The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne
- April 18, 2016
- Lemonsucker Games
Get on SteamThe Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne is an interactive story about a painfully introverted college student who has to make oatmeal in the communal kitchen of her dorm. The gameplay will challenge you to find the right ways to help Samantha as she embarks on her journey to the other side of her bedroom door.
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Reviews
- The game provides a relatable and charming portrayal of social anxiety, resonating with players who have experienced similar feelings.
- The art style is cute and visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- It's a free game that offers multiple endings, making it a fun and quick playthrough for those looking for a light narrative.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive and tedious, especially when trying to achieve all endings in one playthrough.
- The main character, Samantha, can come off as unlikable and rude, which may detract from the player's empathy towards her struggles.
- Some choices lack clear consequences, leading to frustration when trying to navigate the story effectively.
- story202 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne" revolves around an introverted college student grappling with social anxiety as she attempts to make oatmeal in her dorm's communal kitchen. While the narrative is simple and relatable, effectively capturing the challenges of everyday tasks for those with anxiety, some players find it lacks depth and complexity, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Overall, the game resonates with many who share similar experiences, though its minimalistic plot may not appeal to everyone.
“The plot may seem minimalistic, just a quest to make oatmeal, but it effectively captures the essence of social anxiety.”
“Very nice, short story about what it's like to live with social anxiety.”
“This game tells the story of Samantha, a girl with social anxiety that forgot her keys.”
“There is no background story on Samantha Browne - you don't know who she is, where she came from, what she wants, or how she feels.”
“The story is simple but is filled with personality; you fairly quickly connect with Samantha as the story goes on, or at least I did anyway, as she goes on her quest of making something to eat.”
“Your choices barely matter because most of the time you end up forced to do something according to the story narrative, which means this isn't much of a visual novel to begin with since the point of visual novels is to let players decide how the narrative goes, not how the narrative tells what the player to do.”
- graphics139 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which many players find relatable and fitting for the themes of social anxiety. The visuals are described as cozy, simplistic, and reminiscent of hand-drawn illustrations, contributing to an immersive and emotional atmosphere. While some critiques mention a lack of depth or shading, the overall aesthetic is considered delightful and enhances the storytelling experience.
“The art style is charming, and the soundtrack/sound design is surprisingly good.”
“This game has adorable artwork and a storyline that is almost too relatable.”
“The art style is delightful.”
“The artwork lacks shading (which bugged me a bit), but it's not a huge letdown.”
“The artwork is alright, more on the simple side but it's charming in its own right.”
“The art style is okay, but I was kind of bothered that they wouldn't draw the freaking face.”
- music70 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally appreciated for its charm and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many users noting that it fits well with the art style. However, there are significant complaints about the volume being too loud and the lack of options to adjust it, which detracts from the experience for some players. Overall, while the soundtrack is described as pleasant and fitting, it is also criticized for being repetitive and not particularly memorable.
“This game envelops you in enchanting artwork and a dynamic soundtrack, crafting an emotional atmosphere akin to a charming, albeit slightly tipsy, fairy godmother complete with wisdom and a penchant for attempting to turn pumpkins into carriages after a few too many potions.”
“The art style is charming, and the soundtrack/sound design is surprisingly good.”
“Beautiful art and soundtrack, enjoyable, at last.”
“The waiting times do convey the message of stress a person with communication problems/phobias have and combined with the music it would work, if you could at least change the volume of it, instead of being deafened by it while turning on the game.”
“The less problematic flaws within the game include a simple and repetitive soundtrack, matching gameplay, and total lack of game options.”
“The music rather annoyed me.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received largely negative feedback, with many users describing it as repetitive, simplistic, and lacking depth. While some appreciate the visual novel format and the thematic representation of social anxiety, the overall execution is criticized for offering minimal interaction and a frustrating experience. Many players feel that the game could benefit from more engaging mechanics and content to enhance enjoyment.
“I found it fun in gameplay and artwork as well.”
“Simple gameplay, great illustrations & music.”
“Overall a nice use of gameplay to convey life with social anxiety.”
“The art was good, but the gameplay is repetitive and honestly annoying.”
“While the idea is intriguing and the art is nice, the gameplay execution is very poor.”
