Tech Support: Error Unknown

Tech Support: Error Unknown brings its own ideas to life in great detail, but it's missing the emotional core of Papers, Please.

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Tech Support: Error Unknown is a narrative-driven adventure game where you play as a tech support specialist. As you resolve customer issues, you uncover a conspiracy that threatens the world. Your choices and actions determine the outcome of the story, offering multiple endings and replayability.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 408 reviews

story30 positive mentions

stability13 negative mentions

Great concept and execution that tests multitasking skills.
Intriguing storyline with multiple endings that keeps players engaged.
Fun gameplay reminiscent of 'Papers, Please' with a unique tech support twist.

Repetitive gameplay that can become dull after a few hours.
Numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt the experience.
Lack of clear instructions and inconsistent feedback on player choices.

story
110 mentions
27 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its intriguing and immersive narrative, featuring multiple branching paths and endings that enhance replayability and personal engagement. However, some players find the execution lacking, citing issues with pacing, bugs, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. While the storyline offers interesting elements and character development, it can feel repetitive and underdeveloped at times, leading to mixed reviews on its effectiveness.
- “The storyline is richly layered, offering players a chance to explore multiple outcomes based on their choices.”
- “This depth of storytelling not only enhances replayability but also ensures that each playthrough feels uniquely personal and profoundly impactful.”
- “The game features branching paths as well as extremely interesting reasoning to support either side of the story.”
- “The story just doesn't ... do anything.”
- “I can tell there was a vision behind the basic concept, but they started building the game before polishing the gameplay or story beats, and they never really went back to polish off the rough edges or to bestow the game its own unique voice.”
- “After the 3rd hour, however, things start to stagnate, become repetitive, and the story appears to be unfinished.”
gameplay
49 mentions
20 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and dull, particularly due to a lack of evolution in the core mechanics and frustrating design choices that can lead to unproductive playthroughs. However, others appreciate its innovative blend of simulation, strategy, and role-playing elements, noting that it can be engaging and enjoyable, especially for those who prefer story-driven experiences. Overall, while the gameplay loop can be entertaining initially, it often becomes monotonous over time, leading to a sense of wasted potential.
- “Its innovative gameplay, deep narrative, and cultural impact signify its status as the magnum opus of humanity, transcending the boundaries of conventional gaming experiences.”
- “"tech support error unknown" revolutionized gameplay mechanics by seamlessly blending simulation, strategy, and role-playing elements.”
- “The game is similar to Papers, Please, but the gameplay itself feels a lot more in-depth.”
- “The base gameplay loop is very dull, and the fact that if you miss a single thing you're stuck in a nothing playthrough (with no hint that's happening other than radio silence from any of the plot-progressers) until the end is definitely a choice...”
- “I can tell there was a vision behind the basic concept, but they started building the game before polishing the gameplay or story beats, and they never really went back to polish off the rough edges or to bestow the game its own unique voice.”
- “The gameplay loop is ok, a bit repetitive and very simplistic.”
stability
13 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, significantly impacting the overall experience. Players frequently encounter issues such as failed ticket completions and gameplay interruptions, leading to frustration. While some enjoy the game despite these problems, many recommend waiting for stability improvements before diving in.
- “However, the game itself is pretty buggy.”
- “I like this game a lot, but damn is it buggy. After replaying it a couple of times, I constantly encounter bugs, most notably completed tickets appearing as failed, and I don't get paid for them.”
- “Buggy mess that isn't getting fixed.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and relatable take on customer service experiences, with players finding it both hilarious and frustrating. Many appreciate the game's witty backstory and amusing customer interactions, although some note that certain aspects, like repetitive character profiles, detract from the overall comedic immersion. Overall, the game delivers a fun and engaging experience filled with laugh-out-loud moments.
- “The game itself is actually pretty funny with the backstory and the possibility to get fired at any time (currently playing hard).”
- “On one hand, it's a fun and hilariously too real sim for anyone who has worked customer service in general.”
- “Having worked for a few years in teleservices, this is hilarious, even though I did get fired after 12 days on my first run in the game.”
graphics
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics are widely praised for their stunning visuals and a unique art style that combines cyberpunk aesthetics with realistic detail, creating an immersive experience. While some users noted minor glitches, the overall aesthetic and design contribute positively to the gameplay, making it visually appealing and engaging.
