The Fall

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,334 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • gameplay
The Fall Game Cover
The game offers a great story, brilliant voice acting, a notable aesthetic progression and an innovative combat system. And while a little short the only thing left to say is: you should play this game.
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The Fall is a side-scrolling adventure game with platforming and combat elements. Your character is an AI controlling a combat suit whose occupant is unresponsive and presumably dead or seriously injured. You have crash landed on an unknown planet for unknown reasons and must seek medical attention for your 'pilot'. The bulk of the gameplay resolves around completing a series of object-matching p…

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Wii
  • Wii U
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,334 reviews
story1,897 positive mentions
stability82 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with intriguing themes about AI and consciousness.
  • Great atmosphere and visuals that enhance the overall experience.
  • Clever puzzles that challenge the player without being overly frustrating.
  • Clunky controls that can hinder gameplay and combat.
  • Short playtime, leaving players wanting more and feeling incomplete.
  • Some puzzles can be illogical or require excessive trial and error.
  • story3,731 mentions

    The story of *The Fall* is widely praised for its engaging narrative, intriguing themes, and strong character development, particularly focusing on the AI protagonist, A.R.I.D., and its mission to save its unconscious pilot. Many reviewers highlight the atmospheric setting and excellent voice acting, which enhance the storytelling experience, although some note that the game ends on a cliffhanger, leaving players eager for the sequel. While the gameplay mechanics receive mixed feedback, the compelling story remains the primary draw for players, making it a recommended experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven games.

    • “While it is simply the prologue to the rest of the story, it's captivating from the jump, and the dark moody environments successfully instill a sense of unease.”
    • “The *stellar* voice acting and story make up for the clunkiness and occasionally obtuse puzzling.”
    • “The fall tells a compelling story that kept me interested and excited till the very end.”
    • “Fair warning, the game ends clearly setting up for a sequel, so the story may feel a little incomplete as a result.”
    • “However: the game itself is incomplete from a story perspective.”
    • “There are a few major plot points that are left completely unanswered.”
  • atmosphere1,063 mentions

    The atmosphere of "The Fall" is widely praised for its dark, immersive, and eerie qualities, effectively enhancing the game's storytelling and emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a haunting ambiance through its visuals, sound design, and voice acting, making it a compelling experience that draws players into its dystopian world. While some critiques mention gameplay issues, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates and engages players throughout their journey.

    • “A hauntingly beautiful, atmospheric side-scrolling shooter with so much incredibly captivating story, character development, writing, voice acting, and an ending that cannot be forgotten.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick and immersive with good use of vibrant electronic colors clashing with the muted dark environment, the point and click puzzles leading me through events seamlessly, subtle ambience layering tension and the ever-increasing idea that you're never quite safe, all nicely guiding the story.”
    • “The dark shadowy visuals provide a beautiful, creepy atmosphere where you really do feel unsafe, the voice acting is quite excellent, particularly the three main characters (ARID, the caretaker, and the mainframe), the exploration is a well-crafted homage to the point and click adventures of yesteryear with some quite respectable cover-based shooting action, and a few good stealth moments too.”
    • “Crap controls, way too much backtracking, super clunky feel, never given a reason to care about the story, atmosphere failed to make me tense or even interested.”
    • “People have talked about the atmosphere of the game, but it was completely non-existent for me.”
    • “However, soon the intense atmosphere was destroyed by the fact that I was walking through the same corridor the sixth time or so with my flashlight on permanently, just to figure out where in the surroundings it was, what I had overlooked.”
  • gameplay1,029 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Fall" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its blend of point-and-click mechanics and side-scrolling action. While the story and atmosphere are praised for their depth and engagement, the gameplay is often described as clunky, simplistic, and at times frustrating, particularly due to awkward controls and some poorly designed puzzles. Overall, it seems that while the game offers an intriguing narrative experience, the gameplay mechanics may not satisfy those seeking a more polished or challenging gaming experience.

