Strangeland

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,218 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
Strangeland Game Cover
Strangeland goes out of its way to convince you you’ve fallen off your chair and woken up in the 90s.
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"Strangeland" is a single-player horror point-and-click game with an intriguing story and splendid gameplay. You awaken in a nightmarish carnival and must navigate a dense atmosphere filled with unique characters and puzzles to destroy a Dark Thing to save a golden-haired woman from endlessly falling. With exceptional visuals, delightful music, and a highly emotional narrative, "Strangeland" offers a haunting and memorable experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,218 reviews
story208 positive mentions
character development6 negative mentions
  • Stunning art style and atmosphere that creates a haunting experience.
  • Engaging and thought-provoking story that explores themes of grief and loss.
  • Clever puzzle design with a built-in hint system that prevents frustration.
  • story840 mentions

    The story of "Strangeland" is a complex and often surreal exploration of themes such as grief, mental health, and self-discovery, presented through a dreamlike narrative filled with metaphors and allegories. While some players found the storytelling captivating and emotionally resonant, others criticized it for being vague or overly reliant on symbolism, leading to a lack of clarity and connection with the characters. Overall, the narrative's depth and personal nature resonate differently with players, making it a polarizing aspect of the game.

    • “It grips you from the beginning with its intriguing story and riveting dialogue.”
    • “A great point-and-click adventure game with a genuinely thought-provoking story.”
    • “The story is deep and immersive, the art is amazing, and there's just enough randomness to keep you on your toes.”
    • “This game is all mood, atmosphere and allegories, but has little to no plot, characters, or background story.”
    • “The story hadn't gripped me; it seemed like a generic 'oh no, I must save my dead wife' thing. I found the game tedious and after playing it for an hour, I won't be coming back to it.”
    • “The main storyline is plain and vain, and if you do not figure out the plot twist in the first few minutes, the game outright tells you soon after.”
  • graphics367 mentions

    The graphics of "Strangeland" have been widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, often described as macabre and surreal, reminiscent of H.R. Giger's work. Reviewers highlight the game's atmospheric visuals, which effectively complement its dark themes and storytelling, creating a captivating experience that draws players into its eerie world. The pixel art is noted for its clarity and detail, enhancing the overall aesthetic while maintaining a retro feel, making it a standout title in the point-and-click adventure genre.

    • “This is an incredibly well written adventure game with great puzzle direction and a gorgeous art style.”
    • “The visuals are incredible.”
    • “The artwork and overall atmosphere is something else.”
    • “If you are sensitive to graphic and disturbing imagery, this might not be a game to play.”
    • “The visuals are distorted, gritty, and visceral, whereas the soundscape feels suitably tortured and tormented with a lot of droning tracks and reverb, both very unsettling and effective in burrowing their way into your psyche, even without resorting to any gore and jump-scary cues.”
    • “Since the writing falls back on the visuals to elaborate, and they elaborate on very little, it makes things feel more shallow than they otherwise would be.”
  • atmosphere202 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and gripping qualities, characterized by a blend of eerie visuals, haunting sound design, and a surreal, often macabre tone. Reviewers note that the game's art and music significantly enhance the overall experience, creating a dreamlike and psychologically engaging environment, even if the narrative elements may be lacking. Many describe it as a standout title in the point-and-click genre, effectively capturing themes of loss, depression, and existential reflection through its atmospheric design.

    • “Atmosphere and OST made it really immersive.”
    • “The atmosphere was very well crafted and the writing and dialogue was intriguing.”
    • “Strangeland absolutely nails the dark, oppressive atmosphere and all the little tidbits of high strangeness you'd expect from a game called... well, Strangeland.”
    • “This game is all mood, atmosphere and allegories, but has little to no plot, characters, or background story.”
    • “Having not suffered an untimely loss of a loved one, I felt like I lacked the emotional intelligence to engage with the moody atmosphere and metaphors that this game so elegantly crafted.”
    • “Considering its point and click gameplay, the atmosphere was surprisingly nightmarish; I found its immersion consistent, the puzzles enjoyable, and its production quality outstanding. However, its very short length and poor character development were a noticeable letdown.”
  • music168 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the immersive experience, though many reviewers noted that it often lacks memorability and distinctiveness. While some tracks are described as haunting and fitting for the game's surreal themes, others felt the music could stand out more. Overall, the soundtrack complements the visuals and storytelling, contributing to a compelling ambiance, even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression.

    • “Breathtaking environments, music, and sound design.”
    • “The musical score is likewise breathtaking, adding a great sense of foreboding and dread to the already fantastic background art.”
    • “The art, the music, the general atmosphere, the theme, and the story were all amazing.”
    • “The music is generally ambient and not very noticeable.”
    • “It was interesting to hear in the commentary how the music is made, but no track made any particular imprint into my brain.”
    • “Other important thing to talk about is the music, as it sets up the mood and atmosphere, which I feel is especially important in a game that relies on surreal, fantastic and disturbing imagery, and, to be honest, I don’t remember a single track or melody from the game.”
  • gameplay116 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a classic point-and-click adventure, featuring intuitive mechanics and clever puzzles that are generally logical and not overly complex. While the atmosphere and writing are praised for their depth and integration with gameplay, some players found the puzzles occasionally too straightforward or vague, leading to moments of frustration. Overall, the game is noted for its smooth controls, interesting mechanics like the death-resurrection feature, and a strong narrative connection, though its short length and linear progression were seen as drawbacks.