“This game is a very boring 'visual novel' where the goal is to get a very socially awkward girl oatmeal; there really aren't any gameplay mechanics or storyline to speak of, it is pretty much a waste of time to play this 'game'.”
- humor43 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both relatable and quirky, often resonating with players' personal experiences, particularly those dealing with anxiety and social situations. While many found the writing and comedic elements enjoyable and reflective of everyday life, some felt that the humor didn't always land or was overshadowed by gameplay flaws. Overall, the game is praised for its cute art style and humorous anecdotes, making it a lighthearted experience for those who appreciate its unique take on life's challenges.
“This game serves as a love letter to life’s quirks, blending captivating visuals, impactful choices, and a healthy dose of humor that's as unpredictable as a cat with a vendetta against laser pointers.”
“The average everyday adventures of Samantha Browne proved to be quite an interesting, funny, and enjoyable game to play.”
“Beautiful and cohesive art and funny dialogue.”
“The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
“I found the jokes to be stale and unoriginal.”
“The attempts at humor just missed the mark completely.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its charming art style, heartwarming narrative, and relatable characters, which create a cozy and immersive experience that resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers express that the game evokes a range of feelings, from sadness to comfort, making them feel less alone in their struggles. While some find the emotional investment overwhelming, others appreciate the game's ability to tell poignant stories in a short time, fostering a sense of connection and vulnerability.
“Despite the anxious gameplay, it's still charming. The artwork felt cozy, and the game overall made me feel less alone in my struggles!”
“With its charming art style, heartwarming narrative, and memorable characters, The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Browne is more than just a game—it's an immersive experience that leaves a lasting impact.”
“It may take more emotional energy than you expect to play this game, if you connect with it like I do, but it's also an experience I appreciate the most when I'm feeling vulnerable because it's a way to know I'm not alone when I'm not equipped to speak to real people.”
“This is a boring story of the most pathetic loser ever depicted in a visual novel with awful art and elementary school writing.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly when attempting to achieve all endings or complete multiple playthroughs. Many reviews highlight that while the initial experience may be engaging, the repetitive nature of grinding leads to boredom and frustration over time.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
“Which it was, for at least a few minutes, before slowly morphing into a tedious waste of time.”
“The game is relatively tedious to even just go through once, but getting the achievements was particularly tedious.”
“A tedious and underwhelming experience that could have been pushed farther to explore more of the thought process of an anxious individual.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by enchanting artwork and a dynamic soundtrack that together create an emotional and immersive experience. While the music may not stand out on its own, it complements the visuals effectively, resulting in a charming and whimsical ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is well-crafted, evoking a sense of magic and wonder.
“The atmosphere is built pretty well with music and nice visuals.”
“Art is giving atmosphere.”
“This game envelops you in enchanting artwork and a dynamic soundtrack, crafting an emotional atmosphere akin to a charming, albeit slightly tipsy, fairy godmother complete with wisdom and a penchant for attempting to turn pumpkins into carriages after a few too many potions.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability through multiple pathways to success or failure, encouraging players to explore different endings, especially the good ending. While it lacks extensive options, its engaging art style and recent release contribute to its replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for players.
“Figuring out how to get the different endings, particularly the good ending, adds some replayability.”
“It has a nice art style, it's a story-type game, and it has some replayability.”
“There are multiple ways to fail or win, so there is some replay value.”
“Sure, there are no options, but it has a nice art style, it's a story-driven game, and it has some replayability. It's free, small to download, and it released just last week.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The character development in the visual novel is limited due to its shorter format, leaving little opportunity for in-depth exploration of the characters.
“As a shorter visual novel, there was not much room for any character development.”
“The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked meaningful growth throughout the story.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any interesting ways.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been criticized due to numerous bugs, particularly highlighted by players struggling with the achievement "once more, with feeling" across multiple playthroughs. This suggests a lack of polish and reliability in gameplay experiences.
“In 10 repetitive playthroughs, I encountered an extremely buggy achievement called 'Once More, With Feeling'.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing hours of work.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and glitches that ruined the overall gameplay experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users emphasize that optimization and efficiency are crucial priorities for developers, suggesting that shortcomings in these areas can significantly impact the overall gaming experience.
“Optimization and efficiency should be a top priority for developers of all kinds.”
“The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, which is frustrating.”
“I expected better performance; the lag and stuttering make it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
