The Descendant

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 333 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Descendant Game Cover
The Descendant offers a fascinating sci-fi tale intertwined with interesting puzzles, breathing fresh air into a genre that can feel stagnant at times.
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"The Descendant" is a thrilling adventure game that follows the story of a team of troubled scientists fighting to save the world from a deadly virus. As the player, you will make choices that determine the fate of the characters and uncover the truth behind a conspiracy. With a captivating narrative and stunning graphics, this game offers a unique and immersive experience. However, be prepared for a challenging puzzle-solving adventure that will put your skills to the test.

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Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 333 reviews
story186 positive mentions
stability16 negative mentions
  • Engaging and intriguing storyline that keeps players hooked.
  • Strong voice acting and decent graphics enhance the overall experience.
  • Choices made throughout the game have consequences, adding depth to the narrative.
  • Clunky controls and camera angles can make navigation frustrating.
  • Puzzles are often too simplistic and lack challenge.
  • The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content.
  • story397 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, with many players praising its interesting plot, engaging characters, and strong narrative elements reminiscent of Telltale's style. However, some critiques highlight issues such as abrupt endings, linear progression, and gameplay mechanics that detract from the storytelling experience. Overall, while the story captivates many, its execution and pacing leave room for improvement.

    • “The story is engaging and keeps you hooked all the way through!”
    • “Great storytelling! The plot and characters are very well done, making you want to uncover the rest of the story.”
    • “I was hooked to the plot and had to wait for the next episodes to come out if I wanted to know more about the story.”
    • “The overarching story is disappointing and kinda dumb.”
    • “With boring, one-dimensional characters, selectively terrible voice acting, and an uninspired, generic story, all supported by the weakest semblance of gameplay, this is one to avoid.”
    • “The story just ends.”
  • gameplay104 mentions

    The gameplay is largely characterized as simplistic and linear, often resembling that of Telltale games, with a focus on point-and-click mechanics and minimal puzzle complexity. Many players found the gameplay to be tedious and lacking in challenge, with frustrating controls and a reliance on cutscenes that detracted from the overall experience. While the story is generally praised, the gameplay mechanics are often criticized for being underdeveloped and not engaging enough to warrant replayability.

    • “A fairly common theme realized with entertaining gameplay and satisfyingly real characters.”
    • “Sick gameplay, very cool story, game looks alright, runs well, etc., enjoyable.”
    • “I really love how the player's choice of different interactions paves the way for variety in the gameplay, adds a whole new dynamic and not just a dull gameplay where you sit and wait for something to happen.”
    • “It's not a game, because there's basically no gameplay and it's not an interactive movie because choices don't really matter.”
    • “The gameplay sometimes feels like they're just having you do something between cut scenes, with a few, I guess you could call them puzzles, along the way.”
    • “With boring, one-dimensional characters, selectively terrible voice acting, and an uninspired, generic story, all supported by the weakest semblance of 'gameplay', this is one to avoid.”
  • graphics72 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique art style and decent atmospheric lighting, while others criticize them as dated or lacking polish. Many players appreciate the visuals for their charm and quality, but note issues such as frame rate limitations, graphical glitches, and subpar character animations. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered acceptable, they fall short of being standout features in the game.

    • “The graphics, the choices, the puzzles, all of them were really well made.”
    • “What a game, the voice acting is first class, the graphics are top notch.”
    • “The graphics and atmosphere are just awesome and the price is right at $3/episode!”
    • “The graphics are bad.”
    • “There were graphical issues as I progressed further into the game, and the game crashed completely at the end of episode four, preventing progress.”
    • “The graphics overall are decent aside from the hair on the characters which was pretty poor.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting, with some reviewers appreciating the quality of the soundtrack and its contribution to the overall experience. However, there are mixed feelings about the volume and presence of the music, with some noting it can be too quiet or inconsistent with the game's pacing. Overall, while the music enhances the narrative and suspense, it may not always be prominent enough to fully engage players.