- “Stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “Its art style, a blend of cyberpunk aesthetics and realistic detail, creates a visually striking world that is both immersive and thought-provoking.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics; although there are some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
grinding
9 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively repetitive and tedious, often requiring significant time investment to progress. While some enjoy the initial fun and upgrades that enhance gameplay, many report that the experience becomes monotonous and disappointing, especially during extended play sessions. Overall, the game is better suited for short bursts rather than long grinding sessions.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It gets repetitive and tedious quickly.”
- “I completed the game and wanted to do a second playthrough for some achievements, but halfway through it was just getting tedious doing the exact same things over and over.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Tech Support: Error Unknown" is highlighted by its well-developed characters, each with unique backstories and emotional arcs that foster player empathy and investment. However, some reviewers feel the game lacks the emotional core found in similar titles, suggesting it may not resonate with all players.
- “Players assume the role of a tech support specialist, navigating complex scenarios that require both technical acumen and emotional intelligence.”
- “The characters in 'Tech Support: Error Unknown' are meticulously crafted, each with their own backstories, motivations, and emotional arcs.”
- “This emotional depth fosters a sense of empathy and investment rarely seen in video games, making each character's journey meaningful and memorable.”
replayability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth of storytelling and community aspects that encourage multiple playthroughs, others feel a lack of motivation to revisit the game for different outcomes. This results in a varied experience, with some finding significant replay value and others feeling it lacks incentive for repeated play.
- “This depth of storytelling not only enhances replayability but also ensures that each playthrough feels uniquely personal and profoundly impactful.”
- “This sense of community enhances the game's longevity and replayability.”
- “All in all, though, I would give this game a 4/5 due to the challenging nature and replayability.”
- “I don't think it is really replayable though, and I feel no urge to go back and try to get a different ending.”
music
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received criticism for being limited and generic, with many players suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. While some find the gameplay enjoyable, the lack of diverse music options is a common point of dissatisfaction.
- “The music in the game could use a little work as there aren't very many music options and they are all very generic sounding, but overall the gameplay is pretty fun.”
- “The game passes the time, though more music options would be nice.”
- “The music in the game could use a little work as there aren't very many music options and they all sound very generic.”
optimization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for frequent bugs and a poorly designed interface, which detracts from the overall experience. Players express frustration over being penalized for performance issues that seem unjustified, indicating a need for better balance and clarity in gameplay mechanics.
- “Has too many bugs, the interface is not optimized and the story is hard to actually find (probably fell into another bug for that).”
- “I would play much more if it had unlimited days, but I get fired too often due to 'poor performance' whilst my performance was amazing. I had also just gotten up to lead tech specialist!”
character development
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is marked by a mix of humor and emotional depth, with engaging gameplay and amusing customer interactions. However, the experience is marred by a disappointing ending and a lack of immersion due to recycled character assets, leading to missed opportunities for deeper storytelling and character growth.
- “Character development and emotional depth.”
- “The gameplay is hilarious and sometimes too real, with a seemingly neat story and funny customer responses.”
- “However, the ending is incredibly disappointing, and the recycled customer profile pictures, replies, and names break the immersion, leading to some wasted opportunities for smaller story and character development.”
- “The character development lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “While the gameplay is often hilarious and relatable, the character arcs feel recycled and underwhelming.”
- “There are missed opportunities for meaningful character development, which ultimately detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its hauntingly beautiful score and detailed sound effects, which effectively immerse players in its universe. Despite the potential for repetitiveness, the atmosphere remains engaging and captivating, keeping players fully absorbed.
- “Usually, games like this get repetitive and boring, but this game somehow manages to keep even me (a scatterbrain) fully submerged in the atmosphere.”
- “The sound design, featuring a hauntingly beautiful score and meticulously crafted sound effects, enhances the overall atmosphere, drawing players deeper into the game's universe.”
- “Usually games like this get repetitive and boring, but this game somehow manages to keep even me (a scatterbrain) fully submerged in the atmosphere.”