That's Not How it Happened

About

Disaster! When the Turner family’s inn burns down, they must recount the events that took place leading up to its fiery end!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

The game features cute artwork and a fun, engaging story that makes for a delightful short experience.
It's a unique concept that combines different gameplay styles, providing a variety of mini-games within a short playtime.
For a free game, it offers great entertainment value, with well-written dialogue and charming characters.

The game is very short, lasting only about 20-30 minutes, which may leave players wanting more content.
The graphics are inconsistent, with some visuals appearing low resolution compared to others, detracting from the overall experience.
Gameplay mechanics are limited, and some players feel that the game lacks depth and replayability.

graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
The graphics of "that's not how it happened" are characterized by a mix of hand-drawn, cartoony artwork that some players find charming and cute, while others criticize the inconsistent quality and lackluster 2D visuals. Despite the game's short length and limited gameplay, many appreciate the unique art styles, though some feel the graphics do not fully utilize modern capabilities. Overall, the visuals evoke a whimsical aesthetic, but opinions vary on their execution and resolution.
- “Super cute artwork and a fun but short experience!”
- “Worth the price, great story, great gameplay, and most of all, outstanding art style.”
- “Game time is around 25 minutes, it's adorable, silly, and the art styles make it even better!”
- “The game features really lackluster 2D visuals (does the developer not know 3D graphics became mainstream in the mid-1990s?).”
- “The graphics were cute, but I didn't really get it, and the gameplay was quite limited.”
- “My only complaint is that I spent too much money on a 4K monitor once, and the graphics range from 480p to 8K friendly.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The story is praised for its engaging and diverse narrative, featuring multiple perspectives from unique characters that offer varied gameplay experiences, from adventure to dating sim elements. Reviewers highlight the well-voiced storytelling and the quirky, fun nature of the plot, making it an enjoyable and interactive experience. Overall, the narrative is described as cute and compelling, with layers of truth woven through the perspectives of unreliable narrators.
- “Love the different playstyles depending on which character is telling the story.”
- “Each family member has their own unique style to tell the story, so you go from beat 'em up to dating sim to adventure game to DBZ combat, all within half an hour.”
- “Telling the same story from different perspectives of three unreliable narrators with seeds of truth in them.”
- “A fun, quick mini-game after mini-game style game with a quirky story and characters.”
- “I absolutely adored playing Zoey's version of the story.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The gameplay is generally well-received, praised for its interesting mechanics and fun elements, though some users feel it is limited and could benefit from additional features. The combination of a great story and outstanding art style enhances the overall experience, making it worth the price for many players.
- “With a few more gameplay elements, this could be a great full game or even a series of games.”
- “Worth the price, great story, great gameplay, and most of all, outstanding art style.”
- “Interesting mechanic and I want to play more like this.”
- “The graphics were cute, but I didn't really get it, and the gameplay was quite limited.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players noting it as fun and laugh-out-loud funny throughout the short playtime of about 30 minutes. The interesting concept and well-executed comedic elements contribute to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “Had me laughing out loud the whole time :)”
- “Pretty fun and funny, free, and you can beat it in 30 minutes!”
- “Good humor, interesting concept, and well made.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it to be great and well-integrated with the overall experience, others feel it falls short of expectations, particularly in terms of animation and overall quality.
- “The art, music, and voice acting are great, and the ending was positively lovely.”
- “Good game, especially for the price. The art is well made and the ideas are solid, but the animation and music aren't amazing.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a touching ending that resonates with players, particularly the heartwarming final image of the family together during the credits.
- “The end was very touching, and the final picture of the family together at the end of the credits was heartwarming.”