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The End of Gameplay

The End of Gameplay Game Cover
83%Game Brain Score
music, emotional
gameplay, grinding
100% User Score Based on 34 reviews

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The End of Gameplay Game Cover

About

The End of Gameplay is a single player platformer game. It was developed by droqen and was released on May 12, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

The End of Gameplay is a poetic anthology exploring subtle moments and shared experiences through minimalistic interactions. It offers a contemplative journey of connection, repetition, and silence, inviting players to reflect on the quiet intricacies of relationships. The game blurs the line between player and observer in a unique, emotionally resonant way.

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The End of Gameplay screenshot
The End of Gameplay screenshot
The End of Gameplay screenshot
The End of Gameplay screenshot
The End of Gameplay screenshot
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100%
Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews
music3 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The End of Gameplay is a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of games, blending poetry and platforming to challenge traditional gameplay mechanics.
  • The game features a unique and minimalist art style that enhances its emotional depth, allowing players to engage with its themes on a personal level.
  • Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke strong reflections on creation, existence, and the role of gameplay, making it a memorable and impactful experience.
  • The unconventional controls and platforming mechanics may frustrate some players, potentially leading to a negative experience for those expecting traditional gameplay.
  • The game's abstract nature and ambiguous messaging might leave some players feeling confused or disconnected, as it doesn't provide clear insights into its themes.
  • Not everyone will resonate with the game's artistic approach, and those who prefer conventional gaming experiences may find it unappealing or overly pretentious.
  • gameplay
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "The End of Gameplay" is characterized by a series of interactive vignettes that challenge traditional gaming conventions, emphasizing emotional and thematic expression over conventional gameplay mechanics. Players navigate through 2D platformer levels while engaging with poetry and exploring the developer's philosophical reflections on the concept of "kill gameplay," which critiques the over-design often found in games. This unique approach fosters a deeper understanding of the medium as a form of artistic expression, inviting players to reconsider their relationship with gameplay itself.

    • “In the end of gameplay, you make your way through a series of 2D platformer vignettes, as a bunny, with one of droqen's typically exotic player controllers, reading lines of poetry that are scattered throughout the screens, wandering through meticulously vibrant and varied tile-based pixel art environments encased in sparsely evocative synth melodies.”
    • “The end of gameplay is an anthology of poems/vignettes that helps us both understand what 'kill gameplay' is about and puts us behind its author's psyche to contextualize that idea and understand his approach to the medium as a way of self-expression to cathartic effect.”
    • “There are some levels encapsulated by gameplay but less in the sense of trying to provide a traditional gaming experience and more in such a way that it emphasizes a point, embodies a theme, or conveys an emotion - often contrary to convention or encapsulating moods not usually conveyed by games.”
    • “If you're going in expecting some grand insight into 'kill gameplay', don't get your hopes up, or at least it didn't happen to me.”
    • “Gameplay is dead.”
    • “The end of gameplay doesn't answer the question.”
  • music
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, blending seamlessly with the visuals and gameplay mechanics. Its lo-fi aesthetic and thoughtful composition evoke a range of feelings, making it a significant aspect of the game's artistic expression. Reviewers highlight how the music, alongside changes in gravity and mobility, effectively conveys the game's themes and emotions.

    • “But if poetry and musings on the nature of games, creating things, human connection, death, and much more delivered via carefully considered lo-fi visuals, music, and controls sound up your alley, I'd tell you this is well worth it.”
    • “The music explores interesting ideas and took me to interesting places.”
    • “The music is simple without being simplistic, and the bit-crushed tones help to convey the emotion of the scenes.”
    • “The music too is simple without being simplistic and the bit crushed tones help to convey the emotion of the scenes.”
    • “As much as a musician would use music to express themselves with notes, here the changes in gravity and mobility combined with music, art, and animation convey emotion, accented by the platforming and level architecture.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players report that the game evokes deep emotional responses, highlighting a strong connection to the character's feelings and the creators' emotional investment in the project. Many express that it has rekindled feelings about gaming that they haven't experienced in years, making it a profoundly cathartic experience.

    • “I understand it not just rationally, but emotionally.”
    • “Not only do you get the feeling of Droqen's emotion, you get the feeling that it was emotional to make; that it was emotionally cathartic to create.”
    • “This is a game that has made me feel things about video games that I haven't felt in a long time.”
  • graphics
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are intentionally lo-fi, complementing the game's poetic themes and enhancing the overall experience. This simplicity in visuals is seen as a deliberate choice that aligns with the game's deeper messages about human connection and existence.

    • “The graphics are a beautiful blend of lo-fi visuals that enhance the poetic nature of the game, creating a unique atmosphere.”
    • “The simplicity of the graphics complements the gameplay perfectly, allowing players to focus on the deeper themes of the game.”
    • “The carefully considered visuals contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it well worth exploring.”
    • “After playing, I think everyone will understand why the graphics and gameplay have been kept simple.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable at times, leading to a frustrating experience.

    • “At times, this was genuinely tedious and unpleasant.”
    • “The grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
    • “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly became monotonous.”
  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the game's replayability to be high, thanks to multiple endings, diverse character choices, and varying gameplay strategies that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many reviewers appreciate the added content and challenges that keep the experience fresh, making it enjoyable to revisit. However, some note that certain elements may feel repetitive after several runs.

  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its relatable and honest writing, featuring funny moments intertwined with deep, human reflections. This blend creates a personal touch that resonates well with players.

    • “There are some funny moments and a lot of very human reflections, but all of the writing feels personal, honest, and above all relatable.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

The End of Gameplay is a platformer game.

The End of Gameplay is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

The End of Gameplay was released on May 12, 2025.

The End of Gameplay was developed by droqen.

The End of Gameplay has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its gameplay.

The End of Gameplay is a single player game.

Similar games include The Beginner's Guide, Actual Sunlight, The Old City: Leviathan, That Dragon, Cancer, Cibele and others.