    • “The way the stories from three different timelines are interwoven, the fantastic script, the awesome sound effects and music, everything about this game is quality.”
    • “The story is interesting and sometimes a bit scary, and the music is really good and adds to the suspense.”
    • “However, the voice acting and music, on the other hand, are top quality.”
    • “The soundtrack (all 1,000 MB) consists almost completely of slow background drones.”
    • “The music and voice acting cannot really redeem this title.”
    • “Not much music; it doesn’t last or it’s too discreet.”
  • stability16 mentions

    The game's stability is marred by numerous bugs and glitches, including sound issues, character disappearance, and problematic controls that can disrupt gameplay. While many players report that these issues are frustrating yet manageable, they often require restarting the game or reloading checkpoints to resolve. Overall, the game is not unplayable, but it suffers from a lack of polish and optimization, particularly on higher-end systems.

    • “Firstly, it's extremely buggy.”
    • “The sound is buggy, the main character disappears from the screen, screens fail to load.”
    • “This game feels like a scammy, open beta with glitches and obstacles left.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring decent graphics, atmospheric lighting, and compelling music that enhance the experience. Many players appreciate the apocalyptic setting and well-crafted story, which contribute to a captivating and sometimes eerie ambiance. Overall, the combination of visuals, sound, and narrative creates a strong atmospheric presence that resonates with players.

    • “Gorgeously atmospheric indie play.”
    • “The atmosphere is very apocalyptic, post-cataclysmic event.”
    • “This game somehow manages to be scary just by sheer force of atmosphere.”
    • “The story for me is where it shines, alongside the atmosphere.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Reviews consistently highlight the grinding aspect of the game as excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant effort for minimal reward. Many users express frustration with slow-paced gameplay, lack of agency, and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging adventure.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “There are some slow-paced and tedious parts.”
    • “I went back to get a few of the achievements, but it was too tedious to go through everything again.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably poor, primarily due to its use of the Unity engine, leading to performance issues and graphical glitches, especially on higher-end hardware. While some aspects of the game are immersive, the overall experience is hindered by these technical shortcomings.

    • “Performance on movement enhancement.”
    • “These janitors are responsible for making sure these arks run smoothly.”
    • “And then, there are those at duty, called the 'janitors', who make sure the arks run smoothly to keep the descendants alive and safe.”
    • “It uses the Unity engine, so optimization is absolutely terrible.”
    • “On the downside, there are some graphical glitches and it could use better optimization on higher-end gear, but nothing that makes it unplayable for me.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it to be a touching and engaging experience that evokes strong feelings, others criticize the writing and delivery, suggesting that emotional moments are undermined by poor execution and a lackluster ending. Overall, it appears to offer a compelling emotional journey for some, but not without significant flaws.

    • “Some parts of this innovative and prospective human experience were quite touching, actually.”
    • “I played the first episodes for free, got hooked and bought the rest, and every episode has just been an emotional trip that I'm enjoying like a great movie.”
    • “The story is boring and the movement feels tedious.”
    • “I found it hard to connect emotionally with the characters.”
    • “The emotional moments felt forced and lacked depth.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game has limited replayability, as users note that the storyline lacks sufficient variation to encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “The game offers a variety of choices that significantly alter the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With multiple endings and diverse character paths, I find myself coming back to explore every possible scenario.”
    • “The random events and procedural generation keep the gameplay exciting, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
    • “Otherwise, this game has no replayability.”
    • “Replayability: admittedly, the storyline doesn't have enough variation to warrant replay.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by unexpected character antics and absurd situations, such as a character's misguided expectations leading to a comical revelation. Players find the chaotic behavior of the characters particularly amusing, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience.

    • “In the end, all the characters went crazy, and it made me laugh XD.”
    • “(The funny part is that he was expecting 11 more, but there were only 2 cryo tanks in the janitors' quarters.)”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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