The Deer

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 212 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
The Deer Game Cover
Starting at $0.38Buy now
Get on Steam

"The Deer" is an educational game taking players back to the Pleistocene epoch as an ancient deer. Explore this ice age to learn about larger mammals, the extinction of dinosaurs and megafauna like Megalodon, all through the vibrant illustrations of Giulia Airoldi. Unfortunately, no T-Rexes will be encountered as they had been extinct long before this era.

Play Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 212 reviews
graphics15 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful artwork and soothing music, creating a calming atmosphere for players.
  • It provides educational content about the Pleistocene epoch, making it a fun learning experience for young children.
  • The game is very affordable, making it accessible for parents looking for educational games for their kids.
  • The gameplay is extremely short, often completed in under 10 minutes, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied.
  • Controls can be unresponsive, leading to frustration during gameplay, especially for younger players.
  • The game lacks depth and replayability, with only a few simple mini-games that do not provide much engagement.
  • graphics30 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning quality and charming art style, often described as the best seen in an MMO or any game. Players appreciate the cute and clean visuals, with many noting the endearing design of the animals and the immersive world. While some minor issues with resolution were mentioned, the overall consensus is that the graphics significantly enhance the gaming experience, earning high praise and ratings.

    • “My word, these are by far the best graphics I've seen in an MMO, or any game for that matter.”
    • “This was the greatest piece of work I've ever had the honor to play, the graphics were so amazing and the world seemed so real, I actually got fleas from the forest creatures around me.”
    • “Btw best game ever played, took me 12 hours to complete, puzzles are extremely difficult, engaging story, amazing graphics.”
    • “The graphics could have been used for illustrative purposes, but all the animals wear Santa hats, so I wouldn't count that as a reasonably realistic depiction.”
    • “It is three puzzles, poor graphics, and some interesting facts.”
    • “The graphics are cute, although I had some problems with resolution...”
  • gameplay15 mentions

    The gameplay experience varies significantly across different titles, with some offering immersive and engaging mechanics, such as fast-paced combat and quest tracking that enhances faction dynamics. However, many users criticize the limited content and unpolished execution, often highlighting issues like bugs and a lack of depth, resulting in very short gameplay sessions that can feel unsatisfying. Overall, while some games provide a captivating experience, others fall short due to their brevity and technical problems.

    • “The gameplay is just magnificent.”
    • “So the general gameplay loop involves going to one of the many towns, tracking a quest, and once it is completed, usually by going into the jungle and slaying some kind of monster or helping some people out with a bandit problem. Your faction gets a boost of some kind, sometimes it's just DPS against the enemy factions, and other times it's something less obvious, like the shops along the lanes being more fully stocked and able to trade.”
    • “The combat itself is fantastic, featuring fast-paced action with blocking, parrying, and dodging away from enemy attacks, which makes the overall gameplay loop that much more enjoyable.”
    • “There's not a lot of gameplay - click around for some mini-games that'll teach you things about prehistoric deer (and other animals), but it's more to keep a kid engaged than anything else.”
    • “Additionally, there is very little content (what do you expect for 57 cents?), and the little gameplay that does exist is unpolished (issues with the game engine).”
    • “Gameplay lasts 10 minutes and it was enough for at least 3 bugs to appear, including a disappearing cursor.”
  • music13 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and soothing qualities, making it a perfect backdrop for the charming visuals and educational content. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as amazing and relaxing, enhancing the overall experience, especially for children. The combination of pleasant music and cute graphics creates an inviting atmosphere that players appreciate.

    • “The illustrations and music are so calming and sweet, and the information throughout the game was perfect for small children as an introduction to the Pleistocene era and prehistory in general.”
    • “The soundtrack is legitimately amazing.”
    • “Adorable art, soothing music; I would leave the game on just to admire the beautiful deer.”
    • “The music is okay as background music, and the visuals are cute and neat.”
    • “Cute graphics, soothing music, and simple gameplay.”
    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
  • story12 mentions

    The story is generally well-received, with many praising its engaging narrative and impactful moral about perseverance. While some find the story length perfect, others feel it can be overly long or lacking in certain areas. Overall, the plot twists and character journeys, particularly in the context of a charming deer, leave players eager for potential sequels.

