, and make for a really immersive and atmospheric experience, that encourages you to explore this alien world.”
    • “Art style, 2D graphics, sci-fi setting, and eerie robots on a dusty planet make for a wonderful atmosphere, and this alone would make it easy to immerse yourself within 'Stranded'.”
    • “Very detailed and interesting settings and eerie atmosphere, a soundtrack that fits the mood perfectly.”
    • “Stranded gives me the impression that the author has tried to create the same kind of atmosphere as The Dig provided, but was unwilling to put in the required work.”
    • “Clever atmosphere or whatever do not come close to justifying this price point.”
    • “It's not enough to sell me on the atmosphere.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with multiple users noting that it offers little incentive to play through again due to repetitive gameplay and a linear narrative.

    • “The graveyard had you moving very slowly, but every step added to the story, enhancing the experience without suggesting that there was replay value in an attempt to become a time sink.”
    • “Short, not much replay value.”
    • “There is no replayability in that.”
    • “Same thing, zero replayability.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its minimalist story, which may feel non-existent, and a soundtrack that ranges from mildly pleasant to unpleasant. While the slow pacing and short playtime can enhance suspense and allow for a more impactful single-session experience, the overall lack of a compelling narrative significantly detracts from the emotional engagement, leading to disappointment for many players.

    • “In a game with a compelling, emotional story, this would be a big enough drawback to make me hesitate in recommending the game to anyone else, even if I were personally able to look past the glaring flaw.”
    • “However, the slow pacing and short play time do conspire to build a lot of suspense, and also allow you to play through the whole story in one sitting, which increases the emotional impact.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the slow walking cycle and the need to explore every area to progress. Despite its beautiful design, the game is criticized for being overly elongated and can be completed in under an hour, making the grinding feel unnecessary.

    • “And while I do not know the costs of such an endeavor, it would have been appreciated to make this game slightly less tedious.”
    • “It was a point-and-click adventure game, and I thought it was tedious and frustrating.”
    • “Very short game, only elongated by the slow and tedious walk cycle and the unnecessary need to explore every part to proceed to the next time of the day.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been criticized, with some users feeling that it lacks substance and resembles more of a pretentious art performance than a well-optimized gaming experience.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of the game is criticized as being exploitative, with users feeling that the short, linear experience does not justify its price, especially when compared to more substantial and cheaper titles in the same genre. Many consider it a cash grab, lacking value for the cost.

    • “It's a short linear experience, and as I mentioned at the beginning, everything there is to see and experience can be done in 3 minutes without the padding. What is conveyed in those 3 minutes isn't worth $2 compared to other deeper, more compelling titles in the same genre and setting, which are actually cheaper than this cash grab.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems designed to squeeze every last cent from players rather than provide a fair value for the content offered.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that the game heavily relies on microtransactions, making it feel more like a money grab than a genuine gaming experience.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Reviewers criticize "Stranded" for attempting to pay homage to classic point-and-click adventure games while stripping away the essential elements of fun, such as goofy humor, engaging puzzles, and clever writing, ultimately leaving a lackluster experience reminiscent of outdated game mechanics.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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