    • “The puzzles and gameplay are clever, but not too obtuse to figure out.”
    • “The gameplay was smooth, and the puzzles were pretty logical in their flow.”
    • “Incredible game that manages to use the best features of point & click gameplay to tell an interesting, haunting story.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game's general ambiguousness and surrealism also make the puzzles and gameplay quite obscure.”
    • “During my gameplay, I had to get stuck in a walkthrough to progress the game, and I quickly lost interest in the vague story.”
    • “It is not a bad game, but overall pretty linear in terms of gameplay (find new item, bring it where you need it, find other new item).”
  • humor62 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by a blend of dark, macabre elements and clever, self-aware wit, often juxtaposing heavy themes like grief and loss with levity. Players appreciate the balance of grotesque imagery and comedic moments, finding the humor both engaging and thought-provoking, even as it occasionally treads into mean-spirited territory. Overall, the humor enhances the game's unique tone, making it a memorable experience despite its serious undertones.

    • “By turns grotesque and humorous, always mysterious, I can see myself replaying this several times.”
    • “The story clearly comes from a deeply personal place and deals with heavy themes like grief and loss of self, but it maintains a dark sense of humor throughout its 4-5 hour runtime.”
    • “The game's ambiance took me on a beautiful and joyous journey and I was especially pleasantly surprised by its use of humor, treading a fine line of still being serious but on the other giving it a comic feel.”
  • emotional56 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a deeply heartfelt and often dark narrative that explores themes of grief and personal struggle, resonating with many players. While some found it difficult to connect with the main character or the abstract elements, the overall storytelling, voice acting, and visual style evoke strong feelings, making it a compelling experience for those willing to engage with its emotional depth. The game is praised for its ability to elicit a range of emotions, from discomfort to profound reflection, ultimately delivering a powerful message.

    • “A compelling if heart-wrenching story.”
    • “It's the heartfelt story of a man working through his grief and pain despite however much he might fight himself along the way.”
    • “Beautifully horrifying art, solid puzzle design, and deep symbolism combine to push the genre to new heights of emotional storytelling.”
  • optimization24 mentions

    The game's optimization is highlighted by its exceptional visual design and outstanding voice performances, particularly from lead actor Abe Goldfarb, whose range and passion enhance the narrative experience. While most performances are strong, a few supporting roles fall short, yet the overall pacing and depth of the story remain commendable. Players feel fully immersed, with the voice acting effectively carrying the game's emotional weight.

    • “The artwork and voice acting are superb with a standout performance by Wadjet Eye veteran Abe Goldfarb as the protagonist.”
    • “Abe Goldfarb is powerful in the leading role; many other familiar voices populate the supporting cast, and there's not one weak performance in the bunch.”
    • “That said, the game's narrative is expertly done, paced well, and features another standout performance by Abe Goldfarb, bringing that forlorn-gravel greatness in every game I hear him in.”
    • “The game's optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “Despite the engaging story, the optimization issues make it difficult to fully enjoy the experience.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs and performance problems that detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • character development12 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of growth or substance in the main character. While some appreciate the exploration of the character's psychology as a central theme, it is often described as vague and lacking specificity, leading to a sense of meaninglessness in the protagonist's journey. Overall, the absence of significant character development is seen as a notable drawback, overshadowing the game's impressive visuals and immersive atmosphere.

    • “In a certain sense, there's not really a plot - the character development and exploration of a character's psychology *is* the story, and it's plumbed at depth (but again, not with much specificity).”
    • “No character development or substance to the main character.”
    • “Character development or growth is not really present.”
    • “I also felt like the whole experience the protagonist is going through in the game is, well, meaningless, as in it feels like there’s no character development, no growth, no fighting your internal struggles and overcoming them, learning from mistakes and doing better; everything feels like 'a thing to do', or just another whatever metaphor.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    The game offers some replayability due to its multiple endings and various dialogue options, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. However, its short playtime and a few frustrating puzzles may limit the overall replay value for some players. While there is potential for nuance in subsequent playthroughs, the game's pacing and brevity could deter those seeking extensive replayability.

    • “With the many options you get throughout the game, it seems there is some good replayability, and I even wanted to restart right after the credits screen.”
    • “A gorgeous, disturbing, atmospheric psychodrama that suffers from a few frustrating puzzles, a very short playtime (with little replayability), and pacing issues in its narrative.”
    • “There is replay value; no one could possibly get all of the nuance out of the game with just one playthrough.”
    • “It's a bit shorter than Primordia, but I feel like there's still some replay value here if you like to get all the dialogues and endings.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, citing slow movement and unskippable animations that detract from the experience. While improvements have been made since previous titles, such as a more streamlined interface and less frustrating puzzles, the overall pacing and certain unavoidable delays still lead to a sense of monotony. Many reviewers express a lack of engagement with the story, further contributing to their feelings of tedium.

    • “The story hadn't gripped me (seemed like a generic 'oh no I must save my dead wife' thing). I found the game tedious (moving around areas is quite slow even with double clicking) and after playing it for an hour I won't be coming back to it.”
    • “Some of the uncontrollable delays just felt tedious.”
    • “Some of that play time is also taken up by things people wouldn't be faulted for finding tedious, like unskippable death animation bumpers and the occasional long walk.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability on the Steam Deck, with smooth performance and intuitive controls that allow players to easily highlight and navigate interactive elements.

    • “It runs great on Steam Deck, and I appreciated that you could press Y to highlight interactive elements and use the D-pad to quickly jump your cursor to each one.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviews indicate a strong desire for more innovative and risk-taking approaches in game development, rather than the prevalent trend of monetization strategies that prioritize profit over creativity, often resulting in uninspired sequels and cash grabs.

    • “I want to see more risks in the gaming industry and see the developers' desires realized, instead of a cynical cash grab or a passionless sequel with minor iterations just to cash a check.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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