    • “Suspenseful dark story in a dystopian sci-fi setting, entertaining game mechanics and puzzles.”
    • “The fall is a very good example, and proof that you do not need a massive budget or fancy graphics to make a good game: the gameplay itself is quite simple, and most of the puzzles as well, but everything is very well executed.”
    • “The gameplay is a mix of puzzle solving and some light action.”
    • “The gameplay is clumsy and working through the puzzles seemed like more of a chore than enjoyment.”
    • “Great story, great visuals, royally messed up by horrid gameplay and the developers being dishonest.”
    • “While I really enjoyed the story and the atmosphere of the game, I was horribly overstrained by the gameplay.”
  • graphics602 mentions

    The graphics of "The Fall" are generally praised for their dark, atmospheric art style, which effectively enhances the game's eerie narrative and immersive environment. While some players noted that the visuals are not cutting-edge and can appear dated or simplistic, many appreciated the unique aesthetic choices and the effective use of lighting to create a compelling atmosphere. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's storytelling and emotional impact, making it a visually engaging experience despite some technical limitations.

    • “The graphics are dark which fits with the story nicely, most of the game you are a silhouette which really makes you pay attention to the terrain.”
    • “The visuals do a very good job of showcasing a ruined, forgotten tech facility in an unknown section of the universe.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and utilize the 2-d space perfectly.”
    • “There were also several graphical glitches; presumably modern-day screen resolutions allow for more vision than they accounted for in 2014.”
    • “The graphics seem pretty -- too bad it's so dark you can't see a whole lot.”
    • “The graphics are not stellar and somewhat remind me of games like 'Out of This World' and 'Flashback', except that some of the objects are very simplistic, while others seem out of place in a scene with how heavily rendered they are.”
  • music186 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the dark and immersive environment. While some players found the soundtrack to be exceptional and fitting, others noted that it could be repetitive or forgettable at times. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and sound design contributes significantly to the game's mood and storytelling, making it a noteworthy aspect despite some mixed opinions.

    • “The music, voice acting, and worldbuilding behind the fall are really impressive.”
    • “The fall tells a strong story using minimal assets set to a soundtrack that seemed almost perfect for every moment it appeared.”
    • “The whole vibe of the game is dark and foreboding, and the soundtrack and sound effects are splendid.”
    • “The rest of the time is spent trudging along a depressing environment, to the sound of a depressing musical score.”
    • “There is a bit of ambient music, but it played so little that I barely noticed it, spending most of my time in silence.”
    • “The only area I wouldn't praise so highly is the music.”
  • humor136 mentions

    The humor in the game is predominantly dark and macabre, often blending moments of levity with a grim atmosphere, which some players found refreshing and engaging. While the humor varies from clever and twisted to occasionally slapstick, it effectively balances the game's serious themes, providing a unique experience that resonates with fans of dark comedy. Overall, the writing and voice acting enhance the humor, making it a standout feature despite some critiques of inconsistent execution.

    • “I was pleasantly surprised by the humor (sometimes dark, sometimes slapstick) that kept cropping up, bringing a little levity to a story that could have easily been made too heavy.”
    • “The story is hilarious and/or horrifying at times; the puzzles feel fresh and favor creative solutions, with light gallows humor an advantage.”
    • “Dark, grimly funny and cleverly written, The Fall takes the player down into the murky depths of an abandoned robot factory and the ethical dilemmas therein.”
    • “It is not spooky, not exciting, not funny, and has no sense of urgency or strategy. I really don't know what to say except interesting concept and subpar execution.”
  • stability84 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its stability issues, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and control problems that can disrupt gameplay. While some players noted that these issues did not completely ruin their experience, many encountered game-breaking glitches that required reloading checkpoints or restarting the game. Overall, the game's stability is considered a significant drawback, overshadowing its otherwise appealing visuals and story.

    • “The game was a little bit twitchy in a few places, but overall performance was bug-free.”
    • “Big time, including slow response, bugs and glitches.”
    • “Then I started getting some pretty weird visual glitches leading up to a completely game-breaking glitch that halted my progress entirely.”
    • “On the bad side, it's really buggy and I ended up having to close the game and reopen it at one point.”
  • grinding62 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, primarily due to repetitive combat, unintuitive controls, and nonsensical puzzles that often require excessive backtracking and pixel-hunting. While the story and some gameplay elements are praised, the overall experience is marred by the feeling of monotony and the need for constant clicking and trial-and-error, leading to a lack of engagement. Many reviewers express that the tedious nature of the gameplay detracts significantly from the potential enjoyment of the narrative and adventure elements.