    • “The story length is perfect.”
    • “Btw best game ever played, took me 12 hours to complete, puzzles are extremely difficult, engaging story, amazing graphics.”
    • “Wow the plot twist in the end, I can't wait for the deer 2!!!!”
    • “The story was lacking.”
    • “The story is way too long.”
    • “If you have $1 and nowhere to spend it, come here and support this game; maybe in the future it might have updates and more facts and story.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its educational elements and lightheartedness. While some find it genuinely funny and enjoyable, others express mixed feelings about its comedic effectiveness. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the gameplay experience.

    • “Beautiful game, educational and funny on top of it.”
    • “A short, but funny little game.”
    • “Funny to play with them.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
    • “I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
    • “The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and miss the mark.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some users find it very good with ample replay value, others criticize it for being too simple, short, and lacking engaging content, particularly noting the limited number of mini-games that offer little incentive to replay.

    • “Very good game with a lot of replayability.”
    • “The deer easily get stuck and there is not much replay value here.”
    • “But even for them it's too simple, too short, and lacking any replay value.”
    • “There are 3 mini games... only 3, that have no replay value. I know that the attention span of kids is low, but 3 very, very mini games... every game is just played and finished without any feedback. When you finish it (or you think you did), you need to press the back button to return.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed emotional response to the game, with some players feeling a lack of connection to the protagonist, particularly during pivotal moments. While one reviewer expressed that the game's shortcomings evoked frustration, others noted that the emotional impact was diminished by gameplay mechanics. Overall, the emotional engagement appears to be inconsistent among players.

    • “2/10 - Bambi would cry again.”
    • “... but... this game is so lazily made that it made me cry. You walk around with the A/D keys, but for me, whichever you press, it will go first to the left to the end, and then to the right. It's probably a problem that only I have, since I don't see anyone complaining.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, achieving around 90% GPU usage and approximately 1000 fps, making it accessible to a wide range of computers with performance exceeding 60 fps. This stands in stark contrast to the poor optimization seen in titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.

    • “Really well optimized, 90% GPU usage with around 1000 FPS.”
    • “Can run on almost all computers, achieving over 60 FPS unlike the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 poor optimization.”
    • “Really well optimized, 90% GPU usage with around 1000 fps.”
    • “Can run on almost all computers, over 60 fps unlike the COD: Blops 3 poor optimization.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to its brevity, as the gameplay can be completed in about five minutes, leaving little room for meaningful card farming. The simplistic design, while appealing to younger audiences, is undermined by complex text that may not be suitable for them, making the grinding feel unfulfilling.

    • “Yes, the other time spent was in farming the cards!”
    • “Normally when cash farming cards, I will play until I unlock them, but you can't do that here because you can run through the whole thing in about 5 minutes, consisting of some text, some scenery, and 3 or 4 mini puzzles. Although a game this cute, short, and simplistic would be geared towards young children, I still can't recommend it as half of the text consists of information that would fly right over a child's head, using words that I'm sure some of their slower parents would have trouble pronouncing.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game has been reported to have several bugs, leading players to feel that it is somewhat incomplete and lacking in stability.

    • “The game is a bit buggy and gives me a feeling of being incomplete.”
    • “I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay experience.”
    • “There are numerous glitches that make it hard to enjoy the game.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers praise the game for its outstanding character development, highlighting the depth and growth of characters throughout the story.

    • “The character development in this game is truly outstanding, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The depth of character development adds layers to the narrative, making every choice feel impactful.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, creating a captivating and engaging environment that enhances the overall experience.

    • “The game creates an incredibly immersive atmosphere that draws you in from the very start.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
    • “The sound design and visuals work together to create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy The Deer

Videos

Similar Games