    • “The design of the combat system on its own is repetitive and time-consuming, and is made to feel tedious by the awful controls.”
    • “What could have been a fun and immersive delve into a dark complex and dark psyche devolved into tedious guide reading, pixel hunting, and backtracking.”
    • “The gameplay wasn't bad but it was bland and you spend an inordinate amount of time doing tedious chores that don't really add anything to the game or much to the story.”
  • emotional60 mentions

    The game evokes a wide range of emotions, from fear and sadness to moments of joy, often leaving players feeling heart-wrenched and deeply connected to the characters. Its dark and unsettling narrative explores themes of emotional attachment and the complexities of AI, creating a thought-provoking experience that resonates long after completion. While some players found certain emotional moments less impactful than intended, the overall storytelling and character development are praised for their depth and immersion.

    • “This game is both visually stunning and heart-wrenchingly deep.”
    • “I finished it in one sitting, and it has left me feeling emotional, craving more, and thinking deeply about Arid's actions and the meaning of her existence and intelligence.”
    • “I personally got emotionally attached to the main character from the start, and the voice acting really drew me in.”
  • replayability58 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits low replayability, primarily due to its linear narrative structure and short playtime of around 1.5 to 5 hours. While some players appreciate the opportunity to pursue achievements or explore minor alternate choices, many feel that the lack of significant branching paths limits the incentive to replay. Despite this, the strong storytelling and engaging dialogue leave players eager for potential sequels.

    • “Replay value is relatively high, as I am left wondering if there were other paths I may have taken for a different conclusion.”
    • “The dialogue is amazing; there is branching dialogue that adds to replayability, and the story is awesome.”
    • “It seems there are some alternate choice paths at points, however, so this adds a bit of replayability.”
    • “With that said, there is no real replayability.”
    • “Has no replay value, since the game appears to be 100% railroaded.”
    • “There is no replay value, it's a one-and-done title.”
  • optimization32 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth graphics and solid sound design contributing to an immersive experience. However, it is noted that the game is better suited for gamepad use rather than keyboard and mouse, and some players experienced minor twitchiness in gameplay. Despite these issues, many reported no significant performance-related problems, particularly on GNU/Linux systems.

    • “The fall is a game that immerses you directly in a dark and intriguing atmosphere from the beginning, with magnificent music, great graphics that have good performance.”
    • “Also, worth noting, I haven't had any performance-related problems while playing The Fall on GNU/Linux.”
    • “Sound design is exactly how it should be, and the voice actors gave their best for this title, succeeding with an outstanding performance.”
    • “- Gamepad very recommended, not optimized for keyboard/mouse.”
    • “The game was a little bit twitchy in a few places, but overall performance was bug free.”
    • “However, circumstances occasionally dictate their circumvention for optimal performance.”
  • character development24 mentions

    The game features strong character development, with players praising the depth and complexity of both the protagonist and antagonist, despite the limited number of characters. Reviewers highlight the captivating storyline and emotional engagement, making the character arcs memorable and compelling, even in a shorter gameplay experience. Overall, the character development is considered a standout aspect that enhances the game's atmospheric storytelling.

    • “A hauntingly beautiful, atmospheric side-scrolling shooter with so much incredibly captivating story, character development, writing, voice acting, and an ending that cannot be forgotten.”
    • “I would say the game is too short for the asking price, but the story and character development are so compelling that I already want to purchase and play the next two coming installments.”
    • “Awesome character development with the protagonist and the antagonist being a different but fantastic villain.”
    • “Sure it's not a GOTY type story writing (i.e., The Walking Dead or other story-driven games), but the character development is lacking.”
    • “Undergoes a bit of character development, but it's not enough to make a significant impact.”
    • “For a short game, there is much character development packed into it, but it feels rushed and underdeveloped.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for its abrupt ending and the locking of abilities, which leaves players feeling unsatisfied and potentially exploited. Many reviewers perceive the game as a cash grab, especially with the promotion of a sequel that requires additional payment, raising concerns about the value of the initial purchase.

    • “Unless chapter 2 comes for free, I will consider this game a cash grab, a scam.”
    • “It ends just as soon as it was starting to get interesting, with half of the abilities in the menu still locked (they're unlocked at specific story moments), on a cliffhanger, with an advertisement for an unreleased sequel they want you to pay more money for.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 54 analyzed playthroughs

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